TW: Thank you.

Halliwell Manor

Night

"I'm worried about Paige. She hasn't answered me all day," Piper was saying to Leo and Phoebe as she prepared dinner.

"Piper, Paige has her own problems to deal with back in Metropolis. You've seen the news," Leo pointed out.

"With Clark and his friends public enemy number one, Paige has a lot on her plate," Phoebe reasoned.

Piper frowned, seeing her point but still unable to shake the uneasy feeling that had come over her. Before the conversation could continue, there was a knock on the front door.

"I'll get it," Phoebe said before walking over to the front door.

Opening it, she was stunned to find Sheila standing on the other side, visibly upset.


"I'm sorry, I didn't know where else to go," Sheila said as she sat at the kitchen table with the Halliwells and Leo.

"Just tell us what happened Sheila," Leo said gently and she took a deep breath.

"I got a call from one of Darryl's friends at work. Darryl was questioned by these men in suits and then they took him somewhere. No one's heard from Darryl since and no one can tell me who the men who questioned him were," Sheila said emotionally, to their alarm.

"Do you think this has something to do with Sheridan?" Phoebe wondered uneasily.

"Sheridan wouldn't be so suspicious about it," Leo pointed out logically.

"Leo's right. Whatever's going on, I don't think Sheridan has anything to do with it. We'll find him Shelia, I promise," Piper promised.

Metropolis

Same time

Once the room has been left alone, Clark sped into Slade's office, picking a file up off his desk and beginning to read it. Hearing a click of a door, Clark looked up, stunned to see Carter standing a few feet away.

"So much for going off the grid," Carter noted.

"Carter, what are you doing here?" Clark asked.

"Probably the same thing as you, looking for answers," Carter said as he began searching the office. "Besides, I've adopted a rule over the centuries: don't go underground until you're dead."

"It's all one of the same anyway," Clark said with a sigh. "If we go to ground, we're as good as giving up."

"Not yet we haven't," Clark and Carter looked up, stunned to see Oliver walk in.

"You're not supposed to be here," Carter hissed.

"Well that makes three of us," Oliver shot back. "What are we doing? We're supposed to be heroes, we're supposed to be setting an example for the kids and we can't even follow orders. Even if we gave them."

Clark looked away, knowing Oliver had a point. But he refused to give up without a fight.

"Hey, I was thinking about Slade and that ultra mark of darkness," Oliver started.

"Omega," Carter corrected and Oliver shot him a dirty look.

"Whatever, the point is the mark has to be driving everything somehow," Oliver reasoned.

"Darkseid," Clark said and the other men turned to him. "The mark is the symbol of a being known as Darkseid."

"Okay, and you've known this for how long?" Oliver questioned.

"Paige and her sisters have a book full of magical creates. Darkseid is in it," Clark admitted.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Carter wondered.

"I was going to wait until I knew a bit more. Darkseid has been involved with some of the some of the darkest events in human history," Clark explained.

"Doesn't surprise me. I've seen things like this in humanity's darkest hours. But every time it looked like the world would be consumed by hatred and darkness, another force arose, a much bright one to send the darkness back," Carter said.

"And you had something to do with that," Clark guessed and Carter nodded. "Well this time, it's us and we need to start by stopping Slade."

"Well that's easier said than done. Justice isn't only blind right now, it's broken. There's no way the authorities will put that dog in a cage," Carter said grimly.

"Maybe not, but I think I have a place to put him until we can make things right. A place where he can't hurt anybody," Clark said, thinking of the Phantom Zone.

Daily Planet

Same time

After Trotter had left the office, Paige waited to make sure she wasn't being watched before Orbing out of the room.

Orbing down a few floors, she made sure no men in uniforms were around before rounding the corner, nearly running into Cat.

Just her luck.

"Paige, I thought you were still being questioned," Cat said and Paige nearly swore.

"Nope, cleared of all charges. Sorry to bail, but I've got to meet some friends," Paige said as she attempted to make her escape.

"You escaped," Cat said and Paige whirled around.

"And it was you who turned us in, right?" Paige accused.

"It's what I call doing my civil duty, just like marching you back to the authorities," Cat said, attempting to grab Paige only for Paige to smack her hands away.

"You're not gonna do that. Look, you and I have never seen eye to eye Cat, and we probably never will. But Clark is always going on about what a good person you are. Tell me, does any of this seem right to you? People getting dragged in for questioning, being forced to turn in their neighbors and friends in. Seems pretty Nazi like to me," Paige reasoned and Cat hesitated. "Think about your son, about the kind of people you want him to look up to. The kind that tears people down in order to build themselves back up or the kind that saves them without asking for any thanks or credit?"

"You're asking me to change how I think about the world," Cat told her.

"Or just to reevaluate your definition of a hero. What if I told you the Blur has saved your life twice now without you even knowing?" Paige asked and Cat stared at her in disbelief. "Come on Cat, how else can you explain surviving a car explosion? Are you really going to be able to look your son in the eye and tell him that you turned in the person who saved your life? Clark thinks you're a good person Cat. Here's your chance to prove it."

After a long moment, Cat looked back at Paige.

"Maybe everything's not as black and white as I thought. I overheard Trotter say that Slade had a new w ay to take care of the VIg - the heroes. And now that Oliver Queen's been found guilty of terrorism-"

"They're gonna use him to track down the others," Paige realized and Cat nodded. "Who knows what they'll find if they dig even deeper."

Slade's office

Same time

"If you're gonna make your move Clark, you better make it fast because Slade already has," Oliver said from where he sat at Slade's computer.

"Operation Icarus," Carter read off as he walked over to Oliver, seeing him opening the file.

"The Icarus myth is about fallen heroes who reach too far, it's the only file flagged for encryption," Oliver explained.

"It's a blacklist of known vigilante and vigilante supporters to be brought in for questioning," Cater noted.

"Paige, Tess, Emil and someone named Darryl Morrison are Slade's top draft choices for this season of interrogation," Oliver said and Clark started.

"Darryl, you're sure?" Clark asked.

"Yeah. You know him?" Oliver inquired.

"No, but Paige does. He's a cop in San Francisco; he's a friend of the Halliwells. He knows about magic and has helped them more than once," Clark explained.

"They're uploading video files every two hours. Clark, you're not gonna like the latest one," Oliver gestured for Clark to come look.

Clark did, staring in stunned disbelief at images of the Daily Planet, including one of Paige being interrogated.

"That's the Daily Planet. They're using our own security systems against us," Clark said angrily before speeding out.

Halliwell manor

Same time

"So these maniacs are going after Darryl to," Paige said angrily, having Orbed home for help and was currently being filled in by her family and Sheila.

"Paige, what is going on?" Sheila inquired.

"It's a long story; short version is Darryl got caught in the crossfire, again. I'm so sorry you got dragged into this but I promise, we'll get him back," Paige said, hoping she wasn't making a promise she couldn't keep.

Luthorcorp

Same time

Darryl's head whipped to the side, he could taste blood in his mouth as Slade wiped his hand.

"All this ends once you tell me what I want to know Lieutenant," Slade said calmly. "Say the words, the Halliwells are not like us, are they?"

"Go to Hell," Darryl sneered, glaring up at the man. "I will die before I give you what you want."


From Slade's office, Oliver and Carter watched this in stunned disbelief before Carter rose up, a steely determination in his eyes.

Daily Planet

Same time

Tess and Emil were being led to a chopper on the roof when the doors were smashed open and the officers escorting them were dragged behind them. Hearing pained grunts, they whirled around as Clark walked over.

"Are you both alright?" Clark inquired urgently. "And where's Paige?"

"We're fine, we don't know where Paige is," Emil assured him.

"I overheard some of them talking, Paige got away," Tess told him.

"Paige? Paige?" Clark called out before his girlfriend Orbed a few feet away from him.

"Hey, glad you're all okay. But Darryl-" Paige started.

"I know, he's been taken to. We will find him Paige, I promise," Clark assured her.

LuthorCorp

Same time

"You said you'd rather die than cooperate," Slade said as he pulled out a gun and aimed between Darryl's eyes. "Very well Lieutenant."

"Wait, wait, okay," Darryl seemed to give in and Slade lowered his gun. "The Halliwells…will never be taken down by someone like you."

To Slade's shock, Darryl broke free of his restrains and tackled Slade. Slade dropped the gun as the two men wrestled on the floor, trading blows before Slade delivered a well placed kick to Darryl's abdomen that sent him on his side. Slade stood up, picking up his gun. However, as he aimed at Darryl, the window behind him crashed. The two men whirled around as Carter, dressed in his Hawkman uniform, entered the room.

Carter retreated his wings as Slade opened fire on his. When Carter deflected all his bullets, Slade instead drew a sword as Carter picked up his mace. Darryl watched as the men rushed each other, beginning a duel. Slade dodged a strike from Darryl, which ended up getting the desk behind him. Carter knocked over a lamp before getting Slade in the back. Slade went down, rolling out of the way as Carter tried to strike him again.

Slade and Carter continued their duel, Slade backing Carter up against some pipes. Slade cut one when Carter jumped out of the way and gas began filling the room. Carter became temporarily blinded by the gas and Slade took his chance, stabbing Carter from behind. Darryl watched horrified as Slade pulled his sword out and Carter fell to his knees. Slade pulled off Carter's mask and prepared to deliver the final blows when Carter deployed his wings once more.

The gas then turned into flames, the shocks from the fallen lamp igniting it. Darryl was thrown through the glass window behind him by the force of the explosion. Darryl watched helpless as he fell; sure this would be how he died when he saw Carter flying after him, his wings on fire.


Hearing the explosion, Clark sped over, finding Slade exiting the building.

"I was wondering how long you'd hide and let your friends take the fall," Slade said as Clark stared at him in disbelief.

"I heard the explosion. You were in it. How did you-"

"Survive? Let's just say the reaper can swing his sickle at me, but I'm beyond death's stroke now," Slade said.

"Where's Darryl?" Slade turned around as Paige appeared behind him. "Where is he? What did you do to him?"

"I'm afraid Lieutenant Morrison chose the wrong side Ms. Matthews. Just as you did when you became involved with Clark Kent. You were never even on my radar until you came back to Metropolis," Paige glowered at Slade as he looked at both of them. "We can all end this. Join me and we can stop anyone else from getting hurt."

"Never," Clark said angrily and Slade smiled unpleasantly.

"You know, when I named this Operation Icarus, it was because I believed your fall would come from your faith in your abilities. But then, to see a man with burning wings plummet from the sky," Slade chuckled sadistically as Clark stared at him in horror. "God, I do enjoy the Irony."

He turned to leave when Clark suddenly blurred in front of him.

"Where are they?" Clark demanded.

"Dead," Slade said callously.

"No. No, Darryl can't…" Paige trailed off horrified, refusing to believe it.

"A true soldier does whatever it takes to finish the mission," Slade said.

"Then consider this finished," Clark said angrily.

Slamming a Phantom Zone Crystal on Slade's chest, Clark and Paige watched as Slade was sucked into it. Clark then turned and sped off, confusing Paige until she ran after him, figuring he'd heard something.

Finding him in front of the building, she saw him kneeling by Carter's bed, surrounded by ash and the remains of Carter's suit.

"Paige," Carter said as he saw her. "Good, you're here. I have something for you."

Moving what was left of his wings, Paige nearly collapsed in relief as she saw Darryl, shaken but alive.

"Darryl, thank god," Paige said as she knelt down, helping Darryl up.

"He-he saved me," Darryl said shaken as they all looked down art Carter.

"Come on, I can heal you," Paige said, moving to do just that but Carter shook his head.

"No. This is my destiny Paige. Hey, I'm a pro at dying, remember?" Carter joked as Clark knelt down in front of him.

"Carter, I'm sorry, I should have been there," Clark said in guilt.

"It can't always be you Clark. This is all of our fight. Listen. Listen!" Carter shouted and they could tell he was fading. "This is what we do. And my passing means I'll be with Shayera again."

"I owe you so much, I don't know how to begin to thank you," Clark said and Carter smiled weakly.

"You just did," Carter said as he grasped Clark's hand. "Hold onto Paige. Because there has to be a balance Clark. We can't do what we have to do if there's an emptiness in our hearts. You remember that."

"I will, I promise," Clark said and Carter smiled weakly.

"I am sorry I won't be there to help you fight the darkness. But you have all the help that you need."

With that, Carter's head tilted back and the red emblem on his chest stopped glowing.

"Carter?" Clark called out but they knew he was gone.

Clark lowered his head, feeling the tears forming in his eyes as Paige walked up next to his, grabbing in a hug as she tried to fight his own tears. Behind them, Darryl stared down at Carter's body before bowing his head in respect.

"Thank you," Darryl said softly.

San Francisco

Later

Paige and Darryl Orbed outside the street in front of Darryl's house, Darryl's face healed from before. For a moment, they just stood there.

"What a night huh?" Paige asked, trying to sound quippy bit it just felt hollow.

"Yeah," Darryl said and it was silent for a moment. "Carter, did you know him well?"

"I only met him once but he seemed like a good man. Had to be, comes with the territory," Paige said and Darryl nodded. "You need to get out of town, go somewhere safe. I don't care where you go, just take your family as far away as you can get."

"I will, thank you," Darryl said and paused. "Clark, you and him…"

"Yeah," Paige said awkwardly and Darryl nodded.

"He seems like one of the good ones Paige. Hold onto him," Darryl told her and she smiled weakly.

"I will, thanks," Paige said Orbing away.

Darryl stared at the spot where she had vanished before he turned and walked into his house. Sheila was sitting on the couch when he walked in and she got up, running over and throwing her arms around him.

"Darryl, thank God, are you okay?" she asked fearfully.

Darryl wrapped his arms around her, letting the events of the day wash over him.

"My whole life, I believed in the system, that vigilantes were just causing chaos. Until tonight. Tonight, a man using the system nearly killed me. And one of those vigilantes I spent my entire life condemning died, saving my life."

Halliwell Manor, next day

Morning

"I thought Sheridan was bad, but these guys…" Paige trailed off as she sat in the kitchen with her sisters and Leo.

"The important thing is you're all safe," Leo pointed out.

"Not all of us," Paige said grimly and a moment of silence passed.

"How's Clark?" Piper asked.

"Upset. They're having funeral in a few hours. After that…I don't know," Paige said with a heavy sigh, wondering what they could do even with Slade out of the picture.

Egypt

Afternoon

Courtney walked ahead of everyone else, carrying Carter's Hawkman helmet and mace as Clark, Oliver, Dinah, Victor, Kara and AC acted as Pallbearers and Bart, Zatanna and John brought up the rear. They placed Carter's body next to his wife Shayrea before closing the casket. Courtney placed his helmet on top of it before stepping back next to Clark, Kara and Dinah, who wrapped an arm around her in comfort.

They all lowered their heads in respect, none of them seeing a white pyramid rising up out of the window. There was a white flash and, when it faded, all of them had fallen to the floor, unconscious.

And that's another episode done.

I did toy with the idea of Paige saving Carter but ultimately, it was his destiny to die there to be reincarnated into his next life.

See you next time with my version of Collateral.