Part 4
Darkness... Smoke... Soft BEEPING and STATIC... Sparks flashing. Two forms lay motionless in two-man air craft. The controls are a mess, wires are coming out everywhere. The ships vizor is cracked and distorted voices repeat over and over on the intercom. Outside dark shadows can be seen walking towards the air craft through the dark smoke, but they never make it. They collapse to the ground and never get back up.
"Ehhh..." Victor groaned as he finally came to. He slowly opened his eyes to find everything a blur. He tapped his temple trying to get his optical vision to kick in, but it was in reboot mode and would be a while before it would be repaired. He then tried concentrating on sounds but everything was distorted and he couldn't make it out. He tensed up and grabbed the side of his head that felt like someone had taken a bat to it. It was then he felt the large cut on the side of his head and blood running down the side of his face.
'What happened?'
It took him several more seconds to realize he was in one of the ships that had been built by Queen Industries and that's when it all came flashing back to him. He had been with Dinah in Chicago, Illinois stopping a gang of bank robbers who had hit a number of banks over the last few months in the windy city when they had gotten Olivers urgent call about Lois. Once they had caught the bank robbers and turned them over to the authorities. The two wasted no time getting into the powerful aircraft and flew straight towards Metropolis, but within seconds of getting into the city of tomorrow they were caught smack in the middle of a massive explosion causing them to crash. There had been no time to eject. Their only choice was to go down with the ship and hope for the best.
And that's when it hit him like a ton of bricks. Dinah! Victor the half man half machine turned to his right to find Dinah hunched over in the co-pilots seat, a large bloody cut on the side of her head. "Dinah!" he exclaimed. "Dinah, can you hear me?" He tried to maneuver closer to her so he could get a better look, but he couldn't move. He was stuck. That's when he saw that his right leg was pinned under the controls. This was one of the times he was thankful for the horrific things that had been done to him, using his super-strength he was able to free his leg and get out of the ship.
He paused for a moment taking in the deadly sights around him. The ground was covered with bodies, none of them were moving. It tore his heart apart. They never stood a chance. There was not a a single building left standing. This wasn't the beautiful city he had grown up in, where he had played high school ball and planned to go to college until the accident that changed his life forever. His scanners read high radiation levels, which would not hurt him due to his bionics, but Dinah was another story. He had to get her out of here before any permanent damaged could be done. There was nothing he could do for the people who had died. All he could do now was save Dinah and himself. You save the ones you can and remember the ones you couldn't.
Victor checked for a pulse. It was faint, but it was there. He got her out of the seat belt and carefully picked her up, a bright smile appeared on his face when he saw her start to stir. "Hey there girl. How you feeling?"
"I've been better," she answered softly. "My heads killing me..."
"I'm going to get you out of here," he told her gently. "You just hang in there."
"Wait... Wh-what..." she was unable to finish as Victor placed an oxygen mask over her face to lessen the effects of the radiation.
Victor began moving quickly out of the city getting as far from it as he could. Once he knew they were a safe distance away he would contact the others and let them know he was okay and that Dinah required medical attention. Then he would return to the city and search for survivors, but he feared there wouldn't be many to find. He didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Is it better to have died in a massive catastrophe such as this or to survive and be haunted by the nightmares for the rest of your days? He wouldn't ever be able to forget. How could anyone ever forget something like this?
He had survived another catastrophe many years before, but that couldn't even begin to compare to what has happened today. But it had been enough to leave a hole in his heart. His parents, sister and himself were in a deadly car accident a little more than thirteen year ago. There had been no survivors, at least that's what they wanted you to believe. The truth was he had survived. He had been badly injured and near death. Luthercorp had it only appear that he had died along with his family, when the truth was he became one of their lab rats. They changed his whole body chemistry, that made him into what he is today. They had plans for him and they would have succeeded had not one of the doctors made sure to keep his humanity in tact and with the help of Clark Kent he was able to escape and start over. He would eventually run into Oliver who recruited him to become part of something, to give his life meaning and to use the things that had been done to him for something good. This may not have been the future his parents or even he himself had planned for, but he would make the most of it. He would do what he could, but today he felt like he had let everyone down. What could is having his powers if he can't stop things like this from happening?
The only thing he found peace in as he got Dinah to safety was that his girlfriend from high school Kathrine had long ago moved away from Metropolis. She was living in California married to lawyer with a couple of kids. When she had learned he was a live she had been so happy and he was happy to have her back in his life. They had tried to make a go of it, but it became clear that it was just too much for her. And it didn't help that she could never tell her family that he was alive. It hadn't been easy and it hurt like hell, but he understood and let her go. She told him she would always love him, but she couldn't be part of his world. To this day he hasn't stopped loving her and has often wondered had the car accident never happened would they be together or would things still have changed between them? In the beginning when they broke up they would talk time to time, but soon that came less and less and five years had passed with no contact at all. But if losing her meant that she would be alive he wouldn't want anything to change at all.
Star City Prison
After the deadly events in Metropolis Oliver had taken Winslow Schotts to Star City prison, while the others remained in Metropolis searching for survivors. Oliver had been given the okay to interrogate Toyamn. He wanted to know why. He needed to know why. Why had he done this? What reason could he of had?
Oliver with his hood down and sunglasses on the table. He leaned across the table staring at Winslow Schott who seemed unaffected by the events that destroyed Metropolis over an hour ago. He didn't care. He didn't care he destroyed a whole city. He didn't care about how many lives had been lost. How many people would be effected by the devastation. He didn't care that he had murdered a young mother to be and used her loving devoted husband to unleash his plans.
"Why?" Oliver demanded trying to keep his voice firm and in control, but there was a hint of crackle in his voice. Because all he wanted to do was break down and cry over the loss of a friend who he had always held dear to his heart. She had been the first person who he wanted to stay for, the first person he would have given everything up for, but it was not meant to be and they decided to remain friends. Good friends. He would have done anything for her and she would do the same for him. And now she was gone and there was nothing he could do to bring her back. If he could he'd change places with her, with all of them just to prevent this tragedy, but no money in the world could do that. All he could do was find answers and hope that would be enough, but deep down he knew it would never be enough. No matter how much time would pass and the city rebuilt, this day would haunt him for the rest of his days.
When Winslow did not answer Oliver angrily grabbed him by the collar of his shirt pulling him halfway across the table. "You're vendetta was with me!" he exclaimed into Winslows face. "I was the one who fired you. Who called you nuts and took all your research." What made this all the more worst was he had been the one to bring Winslow into their world. He had inadvertently put Clark on Toymans radar. "Why did you start going after him?"
"He was more fun to play with and h played by the rules of the game," Winslow answered with a sly smile. "You played dirty."
"And what do you call what you did?" he shouted furiously. "You drugged him causing him to kill the woman he loves and his unborn child, along with destroying his home." Oliver could feel the anger burning inside him he wanted nothing more than to rip that smile off of Toymans face, but he couldn't. It went against everything they stood for. He would not cross that line again, the last time he did. It nearly destroyed him.
"What can I say. I was getting board," replied Winslow. "And it was so easy, easier than it was turning into my little puppet." Referring to the time he led Oliver to believe he was standing under a bomb and if he didn't do exactly what he said he would kill everyone in the room. There had never been a bomb and had there been Oliver was willing to take his own life, a life the woman he loves more than anything would later save him.
Metropolis
"Is that the last of them?" AC annouched as Bart came running with two kids in his arms. They had been working non-stop getting the survivors outside the city where it was safe for the deviation. They only managed to find a few hundred out of millions that had once inhabited the city.
"Yeah," answered Bart with a faint smile. He had found the kids kneeling by their parents bodies. Their parents had sacrificed themselves to protect their children. It broke Barts heart that there was nothing he could do to bring them back.
"What about the Big Guy?"
"I think I saw him flying back into city when I was passing through," he answered as he set the kids down, who were then taken by an older woman who hugged them tightly as they cried into her arms.
"Have you tried talking to him?" AC asked knowing that Bart and Clark were pretty close and that if not Oliver, Clark might confine in Bart.
"No. Once he into the blast zone all I got was static from his communicator," sighed Bart. "And with that much radiation not even I can run fast enough to resist the effects. Only..."
Just then both Conner and Kara appeared each with a few more survivors. Kara helped a man and his daughter to the ground. The father thanked her for saving him and his little girl, to which Kara only smiled. She wished she could have done more.
Once Conner flew down, both AC and Bart saw who was in his arms. "Di-" they both were about to say, but quickly stopped themselves.
"You had us worried there more a while," said AC with a smile.
Dinah smiled weakly up at him. "Had myself worried."
"You better get her to Smallville Medical," AC told Conner.
"I'll start getting the survivors to the neighboring cities and get them medical help," annouched Bart.
Kara looked AC in the eyes, he nodded his head knowing where she was going. She really was the only one who could enter into the blast zone that was most effected by the radiation. He watched her head back in just as Cyborg came running in carrying a woman with an injured leg.
Center of The Blast Zone
Clark cradled Lois body in his arms in the city that had been their home. The place where he had told her he was the Blur. The place where he had proposed and seven years later had gotten married. Where they had went to work everyday sitting across from each other at their desk, smiling at one another, stealing a kiss here and there and can't waiting to go home and hold each other through the night.
They would no longer be able to do that. Their city, their home, their dreams, ….all of it was just gone. The Daily Planet Globe lay behind him broken and in the rubble. Dead bloody bodies lay all around him. But in that moment the only loss he was thinking of was the one who meant everything to him and the little life that will never see the light of day. It seemed hard to believe that less than twenty-four hours ago he learned he was going to be father, everything he always wanted was coming together. Now he had nothing. He will never know what it feel like to hold their child in his arms, he will never know what it feels like to be a father. Lois and him will never have a twenty-five year wedding anniversary, not even a ten or a five or even a year. He will never be able to feel touch of her lips against his skin or the sound of her voice telling him how much she loves him. They will never again make love and hold each other through the night. There will be no more jokes or playful banter. Nothing... Nothing at all. Only the horror of her death haunting him for the rest of his days.
"Clark," Kara said softly as she flew down beside her cousin and gripped his shoulder. She wanted him to know that she was here for him and that he was not alone. He needed her now more than ever.
"...Kara," Clark answered looking up at her, his face was a wreck, tears streaming down his face non-stop, so unlike the Superman everyone believed him to be. He thought the loss of his father would be his greatest tragedy, but it didn't even compare to what he had done today. "I killed them... I-" his voice broke and crackled. He couldn't get the words out. It hurt too much to know that because of him, he would never be able to grow old with the woman he loved, he would never be able to watch his child grow and millions upon millions of lives had been destroyed.
"What!" exclaimed Kara shaking her head as her heart shattered into a million pieces to hear that Clark blamed himself for what had happened. No! She would not let him take the fall for this. "No, Clark. You didn't do this. Schotts orchestrated this whole thing. Not you. This is not your fault Clark."
Clark heard her words, but he couldn't accept them. It had been by his hands that Lois died, resulting in her heart to stop, killing their unborn child and over million of lives in Metropolis. Schotts may have been the one who loaded the gun, but as far as he was concerned he was the one who shot it. This was on him and it always would be.
Clark brushed his thumb gently across Lois's face. The glow that had been there only hours ago when they had been lying in bed hopeful for the future was gone. "I'm so sorry Lois," he cried. "...I hope one day. You can forgive me, but I have to do this. It's the only way now." He pressed his lips against her forehead. The last kiss he would ever give her. He then ripped off his red cap and wrapped Lois in it. He didn't want her to be cold. With a heavy heart he turned to Kara. "Will you..." he cleared his throat, almost as if he were reconsidering leaving her. "Will you hold her? Will you keep them safe?"
Kara didn't know what to expect from Clarks pleading eyes. There was something in his voice, something that should cause her to be concerned, but she just couldn't say no to him. Not after everything that has happened. "Of course. I would do anything that is within my power for you Clark."
Clark nodded his head as he smile faintly grateful for her help. He gently handed Lois to her before taking to the skies. "There is something I need to do."
"Clark, where are you going?" Kara called out to him, but he never answered her. She wondered where he could be going. What could he have to do that he would leave moments after the death of his beloved wife and unborn child.? And then ever so slowly a thought crept into her mind, a thought that seemed unlikely, because it just couldn't be. He would never do that, but then you never know what anyone will do until their whole world comes crashing down. And Clark world has crashed ten times over. Kara quickly tapped into her communicator. "John you need to stop Clark!"
High in the skies Clark flew like the wind heading straight for Star City. He was determined to get there at any cost, no matter who got in his way. He wasn't going to let anyone stop him from getting there and facing the man who kidnapped his wife and connected a trigger device to her heart.
"Clark," exclaimed John as he flew in front of Clark. He only moments ago had gotten the urgent message from Kara for her concerns about Clark and what he may be planning on doing. "I know you're hurting and that you're angry, but I can't let you go any further."
"Out of my way John!" Clark demanded as he flew towards the older man who grabbed a hold of Clark preventing him from going any further. "I just want to talk to him."
John looked him hard in the eyes. If there was one thing Clark could not do it was lie to him. The lone survivor of Mars could read the thoughts of people and the last thing on Clark's mind was talking to Winslow Schotts. He wanted to face Schotts for something else. Something John could not allow to happen. He had promised Jor-El he would look after his son, keep him from harm and on the path of righteousness. There was nothing righteousness about what Clark was thinking now. "Don't lie to me boy!" he exclaimed loudly. "I have been where you are and trust me you do not want to go there."
John knew what it was like to lose everything you love. He had once had a wife, a daughter who he loved more than anything, but a massive war broke out on his planet. Everyone died, all but him. There is a reason he is Mars's only survivor, a reason he has never told anyone, not even Jor-El knew. All Jor-El knew was something had happened, something John never wanted to talk about and he never made him. "Please Clark, let me help you," he begged.
"What you want to erase my memory? You want to make me forget what happened!" exclaimed Clark angrily through his tears.
"No. I would never make you forget," exclaimed. "I would never take your memories of her away, but what you're thinking now, what you want to do. Will destroy her memories of you. Can you live with that?"
It seemed almost for a moment John had gotten through to Clark, but the anger and hurt was just too painful. "Lois is gone. She's dead and nothing you say or do can change that." He looked John hard in the eyes. "And I'll make sure that this doesn't happen to anyone ever again."
"I'm sorry, but I can't let you do that," exclaimed John who shoved Clark hard enough to push him back to the ground. John flew down and landed a few feet away from Clark who was slowly getting back to his feet.
Clark wiped away the blood from his lip and angrily stared John in the eyes. He couldn't believe John had just done that. "You think you can stop me?" Clark exclaimed angrily. No one was going to stop him, not even an old friend who has saved his life on more than one occasion. Clark sighed heavily, he hated to do this, but John had pushed him to his limits. "I'm sorry John, but you've left me with no choice."
Before John could move away Clark used his heat vision imprisoning him into a ring of fire. John tried to escape, but his fear proved to be stronger. "Clark, please don't do something you'll regret for the rest of your life," he begged.
"I already have," Clark answered as he flew back up and headed for Star City.
John could do nothing, but watch helpless as Clark disappeared out of sight. He bowed his head down sighing as tears ran down his face. "I'm sorry, I've failed you..."
Star City Prison
"But that's not the real reason why I did it," annouched Winslow with a sly smile, as he brushed his clothes off and sat back down in his chair. "You see Luthor had a theory, he believed that you took the one he loved the most away it would break him. He thought at first it was Lana, but the Blur only became more dedicated," he sneered. "That's when he realized that she wasn't his true love." Years ago back when he was still in prison, Lex Luthors clone, had visited him in prison and told him that Lois was the one and if he failed to kill her it would be up to him to finish the job. Of course when he had gotten his chance he had decided to go another route and use Lois to kill Clark, but when that failed be decided that perhaps Luthor had been right. "Lois Lanes death would break and tear him apart."
"The Luthors are full of bullshit!" exclaimed Oliver.
"Really?" questioned Toyman with a grin. "Was it not Lionel Luthor who killed your parents, even a few childhood friends of yours and their parents? And look what you became, an all punching, all kicking, arrow shooting Robin Hood."
"What's your game Schotts?"
"What do you think your blue friend will become? He's an all powerful being from a galaxy far away who because of his precious gem convinced himself that he is a man. What do you think he'll turn into?"
"You think he'll turn his back on everything he stands for? Everything she saw in him," questioned Oliver not buying a single word of it. He crossed his arms against his chest. "There are some thing even you cant corrupt."
Toyman laughed in delight. He figured Oliver would never believe that his best friend would ever cross the line. "And you are stupid, as you are foolish. I have it on very good authority that he has come close to crossing that line before."
"Close, but never so far as to cross it," challenged Oliver.
"You honesty think he'll still be the same man you knew," questioned Toyman.
"He'll grieve, but he's the best man I have ever meant and nothing you do or say will ever change that!" Oliver declared, just as a flash of blue burst through the wall, knocking him off his feet.
Clark swung the table away and grabbed a hold of Toyman looking him angrily in the eyes. Toyman just stared into Clarks eyes delighted by the creation he had created. "Oh, I think things age going to get a lot funner!" exclaimed Toyman.
"Game over Toyman!" exclaimed Clark coldly as he punched his hand all the way through Toymans chest.
Oliver stood frozen watching in shock and disbelief as Clark pulled his arm out of Schotts chest and watched as Toymans body dropped to the ground. Clark stared down at Schotts body now lying in a pool of blood. He seemed satisfied by what had just taken place and didn't seem to care or take notice to the blood running down his arm to his hand. All that matter was Schotts couldn't hurt anyone ever again. Oliver heart began to race when Clark turned his eyes on him. There was something different about the look in Clark's eyes, something darker and emptier. He tried to say something, but couldn't get the word out, because he couldn't see pass the lifeless body lying in the room. The body of the man Clark Kent, good doer Boy Scout-Superman had just killed.
Clark then flew away without saying a word. There was nothing to say. He had done what he had come to do. There was nothing left for him here. There was nothing left for him anywhere.
TO BE CONTINUED