Part 6

Smallville

Kent Farm

One moment was all it took. One quick decision, the kind of decisions he has always made in the past and things always turned out fine in the end, because he had learned from past mistakes. But this time had been different. This time his decision cost lives, innocent lives that deserved so much better than they got. He had thought he had learned from before when many had died as a result of him opening the gate to the Phantom Zone were killers had been released. Many had died and he never fully forgave himself for him mistake. He promised to never allow such a thing to happened again. He had broken his promise. It was estimated that a little over eleven million lives had been lost. The once proud standing city, that had been called The City of Tomorrow and The Rise of Superman was nothing more than a pile of ruble. There was nothing left of the city. Only a few hundred survived. Most of them had been badly injured and some weren't expected to make it through the next couple of days.

The world had been told that Winslow Schotts aka Toyman was the mastermind behind this great catastrophe that took Metropolis off the map. The madman who once had been charged with the death of Lex Luthor until found not guilty when Lex Luthor appeared out of no where and very much alive. But what the world did not know was their greatest hero, their greatest protector who had vowed to always protect them had been the puppet in this deadly massacre. Had been the one to kill his wife Lois Lane. The woman he loved more than anything, who he would have done anything for. He had promised long ago to always watch out for and always protect.. He hadn't protected her or kept her safe from harm. He had done the exact opposite and allowed elven million lives to be lost, because he was too concerned with saving her from a threat that wasn't even there. The only threat was his own blindness.

How could he have been so stupid? So careless? He knew going in there that Toyman knew what his weakness was, but he didn't care. All he cared about was getting Lois back. All he cared about was the baby that will never be born. All he cared about was getting the life he thought he was owed to him after everything he has done for the world. And now he had nothing. Nothing but an empty farm house filled with haunting memories.

Clark sat on the couch still wearing his capeless blood stained suite. The suit that once stood as a symbol for hope and justice, a light in the dark. His face was a mess, his eyes were red and he had not shaved since the day before yesterday. In front of him on the coffee table were several bottles of beer and hard liquor all but one of the bottle has been cleaned dry. There was also a photo of him and Lois, it was his mothers favorite picture of them that she had spend almost an hour at the store finding the picture frame for it.

Tears fell from his eyes as he picked the picture up brushing his thumb against her face. He wold never see he smile again. He would never see that sparkle in her eyes every time they kissed. He would never be able to hold her close to him and whisper into her ear. All that will be left of their love are moment frozen in time of a life that should have been so much more. "...I think you were right," he exclaimed as he set the picture frame down and picked up the last bottle of whiskey. "When you said that you would be my weakness." He took a big gulp of the bottle downing nearly half of it in one gulp draining his sorrows away. "Maybe if I had let you walk away. You'd still be alive. Maybe none of this would have never happened …." He was about to finish off the bottle when a pair of hands grabbed a hold of it.

"I think you've had enough sweetie," exclaimed Zatanna as she took the bottle out of his hands and cast a spell for all the bottle to be thrown in the garbage. "You should also feel the effects of you sobering up. I took care of your little blue rocks on the way in."

"Well if you had done like I asked when I called, I wouldn't have to result in blue kryptonite," he remarked angrily. Already he could feel the alcohol leaving him and the hole in his heart getting bigger by the second.

"Believe me," she told him sadly. "Drinking your pain away isn't the answer Clark."

"...Well maybe if everyone didn't destroy or hide away every last bit of red kryptonite. I wouldn't of had too!" he shouted. That has been his first choice, but he couldn't find any anywhere, so he went with his second option. With the help of blue kryptonite and few six packs and bottle of hard alcohol he was on his way to feeling better. Until Zatanna destroyed any chance of him ever feeling better again.

"Have you taken a good look at yourself recently?" she exclaimed. She knew he was hurting and that he was angry, but the way he was handling went against everything he stood for. "What do you think Lois would way if she were here?"

"But she's not here!" Clark snapped into his friends face. "She's dead and we both know why."

"It wasn't your fault!" she exclaimed. How many times would it take? How many times would someone have to tell him that what happened in Metropolis, to Lois wasn't his fault. "It was Toymans. And you made him pay, but now it's time..."

"Time for what?" Clark exclaimed as he looked her hard in the eyes. "You think what I did was wrong? You think I regret doing it?"

Zatanna could feel her heart racing. She had never seen Clark like this. This was so unlike the sweet farm boy turned reporter to superhero that she has known for years. She sighed heavily as she gently place her hand on top of his. "I think you're angry and you lashed out before of how much he hurt you, so you wanted him to feel pain."

"Pain?" exclaimed Clark. "Pain is when you fall off your bike and scrape your knee." That was what pain in. Pain in now way could begin to compare to what Toyman had, ...to what he had done. "I wanted him to know what it was like to have his heart ripped out. I wanted to see the look in his eyes when he knew it was all over!" His voice was cold and hard. There was no emotion, no regret. He had killed Winslow Schott and he do it again for the greater good. "He will never be able to hurt anyone ever again."

Tears fell from Zatanna's eyes. While she was not sorry by the death of Toyman, no one would miss him and the world would likely be better without him in it. But at what cost? She wasn't so sure the Clark Kent she knew and once had loved was still in there. She feared that by Clark killing Toyman had changed him and not for the better. She feared that without Lois that the man they all had known could be lost forever. "Clark, do you even realize what you have done?"

"What I should have done a long time ago," he annouched harshly. "If I had taken care of him the first time he had used Lois in one of his plots, none of this would have happened." He looked her firmly in the eyes. "And you know that I'm right!"

She didn't want to admit it. She didn't want it to be true, but she knew it was. Even while Winslow Schotts was in prison could the law stop him from harming others. He was still able to carry out his dirty work and nearly got Clark killed in the process. She didn't know what to say to him. What could she say to him? Zatanna turned her attention to the TV, that had been covering the destruction and death of Metropolis. When it made a switch to another tragedy that was taking place elsewhere, a small Arabic city of Bialya that was being attacked by a crazed warlord who had already claimed thousands of lives. Many of them woman and children.

Clark clenched his hands tightly together as he stared at the hundreds of burning buildings and homes on TV. People running in a panic, as there was no one who could stop the massive destruction that was falling upon their home.

Zatanna knew that look and what Clark was thinking, but given everything that happened yesterday and his whole emotional state. It probably was not a good idea he'd involve himself in this. "Clark, I know what your thinking," she annouched. "But now is not the time for you to be flying in their hotheaded. You need time to heal."

"I fine!" he exclaimed into her face. "And I can't just sit back as more people die, because the government, because the world can't keep madmen like him locked away." How many more people had to die, before they got things right? How much blood does it take for them to step. "No more!" He stopped up taking one last look at Zatanna. "No more will die, by power hungry murders or weapons of destruction. Not while I'm still around..."

"Clark wait!..." But it was too late he was already gone. She knew what Clark was capable of and feared what he may do in his emotional state. He had already attacked John Jones and killed Winslow Schotts. What would he do to a warlord who kills woman and children while destroying their homes? She didn't even want to think about it, because just the thought was too much to bear. She quickly dialed a number into her phone. "I think we may have a problem..."

Bailya

Town

Clark flew faster and faster. He wasn't about to let another madmans actions go unpunished for destroying another city. He would not just stand by while the rest of the world just watched. High above the ground he could see smoke everywhere and flames burning everything in sight. Then he saw someone moving, moving fast. It was a young boy barefoot and in rags running for his life. He watched as the boy who couldn't be much older than Robbie Queen trip over a rock and fall face first to the ground. Then there was a loud boom, a massive explosion had united, thankfully the boy was a good distance away to not be caught in it. But it was obviously clear that the boy had left people behind there. People he cared about, people who he loved and had loved him.

Clark flew down to the boy and helped him up. "Are you all right?" Clark asked him. "Are you hurting anywhere?"

The boy stared up at him in aw. He has heard stories about the man in blue who could fly, but he never thought he would ever see him face to face with his own eyes. The boy said something to him, but Clark could not understand what the boy was saying. He knew he should know all the worlds languages, but even he wasn't perfect. That was made perfectly clear yesterday.

"I'm sorry, I don't speak Arabic, but I'll learn," he answered with a faint smile. "Is there somewhere I can take you?"

Though they couldn't understand each others words. The boy seemed to understand what Superman was saying. He took him by his hand and led him to a village where a woman as soon as she saw the boy ran towards them. The boy let go of Clarks hand and ran into the arms of his aunt who cried happily to see him alive. The woman thanked Clark over and over. "Thank you, thank you!"

Soon a crowd surrounded them, people reaching out wanting his help, wanting him to save them from the nightmare that surrounded them. Clark was beginning to wonder if this was such a good idea. His father had warned him years ago that there were some things even he should not get himself involved with, but even so. He had all this power. Why shouldn't he use it to help helpless people who live under a corrupt government? "It's okay," he told them. "I'm sorry, it took me so long to get to you." He looked into the distance where a massive building of the capital stood with large doors stood. His eyes locked onto it knowing what he had to do. "I'll stop this!"

Bialyas Capital

Without another word he flew towards the building and bursted through the doors. The moment he was in he locked his eyes straight on the man in charge. The man who was responsible for so much blood, the man who continued to kill and kill, even though he had to power to help people, but chose not too.

"Mister President!" Superman exclaimed.

Several of the President of Bialya guards hurdled on top of Superman trying to pin the man of steel to the ground, but they were mere mortals and didn't stand a chance. Clark broke free of their grasps on him and latched onto the presidents shirt. "I'd like a word with you!"

With the murderous president in hand Clark flew through the roof of the capital building not caring one pit how rough or lethal he maybe being. This man didn't deserve mercy and he wouldn't get it. Too many had died because he had always shown mercy, believing that people could change. That they could be better. He had been wrong and people had paid for it with their lives. He would not make that mistake again.

Bailya

Town

"I want to show you something," Clark told him as they flew town to the small village he had taken the young boy to. "These are the people you were supposed to protect!"

The President of Bialya could feel his heart racing as over dozen of pairs of eyes were on him and Superman had yet to release his hold on him. "No! You can't do this," he exclaimed franticly. "I am the President!"

"Not anymore!" exclaimed Clark as he ripped off the mans shirt.

"Superman!" exclaimed Kara as she flew down to her cousin, as soon as she had heard from Zatanna she had flown straight here.

"What are you doing here?" he asked her. "How'd you even know I was here?"

"How do you think?" she asked him full of concern.

"She shouldn't have done that."

"She was worried about you," Kara annouched. "We all are!"

"I'm fine!" he exclaimed.

"No. No you're not," Kara annouched as she moved closer to him hoping to see her cousin in those big blue eyes of his, but she saw something different. Something more hard and unremorseful. And if that wasn't enough to make her concerned the quick glance of people using their smart phones and were taking pictures and filming everything. "What are you doing? Don't you see the cameras?" The last thing they needed was some video getting out that Superman has gone on his own personal crusade.

"Good," Clark answered firmly. "I have something to say."

"To who?" she asked him as she looked into his eyes. "To everyone?" Her eyes widened in both fear and shock. "I don't think that's a good idea..."

"I didn't ask for your opinion!" he snapped. "I will speak-"

"Not looking like that you want!" exclaimed Kara knowing that it would be useless arguing with him over it, but perhaps she could at least give him the time to cool down and clear his head before he does anything else he may regret.

"You're right." Clark sighed heavily knowing Kara was right. His suit was covered in blood and he needed to shave and clean himself up. "I'm sorry, that I snapped. It's not you that I'm angry at. I know you're just trying to help." He knew that Kara and the others were only looking out for him and wanted what's best for him. But after what's happened he feels the weight of the world on his shoulders and can no longer ignore all the cries calling out for someone to save them. Someone to stop the massacres happening all over the world.

"I just don't want you to be rushing into anything, before really thinking about it," annouched Kara. She knew Clark was hurting a great deal. She had seen that look once before, though her and her uncle Jor-El did not have a close relationship she had that same look in his eyes that's she now seeing in Clark. Jor-El blamed himself for what happened on Krypton, because of his mishandling of Zod.. Though her father had told her once that even if his brother had given Zod what he wanted doubted that would have changed anything. Her father never really trusted Zod and always criticize Jor-El for the friendship he had with the general, but eventually Jor-El did come to agree with his brother that Zod was someone who could not be trusted.

And now with the loss of Lois and Metropolis, Kara feared that her cousin may blame himself too much. Blame himself more than Jor-El ever did, but what she feared even more was that Clark may do something that he wont be able to take back later. "Are you really sure that you want to do this now?"

Clark looked into the eyes of the former presidents of Bailya that he had just denounced. Though the man was scared he saw no remorse in his eyes and knew if he let him go that he would continue with his wars and massive destruction killing anyone who was in his way. Not caring if it was a small child. "Yes. I have to..."

It wasn't the answer she had hoped for, but she wouldn't dispute it with him. He was the leader of the League and he called the shots whether she agreed with them or not. "All right. I'll have Oliver set it up."

Star City

Watchtower

Oliver, and the other huddled around the TV waiting for Clark to make his speech. Oliver wasn't sure this was a good idea, but set it up anyone, believing that just maybe Clark would pull through and give the people back the hope they had lost and maybe even redeem himself for killing Toyman.

"I don't think this was a good idea Oliver," exclaimed Zatanna as she crossed her arms against her chest. "The last thing he needs right now is to be in front of a camera."

"You heard Kara," snapped Oliver not liking the ton she was giving. "He would have done this with or without my help. So back off!"

"That's enough out of both of you!" shouted John getting in-between them. He knew if they started turning on each other it would only make things worse. "Let us wait to see what Clark has to say."

"John, Zatanna does have a point. Clark isn't exactly himself right now," added Victor. "He could have killed you."

John sighed heavily knowing that Victor did have a reason to be concerned. Clark could have very easily killed him, "But he didn't..." Clark had come back for him and put out the fire. "He was hurting and acted on his emotions."

Victor nodded his head. He knew that their senior member felt the most responsible for Clark and cared a great deal about him even if he never said so. "I just want to make sure that your feelings about this aren't being misguided by some promise you made decades ago to a pleading father asking for protection for his son." It was no secret to anyone. Everyone knew that John was in a way Clark god-father, who had promised Jor-el that he would be a watchful guardian over Clark. He had done so for many years until Clark's life was in grave danger and he had no choice but to reveal himself and tell him who he was. "No. One would blame you. The truth is anyone of us would probably do the same..."

"...Clark will do the right thing. He is his fathers son," answered John.

"Yeah, but he was raised human," answered Zatanna with a faint smile. "We act on our emotions and state of mind. You didn't hear the sound in his voice, the look in his eyes after he killed Toyman." Zatanna needed them to understand that the Clark they all knew and loved may not longer be the man they once knew. "He's different..."

"Hey, if you don't want to be hear then don't let the door kick you on the way out!" exclaimed Dinah, as she got up from the couch clutching her head where a bandage was wrapped around.

"Easy, there girl," annouched Bart as he gently push her back down on the couch. "You remember the doc said for you to take it easy."

"Not if she is going to be bashing Clark like that!" exclaimed Dinah who was about to stand by while someone tore down the worlds hero.

"I'm not bashing him!" exclaimed Zatanna. "I'm worried about what he might do. Whether we want to admit it or not. This changed him! It's changed all of us..."

Oliver knew that she met well and that she was talking through experience she had once crossed the line when trying to get her father back. Chloe had gotten caught in the crossfire something Zatanna hadn't intended for. Thankfully Zatanna had come to her since and accepted the sacrifice her father had made years ago and let him go. "Let's just wait and see what he has to say," said Oliver with a faint smile. He knew she meant well and care about Clark, maybe too much. Maybe they all cared too much about him that they would look for anything to see passed the fact that less than twenty-four hours ago Clark had just killed a man. He had broken their golden rule, a rule that the last time it had been broken had drove the team apart.

The United Nations

Clark dressed in a clean Superman suit stood behind the podium with both Kara and Conner behind him. They were the three most powerful beings on the planet and Clark believed it was best that they stand together today. Though neither Conner or Kara knew what to expect. Clark never said one word about what he planned to say and that concerned Kara.

Conner on the other hand was looked up to Clark as an older brother and even in a way as a father figure. There was nothing he would not do for him and that scared him. It scared him because he didn't know how far Clark would take his. How far was too far? Had he already gone too far? …..Would he continue down the same path as his brother if he asked him too? He didn't know. He just hoped that he wouldn't have to ever make that choice.

Clark sighed heavily as it was time. He placed his hands on the podium and looked up at the cameras with a heavy heart. "I'm sorry," he annouched sadly. "We failed you. ….I failed you. We have all been affected by yesterdays attack. Many of us have lost loved one." Tears feel from Clarks eyes as he continued on. He couldn't get the imagine out of his mind of him hurting Lois, him being the reason that she is gone. "...I lost someone. She was everything to me and I let her down."

He paused for a moment wanting to choose his words very carefully. "I was once a writer, and as a writer I spent too much time writing about the evils of the world and not enough time fighting it. And as a hero I spent too much time worrying about not wanting to get my hands dirty, even at the cost of innocent lives," he told the camera and to the billions of people watching and listening all over the world. "No more!" he announced. "What happened yesterday can never be allowed to happen again! Corrupt and power hungry men and woman can no longer roam free among us!"

Clark pointed to the former presidents of Bailya. Who was now in shackles and had no where to run to. "This man turn his weapons against the very people he was supposed to be protecting. He is a criminal and will be tried as one!" He turned back to the cameras, his face grown stern and hard. "And to those who would do the same, those who would hurt others. Know this, I will come for you..."

Conner and Kara shared a concerned glance they didn't like where this was headed, but had no choice at the moment but to hang and worry about the aftermath later.

"I don't care about your lands, oil or your disagreements. I don't care about you petty squabbles1" he exclaimed. "I don't care if you're a madman or a terrorist, a king or a president. No one, no matter who they are has the right to take innocent lives." He could no longer stand by as innocent lives were lost each and everyday to sinceless acts. "I am calling for an immediate world wide ceasefire!"

"Can he do that?" Conner whispered into Kara's ear.

"I think he just did," answered Kara with a faint smile, as she listened to Clarks final statement to the world that was enough to get her heart racing, because now Clark was starting to remind her of someone else. And that scared her to death.

"...All hostilities will stop immediately—or I promise you I will stop them!" he exclaimed. "It's over!"

TO BE CONTENUED