slayers_desire | the kind of future you don't want to have ((future!verse))

And I love you. No matter what happens. It's not the first time he's had to take a back seat role, out of contact with what's going on. But that's all about to change.

Chloe's base is a house a ways out from Smallville. Or, more accurately, the storm cellar. She and the resistance have expanded the underground shelter to hold operatives and the few innocents that they have been able to save.

The door is guarded by one rebel, concealed in a discarded hunter's blind. It's the best they can do for shelter from prying eyes, and though the Kandorians could likely find them if they tried, they haven't just yet. Almost no one has guns anymore, but Oliver and his crew have wasted no time creating arrows with kryptonite heads, and outfitting everyone with at least a crossbow.

Dark Oak could easily go past the guard without being noticed, but she makes the effort of being seen. Of reporting in. So they know she is coming in.

It must be something serious. After all, she was't called to get information on an assignment.

Watchtower herself is busy looking over a hand-drawn map of the area, and glances up as she hears the door squeak open. "Coming here in person. Must be big news."

"Lois Lane was spotted in the Smallville farm camp. The guards have taken her to see Zod." There is no codename for this situation. They never even thought of it happening.

"What?" Chloe's so used to speaking code that a straight answer is hard to understand for a moment. Especially that particular message. "Are you serious?"

"Very serious. Clark just saw her at the camp. And tried to stop her from being taken."

"She's been gone for a year. It's nice to know that she isn't dead, but I'm not sure what we can do about it if Zod's interested in her."

"We have to do something."

"Lois has a Legion ring, a time traveling device. She disappeared a year ago because she went forward in time, to this point. If we rescue her, we can send her back. And stop everything before it gets bad."

Chloe stares at her. That has caught her attention. She has people's lives to think about, but the temptation of a Legion ring is a big one. And she has to decide if it's strategically worth it to try. "We could all die trying."

"Yes. But if we die trying and succeed, then none of us actually die in the end. We could save all those lives that were lost in the last year."

"We can stop this."

"And if we die trying and fail, Earth is lost." But she's thinking now, running through scenarios and strategies, trying to decide the best route to take.

"We'll only take volunteers. If this is a suicide mission, I won't take anyone who doesn't want to be there."

"I am willing to take that risk. I am here looking for others who want to take that risk too."

Chloe's hand goes to her radio, sending out a summons for the closest personnel. There are only a few underground with her, and they must wait fifteen minutes or so before others arrive, including Oliver. He looks a little surprised to see Dark Oak here, but takes it in stride.

Her people assembled, Chloe turns to face them. "We have a small window of opportunity. Lois Lane has returned, and she has a Legion ring. For those who don't know what that is, it's an artifact from the future that lets the wearer travel through time."

There's a wondering murmur from the crowd. Chloe holds up a hand for silence. "She's been taken to Zod. We have one shot to rescue her. If it succeeds, we can use the Legion ring to undo everything that's happened this past year. But people are probably going to die trying. Anyone who doesn't want to risk it can stay, but we need to move quickly."

Watchtower has taken the leadership role so easily, Dark Oak won't interfere at the moment. There is still a part of her that doesn't want to step on any toes.

"Count me in." Agent Green doesn't hesitate to volunteer. If it's to save Lois, and strike a fatal blow against Zod, he's all for it. And he knows that his skills are invaluable if they're going to have any chance.

A handful of others volunteer as well. Chloe nods, not smiling. "Right. The rest of you hold down the fort. Everyone who's coming, suit up. We leave in five."

While the others get suited up, Dark Oak focuses her voices on the situation. There has to be something they can use to their advantage. Something that will allow them to win today, preventing so many losses later.

As it happens, her voices have an important detail to relay to her. Because right now, Zod's soldiers are coming to get Clark, and take him to Zod. And it's not going to be for another 'talk,' this time.

Today, Clark's time has run out. He's scheduled to be executed.

Dark Oak goes pale. Paler than a vampire should. She looks to Agent Green and Watchtower. Deciding to tell them, even if they might not care.

Mostly because she does. This is big to her.

"Prisoner K is scheduled to be executed today. The soldiers are coming for him."

Chloe pauses, just for a moment. "We can't detour to save him. If he's there when we go for Lois and the Legion ring, we can try. But we can't endanger the mission."

"They are taking him to see Zod." That works for Dark Oak. If she sees a chance, she might take it.

The others are all outfitted in dark clothes now, and have their crossbows and kryptonite arrows. Oliver takes a moment to approach her. "Hey. Do you need any backup weapons before we go?"

Nodding, she asks, "Any Kryptonite weapons would be useful." She has her own assassins knife, but she might need something heavy.

"And I have my magic spells..."

He gets her a spare crossbow, and a lead-lined quiver of kryptonite-headed bolts. "We may need everything you've got. Don't hesitate to take those jerks out, even if one of us is in the way."

"I won't. I trust you won't either." She can take a lot more damage than the others. But pausing at that thought... she smiles.

"I can summon extra allies... to our aid."

"Extra allies?"

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