Smallville: Kingdom

Chapter 18

5/7/11 - 12:04AM - Metro Coffee Stop - Metropolis, KS

"Oh come on why wouldn't you want to stop and settle down?" said Zatanna.

"There's so much out there in the world." Alex said.  "In a way its become something of a calling to help those in need.  Proving the old saying that the pen is mightier than the sword." said Alex.

Alex and Zatanna had been sitting by a table at the coffee shop talking about several things.  One of them being their time in the elevator to which both wanted to reenact soon, as well as what they did for a living.  For Zatanna it was more than obvious she loved what she did, entertaining people and giving them the wonders of the fantastic.  Yet Zatanna couldn't help but wonder why Alex was so fixated on journalism. Even having met Clark back when they solved her father's mess with that comic book, she didn't grasp what was so fantastic about being a reporter.  She also found it strange that Alex didn't have a girlfriend of his own.  But she was more than willing help him out there.

"Believe me I wish I could be as incredible as you in my own way."

Zatanna couldn't help but smile.  Everything he said was so complementing.  Now that's what I want in my life, a guy that can appreciate me for me. Not just my looks.  They had talked for so long and yet so comfortably she couldn't help but want to take him back to her place.  Make it feel less lonely when she returned to ShadowCrest, which was even gloomier without anybody waiting for her.

Alex was about to say more when his own phone rang as a text message flashed across it from his brother. "Excuse me.  My cousin, oh cousins have a message for me."

He then scowled as he read his brother's message.

'HE KNOWS!!! HE'S THERE!!!'

Alex put his hand to his mouth as he realized he was right here in front of Zatanna and noticed very little happening.  He saw a few cops and guards making their rounds and watching for anything suspicious.  A few late night workers and some people around but nothing seemed wrong.  Except...

"What's wrong?" said Zatanna.

Alex avoided her gaze as he got up from the table and approached Frank at the stand. "Excuse me. Earlier you said that that newspaper van just came back with leftovers of their evening edition.  I'm just an intern but is that normal?"

"Its uncommon but it happens.  Why? What is it?"

Zatanna got up from the table as she stood next to Alex. She was about to ask him what was going on until his phone chimed again as he saw a series of numbers.  The numbers were latitude and longitude numbers from the degree to the ten-thousandth of a second and he saw it right across the street without a cop in sight as what looked like the same truck parked alongside several other trucks getting ready to be filled and shipped with their morning edition.

At this very moment he would have given anything to make sure Zatanna was nowhere near him, for her safety as well as the safety of others.  He leaned in close to Frank as the old man had the same worried look he knew he was projecting.  He leaned in closer as he whispered. "Frank call the cops and get the hell away from those trucks as discretely as possible."  The old man nodded his head calmly walking as fast as he could as Zatanna all but knew the truth on his face.

"Something's wrong." said Zatanna.  It wasn't a question.

Alex showed her his phone as Zatanna saw the message. 

'Got a report. Truck driver was found on the street knocked out at the other side of town near the airport. Its him!!!"

Zatanna then marched across the street as she held her phone to her ear as she speed dialed a number to Tess alerting her to trouble.  But Alex was on her heels making sure she'd be safe.  Zatanna admired his courage but she didn't want to put him in danger.  She still heard steps behind her as she turned around to face him.

"Alex please." said Zatanna. "I want you to know I can handle this.  Now I need you to..."

"Hey!!!" screamed Alex as Zatanna turned and saw across the street a man dressed in black wearing a hood.  As he waved a mocking salute at Alex and Zatanna and winked. But no sooner did he attempt to leave Zatanna screamed.

"Tup yats dna pots!!!" she yelled as she extended her arm in his direction.  The man stopped in his tracks as Zatanna caused the man to stop and stay put.  The man was held in place by powerful magic as Zatanna made eye contact with the man dressed in black yet wearing a balaclava.  She managed to make out the eyes as blue-green and for a second she was reminded of Clark until all of sudden they glowed a violent shade of red as she felt her shoulder burn in agony as she screamed and the fell to the ground as she fainted.

Yelling fiercely Alex ran right for who he was now sure was Cyborg only for the him to super-speed.  But no sooner did he do so did Alex use his heat vision, scoring a hit in the back of his leg.  He then attempted to fight back as he hovered over Cyborg who then let out his leg and kicked Alex in the shin as he felt the agonizing pain.  It was a rookie mistake but he was not thinking of himself but of Zatanna wounded as he fell to the ground in agony as Cyborg sped away and this time without a trail to catch.

Alex got back to his feet as he limped painfully back to the street corner.  Just shake it off.  You are the son of Superman and Wonder Woman.  But no sooner did he start to feel better that he heard a scream coming from where he left Zatanna.  He raced back and saw that it was Lynn.  She let out the scream that had sent people to what had happened as he approached the scene with Zatanna unconscious on the ground and seeing more cops coming into the street. Alex then appeared behind Lynn as she was looking at the inside of the Daily Planet Truck.  It looked like a slaughterhouse with blood everywhere from the walls of the truck and on the ceiling as it was beginning to leak from the truck.  He could see the body of a young woman in the middle of the truck as he used his X-ray vision and scanned the area.  He noticed two things.  A playing card with what he knew was a Joker.  The other was a big brass paperweight in the shape of the Daily Planet logo.  Cyborg did it.  He had murdered another girl in the same way Lois Lane was going to die.