Part 7

Nevada

Drone Command

Officer Eric Hanks and Chaz Porter sit in front of a control console on the screen it a map is some place in Iraq, a large red dot blinks, as a man in his late thirties has his hand wrapped around the trigger button. The man sitting to the side of him turns his head towards him. "Locked and confirmed!" he annouched.

"Missile is armed and read" exclaimed Porter whose hand had yet to leave the trigger handle that would launch the missile to it's target. He eye his commanding officer Nathan Finn who was standing behind him. "Waiting for your orders sir!"

"It's a go!" exclaimed Commander Finn

"Missile away!" annouched Porter as he pressed the trigger button that launched the powerful missile to the sky.

Then they wait. …...And waited, but nothing seemed to happen. Nothing appeared on the screen like it should have once a missile makes contact with it's target. "Can you confirm that the target has been destroyed?" asked the commanding officer.

"I..." Hanks was completely speechless. He didn't know what to make of it.

"What?" Commander Finn demanded. He wanted answered and he wanted them now. "What is it?"

"The missile didn't hit..." answered Porter.

"Didn't hit the target?"

"No," Porter turned to Commander Finn. "It didn't hit the ground sir."

WHAT? "How is that possible!" shouted Commander Finn, as he angrily leaned over Officer Hanks shoulder who should have seen something on his screen if there were any problems with the missile. He should have known before anything could even happen.

"I don't know sir," Hanks answered. "Maybe the our targeting system malfunctioned..."

"Unless gravity has suddenly malfunction that missile should be on the ground." There was no logical reason that that missile should have hit it's target. There has to be a reason. Something they weren't seeing. "Give me eyes! I want all camera up and running."

"On it sir, answered Hanks, who with a few clicks of buttons brought up the video feed so they could have a clear image of just what had happened to their missile. The mans eyes widened. He couldn't believe it. "Wait?... Is that?"

"Shit!" exclaimed Commander Finn. The reason behind the missile not make contact with its target was right there on the screen. There on the screen they saw Superman rip though the missile as if it were nothing but a cloud. The Commander quickly tapped into his radio. "Did you get that?"

White House

Board Room

There in a room full of military and consul advisers had all seen on the large screen in front of them of what Superman had down just before the video feed had been cut off, most likely that had also been done by Superman.

"What was the reason for the drone strike?" asked one of the senior adviser to President Luthor, to General Alex Walker.

"It was to eliminate a very minor, but dangerous rebel leader," annouched General Walker.

"Estimated casualties," someone asked

"Acceptable," annouched General Walker without missing a beat. "Between five to ten civilians. Superman made a grave mistake by getting himself involved in manners that do not concerned him."

"It looks to me like he was trying to prevent the death of innocent lives," answered Carrie Ross.

General Walker gave Miss Ross a stern cold look, enough to send chills down anyone back. "What he was doing was acting against the United States military. He committed treason!" As far as General Walker was concerned Superman had become public enemy number one. "He has already murdered on our soil on government property. He killed Winslow Schott right in front of the eyes of Oliver Queen one of those so-called heroes. And still Superman has not been punished for his actions."

"Winslow Schotts, did kill over elven million people," annouched Michael Roberts. "Do you really think the American public would fault Superman for the death of of one madman?"

"His reasoning is not what it up in question!" exclaimed General Walker. "His actions do! When he first came forward as Superman he vowed he would not interfere in military affairs. He broke his own promise. This is the very reason why we should have never allowed the Vigilante Registration Act to be disband!"

"Speak of, where is General Lane?" asked Alex Connors. "I thought his retirement wasn't for another two months."

"Unfortunately, General Sam Lanes daughters and their families were causalities of the attack on Metropolis. He resigned yesterday shortly after Superman announcement, but I know if he were standing here today with me today. He would back me one hundred percent." There was no doubt in his mind that the life long career military man would agree that something needed to be done about Superman and but an end to this. "We have no idea just how far he will push this!"

"Maybe if we sat down and talked with him," annouched Miss Ross. "Mr. President, we could arrange a meeting-"

"Out of the question!" exclaimed General Walker. He turned to President Lex Luthor who was siting at the head of the table. "Sir, Superman has decided to police the entire world. He had already toppled one government if he is allowed to continue of his crusade unchecked, uncontrolled like this. We could lose everything?"

"And what do you suppose we do?" questioned Miss Ross. "It's not like we can hold anything over his head. No one has any idea who he is."

"No," answered the General with a cunning smile, as his eyes locked with The Presidents. "But we do know someone who likely does know his identity."

"You're imposing that I give the okay to arrest and bring in Oliver Queens family?"

"Yes!" answered General Walker.

"You are aware that the Queens are related to General Lanes," announced Miss Ross. "I pretty sure, he would not be okay with this."

"He may not like it, but he would see it as a necessary cause," annouched General Walker firmly. "Perhaps with his family in government custody Mr. Queen will release his friends identity and help us bring him in."

"And if he doesn't?"

"Then it will be a very long time before Queen sees his family again, if ever!"

Singapore

Queen Residence

Chloe and her young son slept peacefully in her bed. Robbie had had a nightmare earlier in the night and didn't want to sleep alone. And given everything that had happened Chloe couldn't bring herself to say no, even though she knew her son was getting to old to not be sleeping in his own bed. She hadn't had the heart yet to tell him about what happened in Metropolis and that he wont be able to play with little Sammy anymore. How do you explain to a young child that some madman had murdered the people he loved? How do you explain to him how the hero he looked up to hadn't been able to save the day?

Downstairs Zan and Mia slept in the downstairs bedroom. Zan had his arm wrapped protectively around her, Not that she needed protection. Mia could handle herself just fine and could probably kick his butt if he didn't use his powers. When Oliver had asked his sister and him to come here and look after his family until this whole thing had blown over he hadn't expected to fall for Olivers 'Speedy' side kick. Nor that she would fall for him. She was a good two years older than him, not that that was a huge number.

But still he never imagine that he would find love on Earth all those years ago when Jayna and him had to flee their home before it was destroyed. They were the sole survivors of their home world Exxor. Their father had sent them to Earth, because he had heard whispers that another father just before the destruction of Krypton had sent his infant son there and believed it would be the best place for his children to live. They were fourteen, living in this strange new place and had no idea what they were supposed to do. Not until three years later when they heard about the 'Blur' and went to Metropolis. They believed this had to be the child their father had heard about that had been sent to Earth. It was then they saw a purpose to use their gifts to help the humans, just as he had been doing. Of course they had a lot to learn about being a hero.

Clark, Chloe, Oliver ….all of them had given Jayna and him a purpose and also given them a family. Something they had longed for since they had to leave their home knowing they would never see them again and that they would never be able to return to Exxor. Which is why it had broken Zans heart to learn about the attack on Metropolis and that Lois Lane had been one of the many to fall. He couldn't help but wonder had Jayna and him been there could that had made a difference. Chloe kept telling him that he shouldn't blame himself. That it hadn't been his fault. That he was saving other lives that had been in danger, but even knowing that didn't take away the pain. That's where Mia came in and the more time they spent together the closer they became. He would give his life for her and would do anything not to lose her, which scared her, because he knew this must be how Clark had felt about Lois. And now she's gone. It didn't seem fair to feel something like that and in one moment lose it all.

Mia moaned softly as she cuddled up closer to him whispering his name softly. They were both so peaceful that is seemed nothing could disturb their bliss. Until... CREEK. Both of their eyes flashed open to find several armed solider all in black uniforms and night vision goggles surrounding them.

"Hands in the air!" shouted one of the soldiers. "Both of you."

With both of their hearts racing Zan and Mia looked to one another nodding their heads. This had been what Oliver had been afraid of. The world knew his identity. They knew where he lived. Who his family was. They knew everything about him and he always knew that someday the government could come after him again.

"Like hell assholes!" shouted Mia as she jumped from the bed giving the solider a hard right hook into his jaw. "You going to just lay there or are you going to give me a hand?"

"Right. Sorry," Zan jumped up from the bed in front of two solider who didn't seem too impressed.

"And what you going to do pretty boy?"one of them mocked.

"I'm happy that you asked," answered Zan who material into a sheet of slick ice causing the soldier around him to fall on their asses while Mia continued to fight off those around her using every move that Oliver had taught her.

While upstairs, three of the soldiers walked room to room searching for Oliver Queens young wife and son. They walked around the boys bedroom, but the bed was empty. They checked under the bed and in the closet, but there was no sight over the boy.

They moved on to next bedroom where they saw a form underneath the blanket. They slowly moved in. The leader waved the other two men around the other side of the bed while he took the right. The leader reached out to pull away the blanket signaling for his men to be ready, but instead of finding their targets under the blankets there was something else. Something that none of them were prepared for. The form lying under the blanket was revealed to be a mighty tiger who the moment the blanket were pulled away stood up and began growling at the three men fiercely.

"A tiger!" one of them shouted. "We weren't given information that there would be a tiger here."

Then behind them hidden in a closet Chloe with her son in her arms dashed out and out the bedroom door, before any of them could grab a hold of her.

"Hey! There they are!" the leader shouted. "Someone go after them!" But before anyone else could get out the bedroom door. The tiger jumped off the bed and blocked them from getting out. The tiger growled loudly letting the three men know there was no way in hell she was going to let them out of here.

Downstairs Chloe rushed down the stairs with her panicking son who had no idea why this was happening. It wasn't until they were on the main floor that she saw the smoke and could smell the burning flames. They had started a fire in her house. The house that Oliver and her had made into a home, a place where they would always feel safe. Until tonight.

"Mommy what's going on!" cried Robbie. "Why are those men doing this? I thought they were the good guys."

Chloe didn't know what to say to her son anymore than she knew why they were doing this. She expected it had something to do with Clark announcement and the military and government officials wanting to make a statement, but since they couldn't touch Clark. They went after the next best thing. Superman best friend who identity was known by the whole world.

"You and your son are coming with us Mrs. Queen!" exclaimed a solider that grabbed a hold of Chloes wrist pulling her tightly.

"Oh you're messing with the wrong girl buddy!" exclaimed Chloe as she pulled her hand away and punched the solider smack in the face braking the man nose.

"Bitch!" he exclaimed as he raised his hand getting ready to swat her across the face, but just before his hand could make contact Zan materialized between them and shoved the solider away right smack into a bookshelf.

"Didn't your mother ever teach you it's not nice to raise a hand to a lady!" he exclaimed to the soldier that was lying on the ground not moving.

"Have I told you lately how happy I am that Oliver sent you two?" answered Chloe with a smile thankful that Zan had been there to come to her aid, especially since she hadn't been too pleased that Oliver had sent the Wonder Twins without telling her first. Not that she didn't enjoy their company, but she didn't like it when Oliver got over protective.

"No," Zan answered with a grin. "But we can talk about that later after we take care of the cavalry."

"That's easier said than done," answered Mia backing towards them as she was being surrounding by several armed solider who had their guns all pointed in their direction.

"Sure wish Supes was here," annouched Zan. "It would make this so much easier."

Then the fire that had been started in the kitchen burst through the living room surrounding it in flames. Mia, Chloe and Zan all shared concerned looks as the armed soldiered gained closer to them. Then a loud shot rang out up stairs and a deafening cry shrieked out.

"Jay!" cried Zan as his heart started racing wanting to run up the stair and go to his sister, but Mia stopped him. "No Zan! You can't help her."

"She's my sister. She needs me,"

"What about them," Mia looked towards Chloe and Robbie. Robbie was scared to death clinging to his mother fore dear life as she tried to console him telling him everything was going to be okay. "We both promised Oliver we would do everything we could to keep them safe."

"I can't just leave her."

"What would Jay, if it was you up there."

He didn't want to admit it, but he knew Mia was right. Jay would protect the innocents first. She wouldn't let her emotional attachments get in the way of her better judgment even at the cost of someone she loved. "What about you?" It was hard enough having to come to terms with leaving his sister behind, but now he was leaving behind two people he cared for. Two people he would do anything for. Give his life up for.

"I'll be okay," Mia answered. "I'll give you the time you need to get away. Jay and I will catch up with you later. Once it's safe." She smiled faint, as she gave him a quick bittersweet kiss on the lips. "Now go!"

With a heavy heart Zan placed his hands on both Chloe and Robbie. Chloe smiled faintly at Mia hoping that this would not be the last time she would see the young woman who had become like a little sister to her. "Be careful..." Chloe told her as she, her son and with the help of Zan materialized into a cloud of smoke.

"Hey! Where they go?" shouted one of the men as he looked around, but could see no sighed of Chloe, the boy or the young man.

"I don't see them."

"And you never will!" exclaimed Mia as she dropped kicked on of the soldiers and elbowed another in the gut, but the smoke was starting to become too much for her and that swift quickness she once had started to winder. But she had to keep going. She needed to give them time. Time to get away and get as far from here as they could. But unbeknown to her the leader of the squad came down the stairs coming up behind her and with the handle of his gun knocked her out.

"What the hell is going on!" he shouted. "Where is the woman and child!"

"They disappeared sir. Then and a young man."

"No one just disappears," he shouted into the mans face.

"I think hes one of those super freaks."

The leader of the squad was more than displeased to say the least. He looked at the young woman lying on the ground barely conscious. "Take her!" he ordered his men and then called up the stairs to the other two. "And the other one."

But before the two men upstairs could grab a hold of Jayna who after being shot morphed back into herself found the strength within her to change into a small robin and flew down the stairs through the smoke and out the door before anyone could do a thing about it.

"She's getting away sir!"

"Let her go," he annouched. "She's as good as dead anyways." He turned to Mai who was now on her feet being held by two men who each held an arm. The leader grabbed a hold of her face. "For now we'll just have to see how important she is to Queen," he snickered. "What do you think about that sweetheart?"

Mia wasn't impressed. Without bating an eyes she spat in his face letting him know exactly how she felt about it. "You are so going to regret this! You came after the wrong mans family." She knew that once Oliver caught wind of what had happened. There would be hell to pay and anyone that stood in his way better watch out.

The man angrily slapped his across the face cutting her lip. He then grabbed a hold of her jaw reinforce her to look at him. "Don't do that again. Or I promise you I'll do thing to you haven't even seen in your nightmares."

Mia remained unfazed. She just smiled that cocky tough girl smile she has always smiled. "There is nothing you can do to me that hasn't already been done ten times over!" she exclaimed. She had come from a tough background. Her mother had died when she was ten, her step-father had abused the hell out of her until she ran away at fourteen and lived on the streets, until she was sixteen and was found by Rick. Who started out as a nice guy, giving her food, a place to live and clean close. But after only a few month of living with him. Things took a total 180 and the next thing she knew. She was working on the streets selling her body to anyone that would pay. That is until the day Oliver Queen had come to her rescue. "So do your worst, because it's already been done!"

The leader of the squad looked like he was about to blow, but there was no time to do anything about it now. The the flames had grown stronger and they needed to leave before the police arrived. He backed away and waved his hand. "Move it!"

….Elsewhere several hundred miles away, Zan, Chloe and Robbie were resting against some trees. Chloe cradled her son in her arms who had fallen asleep. She gently ran her hand through his hair wishing that somehow she could take away this nightmare he had seen. No child should ever have to go through something like that.

Zan continued to look in the direction they had come from hoping that any second would see Mia and Jayna running towards them. His heart ached to go back for them, but he knew he couldn't leave Chloe or her son alone. They needed help. Oliver had put at lot of trust in him in giving him this task and he couldn't let him done.

"We'll get through this Zan," Chloe told him. "We always have."

"I don't know Chloe." He turned to her with a faint smile, as if he wasn't so sure he could believe it. "It's different this time..."

Chloe didn't say anything. She smiled faintly, because as much as she didn't want to admit it. Zan was right. It was different this time. Different than it has been any other time. And she wasn't so sure things would ever be the way they were before. ...Then she saw something coming towards them a small bird that looked like it may have a broken wing.

Zan followed her gazed as watched as the robin flew down next to them. "Jay!" he shouted watching as his sister return to her true form. He pulled her into his lap as the tears started to fall. She was pretty banged up. Her clothes were drenched in blood and her face was pale. "I was starting to get worried that you guys wouldn't be able to get away."

"We didn't..." Jay gasped as she kept her eyes locked on her brother. "They got Mia Zan."

"Then you and I will get her back. Once you get Chloe and Robbie somewhere safe." He wouldn't stop. Not until everyone he cared about were safe.

"I'm afraid I wont be able to go with you this time," Jay answered as it was getting harder and harder for her to breath.

It was until that moment that Zan realized just how bad his sisters injures really were. Blood was draining out where she had been shot and more blood was starting to leak out through his mouth. It became very clear what was happening. "No!" He shook his head. "You can't leave me Jay. We promised dad we would never leave each other."

"And I never will," she told him as he reached out and placed her hand on his cheek. "I will always be with you. No matter what..."

"Jay?" But she didn't answer. "Jay," he said again, but again she didn't answer. She was gone. "No! No!" he cried as he cradled her limp form in his lap. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."

Tears fell from her eyes. They have lost yet another member of their League. Their family. How many more must they lose before this nightmare is over? How many more sacrifices will have to be made? When would she wake up to the world that she once knew? The world she had believed her son could always count on no matter what dark days fell upon it. And for the first time in years, she was afraid of what tomorrow would bring.

TO BE CONTINUED