Part 14

There's a scream that can't be silenced. It's rising, growing louder and louder with each and every second that passes. It's the scream of a child who was abandoned long ago. That wounded soul could still recall the moment when everything changed. When their world came undone and now once again it finds him. It's staring right at him in the shadows, laughing at him, slamming it's cruelness as it bounces off against regret and past mistake. It's a numbing pain that will never go away.

She was gone, lying there in a pool of her own blood. He had lost so much already and now he had lost her. The one good thing that was still in his life. How could this have happened? How could he have allowed this to happen? Where had he gone wrong?

….He had to wonder would it had been better to have just left her alone? He tried to save her, tried to change her fate, but in the end he never saved her at all.

"...I'm sorry." he cried. "I am so sorry..."

Hours earlier...

Star City

Queen Residence

"Tonight on Star 3Z News, our continuing coverage of a nation divided," exclaimed Judy Roberts. It has been to top story being coverage by every news station throughout the world for the last few weeks. And it doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon.

"While our own polls shows most of Star City is in favor of Superman's recent actions after the terrible tragedy in Metropolis," announced her CO-host Arron James. "There are many who oppose his action. Some have even come out and said that Superman is no more different than the Warlords he's been stopping."

"And one of the more vocal opponents is here with us tonight," annouched Judy. "Doctor Boone, thank you for being here to night." She waited a moment but Doctor Boone never answered and the light was out where Doctor Boone was sitting. Judy smiled at the camera to their viewers at home. "I'm sorry. We appear to be having difficulty with our lights. I'm sure we will have-"

"I'm sorry," Doctor Boone answered as he got up from his seat and walked over to both Judy and Aaron.

"Ollie," exclaimed Mia as she turned to Oliver who was working at his desk on his computer. "Something isn't right.."

"She's right, something is up," exclaimed Dinah as her eyes remained glued to the could feel her heart start to skip a couple of beats. She had a very bad feeling about this.

"What seems to be the problem?" asked Oliver as he got up from his desk and joined the two as a horrifying sight unfolded on live TV.

Star City

News Station

Doctor Boone came out from the shadows only, it wasn't Doctor Boone. It was Bruno Mannehim, a known crime boss from Metropolis. "Channel 3, dynamic duo, a nation dived," he exclaimed with a cunning grin. "Sorry, but I just couldn't stay away. They just keep letting me out... When will they ever learn?" He grinned as he pulled out a gun and pointed it right at both Judy and Aaron. "So which one of you will be replaced tonight?"

"No please," Aaron begged. "I have a family."

"I don't really give a damn," exclaimed Bruno as his finger lingered against the trigger. "Nighty. Night!" He exclaimed as he pulled the trigger.

Judy screamed in horror as there was nothing she could do, but watch as a bullet hit her friend and CO-host. But the moment she opened her eyes she saw Aaron still kneeling next to her unharmed. That's when he saw him. Superman had come to the rescue stopping the bullet just in time. "Superman!" she cried.

"And to think, I thought Mrs. Lane was the only reporter who had all of your affection," Bruno smirked. "But I guess with her blown to pieces. You need someone new for those late night interviews."

Clark angrily ripped the gun out of Bruno's hands and crushed it tossing the remains of the weapon to the ground. He latched into Bruno by the collar of the mans shirt pulling him closer. They were neck to neck. Eye to eye. How many chances would this man get before they finally got it that he would never change. He would always be a thug, a murderer, a killer. Ten years earlier he had almost killed Lois. Clark had gone to investigate Chloes computer having been stolen, but he did not know the crime boss had been using kryptonite to dye counterfeit bills. Bruno was beating him to death and likely would have beat him until he bled out had it not been for Lois. Lois had come to his rescue, but during the altercation Bruno pulled out a gun and pointed it right at Lois. He had mustered all the strength he could and jumped in front of her taking the bullet that had been meant for her. Clark would never have forgiven himself if Bruno had killed her that night.

How is a man who is both a murderer and attempted murderer allowed to walk free? Why wasn't he dead already? Why was he allowed to live when Lois and his baby who never hurt anyone are dead? It wasn't fair.

"Hey Supes? How does it feel knowing that you couldn't save the reporter you admired so much?" mocked Bruno."...But I have to know, did you ever tap that piece of ass? Because she had one tight piece of ass. I would have loved to have gotten my hands on that bitch, I bet she was an animale in bed too."

Clark could feel all his anger and rage building up inside of him. How dare her talk about Lois that way. She wasn't some piece of meat for this sick bastard to look at it. He wanted nothing more than to wrap his hands around Bruno's neck and break every bone. It would be so easy to do. It wouldn't take much effort. Then no one would ever have to worry about him anymore. The world would be safer without him in it. He didn't deserve another chance. He didn't deserve the first one. Once a killer always a killer.

One look in Supermans glowing raging eyes and Bruno knew the mighty big blue wanted him dead. He wanted to kill him right there and right now. He grinned in spite of it, because he knew the beloved hero the world has admired for all these years spirit had been broken. What better way to show the world what he really is than on live TV. That Superman is no better than the criminals he brings in.

"Come on! Do it, kill me," Bruno continued on laughing in Superman face. He wasn't afraid to die. He welcomed it. "I know you want to," he mocked. "It shouldn't be too hard now. You already have blood on your hands. I should be a piece of cake."

Clark looked like he was all for breaking Bruno's neck and then ripping his head off. He wanted to kill him. He wanted to so bad, but then his eyes got wind of the camera staring right at them with the blinking red light. This was all live. Everyone could see what was happening right now. Clark took several deep breaths regaining control of his emotions. He may one day break Bruno's neck making him pay for every crime he ever committed, but not like this. Not for all the world to see. "No," he hissed. "Not today." Clark then shoved Bruno into the direction of officers who had tried arrived on scene.

"We'll take it from here Superman," exclaimed on of the officer as he cuffed Bruno's wrists.

"Just make sure he doesn't get out this time!" exclaimed Clark harshly as the officers took Bruno into custody. Clark then turned to Judy and her CO-host Aaron and for a moment it reminded him of when Lois and him had been partners working a story. And it hurt more than words could describe knowing they would never write or investigate a story again. He would never again hear her announce Lois's rules of reporting. He would never again spell check her words and chuckles when she spelled a word wrong that a third grader would have spelled correctly. There would be no more late night researching in bed. No more make-out break sessions. He sighed heavily as he smiled faintly at the two reporters. "Are you two all right?"

"Yes. Thank you," exclaimed Aaron happily. "You saved our lives."

"He was going to..." Judy couldn't even bring herself to say the words, because the very idea terrified her. "Right here. With all the world watching."

"Yes," Clark answered sadly. "That's just the twisted man he is."

"Thank you, Superman," exclaimed Judy as she grabbed his hand. "I know there are some people who question your new stand, but I want you to know I'm very grateful for what you did just now for Aaron and me."

"You're welcome," Clark answered with a smile. "I'm just glad I was close by. Now, I need to..."

"Wait," she exclaimed not readying for him to fly off just yet. "Before you go could I ask you a few questions?"

"Judy, he said he had to go," said Aaron knowing that Superman probably had more important things to do then sit down with them and answer questions.

But Judy wasn't about to give up. It had been weeks since Superman had made his public announcement to the world. "Please," she begged Superman. "...I know that I'm no Lois Lane and that she was always your go to girl and I respect that. She was an incredible writer and the world will never be the same without her." She knew that Superman and Lois Lane had a special connection. Lois had been the one who broke the story, first about the mysterious hero called The Blur, and then when the hero finally revealed himself to the world who Lois herself named Superman. "But I am sure she would agree how important it is for the public to be informed."

It warmed Clark's heart hearing what Judy had to say about Lois. There was no one in the world like her and there never would be again. She was one of a kind and he would miss her for the rest of his days. He knew Judy was right, Lois wouldn't want him to start hiding in the shadows again. The people had a right to know what his plans are and how he plans to protect them and stop crime altogether.

"All right," he answered with a smile. "But there is one thing that I need to say before I answer any of your questions." He had been thinking about it for a while and thought that now was the time to do it. There was nothing stopping him from doing it now. Nothing to hold him back. "I've kept it hidden long enough and with Lois gone. There's no reason for me to hide it any longer."

Fifteen minutes later after getting everything in the station situated and making sure everything was setup correctly so there would be no more interruptions. Clark took a seat next to Judy, both got the signal from the cameraman that everything was a go.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back, I hope the events that just too place did not scare away too many of our viewers, especially since our very own hero after coming to Aaron and my rescue decided to sit down with us for a few moments and answer some questions." Judy turned to Superman with a bright smile. "Thank you for joining us tonight Superman."

Clark finds himself drifting away in his thoughts...

"Look, I appreciate you helping me audition, I'm still angry you didn't tell me how bad Oliver was doing, but you're here anyway, so please, don't me me wish you weren't."

"It's okay, Lois. You don't need to get all worked up like you usually do."

"Well, excuse me Mr. I'm-slow-and-steady-and-know-what's-best-for-every one, this happens to be important to me. With newspapers on the endangered species list, news television is my one and only back-up plan."

"Don't you think you can be a little less dramatic with this whole thing?"

"You could be a little more passionate with this whole thing. But not you, not mild-mannered Clark Kent. Do you even care if I get this job?"

"Of course I care. I bought a new tie."

"Oh, well I bought a whole new outfit."

"Yeah, you look great!"

"Don't do that!"

"Do what?"

"Don't you dare reassure me right now."

"Lois, I'm only doing this for you..."

"Superman?"

"Huh..." Clark snapped out of his thoughts as he looked from Judy and back to the cameras. "Sorry, I was somewhere else for a minute." It was one of his favorite memories of her, because days later he had grown the courage to go up to her pull her up against his chest and lay the biggest, the most passionate kiss he has ever laid on anyone. Not that he didn't like those he had kissed before Lois, but with Lois it was different. Special. One in a million. He knew he would never be able to feel the same way about anyone else. She had been the one and she always would be.

"If you don't mind me asking, where were you?" asked Judy.

Clark took a deep breath. Here it was the moment, the moment when everything would change and nothing would be the same again. He had always thought it would happen many years from now, but now was as good as time as any. "I was thinking about my wife," he answered.

"Y-your wife?" answered Judy speechless. "You're married?"

"I was," Clark answered softly. "...But she was taken from me, both her and our baby."

"I'm sorry," Judy answered with a faint comforting smile. She could see the loss was still very recent in his eyes. "You must miss her."

"I miss Lois very much..."

"Lois?" Judy questioned. "Lois Lane?"

"Yes," Clark answered without hesitation.

"But she was married to..." That's when the pieces started to come together for Judy. Lois Lanes husband, Clark Kent is Superman. She couldn't believe it, but at the same time she couldn't believe she hadn't put the piece together or anyone for that matter. Superman had been hiding in plain sight for all the world to see all this time and all it had taken was a pair of glasses, a pair of silly glasses."You're Clark Kent."

"Yes. I was raised as Clark Kent, by Johnathan and Martha Kent who found me as a toddler and raised me as their son." He bowed his head down sighing heavily, as much as he loved being their son and how honored he was to have been named by them. He believed that wasn't who the world needed him to be. "But after what happened in Metropolis, I've realized I can no longer be Clark Kent."

"And who is it that you need to be?" asked Judy.

"Someone who will make sure that no one ever feels the loss of a loved one to senseless act of violence," he answered firmly. "I don't want another tragedy like Metropolis to ever happen again. I want people to be able to live their lives, raise their families and not have to worry who is lurking in the shadows."

"And this is why you have taken on a more proactive role than you have in the past," answered Judy. "Do you think Lois would approve?"

"I hope so," Clark answered. He hoped that Lois would understand the need for him to do this. That she would back him up on this just like she always had backed him on every other decision he had made. "In a way, I'm doing this because of her." He hated that it took having to have her taken from him for him to finally open his eyes to the truth. "She always believed in me and told me to always trust myself. I feel this is the right action right now. That this is what the world needs me to be right now."

"It's been widely reported that you killed Winslow Schotts, also known as The Toyman," annouched Judy. No one has really come out and said one way or another. This was her chance to get it from the man himself. "Did you?"

"Yes," Clark answered. "I did..." He would not deny that he had killed Toyman. He did not regret his decision. It was justice as far as he was concerned for all the lives that had been destroyed by Toyman sinceless act and his penurious for having been part of it.

"I don't doubt there's a single soul out there who thinks you did the wrong thing," answered Judy. "Especially after what he did to Metropolis."

"I wish you were right," Clark answered softly. "But there are those who continue to defend these psychopaths." How many criminals has he put away only to have them break out or be let go later? How many times have those same criminals continued to comment the same crimes over and over. "There's a poison in the justice system and I'm here to eradicate it, starting with the convicts being held in Strykers Island."

Star City

Queen residence

It was bad enough he had revealed to everyone that he was Clark Kent. Now he was going to take justice into his own hands. Oliver did not like the sound of that. He knew Clark was still grieving over the loss of Lois and the baby. He could handle him wanting there to be a cease fire, he could handle him taking a more proactive role going after warlords, he could even handle him killing Schotts, but this was going too far. When they had started the new Justice League, they had agreed there would be lines they would not cross. That they would apprehend the criminal not be their Judge, Jury and Excursion. That they would let the law decided what should happen to them and not force their will upon the people, especially Clark.

"We need to get to the jet!" Oliver annouched referring to the spare Arrow Jet he kept in his parking garage of Chloe and his condo in case of emergency. And if now wasn't an emergency he didn't know what was. He was going to do everything he could to save Clark, even if that meant having to same him from himself. This was not the Clark Kent Way, This is not what Lois would want.

"These twisted individuals have been given far too many chances. Who time and time again continue down the wrong path not caring who is hurt along cannot be allowed to do so anymore!"

Mia couldn't tear her eyes away from the flat screen TV, as Clark continued with his announcement or more like his declaration. This was no unlike the Clark Kent she new, but he had been through a lot and doing what he thought was right. Which is why she knew he needed to be reminded of who he really is.

"Why?" asked Dinah to Oliver. "Sounds like Clark has it all covered. He would have called if he needed back up."

"I will no longer allow them to kill and terrorized only for them to break through the loopholes and be released to do it all over again. They deserve nothing, no compassion, no understanding, no second chances," Clark annouched firmly wanting to make it perfectly clear he was not about to back down on this. "You, the innocent law obeying citizens deserve to know that they can never threaten you again." He paused for a few moments needing to clear his throat. "One of these madmen permanently scarred this world. Millions of lives were lost because he got a second chance. Which is why myself and my fellow Justice League team have decided that the criminals in Strykers Island must be moved to a more securer location and soon other inmate prisons around the world will follow."

"Oh god!" cried Mia as she turned to Oliver with her heart racing.

"Dammit Clark!" exclaimed Oliver. "What the hell are you doing?" Both Mia and him dashed towards the elevator that would lead them to the parking garage, Dinah ran after them.

"I promise you they will never threaten you again!" Clark exclaimed. "You have my word."

Queens Condo Parking Garage

"We got to move fast," exclaimed Oliver as opened the hatch so they could fly out and then got his gear on, along with Mia and Dinah. "There's no telling what he will do to them, in the state of mind he's in." He didn't even want to think what Clark plan were once he got all the criminal to the location he was talking about. All he knew for sure was it couldn't be good.

"Who gives a damn what he does to them!" exclaimed Dinah as she crossed her arms against her chest. "You and I both know that more than half of them deserve what's coming to them."

"We don't have time for one of your political rant right now Dinah," exclaimed Oliver. "Get in the jet!"

"Sure," she answered firmly. "I'll get in, as long as were flying to Strykers to help Clark burn it to the ground." As far as Dinah was concerned the criminal being held on Strykers Island could rot in hell.

"Dinah?" Mia couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Oliver jumped out of the jet, telling Mia to get in as he went and comforted Dinah. "We need to leave now!" he answered firmly. "Are you coming with us or not?"

"You self-righteous arrogant hypocrite!" exclaimed Dinah. "You killed the real Lex Luthor and now you get pissed when Clark wants to put an end to all lowlifes permanently?"

"...You know, I can't say I'm surprised," annouched Oliver seeing there would be no point in arguing with her. Once Dinah had her mind made up there would be no changing it. "You always did have a knack for choosing the wrong side." Referring to when she had once did a job for Lex Luthor, before she knew the truth about what he has having her steal and what he intended to use it for.

"Well then I guess you're one of my many conquest then," answered Dinah as she got into Olivers face. Before Oliver and Chloe had hooked up, her and Oliver had had a fling that lasted a couple of months, before they broke things off.

"I've had better," Oliver answered. "Don't let the door hit you on the way out!" With those final words Oliver jumped into the jet and flew off with Mia leaving Dinah behind.

Arrow Jet

"You going to be okay?" Mia answered with concern knowing that couldn't have been easy for Oliver. She knew that Dinah met a great deal to him and to have this happened couldn't have been easy. It sure wasn't easy for her. Dinah had been like a big sister to her.

"...Ask me tomorrow, more like a week from tomorrow," Oliver answered with a heavy sigh. He couldn't believe that Dinah wasn't on his side with this, but then he wasn't surprised either. She was always the type to shot first and ask questions later, but then he had been like that too. That is until Jimmy was killed and everything had changed. He would have thought that would have changed Dinah too, but he was wrong.

"I do understand it though," Mia annouched. "Why she agrees with him. Why he wants to do it." She had lived on the street and seen evil on a daily basis. She had lived in her own little hell that is until Oliver Queen entered her life and changed it for the better. "Make things better for everyone. His hearts in the right place."

"But you understand, why we can't let him do this, right?" he needed someone to have his back. He couldn't do this alone. He couldn't go back to being alone again. Not after all this time. He couldn't be alone.

"Of course I do" answered Mia. "The law may not always be right or fair, but..."

"Mia..." Oliver answered seeing where this was going, if anyone should be all on board with what Clark is doing it would be her. The law had not been kind to her. The law had kicked her to the ground forcing her into the arms of the very people the law should have protected her from. The law had failed her.

"It's okay Oliver, I get it," she answered with a faint smile. "Now lets go protect a bunch of horrible murderers from the worlds greatest heroes."

Strykers Island

Clark, Victor and the newest member of their team Andrea Rajos aka Angel of Vengeance walked down the hall towards the cells where the prisoners were being kept. Strykers Island was one of the fewest places that remained of Metropolis, something Clark was sure Toyman had intend for. But he would make sure that Metropolis mightiest and worst would feel every bit of raft of terror that the citizens of Metropolis felt.

Clark had started out wanting to end wars and bring warlord preying on the innocents to their knees. But it was Andrea who reminded him that was only part of the bigger picture. Many crimes our committed everyday in cities just like Metropolis and Star City all over the world. If they wanted to take a stand against those who wish harm onto others, they needed to start small, because if they go after the crooks, the low life murderers and rapist then no one would dare start a war or steal young children in the night turning them into young soldiers.

"You and your team are more than welcome to take a look around Superman," annouched one of the guards. "But I assure you we are fully secured. No chance of anyone escaping."

"We're not here for a security check guard," annouched Andrea. "I'm afraid we've lost confidence in this prison. It's time for the inmates to be moved to a more secure location. One where there is a hundred percent guarantee they will not escape."

"I understand your concern, but you don't get to decide that answered the guard, as he opened the door to where all the inmates were being kept in their cells.

"Awesome, another person who agrees with me," annouched Oliver who along with Mia stood in front of a couple of the cell blocks.

"You weren't kidding," annouched Andrea as she looked over her shoulder.

"I never kid," exclaimed Dinah as she walked forward looking directly at both Oliver and Mia. "Isn't that right Oliver?"

"I take it our little birdie told you we were coming," exclaimed Oliver with a grin not taking his eyes off his former team members. He didn't want it to come to this, but he couldn't let them do this. He had to find a way to reason with them. He had to find a way to get his old friend back. He made a promise to Chloe and he had every intention of keeping that promise.

TO BE CONTINUED