The Not Quite Justice League in... The Bee's Pleas!!!

[stands_for_hope]

[continued from here]

Finishing his article, clearing everything with Keith, those things took time. That was why it took a few hours before Clark was ready to make his usual call to Lois that night. He had worried that he might not make the time window that she cleared every day to talk to him and the others, but he was proud to say that he'd left himself an even half an hour as long as everything was to schedule.

After the fifth time she didn't pick up (didn't so much as text or ping him), it became clear that things were very much off schedule.

Clark made his way back to the main floor where everyone seemed to congregate and headed straight for Tony, holding up the phone to him.

"I know we're all tired and we've certainly had a long day, but... can you find out where Lois's phone is from the number here?"

In all the madness of the day, all the fighting and the close calls and the weakness brought on by the proximity of kryptonite, he'd lost track of her heartbeat. Usually, it was simple enough to pick up over the phone once again, a steady pulse that he could find his way back to once the phonecall had ended.

He couldn't hear her. He couldn't tell where she was. And she wasn't answering her phone. She always answered her phone. He didn't want to think anything was wrong, but he wasn't naive enough to discount something like this. Not after today. Not after they'd pulled out kryptonite weapons.

Comments

[kolodnoykovki]

He had already left his share in the sand, some stabbed through by a sunstone blade, others shot in the head, and still others dead from impact trauma and broken bones. He wasn't being gentle.

It was when he heard something - a quiet, increasing whine, like something charging up - that he turned, found a truck mounted gun emplacement. One that received two quickly thrown grenades to blow it to parts before it could fire.

And that was an explosion he threw one man into without a hint of remorse.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve took a look at the sand giants, at the seemingly endless stream of troops, and finally down towards the demolished wall. Then he made a decision.

"Firebrand! Go with Superman and Powergirl and head in. Find Lois! We'll hold them off out here."

Diana, meanwhile, had sheathed her sword and was now laying waste to large swaths of them with a massive steel beam from the wreckage with a ferocity that was hard to watch.

But they needed to get Lois out. That was the objective. And Steve had a feeling there'd be anti-Kryptonian measures that Jim would have to handle once they got closer to her cell.

[kolodnoykovki]

"Ya budu vesti," he shouted, sprinting the few yards between him and the breached wall, firing off a few shots in cover and bringing down a couple more Hydra personnel on his way. And then he was into the hallway and figuring out the path he'd decided on on the way. He didn't doubt that both of the Kryptonians following him were strong enough to take care of themselves, but he had the shield. He could keep them from getting struck.

[stands_for_hope]

Clark glanced at Kara to make sure she understood and was glad when she nodded, the two of them walking behind him as they started into the compound.

The place seemed to have emptied itself out to deal with the frontal assault, but there were a few security measures none-the-less. As Jim stepped forward into one hallway, a number of green beams shot out from several angles down the hallway. It looked like the typical security web... except that the energy was definitely aimed to cause trouble for his two companions.

[kolodnoykovki]

He was surrounded, in less than a moment, by his shield. "I will find the source."

It shouldn't be too hard. He wasn't vulnerable to Kryptonite. It was just a matter of finding the right mirror to take out, to take out the grid. Or, he decided steps into the hall, he could just put a bullet into each one.

He was going to need more ammo after this.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Careful observation would provide him with a hallway full of the tiniest apertures, each one individually projecting a single beam that took care of each section through the use of three or four mirrors nearby. Clark and Kara floated back and Clark gestured to Jim.

[kolodnoykovki]

A laser system - just with kryptonite-- but that begged the question of what was fueling the beams. How the kryptonite was being projected to be so perfectly beamed.

He saw the gesture out of the corner of his eye as he was lifting his gun to aim and halted himself, stepping back.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"I'm looking through the wall. I think there are charges in there that might cause us trouble if we do something as simple as shooting them," Clark said gently.

[kolodnoykovki]

"Even the mirrors?" If the mirrors were taken out, then at least some of the beams would be eliminated. But he could see that this puzzle awsn't one for brute force - even if taking out a few mirrors... Well. It was a possibility. Maybe.

[stands_for_hope]

"Nothing behind the mirrors," Kara said then, looking around, "and we might be able to go around this, but we risk opening you to fire."

Clark glanced at Jim, then Kara, and finally at the hallway.

"Jim, can you walk through the light beams? They don't look like they're strong enough to cause harm to a human. It might be easiest to split up for a few moments; we can rejoin you on the other side by tracking your heartbeat."

[kolodnoykovki]

"I've got my shield if I need to," he said, "but I can get this undone."

Now that he had more of a clue anyway.

"Can't be harder to crosswire this thing than it would be to get into some of the places I've gone."

And with that said, he started walking through, unflinching. This wasn't meant to keep him out. It was meant to keep Clark out.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

To him, the beams were harmless light but Clark waited until he'd seen that the light wouldn't hurt him before he and Kara punched through the wall outside, then punched back through on the opposite side.

The relative ease of things was immediately destroyed, however, as the doors down the hallway opened to see a troop of men with glowing green guns and HYDRA gear.

[kolodnoykovki]

They could've waited and he would've shut down the system and they could've crossed through.

But no, now they had an even bigger problem, and Jim--

All Jim could do was act. He reached out to grab both Kryptonians, and shut a tight shield around all three of them - though mostly around them. "Wrecking ball," he muttered, knowing that they could hear him even if nobody else could.

With the shield from his arm, they could push through the armed horde like bowling through pins. Just... harder.

[stands_for_hope]

Clark nodded against Jim's shoulder and put his arms around both of them within the ball of the shield before he flew them straight through, knocking the lot of them over and down the hall.

Clark kept going, deciding to smash through the next few doors, through another troop of soldiers, and finally into a cell block where--

"Oh Jesus, I'm so fucking glad to see-- who the fuck is that?"

Lois... did not look good. She'd obviously been beaten, her hands an utter mess that she tried to tuck away out of Clark and Jim's view. They had known that they would more than likely only have a few hours with her, that they'd only have a short time to try and pry the name and identity of Superman from her, and the hurried brutality of her treatment shown easily.

Kara hissed and yanked the cage door out of the way before pulling off her cape and wrapping it around the other woman. Clark would have done that himself if he hadn't been staring and fighting off his rage and horror.

Kara looked back at him and seemed to decide something then and there, her voice going quiet as she turned to both of the men.

"I'm going to get her back to Metropolis, right now," Kara said.

[kolodnoykovki]

"Do it," Jim agreed. "Kal and I have work to do. Lois - trust her. I do."

And from Jim... That said a lot.

Having seen what happened to Lois, and the fact that this was Hydra-- He could bet that Clark was ready to ruin this place, and Jim was willing to help. He wanted to see this place turned into a crater.

Then he had his hand on Clark's arm. "Let's get them back."

[stands_for_hope]

Clark swallowed hard and nodded before stepping forward and putting his hand gently on Lois's shoulder. She winced a little, then winced for wincing, and the pain of seeing it was written all over Clark's face.

"I'll be all right," Lois said softly, looking up at him. Clark nodded and let his forehead rest lightly against hers since it seemed like one of the few spots on her that wasn't injured. She smiled just a little and leaned in to kiss his lips ever so gently.

"Go get 'em, tiger. Your way."

He'd been starting to nod at the first part but when he heard the second part, he paused.

His way. The right way.

He wanted... he wanted to run rampant all over this place, rip and tear and warn the world against ever trying to take the people he cared about hostage again. But she was right, she was always right, and if he did any of that... if he did that, HYDRA would win whether they ruined this base or not.

There was a right way to do this, a way that would help more than just HIM, that would benefit more than just his little family. This base didn't just have to be destroyed, it needed to be exposed. Queen Bee's lies of peaceful conquest and her claim that she had no association with HYDRA on the world stage... he needed to make the lie plain. He needed to help Lois with her work and he needed to do it the way that he was supposed to.

He had the power to rip this place to pieces, kryptonite or no. But what he needed to do was shine a light on it: infinitely harder, but deeply important.

But he could do it. Because Lois believed he could.

He turned to Kara.

"Get her back to Metropolis and bring her to Tony; he'll get her the medical care she needs. Jim, Diana, Steve, Sandy, and I are going to make a spectacle of this place... and bring ample evidence of Bialya's HYDRA associations right out where people can see and question them."

Lois smiled just a little before looking to Jim.

"Don't worry, Uncle Jim. I was more than they could handle and then some. I'll be okay."

[kolodnoykovki]

A smile flickered behind his mask and Jim stepped over to tap her chin - a part that didn't seem too bad off. An affectionate, fond gesture. "That's my girl. Go make Jarvis take dictation for you - get this story out."

The only problem was what Lois had said. Clark's way. He still wanted to tear through this place, to leave a trail behind him, make them pay for daring to disturb his family. That was what he was best at. Nonlethal was...

Not him.

But what choice did he have?

[stands_for_hope]

"Oh, I'm going to make JARVIS take dictation and Tony is getting me a masseuse, as far as I'm concerned," she said with a warm smile over at Jim. Thankfully, all of her teeth seemed to be in place, even if her lip was bloody.

Kara gave them all a wry, tired smile.

"You can all be tough and adorable once you're home. I'm heading out with her now."

And with that, Kara lifted Lois in her arms and a white-red streak exited the room. That left Clark and Jim and Clark turned to his brother with a deep, pained sigh.

"I know what I just said isn't going to sit right with you," he said quietly, "so you do what you deem best."

Jim didn't have his powers, didn't have the same weights hanging over his head. He was human, with everything that came with, including a vulnerability to bullets. Not to mention his laundry list of reasons to want to kill every last one of HYDRA's members. But Clark... couldn't. He knew Diana could, knew Steve could, knew Jim could. But for better or worse, they were all warriors. Soldiers.

He wasn't. And some part of him never would be, no matter how many times he fought.

"I'm going to try and knock out and tie up as many as possible before I get word to embassy in Qurac. For everyone's sake, we need living proof of HYDRA's association with the Bialyan government. We need to hold them accountable for this, so that everything that happened to Lois isn't in vain."

She'd kept his secret, through torture and who knew what else. He'd do this the hard way for her as much as for himself.

[kolodnoykovki]

He laughed once - not a laugh. More of a bitter scoff that he took a breath to ease. "I have no mercy left to give them and I have no faith in any system that would try them. Zmei slishkom gluboko. Oni dolzhny byt' sozhzheny."

Firebrand. He'd been given the name for a reason.

"I... will try not to kill all of them."

But he couldn't give guarantees. He wanted to see them dead. Wanted to see them dying. He knew what they were, perhaps more than anyone else. But he also knew his brother.

Maybe removing a few kneecaps by gunshot would help assuage his bloodthirst.

[The snakes are too deep. They must be burned.]

[stands_for_hope]

Clark watched Jim for a moment before reaching out and putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Yesli by ne bylo vsekh, kogo ya dumal, dostoin togo, chtoby sudit' ikh v pokoye , eto budet vam. Ya ne tak dostoyno."

Then he squared his shoulders and looked out towards the remainder of the complex, using his enhanced vision to check in on Diana and Steve, who both seemed to be doing just fine. Clark was happy to note that most of Steve's combatants had just been knocked out due to his choice of weapon. Diana's... not so much.

"Sandy?"

The other fighter assisting them appeared out of the floor, keeping himself on the opposite side of Clark from Jim to make sure he didn't have to get deal with bullets in him.

"Here. What can I do?"

[If there was anyone I thought worthy to judge them alone, it would be you. I am not so worthy.]

[kolodnoykovki]

"We will show the world what Bialya has harbored," Jim answered, and pulling his rifle from his back, he turned to the way he'd come. There were still soldiers with kryptonite weapons, and they needed his express attention so Clark could do what needed doing.

[granularity]

"...I think I have an idea. We're going to want to herd them all into the central area of the base. Superman, you have the same laser vision as Kara, right?"

Clark nodded and glanced over at Jim.

"I think we can do that.

"Do that and I'll handle it from there. I'll even let Wonder Woman and Captain America know what we're doing."

"Got it."

Which was when Sandy disappeared.

[kolodnoykovki]

And Jim checked his magazine before nodding. "I'll herd the ones that'll go."

He'd make his own judgement on what to do to the ones who wouldn't. He didn't particularly care what he'd do to the ones who wouldn't. And though he worried what it meant about him as a person, he knew he'd enjoy it.

And so he kicked the door open and started his job, the role settling over him like a second skin. It was cold and familiar and comfortable in a way that twisted a part of him that had come slowly undone.

But the first ones who felt his wrath were the ones not so far outside the door - the ones bearing Kryptonite weapons. He gave them one chance to drop their weapons. If they agreed, he nodded toward the inside of the building. Those who didn't...

Fell.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

It didn't take long, most of them clearly under orders to take down Superman and Firebrand above all else. Soon enough, they were outside in the main courtyard, where it looked as if Captain America and Wonder Woman had done their own work: the main force was found squarely in the middle and with a slightly satisfied smile, Clark used his speed and the riptide force of it to pull the remainder around them. Then he swooped down and grabbed Diana and Steve, flying straight up to keep their focus.

"Perfect." came from behind Jim, which was when Sandy appeared and put his hands to the ground. A moment later, the majority of the central courtyard shot up on a column of pure rock, fifty feet tall, stranding the mixed HYDRA and Biaylian troops well above a safe jumping distance. Sandy took a moment to breath before slamming his hands down again, which brought up ten foot walls around the group, trapping them entirely.

Clark deposited Steve and Diana beside Jim before looking to Sand.

"Nicely done."

Sand was breathing a little hard through his mask, but the smile was in his voice when he spoke.

"Now it's up to you. Cut off the top bring them wherever you need to go."

Clark grinned, and it wasn't a nice expression.

"Like, say, the UN? A nice selection of living proof to show Bialya's cooperation with HYDRA."

Steve wasn't listening, though. He went straight over to Jim and put his hand on his flesh and blood shoulder. Fine. Jim was fine. And if he wasn't killing someone right then and there, so was Lois. He'd just needed to ascertain it for himself with his own hand.

Diana walked over and looked to Jim, ascertaining with her eyes whether or not Lois was all right before glancing at Clark.

"Will you need my assistance in flying the prisoners?"

Clark shook his head.

"Nope, I should be able to handle it. I will need your assistance in getting Jim and Steve back home, though."

"I would be quite happy to assist in that."

[kolodnoykovki]

Jim looked from Steve to Diana before saying quietly, "She'll be okay. She's already back in Metropolis, at a hospital, I think. She's going to be fine. She's tough."

Part of him wasn't quite done with bloodthirst yet, but he had to be. He had to be done. He wanted to take a life with his hands, but he had done enough, or he had to tell himself that at least.

God, how he hated that was inside him. That urge, that want, that almost-need, smooth and familiar and easy... And that was why he had to fight against it.