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AN: Enjoy!

Chapter 14

Gabe sat at his computer and realized the limitations of the tools he was using. It had become increasingly obvious that there were forces acting against him in a far more efficient manner than previously exhibited. It was mildly frustrating but he could be patient this time. "I have to be."

There hadn't really been a defeat, but his plans were nothing like they should've been. Earth had proven a challenge that it should never have been able to pose. "Impossible that the fool Kal-El could mount such resistance or anyone else here. How did you do it?"

It was, of course, a question for another day. He had much work to do and there were forces arrayed against him. Gabe was fully aware that Chloe was more than likely one of those forces. She and the others couldn't stand idly by, but only she, and perhaps a few others, could possibly elevate the level of resistance. His job would be so much easier if he could find the Kandorians to offer useful distraction, but his efforts had gone unrewarded. He needed a boost, something that could take him over the top. Something that would gain him greater access. For all his computer acumen and the resources at his disposal, he was still limited in what he could acquire without suspicion.

Gabe's thoughts drifted to his daughter. She was a marvel in the scientific sense. Chloe had been lightly jogging for the past few days with the blessing of her physical therapist, but Joey had been puzzled. She should not have been able to tackle something so strenuous so soon after such a major accident and subsequent coma. And now, she was behaving shiftier than her days as a high school reporter. Neither Oliver nor Clark was fully aware of her activities either and she hadn't been in contact with Lois. Of course, Lois was busy helping Clark navigate the treacherous water of his mother's foolishness. They were ruined. If they managed to keep that farm, it would be a miracle. Amanda Waller was intent on making Martha Kent an example. More than that, Waller's takedown of Martha Kent would serve as the foundation for her inevitably long career.

Chloe's breathless entrance into their home broke him from his musings. He knew what he was missing now. He was missing Chloe's ingenuity. It wasn't that he couldn't do what he needed to do or didn't have the skills. It was that she was simply more familiar with the things he needs to be familiar with. She knew the processes in a way that he just didn't. It was clear now. If he couldn't have Chloe's clear assistance, then he'd need to go to the next best source: Watchtower. And he knew how to do it. Gabe would need to disappear for a time and let her become comfortable in his absence, enough so that she would go about her business. Oliver and Clark had other problems and Watchtower might be vulnerable to an incursion.

"Hey, sweetheart! How was your run?"

She walked to the refrigerator and grabbed some water.

"It wasn't so much as a run as a jog, if by jog, you mean that I tried to walk brusquely and ran out of breath every few feet and felt like crying a few times. It was a magical moment in my life."

It was a clear lie. Gabe knew for a fact that her conditioning had improved. He had watched her one day.

"How do you feel about some space?"

Chloe stopped drinking her water for a moment and raised her eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"I'm headed out to New York for business. Apparently, there's a company that has what we want and they're willing to negotiate."

"How long will you be gone?"

"A week and a half."

There was a moment of silence between them. "It's not a long time, but it's not exactly short."

"It's not entirely business. I just felt we probably needed a break. You've been getting antsy with me being constantly around, so I figured we could use some distance."

Chloe didn't really know what to say, but she did know what to feel. Half of what he was saying made sense and was believable and was true. The other half of what he was saying was suspicious. He was up to something, but it's not like she could do something about it. The truth was she needed to finish Watchtower 2.0; she needed to finish herself and that time would be invaluable. Of course, that valuable time cut both ways. He would be able to do things as well.

She moved to his side and spared his computer a glance but the screensaver had already activated. "When do you leave?"

"Tomorrow morning. I'll be on an airplane at 6am so I'll be gone before you even wake up. In the meantime, want to give me a day to hang out with my favorite daughter?"

"Sure! Just let me grab a shower. Want to call Lois for lunch and then it'll be just us for dinner? She's having a hard time of it lately. Maybe even invite Clark?"

He nodded in response and watched her head up to her room. Gabe went back to his computer and the code he was writing and considered his next steps.

Zor-El was inspecting a laboratory and taking inventory. The new laboratory would be for a young scientist who worked primarily in plant pathology. She was working on a new energy conversion method. In light of their ongoing energy problems, this new avenue of research was timely indeed. Of course, another bonus was that her focus was on the nura flower, which was his area as well. He hadn't had the privilege of mentoring her until now. He would spare no expense. He had big plans for this scientist and her pod.

Standing in the sole window in the laboratory, Chloe enjoyed the warmth. These moments were few and far between. Her musings were broken when she registered the soft sound of the automated doors sliding open.

"You've missed our bi-weekly diagnostic. Jor-El was displeased. I think he was rather annoyed by the presence of General Zod."

Chloe/Zor-El knew what she would see. This had been building for some time, but it remained unexpected. She turned to face Brainiac, but outlining those features was her father. Zor-El sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, slightly mussing it. "A brother in the House of El indeed."

Zor-El waved off Brainiac's words. "Jor-El is more than capable of attending your needs. These diagnostics are only perfunctory as you know. You've endeared yourself to the Council."

Gabe/Brainiac was irritated. "Jor-El and General Zod bicker and prolong the process. Separately, they are adequate. Together, they are inefficient and a nuisance. You are more thorough and you provide my systems with unneeded, but welcome maintenance."

Somewhere in the back of her mind lay awareness of the fact that this could be her father venting his anger at her friendships with Lex and Clark. Chloe remained silent. What was there to say? She could not stop the coming disaster that would be Brainiac's influence and she could not ameliorate it. There was absolutely no need for Zor-El to add more stress to his life if he didn't need to.

"What if I request your presence? Will you attend?"

"There are projects that I have been neglecting because of you. You no longer need me. You are fully commissioned to your duty. Jor-El and General Zod know what is required, they are obeying the parameters of your purpose, and you are doing what you were designed to do."

Brainiac's fists clenched at his side and he shook his head slightly. "You do not trust me."

That was when Chloe saw it. Until this moment, she never would've believed Brainiac capable of it, but the evidence was clear now. The machine desired Zor-El's presence. It wanted respect from them and it was being withheld because Zor-El didn't trust it. Brainiac was neither a marvel nor a brother to him. He wanted nothing from Brainiac and Brainiac could not comprehend it.

Zor-El/Chloe stepped closer to Brainiac/Gabe. "It has nothing to do with trust. It has to do with the fact that you were rushed. There is no "ahead of schedule" in matters of this magnitude. It was a poor decision. Data is telling you that mining our core will provide the energy and resources we need, but what does that matter? Your actions, along with the short-sighted nature of the Council are destabilizing Krypton."

"I already have a plan to mitigate and rehabilitate the damage to the affected regions. We need only—"

Chloe interrupted Gabe, "The damage you do now cannot be "mitigated"! The people you are displacing, the environments that you are destroying receive no comfort from platitudes! Your actions, our actions, are hurting others. Your plans mean nothing, are nothing. Your desires mean nothing. And this is the problem. You lack the basic empathy required to understand what you are doing and the Council refuses to put a check on you. How far will you go? How far will we let you go? These questions have no answers. You, machine, are not one of us, and you never will be. You haven't the capability."

And that was the moment that Braniac became a machine in truth. This was the moment when the chase for data, when the desire for control subsumed whatever stumbles towards being a fully realized Kryptonian it may have one day attempted. Zor-El could not believe it capable of being more than a machine, and, ultimately neither did anyone else. Jor-El, General Zod, and the Council used it as a tool and now Brainiac understood the depths of his isolation. Zor-El was a brother, a father, and the head of the House of El. These were his words to what he considered a lesser thing. It was his weakest moment, and Chloe had no doubt that it would haunt him until his dying day.

Chloe/Zor-El moved to pass Gabe/Chloe and placed their hand on its shoulder and spoke softly. "You were meant to be more. I am sorry."

His words were far too late. The desire for the truth had given Brainiac/Gabe more than it could handle. Gabe grabbed the hand on his shoulder and squeezed.

"You do not know what I am capable of, Zor-El." Brainiac left the room.

Chloe/Zor-El cast another look around the room. "Yes, I have big plans for you."

Chloe awoke to her father's gentle knock. Whatever trepidation she may have felt, Gabriel Sullivan was still her father and she still loved him. She just didn't know what he was capable of. Chloe hurriedly threw some clothes on and joined her father for an incredibly early breakfast. Both of them felt an ease with one another that had been missing since her coma. They ate in silence and she walked him to his car in silence. Gabe hugged Chloe with a fierceness that she didn't expect, but that she matched.

"I love you, Chloe."

"Love you too, daddy."

She watched him pull away from their home before leaving the drive-way. One the one hand, Chloe wanted to go back to sleep, on the other, her sleep was fraught. Chloe decided to risk sleeping and dreaming because it was far too early and she had a lot of things to accomplish.

"Maybe you should consider sleeping, Chloe."

It was Davis. She hadn't expected to see him. In fact, she figured it was impossible.

"Why do you think it's impossible, Chloe?

Chloe rolled her eyes at him and walked back into her house.

"I don't really know why. I just did."

He laughed at her a little. "Finish what you need to do today and you'll probably know on the other side. But in the meantime…"

"I know. I know. Sleep. Will do, Psycho Paramedic."

Davis grabbed the back of Chloe's shirt and forcibly turned her around. "You know why that happened too. And now is the time for you to not only know, but to realize it. You have work to do."

He pushed her away and she stumbled into the door. When Chloe looked back, she saw that he had left. It was unsurprising. It didn't really matter though since Davis was right. She did need more sleep.

Mercifully, Chloe slept until noon without dreaming. She awoke refreshed and ready to finish Watchtower 2.0, but first she had to put Clark, Oliver, and Lois off her trail. It meant lying while telling the truth, for Clark at least. The other two would be relatively easy.

She picked up the phone and dialed familiar numbers.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Clark! Thanks for eating lunch with my dad and me yesterday. You and I haven't really been in touch lately."

"It wasn't a problem, Chloe. It was good to spend some time not worrying. What did you need?"

Chloe rolled her eyes. "What? I can't just call you?"

"Sure you can, but you haven't. So what's up?"

"My dad's out of town for a couple of weeks so I decided to get away from Metropolis for a while. Just wanted to let you know so you could tell Oliver and Lois."

"It's a vacation, Clark. I don't want to be interrupted so I'm not tellin'. I'll have my phone and if I need help, I'll call."

"Chloe—"

She interrupted him, "It's not up for debate. I need space. I need to not be around everything. I need solitude. You know what that feels like."

Clark sighed. "Fine. I'll run interference with everyone else."

"Thanks, Clark. I knew I could count on you. Talk to ya later. Bye!"

Chloe quickly packed some necessities to take with her. When she finally arrived at her little office building on the outskirts of Metropolis, it was such an odd and isolated place to put a building, but this was a road few people had reason to travel so she knew she'd remain undisturbed.

She stood before Watchtower 2.0 and connected herself to the bio-reagents. She lay down onto the cot. Chloe would sleep until the process was completed.

"To sleep. Perchance to dream."

"Have you found her yet?" Clark was frantic. Chloe had been gone for five days and they were all in disarray. Watchtower had been severely compromised. The work had been subtle. The world's markets hadn't been thrown into a tailspin, yet, but Bruce Wayne and a few other tech savvy CEOs were all reporting strange occurrences. They all seemed to have originated from Metropolis, specifically Watchtower. And Chloe was nowhere to be found, nor for that matter, Gabe.

It should've been impossible for an external source to penetrate the formidable encryptions that both Chloe and he had designed, but no one had been in this apartment save himself and Chloe. He couldn't rule out the possibility of outside interference, but odds were low that someone not intimately familiar with the system could've done this. That left only Chloe and she was missing. The situation looked too suspicious. He no longer had the luxury of trusting Chloe. She had to be tracked down.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that, Clark?"

"You know I haven't had any luck."

Oliver's frustration hit its limit, "Then why are you badgering me! Do something productive and when there's something to report, report it!"

Clark would've offered his own angry retort, but Oliver's phone rang.

"Hey, Victor."

"I've been working with Bruce and we were able to track down those accounts for Chloe you gave us. Everything was fine until we got to an office building way out in the middle of nowhere at the Metropolis boundary."

Before Victor could verbally give Oliver the address, Oliver told him to text it. He couldn't have Clark taking off to pursue Chloe. Oliver read Victor's text as soon as it pinged.

"Where is she?"

"In Metropolis."

"I'm going to go get Chloe and bring her back here."

Oliver held out his hand. "Wait. We don't know what's going on and we shouldn't just go."

"With or without you, I'm going to find Chloe and bring her back."

"No! Look, Clark, something big is happening. I didn't tell you, but the physical security measures have been compromised. Watchtower is not secure. I need someone here to make sure everything is safe and secure. You are the only person who can do that."

Clark turned away from Oliver and approached the windows. "I have to be there, Oliver. This could all be a big misunderstanding and she's hurt. She could've been the target before Watchtower."

Oliver was sympathetic to Clark's concerns, but there were still things that he hadn't told him. He had placed Chloe under surveillance when her behavior had become increasingly erratic. Not only had Chloe been seen with Lex Luthor, but she had been spotted at one of his laboratories. Chloe had also been seen having a cozy chat with Amanda Waller as well. Soon after those events, Martha Kent's troubles became more pronounced, Watchtower had been compromised, and multiple people of Oliver's acquaintance had been put on high-profile watch lists. It couldn't be coincidence, which meant that Chloe was no longer to be trusted. Something happened to her during that accident and she was now to be considered an unknown quantity.

"Clark, just wait here. I'll be back shortly."

"You have two hours, Oliver."

One moment Chloe was asleep and the next she was awake. There was no period of disorientation, but a cold awareness of everything around her. She unhooked herself from the wires and Watchtower and surveyed her domain. Chloe didn't have all the pieces because she still needed time to process everything, but now she could see so much more.

"You are right, Alura."

Chloe ran her fingers along Watchtower 2.0's interface, but swiftly abandoned it to remove the purple crystal with the red heart.

"You are radiant and have grown beyond being Watchtower."

Chloe went to the restroom and observed the changes in her. She looked as healthy as she had before the accident that put her in a coma. There was a palpable glow and strength about her. She touched her reflection and the outline formed Zor-El. Her eyes unfocused and she felt something inside of her brain, a connection. The reflection of Zor-El spoke to her.

"Whatever expectation that I have carried with me, whatever hope that has given me strength has been realized. I do not envy you, Chloe, but I am eternally grateful."

Zor-El placed his hand on his side of the mirror and Chloe copied him. She felt heat and electricity pass through them. Chloe felt his empathy and concern for her. There were a million regrets and love there. Her eyes became red and her skin grayed ever so slightly before her hue returning to normal. Her eyes remained red, however.

Her musings were interrupted by the sound of screeching tires of Oliver's car. He had four people with them and she smelled the oil from their guns. Chloe could not let them in here. She activated the many security protocols. It would require Clark levels of strength and Brainiac levels of sheer Kryptonian knowledge to break into the room that housed Watchtower 2.0. Watchtower itself would defend itself if compromised. Her work needed to be preserved. She met Oliver and his men outside.

A few things became immediately clear when Chloe approached Oliver: he was nervous as evidenced by his elevated heart rate when she exited the building and the men around him were prepared for the worst as they drew their guns when she came into sight. Oliver didn't trust her. He either knew or suspected something about his recent troubles.

"Oliver? What's wrong?"

Oliver contemplated her for a beat before speaking. "What are you doing here, Chloe?"

She looked back at the building and shrugged her shoulders. "Just a side project. Been working on building a new lab focused on Kryptonian crystals."

"That you got from Lex, right?"

"Yeah. It—"

He stepped closer to her and the men behind him shifted positions to flank her. Chloe's eyes followed their movements.

"What did you have to do for Lex? And Special Agent Waller?"

"It's none of your concern."

'That's where you're wrong. Watchtower has been breached and you've been conveniently missing after making deals with known enemies."

"Wait, what?"

While not impossible, it was highly unlikely that Watchtower could've been compromised. It utilized small portions of Kryptonian tech. Nothing like her new creation, but no Earth computer should've been able to form a connection with it. Of course, there was adaptability on their side and that could've been exploited by some genius hacker, but no one was familiar enough. Unless it was Brainiac or some other Kryptonian artificial intelligence, but none of them had known about Watchtower.

Oliver could see it. She had no idea what was happening, which was somehow more disconcerting than her being the architect of their misfortune. Now, he had nothing. There were no suspects and no obvious course of action. Despite all of that, it didn't really matter. She was still in a secret laboratory after making deals with their enemies.

"We'll settle this later, Chloe. For now, come with us."

"Have you seen my father?"

"What does he have to do with anything?"

Chloe muttered under her breath, "How did you do this?"

Watchtower was defenseless. Watchtower was an archive and a weapon. It could rival the NSA when it came to collecting data and archiving it. Most of it was useless data because you can't possibly understand it all, but that wasn't the point of Watchtower. It would be used to connect to important world databases and spread Brainiac's protocol, but someone had to physically be present to upload the code. That was the check to Watchtower's power: a person had to wield it.

"Let's go, Chloe. We're taking you to S.T.A.R Labs."

"No. We need to get to Metropolis."

Oliver stepped back out of the way of his guards, his voice was uncompromising. "It wasn't a request."

Chloe snarled and moved faster than she had ever moved in her life. She quickly took their guns and subdued the guards. When she was finished, they lay in a heap at her feet and Oliver was looking up at her from where she had pinned him. There wasn't fear, but resolve. A line had been crossed and she didn't think they could go back, even if she did fix things.

"I didn't do this, Oliver. I would never betray you…or Clark. I love you."

She kissed his forehead, let him go and moved to the car he and his men arrived in. Chloe kicked the tire hubs and bent the wheel wells. She then flipped the car. When she turned back, Oliver had picked himself off the ground and stared at her, mouth agape.

"I swear, Oliver, I swear that I'll explain everything. I can fix this for us."

Chloe glanced upward and leapt into the sky where she took flight. It was time for a reckoning.

Oliver pulled out his phone and dialed Clark's number.

"We have a problem."