Disclaimer: Not mine.
AN: Thank you for the reviews. I'm not the best at communicating with reviewers, but I want you to know that I really appreciate it. I hope you enjoy! :)
Chapter 13
It was noon on a Friday and Chloe lay in bed. She had just finished her physical therapy and she was exhausted and sore. Her body may have been healing at an exceptional rate, but it still hurt when she was put through the paces. Chloe also listened to her father puttering around downstairs. It was his day off and she had no doubt that he scheduled it just to be with her. But that was the problem in her mind. Gabriel Sullivan still acted like her father, with very glaring exceptions. She still balked at some of her darker thoughts taking real hold in her mind, but that didn't really mean much when everything else was stripped bare.
Chloe felt her father come up the stairs. He gently knocked on her door. She didn't acknowledge the knock at her door. Her father turned the handle and came entered her room. Chloe pretended to sleep.
"Chloe?"
He moved closer to the bed and sat next to her. Chloe felt him move her hair to the side of her face. Gabe bent down and kissed her forehead. He stood for an uncomfortable long moment at her door, watching Chloe pretend to sleep. Her father left her room just before she broke and squirmed. Chloe didn't move until she heard his car leave the drive-way.
"You know, Zor-El, you have to change yourself further if you want to properly engage Watchtower 2.0. You might consider a better name while you're at it. It's not the best."
Chloe briefly closed her eyes and sighed before turning to her bed companion.
"The fundamental framework and purpose for the new computer is still Watchtower," she shifted a little in the bed, "Everyone is a critic. Since when have you become so snippy, wife?"
"It started with you, Chloe, and you know this."
Chloe looked away from the side profile of Zor-El's wife and resumed staring at the ceiling.
"But I don't know. Not yet. Not fully. You could help me with that, but none of you will."
Alura shifted to her side and rested her hand on Chloe's belly. "Of everyone who could deliver this message, you and I both know you prefer me. I love you as you are and the hypothetical man you could be. You are as you are."
Zor-El and Zod had shared an unquenchable fire between them. A level of respect and need that stretched passed most barriers, often to the detriment of their goals. They were unequivocally not good for each other. On the other hand, Alura had been his best partner. She had been his fiercest judge and supporter. His big ideas and plans became action in her hands. Alura was a sounding board that didn't echo his words or reflect them, but changed them and made them stronger. He loved her beyond all reason and he betrayed her with Zod because of the aforementioned detrimental attraction.
Chloe looked fully at Alura. "What message would that be?"
"You have three options. One, wait. Wait until you are fully healed and your body has fully accepted what is to come. Two, Kal-El. His blood can jump start the process in you after you make the extensive and necessary modifications to Watchtower. Three, go to your secret laboratory and use Davis' sample."
"Hmmm…those are good options. I can't afford to wait. Clark is out of the question. There's not way to explain anything about it and trying to get a sample without his noticing is impossible. I also can't ask Lex for help. I've already pushed him to his limit. Besides, being further in his debt is not something I'm willing to submit to. Davis is the best way."
Alura smiled at her. "Davis is the best way for more than that reason, Chloe, and you know it. Stop resisting what you know. Only then will you finally be at peace with yourself and what is to come."
Chloe gripped Alura's hand that rested on her belly and whispered, "I know. But I don't think it's time yet. Acceptance opens a door that I can't go through until this is settled."
Zor-El's wife caressed her hair, "At least you know that much, Zor-El. I was afraid you had rejected all things even after your talk with Jor-El."
Silence stretched out between them as they stared at one another. Alura was the first to break the mood. "Do not worry that you cannot see Clark as he is. He is a good man. Only occasionally a brickhead. He is better than the sum of his father. You did not fail him…or Davis. There is still time if you let there be time."
"I have too much to do already."
"Yes, but this, like the other things, are all rolled into one big thing, husband. Prioritize, Chloe. It's what you do best."
Alura entwined her legs with Chloe's, "Remember the first time we vacationed on Vathlo Island?"
Chloe smiled at the memory. "How could I forget? There were no obligations since father and mother had yet to pass from the world. I had never felt more at peace and less conflicted than that time," Chloe entwined their fingers and closed the distance between their faces, "Lazy days spent loving each other and speaking of future plans. We were so sure that we would have many sons and daughters; that we had forever to make our House strong and filled with happiness and laughter. I wanted to give you that so much."
She whispered her words, "We were so sure of everything."
"Plans take you only so far, beloved. There comes a time when you must act. The surety comes in the act of doing. You cannot lose yourself, Chloe."
"So today, I'm going to have a chat with Amanda Waller. She will always be an impediment, but I think that's a good thing.
Alura snorted in response.
"What? You disagree?"
"I don't think anyone else will ever be moved to agree with you. On the "good" part at least."
It was Chloe's turn to caress Alura.
"How could I have ever betrayed you?"
"Because Zod was a shiny object that called to something in you and Zor-El had a healthy sense of his own entitlement. Being the rock, which is dull and jagged, is a thankless job. But in the end, is it not me that you come to? Me that you seek strength from?"
"You have a point."
"Now, Chloe, you are the rock."
With that final comment, Alura's presence faded. Chloe missed her already. The woman had a steadiness and will that should've elevated her. But she was wrong. The same thing that had drawn Zor-El to Zod was the same thing that had drawn Zor-El to Alura: their unwavering will. Zor-El had been a man prone to giving into his insecurities, but those two never let him when they could help it.
She could see parts of that dynamic in her relationships with Clark and Lex. Chloe had done some of her best and most dangerous work with Lex. She had also been at her best and most good with Clark. They brought out things in herself that she was too afraid to bring out on her own. They had given her a confidence that she would carry forever. Of course, the transference had not been one way. Clark and Lex were irrevocably changed by her as well.
"Oh, how far I've come since a car accident left me in a coma and fried my brain. This isn't the story I thought it would be. Not even a little bit."
Chloe levered herself out of bed and sent an email to Amanda Waller. She had no doubt that there would be a quick response. In the meantime, she was in dire need of a hot shower.
Two hours later, Chloe found herself at another nondescript restaurant in Metropolis. Honesty demand that she note that she had never noticed how many nondescript restaurants there were. It was getting ridiculous. She spotted agents, but there was no doubt that for every one she spotted, there were more she missed. Special Agent Amanda Waller sat next to a window. She was reading a newspaper and, for all intents and purposes, seemed to not notice her surroundings. Chloe would be lying to herself if she thought that Waller wasn't fully aware of her surroundings. Even standing many feet away from her, Special Agent Waller seemed like a formidable woman.
"Yes, she will be a good impediment in the future, valuable as a watchman of watchmen. And never appreciated for the services she provides."
Special Agent Waller didn't look up or acknowledge Chloe until Chloe sat down at the table.
"Chloe Sullivan. An enigma in recent proceedings. Miraculously alive and walking about after a terrible accident that happened under mysterious circumstances. Genius hacker and talented amateur journalist. Does that about cover it?"
"Not quite. You missed coffee addict and overall charismatic woman of snark."
Waller leaned back into her chair. "Yes, I did miss those. Can't get good help for nothing."
Chloe looked around for a waiter.
"Don't worry, Miss Sullivan. I've taken the liberty of ordering the steak with asparagus and horseradish mashed potatoes. Your file did indicate that you liked Coca Cola™. All covered by my expense card since you so graciously asked for this meeting."
Waller didn't know exactly she had been expecting from Chloe Sullivan, but Sullivan betrayed no surprise or annoyance. Clearly Sullivan had a level of poise not common amongst her age group. Their food arrived quickly since, Waller had already ordered when Chloe arrived. Agent Waller let them each have a few bites before she asked her question.
"Tell me. Why are we having this meeting?"
"Your investigation into Martha Kent. You and I both know why she did what she did. You also know a lot about Smallville, if not everything. There's some information that you're missing. I can provide some of that. Enough to let Martha Kent off the hook...eventually."
Waller raised an eyebrow. She had expected Chloe Sullivan to want her to back off the Kents, but her request was not to end the investigation immediately. Chloe wanted her to prolong the investigation. She was being used as a distraction. Waller was so very rarely on the receiving end of a deception of this magnitude.
"Twist! I did not see this coming. I was under the impression that you and the Kent boy were the best of friends. Why should I honor this request?"
"There should be boundaries that even the gods must honor. Eventually, Special Agent Waller, you will probably go too far; but for now? Now, you can be that boundary. I am willing to give you information you need and then you will move beyond that information."
Waller pushed her plate aside and leaned onto the table. She steepled her hands. "You are offering me a distraction because you are planning something. From the looks of it, that something must be big. I will discover it, Chloe."
"I know you will. In time. And that's the rub isn't it? Consider this: there are only so many agents you have at your disposal. Appropriating more, at the infancy of this particular threat, is unlikely. I'm will willing to bet that there are forces who doubt your work and only the Martha Kent hunt it validating what you are doing. So, while you're looking into me, Clark Kent, Lex Luthor, Oliver Queen, that intrepidly dark Bruce Wayne and many more will be doing what they do. They have the drive and the means to wreak havoc. To start something big and powerful and you want to get ahead of that. So I suppose a little threat assessment is in order. I'm on your side until I'm not. They are not and probably never will be on your side. There's time to deal with me, and I give you my word that nothing I do now will harm your interests now."
"But that doesn't mean it won't harm my interests later," Waller paused briefly, "What do you mean to do?"
"Things. But for you, specifically? I'm going to give you a shiny new database. What you do with that information is up to you, but I hope it will be the beginning of something very useful and very beautiful. Rest assured that I can possibly be hurt by the information as well. I trust you, Special Agent Waller, for now. I know that right now, at this point in your career, you won't needlessly hurt people. That might change and the day will come when we're at each other's throats, but today is not that day. Probably not even tomorrow. They are the devil you know. I am the devil that may never be born. "
Waller took a sip of her drink and considered the situation. Chloe Sullivan was trustworthy right now. She was helpful right now, but Chloe might be a major problem in the future. She could live with today's devil's bargain, but this would end and she would be prepared for Chloe Sullivan. Yes, she would be able to meet the inevitable challenge that Chloe Sullivan would pose. That database would help her, but she would expand beyond this charity given to her by the devil. Chloe Sullivan fooled herself if she didn't think the devil would be born.
Chloe felt like she could see the gears turning in Special Agent Waller's head.
Lionel materialized next to Waller. "Oh, Chloe. A magnificent creation indeed. Are you sure you want to mold the clay this way? She could be a great asset for you. This is a crossroads. For once in your life, take the other road and keep to it. Gods appoint kings to do their bidding, to mold their world. Will you truly waste this opportunity?"
Chloe raised her glass and Agent Waller did the same. They had an accord for the time being and it was good enough.
As Chloe walked to her car, Lionel came to her again. "Jesus Christ, Lionel! You know what you never learned?"
"That would be?"
"You can never get better without reliably good opponents. Your greatest work comes when you have something to rail against: your own frailties, your own insecurities, profound external pressures. These things, pardon the cliché, make or break you. It's how you were reduced to nothing more than a pawn in Jor-El's plan. And now you are a dead man, who has no legacy other than the one Lex will build. And lest you think otherwise, his will be a great legacy because he is opposed by something far greater than you could ever imagine. He will be a king, Lionel. Something you were never even in spitting distance of."
Chloe wished she had the chance to say those words to a living Lionel, but this was basically the same thing.
"Watcher of the watchmen. Even me."
After her lunch with Special Agent Amanda Waller, Chloe spent five hours shaking all the tails Amanda set on her trail. She was good, but Chloe was sure that she should never have been able to spot, let alone shake her tails. She wasn't that good, but there had been a sixth sense and amazing eyesight guiding her. Chloe didn't have room in her mind to be surprised. There was no point.
The countryside of Smallville, Kansas had acres of farmland that were not used for any number of reasons. An abandoned and dangerous barn was located on such land. There was a rather large cellar hidden within the barn. She used to be afraid of discovery, but she had worked out a deal with the owners of the property and now it was hers. This, relatively, small piece of farmland was hers and no one knew it. Sometimes the way she was overlooked was a boon. She had considered using it to house Watchtower 2.0, but she didn't want to put all her eggs into one basket. Discovery of one or the other wouldn't undo her completely.
Once Chloe was inside the cellar, Chloe looked around at her many oddities that she had collected over the years of studying and being menaced by meteor freaks. There were even a few things that she had taken from the Fortress of Solitude. There were so many things. It rivaled her Wall of Weird. In all her curios, Chloe found what she had been looking for. Davis had shed blood, sweat, gray scales, and some kind of slurry from the kryptonite process he had gone through. All of those things would be good to use now, but the slurry was more or less processed Davis fluids, so that was probably her best bet.
Chloe glanced to the side and something she had completely forgot about: a blood sample from Kara. It was on a piece of cloth, so presumably Kara had gotten injured at some point in time. Should could process this too and use it. Chloe decided to use Kara's sample to calibrate Watchtower 2.0 and Davis' sample to prime her system.
Modifying Watchtower 2.0 could wait. It was time to go home and rest. She was too tired to do anything else for the day. The house was dark when she returned. Clearly, her father hadn't come home yet and it worried Chloe for two big reasons: she didn't know what he was doing and she didn't want to be alone. Dark spaces were ominous and scary now in a way that they hadn't been before her accident.
As luck would have it, Chloe heard her father's car pull into the driveway. In no time at all, he was at her door and once again Chloe pretended to be asleep when he knocked. He knocked and opened her door, but he only watched her pretend to sleep before closing the door and entering his own room. Chloe knew that he knew she wasn't really asleep. She also knew that they both knew the other was up to something. But she couldn't really say if they worked at cross purposes or not. Maybe he knew, but she most certainly did not. Chloe supposed that it didn't really matter.
"I'm sorry, daddy."