Chapter 17

The morning sunlight filtered through the blinds and reluctantly, Zatanna threw back the covers and sat up on the side of the bed. She was in her hotel room, alone. Pulling the old Smallville sweatshirt tighter around her, she inhaled Clark's lingering scent. It seemed to trigger so many feelings and desires within her. This was the first night in the last week she'd spent alone and she missed him. He had a shift on the Watchtower and then had gone to Smallville because of a family emergence. She completely understood, but that didn't lessen the longing. Smiling to herself, Zatanna realized she was falling for Clark. When she wasn't with him, she thought about him often. This relationship with him felt different than any of the ones she'd had before. She wondered to herself, if maybe this was the first adult relationship she'd ever been in. They shared an intimacy that allowed them to be vulnerable with each other. When they were together, there were none of the games that seemed to come with most relationships. She could let her guard down with him without worry. It was such an intoxicating feeling, she found herself greedily wanting more. It had also brought new thoughts to her mind, things she'd never even considered before. Marriage, family, children, those had always seemed like something in the distant future, yet the closer she got to Clark the more then were becoming real to her.

Hugging her knees up to her chin, Zatanna ran her fingers through her tangled hair as she contemplated this serious shift in her life. Up until recently, she was mostly a Gypsy, moving from town to town with the show, really having no place she called home. It was a good, familiar life for her. She would help out the League when they needed her, which wasn't that often, but for the most part she was just a magician plying her trade. Now she was starting to wonder if that was enough? Maybe the change in attitude began when she started seeing Clark, but Zee knew the turning point was when she returned to Africa. If wasn't even a conscious decision on her part, she just seemed to know it was something she had to do. As she moved through the ruins of the capital she found herself thinking about her life. Was she really living up to her potential or just drifting through life? There weren't any easy answers. Being with Clark only complicated things more. She had been telling herself that she was only dating Clark Kent, mild mannered reporter for the Daily Planet, but once it got out she knew everything would change. The very way people looked and reacted to her would change. Every move, every decision, every choice she made or was made about her would be scrutinized. She would be the most famous man in the world's girlfriend, Superman's girlfriend. Her life would suddenly be under a microscope like nothing she could imagine.

If the general public ever found out, she didn't even want to consider what that would mean. It scared her, a lot; she had to admit to herself, but not enough to want to walk away. She was through walking away. She also found she didn't want to walk away from Clark, just the opposite. Change was inevitable, and she needed to be prepared for it. He would never ask her to change, she knew that, but sitting there, she suddenly felt like she needed to. When she'd been on the tower the last time, the subject to the new threat was being discussed. Because of its magical origin, Dr. Fate, Etrigan and the Enchantress were called in for help. Zee was asked her opinion, but she could tell they weren't going to ask her to be a main player in this. Part of her understood, especially after the way she'd reacted in Africa. Another part thought this situation might prove to be a test of her. If she could step forward now, perhaps when it came out that she was seeing Clark, the questions she faced wouldn't be as numerous. She was puzzled why Dr. Occult or Rose Psychic weren't consulted, but Jonn informed her he hadn't been able to contact them. Zatanna had known them most of her life and in some ways they were like surrogate parents to her. It seemed strange they would be absent during a crisis like this, but perhaps they were investigating on their own. Either way, she knew this was a turning point for her. She might never be thought of in the same breath as Superman, Batman or Wonder Woman, probably not even in the same sentence as them or Shayera, for that matter, but she could do her part. Zatanna had gone back to Africa because she'd decided not to run away from her responsibilities. Now she made a decision not to run away from them in the rest of her life. If she was going to be with Clark, she wanted him to know how seriously she took it.

Star City

Nathan stood in the shadows, a wicked grin on his face. He had come here to unleash twenty of the believers on the unsuspecting city. It was a direct challenge to Zod, Nathan knew, but the playing field had shifted. Nathan had been to all the dream chambers and examined the alien crystals. It had taken him considerable investigation before he realized they were fakes, not the true Kryptonian crystals. He again had to tip his hat to Zod for having the foresight to see this eventuality. As Nathan studied them, his focus turned to the Kryptonian machinery that was used in connection with the crystals. Those were the genuine articles. As he carefully examined them, it became apparent that they could be manipulated by magic, as well. The sudden realization that he could use them to focus the energy they were creating on himself and thus cut out the need for le Fey, hit him. It had taken several days to work the magic needed to make the changes in all the chambers. He neither slept nor rested, until the task was done. Now standing in the shadows, he could feel the energy pouring into his system. With each passing moment, he grew stronger. The day of the Old Ones awakening was rapidly coming. That was not the focus today, though.

His mission today in Star City was a simple one. It had two parts, first to let Zod know he was no longer in charge. Second to show the world that they're, so called heroes were as defenseless as the rest against him and the believers. He almost laughed as he watched Green Arrow and Black Canary try to deal with the believers. They were used to criminals or villains that sought something, that had a goal, money or power. The believers had a goal too, but it was so basic that it proved difficult to deal with. They're goal was to spread terror. Each would give their life to achieve this goal. The heroes with their reluctance to use deadly force seemed powerless to stop them. Already half of the downtown was destroyed and burning. Green Arrow's arsenal could slow the believers down, but could do nothing to stop them from sacrificing themselves. Nathan watched in amusement as Green Arrow fired a bolo arrow to take one of the believers down only to watch in horror as the man started to vibrate and then explode. Since no specific targets were needed, the explosion served its purpose. As he glanced at Black Canary, his smile slipped a little. With her sonic screams, she was having more success against the believers. While they were fanatically dedicated to the cause, they were still human. Her screams could overload their senses and incapacitate them. Nathan wasn't going to allow that to happen.

Deciding to take a more direct participation in the mayhem, he stepped out from the shadows and calmly began to walk towards Black Canary. She didn't notice him at first, preoccupied with dealing with the believers. When she did, the evil, cold smile on his face sent off warning bells. As she glanced down at his hand, she saw the magical knife appear. Reacting on instinct, she turned her scream on Nathan. He didn't stop coming towards her and with a wave of his hand neutralized her scream. Ollie was watching all of this and sensing danger, desperately tried to get to Dinah. She took a defensive stance and effortless threw a series of kicks and punches that should have stopped an ordinary man. They had no effect on Nathan. He reached out and grabbed her by the throat. His smile grew as he plunged the knife into her stomach.

"Dinah!" Ollie screamed, desperate to get to her. Dinah convulsed, as Nathan twisted the knife in deeper.

"You should feel privileged, you are the first hero to fall," Nathan whispered to her and then dropped Dinah to the pavement. With a wave of his hand, the arrows rushing towards him disappeared. Glancing at Ollie, he gave a cruel laugh and then turned and walked away. Ollie was too concerned with Dinah to follow. He dropped down beside her, seeing the blood pumping from the vicious looking wound in her stomach.

"Watchtower! Emergence! Medical emergence! Beam us out of here, damn it!" he shouted into his comm. He cradled Dinah in his arms, even as she coughed and blood came from her lips.

"Hang in there, baby, helps on the way," he whispered to her, praying that transport would happen. It was only another second, but it felt like an eternity to him, before they dissolved and were transported to the Watchtower.

Smallville

Clark stood outside his mother's hospital room, the worry plain on his face. She had been at the market when the episode happened. He knew she'd been feeling weak, but was shocked to hear that she had collapsed in the store. They had rushed her to the hospital and contacted him. He'd been here all night, worry and guilt his constant companions. They had managed to stabilize her and she seemed to be back to her old cheerful self. The doctor was in with her right now, and Clark couldn't help but listen through the wall. As he paced back and forth, he wondered what was taking so long. Finally the door opened and the doctor gestured for him to come in. Clark immediately went in and over to his mother's side.

'How you doing, Ma," he asked, the worry plain on his face.

"I'm fine, I'm fine, I keep telling everyone that, but they don't believe me. I want to get out of here, Clark," she complained.

"That's up to the professionals, Ma. Doctor? How is she," Clark said, giving his mother's hand a squeeze.

"For now, she's fine. We'll keep her overnight for observations, but then she can go home,' the doctor said.

"You said for now?"

"Yes, I'm afraid I've spoken with Martha about this before, but it seems she doesn't want to listen to me."

"I listen, I just disagree," Martha countered.

"Ma," Clark said, giving her a look.

"Don't even try that look on me, Clark, I'm the one that invented it."

"What's the problem, doctor," Clark asked.

"There's no easy way to tell you this, Clark, but your mother has congestive heart failure."

"And that means?"

"It basically means her heart isn't able to pump enough blood for her body. Along with this, fluid tends to build up in the lungs, which further restricts her breathing."

"But it can be treated, cured, right," Clark hopefully asked.

"Treated, yes, cured, I'm sorry to say no," the doctor shook his head. "It's a progressive problem. Once it gets to this stage, the trips to the hospital will become more frequent with less time in between."

"But there must be medications, treatments, something?" Clark asked, the information shocking him.

"There are some, but due to your mother's advanced age it limits us. I'm going to prescribe some medication for the fluids, but she'd going to have to cut back on her activities."

"You hear that," Clark said to his mother.

"I'm lying right here, Clark, it's my heart, not my ears," she fired back. "I don't want you to worry about this, I've already made plans for it."

"Ma, I could move back here," Clark started, but she cut him off.

"No! Absolutely not! I'm not having you hanging around; worrying over every step I take. Besides, Clark, people live with this everyday. If they can, I can. Isn't that right, doc," she said.

"Well, yes, with careful monitoring and regular examinations people live years with it," the doctor advised.

"See, Clark, so no more of that talk about moving back. Is that clear?" she said to him with her best reassuring smile.

"Yes, Ma," Clark said in agreement, but in the back of his mind, he was more worried about her than ever.

London

Zod lay on a small army cot in a nondescript room. The space could have been mistaken for the room of a foot soldier in it's sparseness. There were none of the lavish appointments one would have considered a General would have. He was beyond that point. Illness has a way of focusing the mind on only the essentials. It was getting harder and harder for him to remain standing for any period of time now. The illness seemed to know it was in a race with him and it was determined to win. Every breath seemed to be labored, a struggle to get enough oxygen, but he wasn't going to give up this close to his goal. Even the light hurt his eyes now, so as he laid there his breath coming with difficulty, he held his arm across his face to ward on the light.

"So very, very fragile you've become. You feel it, don't you," a soft, seductive female voice whispered in his ear. Her hand caressed its way down the side of his cheek, but he still didn't move. He would give her nothing and not give in to her taunts.

"Is there a reason you are here, Morgaine," he calmly said, not even lifting his arm from his eyes.

"Such control," she laughed, "it must be a Kryptonian trait."

"Discipline was always highly regarded among my people, Morgaine, but I doubt you've come to take a trip down memory lane with me, have you?"

"No, I haven't," she said, moving away to sit down in the one chair in the room. "I bring interesting news."

"And that would be?"

"It seems young Nathan is making his move, while you are quietly rest here," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Has he cut you out already," Zod countered quickly, matching her tone and inflection.

"Yes, but that is not all," she answered; disappointed she had not been able to shake him.

"What else?"

"He has attacked Star City and two of its heroes. Both members of the Justice League, I might add."

"The foolishness of youth," Zod absently commented, finally sitting up and looking at Morgaine. He knew this day would come, but he'd hoped he had a little more time to prepare for it.

"What was the result?"

"The city is severely damaged, but it seems Nathan took a personal role in stabbing Black Canary. I believe she was seriously injured."

"Will she survive?" Zod asked, his mind already running through options.

"Probably, but it's not at all certain," she replied.

"It's of no matter, what's done is done. Now we must deal with what will happen next," Zod said.

"Were you not listening, Zod? Young Nathan has made it very clear, he is in charge now and you are out. He never cared for me, and has assumed my role in the project. He wanted me out and he's succeeded. There's nothing you or I can do about it now."

"That's where you are wrong, le Fey, there is a great deal we must do now. I had hoped you could delay him longer, so that my plans would be completed, but now I see we must act," Zod said, struggling to his feet.

"The boy is even more powerful, Zod, we would be wise to avoid direct confrontation," she advised.

"I have no wish for that, at least not yet, Morgaine. It would seem Nathan has bigger targets in mind than us, at the moment. His burning hatred seems to have focused on heroes at the moment. I imagine this will not be the last time he confronts them."

"Heroes can be dangerous, Zod," she cautioned, "they might start out to find Nathan, but they have a nasty way of causing collateral damage on others. In this case, you and I."

"Yes, I agree," he nodded. "I don't think either of us want them nosing into our plans at the moment, do we?"

"Definitely not," she agreed, "but what is there to do?"

"Have you ever noticed pressure focuses the mind?" Zod began. "As pressure increases, the focus narrows until it settles on one thing. I think we need to focus the heroes on our young friend Nathan exclusively."

"I like the sound of that," she chuckled.

"As do I," Zod smiled, "and I think I know the perfect man for the job. Knowing him, he will make a special project of centering the pressure on Superman, which doesn't displease me either."

"I assume you'd like me to contact this man," she asked.

"Yes."

"Who is he?"

"Lex Luthor."