Chapter 4

Oliver, AC and Victor arrived at the door Chloe had told them about. Restricted Access was written boldly across it in red letters.

"Do you think this is where they are?" AC asked.

"Only one way to find out," Oliver replied. "We need to get inside." He eyed the keypad and retinal scan to the left of the solid metal door. "And that might be easier said than done."

"Watch out," Victor spoke from behind him. He positioned himself against the wall directly opposite of the door. Oliver and AC backed away, giving him some space. Victor took a deep breath then ran straight at the door. He turned his body a bit, just before impact, and hit the metal barrier with his bionic shoulder. Like Victor, the door gave a groan and a second later it collapsed inwards. Victor smiled while rubbing his shoulder, "Well," he said, "That worked better than I expected."

Aiming his loaded bow at the doorway, Oliver turned to his two companions, "Be careful."

The three men hesitantly entered the room, not knowing what to expect.

"It's about time you guys got here!"

Oliver spun and raised his bow towards the right side of the room where the voice had originated. His eyebrows shot up in surprise and he felt an immediate sense of relief, "Bart?"

Bart Allen was strapped down to a metal lab table, both his wrists and ankles secured tightly. He looked a little worse for wear, but he was alive and smiling.

"You alright, bro?" AC asked as he hurried over to the table to release his friend.

"I'm okay but Clark could use some help." As if on cue, a pained groan was heard from the other side of the room.

Located at the far side of the room, Clark was secured to a table—very similar to Bart's—with fragments of meteor rocks placed around him. He was sweaty, weak and squirming in pain. "Please…" he gasped, his veins visible and pulsing in time with the green glow of the meteor rocks.

Clark's desperate voice snapped the others out of their horrified stupor. Oliver and Victor hurried over to Clark. Oliver quickly threw the meteor rocks across the large room as Victor effortlessly tore the restraints from Clark's arms and legs.

The change was almost instantaneous.

In under a minute Clark was looking better than ever as he sat up and flexed his hands. He swung his feet over the side of the metal table and hopped down, his bare feet splashing in the cool water that covered the floor. "Where's Chloe?"

"We're not sure," Oliver informed him. "We were… separated."

"What are you talking about?" Clark asked with a note of desperation in his voice.

"Dude, she totally took off," said AC as he and Bart joined the others. "Sure you're okay, little man?" he said to Bart, who was pulling on a blue hospital shirt.

Bart gave a couple of jumps, flexing his leg muscles. "I'll be fine," he replied. "Now what's this about every one's favorite intrepid reporter?"

"After Clark got taken she came to me for help…" Oliver spoke up, before quickly explaining the rest of the story. He had barely finished his last few words before Clark was already half-way across the room, stalking towards the corridor.

The others had to jog to keep up with Clark's long strides. He paused for a moment, tilting his head to the side, allowing his super-hearing to pick up any sounds that might help him find Chloe. He heard some sort of distinct clicking sound before the sprinkler system deactivated and the water ceased to fall.

"Looks like Luthor got the sprinkler system under control," AC said with a frown.

He was about to continue to complain, but he saw Clark's head quickly jerk to the side. "This way!" Clark said urgently, before super-speeding down the hallway.

Oliver raised his eyebrows as he looked at the others. "Man, I wish I could do that."

Bart smirked, "Last one there's a bald billionaire," he said before running after Clark. The others watched as he disappeared in a blur before they took off in the same direction.

Clark came to a halt in front of the group of security guards who were retreating from Lex's office. The nearest guard had a stupefied look on his face at Clark's sudden appearance. He didn't get a word out before Clark was lifting him in the air by his throat, "Where is she?" he growled.

A couple of the other guards raised their guns and let a few rounds lose on Clark, but the bullets bounced off of him effortlessly. Clark noticed a blur out of the corner of his eye as Bart appeared out of nowhere. He grabbed the gun from the closest guard and bashed it against the man's neck, sending him to the ground in an unconscious heap. The other guards turned their attention to Bart but the young man was too fast for them; he flashed out of sight and appeared behind Clark just as Oliver, AC and Victor appeared around the corner.

Noting the entrance of the additional intruders, the security guards spun around, their weapons aimed to kill but Clark reacted faster. He threw the guard he was holding by the throat into the rest of the armed men and watched as they all toppled to the ground.

"Striike!" AC laughed, patting Clark on the shoulder. "That was awesome, bro!"

Clark didn't have time to react as a large beefy man came running around the corner, his gun poised and ready. He took aim at AC, who was closest to him and fired. There was a horrifying moment when everyone realized that the bullet was flying right towards Arthur Curry, but no one could move fast enough to do anything about it. At the last possible second, Clark's hand shot out and grabbed the bullet in mid-air, like it was nothing more than an annoying insect.

AC blinked in confusion as Oliver stepped forward and aimed his bow at the beefy man. He smirked in satisfaction when, a moment later, the man was lying on the floor with a green arrow sticking out of his shoulder.

Victor watched in appreciation as the man's body convulsed in reaction to the electric currents being released into it. He gave a whistle, "Man, you really got the hookup."

Oliver grinned. It was almost instantly wiped from his face as a distant cry for help rang out down the corridor.

"Chloe!" Clark gasped, looking horrified. He took off down the corridor, the others close behind.

---

Chloe gave a terrified cry as Lex grabbed her roughly by the arms and threw her into the nearby desk.. She cried out in pain as her back slammed viciously into the corner of the wooden mass and she dropped to the floor with a splash.

"I'm having a really bad night, Chloe," Lex was saying savagely as he stalked over towards her. He grabbed her up from the floor and shoved her onto the desk, her back making rough contact with the surface. The thought that Lex Luthor was really much stronger than he looked flittered through Chloe's mind before her attention was brought back to her current situation by the sudden pain of Lex grabbing a handful of her hair. "Pay attention!" he spat harshly, tugging on her hair.

Chloe grabbed at his hand, making sure to dig her nails into his flesh, hoping to get him to relinquish his hold on her. He gave an annoyed grunt before roughly grabbing her arm and slamming her hand onto the edge of the desk. Chloe sobbed as she felt the bones in her wrist crack at the impact.

"See what you made me do!" Lex yelled, sounding more insane than ever.

Chloe immediately brought her arm to her chest, trying to cradle her wrist protectively. She blinked furiously, trying to hold back the exhaustion and pain that was wearing on her consciousness.

Lex heaved a sigh before leaning close to her face and stroking her hair. Chloe thought he looked insane. "Chloe. I don't want to hurt you. I just want some answers."

"Answers that you have no right to know!" Chloe spat. She saw his face twist in fury before his grip on her face tightened. She didn't give him a chance to respond as she grabbed the glass vase on the edge of the desk and shattered it over his head. The blow knocked Lex to his knees. He clutched at his face, feeling blood leak down it from a cut on his forehead. Chloe wasted no time in catapulting herself towards the door. Blood dripped from her good hand—from smashing the vase into Lex's head—as she banged on the door and screamed for help. "Help me! Anyone! Please!"

She only got a few cries for help out before Lex was on her again. He spun her around and slammed her head into the door to get her to shut up. Chloe instantly saw stars and had to clutch at him to keep herself from sliding to the floor. Lex grabbed her injured wrist and squeezed it viciously before slamming it into the metal door behind her. Tears leaked freely from Chloe's eyes as she tried to bite her lip against the pain. He seemed to get off on it and she didn't want to afford him the satisfaction.

"Just tell me about Clark," he whispered to her harshly.

"Drop dead," Chloe ground out.

Lex gave a shout of fury before backhanding Chloe across the face. Grabbing her again by the arms, he threw her across the room and watched in satisfaction as she slammed into the far wall. Lex smirked as Chloe whimpered in pain and backed herself into the wall, watching him fearfully. There was blood dripping from her split lip and he couldn't help but think that she deserved it. "All of these years," Lex spoke, as he walked towards her. "All of these years and it's been nothing but lies from all of you!" He stopped a few feet in front of her. "I'm always accused of being underhanded and evil, but I can never get a straight answer out of you or Clark!"

"You're insane," Chloe whispered.

"No, Chloe," Lex replied. "I have a thirst for knowledge and I don't like things being kept from me. Especially answers that I've been seeking for five years."

"They're not your answers to have!"

Lex shook his head, chuckling, before crouching down in front of Chloe. "You're wrong, Chloe. You see, I can have whatever I want. And no one can stop me." He stood up and walked over to his desk, threw the top left drawer open and pulled out a gun. He held it down, casually at his side, before walking over to stand in front of Chloe again.

"This is the last time I ask nicely," he told her quietly.

Chloe shook her head sadly, "All of this to know Clark's secret?"

"No, Chloe. All of this to know the truth."

Chloe looked at him with wide fearful eyes. Lex watched as she tried to swallow around the lump in her throat, and he could feel his victory was close at hand. But a look of acceptance and resolve appeared on Chloe's pretty and battered face. "It's not my truth to tell," she said quietly.

"That's a real shame," Lex said, raising the gun from his side and aiming it at her. "What a waste of a bright future." Chloe closed her eyes as she heard him click the safety off on the gun.

Suddenly, there was a loud wrenching sound as the metal door was torn from its hinges. Lex jerked his head to the side to see what was happening but only saw a blur launching at him before he was flying across the room. He crashed into the wooden desk with such force that it broke in half and the gun went sliding across the floor as he lay crumpled in an unconscious heap on the pile of broken wood.

Oliver, AC, Victor and Bart piled into the room, looking at the unconscious billionaire who lay in a heap across the room.

"Nice work, Clark!" Victor grinned. "Who hasn't wanted to do that to Lex Luthor?"

The celebration was cut short as the others finally got a good look at Chloe. Oliver stepped forward, towards Clark, who was kneeling in front of Chloe, his mouth open in horror. "Oh god."

"Clark!" Chloe cried, trying her best to smile. "I knew you'd come for me. You always do."

Clark gathered the tiny blonde in his arms, hugging her fiercely. Chloe cried out in pain and Clark immediately pulled back. "I'm sorry! Did I hurt you?"

Chloe cradled her wrist to her chest. "It wasn't you. It's my wrist. I think it's broken."

"Son of a bitch!" Oliver hissed. He whipped his bow out from its leg holster and pointed it at the unconscious Luthor. "We should just end his sorry existence here. The world would be a better place without him."

"Oliver! No!" Clark said sternly as he helped Chloe to her feet.

"Why not?" Oliver shouted. He looked at Chloe with remorse. "Look at what he did to her, Clark!"

Clark looked down at Chloe. At her split and bleeding lip. At her likely broken wrist. At her bloody hand. At her torn clothing. Then he glanced over at Lex, anger clearly written on his face. The others were silent as Clark mentally deliberated. At last, he shook his head slowly. "It's not up to us to deal out justice as we see fit."

"But..." Oliver spoke up, but Chloe interrupted him.

"He's right, Oliver."

Oliver snapped his mouth shut and looked at Chloe. His eyes were full of concern and confusion. "But… he hurt you."

Chloe almost gasped at the intensity in Oliver's gaze. She shivered and Clark wrapped an arm around her, thinking she was shivering from the cold. She wasn't. "I know," she spoke softly. "But Clark's right. Just because you guys have these amazing abilities doesn't mean you get to decide who deserves to live or die."

"Then it feels like none of this makes any difference," Oliver said in defeat, shoving his weapon back into its holster.

Chloe walked over to him and put her hand on his arm. Her hand was cold, but Oliver couldn't help but feel the spark that her touch ignited. "It does make a difference. Don't ever think otherwise! You saved Clark and Bart tonight! And you saved me!" Chloe said earnestly. She glanced around at the others. "All of you… you're all heroes, to me, anyway."

"With talk like that, you're gonna make us blush, gorgeous," AC smiled. He walked over to Chloe and brushed some of the hair out of her face, giving her an affectionate smile.

"Hate to break up the love fest," Victor spoke up, "But I think we should clear out of here and get Chloe to the hospital."

"Wait," Chloe said, turning to look at Lex's crumpled form. She turned back to the others. "I can only imagine what other creatures he's experimenting on here."

"I'm sure he's building some kind of army," Oliver said. "We haven't even been through the other levels."

Clark nodded in agreement. "You're right. We can't just leave this place like this. Oliver?"

"Yea?"

"Here, you help get Chloe out," Clark said, gently ushering his best friend into the arms of Oliver Queen. "Everyone else, let's get Lex and his guards out of here."

"But…" Bart spoke up, sounding confused.

"Just trust me," Clark said.

AC went over to Lex and flung him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. "Alright, where am I taking this piece of garbage?"

---

A few minutes later everyone was out front of the warehouse. AC dropped Lex on the ground, none too gently, where he could keep his unconscious bodyguard and security personnel company.

Everyone paused, looking to Clark for instructions. "Okay," he told them, "Give me a minute." He super-sped back into the building.

"What's he doing?" Bart asked, still totally confused.

A second later, the others could only watch in amazement as the entire warehouse, all of Level 33.1, burst into flames.

Chloe leaned into Oliver, watching the orange flames shoot up into the sky. "Oh my god," she whispered in awe. "Clark?"

"He's fine," Oliver murmured, wrapping his arm around her.

A few seconds later, Clark appeared before them, covered in soot.

"Nice!" Bart laughed as something exploded far away.

Clark looked at his handiwork with a solemn face before glancing down at Lex, who was still unconscious on the ground. "Let's go," he said at last. "We're finished here."

---

They walked down the dirty and dark road that led away from the destruction that used to be Level 33.1 "You know," Chloe said, "Next time we get together, let's try to do something normal… like a movie, or pizza."

"Oh, I dunno," Oliver answered with a grin, "I kind of like breaking and entering and blowing things up."

"I second that!" Bart exclaimed. "Especially if we're blowing up things that belong to a Luthor!"

Clark shook his head, smiling, "I don't think he'll be bothering us again for a while."

"He'll always have something evil going on," AC said from Clark's right.

"Yea," Victor replied, "And we'll always be there to stop him."

The others murmured in agreement as Chloe smiled. "My heroes!" she sighed dramatically, giggling a little.

Oliver pulled her closer to his side. "What do you say about honoring this hero with your presence? Say, dinner and a movie?"

Chloe looked up at him in surprise, a smile tugging at her lips. Before she could reply, AC jogged up beside Oliver. "Dude! I'm starving," he announced, throwing his arm across Oliver's shoulder.

Oliver turned to him and raised his eyebrow, "Dude. You're not invited."

"Harsh!" AC laughed. He patted Oliver on the shoulder before dropping back a few yards to walk with Clark and the others. "I don't get it, man. We all saved the day! How does Robin Hood end up with a hot date?"

"It's the leather," Bart whispered comically. "Girls totally dig it."

Clark grinned as the others laughed. He watched Chloe and Oliver walk ahead of them, huddled close together and laughing with each other. At least one good thing came out of tonight, he thought. He turned back to the others, rejoining their conversation. "Leather? Really? Ya think? Personally," he said, "I don't do costumes."

"That's because you're Clark Kent," Victor told him. "A real super man!"

THE END

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