Rating: M (Mature--language and violence)

Notes Part 1: This is the fourth story in this miniseries that has been running through my “Super Lana” and “Impossible Quartet” series. “Juggling Act” appeared here. “Connecting the Dots” and “Red Handed” were in the Impossible Quartet Series.

Notes Part 2: Smallville belongs to DC and the CW. Kim Possible and her cohorts belong to Disney.  Dahak is from "Xena Warrior Princess" which belongs to MCA and Renaissance Studios.  All other characters and scenarios are mine. Please send comments to dante0220@yahoo.com .



Chapter 1 [Warehouse—Outskirts of Denver]

As his ninjas broke into the National Museum, Dijon watched the developing scene through a tap on the facility’s security cameras. Everything was going according to plan. The local police and the government forces—with the exception of Team Possible and the two FBI agents—would not be able to interfere in time. He knew it could be all over in a few more seconds….

…that is if he didn’t want Dubois and the Kryptonian children involved.

His master’s flame avatar flared to life in front of him. <It happens!>

<”As you predicted, Master.”> Dijon bowed to the flame.

<I have blocked the Dubois girl’s attempts to contact the guiding spirits or the accursed one himself. In addition, the iguana men walk once more!>

<”At last!”>

<Stay alert to any surprises. Dubois is there with the children.> The flame turned red for a minute possibly to express anger. <He will not deal with us so easily as he did my last agents!> With that, the flames died back down.

Dijon went back to watch the view screen again. Over the microphone, he heard the tell tale Scream echoing into that chamber.

The fight was on again.



Chapter 2 [National Museum—Display Area: Right at the end of “Red Handed”]

The Protector trudged testily into the room. Factors from all around him both strengthened and annoyed him. The enhanced ninjas’ magical auras burned at him. The onlookers’ fear drove him crazy. He hated weakness in any of its forms.

Off to the side, he noted Sasha’s bees and Jasmine dealing punishment out on the ‘regular’ ninjas.

Still there were some other enemies surrounding an unconscious Team Possible and Miri. He remembered the last time someone tried to take his niece away.

He craved a fight in short order.

Needless to say, the glowing lizard men seemed ready to oblige.

“GIT ‘EM!” the Dark One spat before uncorking a couple of psychic pulses.

Two lizard-ninjas hit the wall, going right through it.

Clark and Lana sped into the remaining ninjas holding their friends. Within four seconds, they’d dealt with those enemies.

Miranda rubbed her forehead. [“About time, Boss. They’re all out cold.”]

Clark motioned to Alicia. “Can you get them home?”

Alicia nodded before teleporting herself and the unconscious quartet away in a green puff of mist.

“At least that takes care of that,” Lana supposed.

Clark turned to find one of the lizard men rushing at them from behind. He backhanded the enemy through the hole in the wall.

Meantime Lana had difficulty with the last enhanced ninja for some reason. [“Clark, a hand please?”] For some reason, she felt weak and the veins in her hands bulged.

[“Lana! The statue’s glowing! It’s kryptonite!”] Clark realized as the familiar nausea hit him too.

“So it does weaken you!” the lizard-ninja growled before striking them both to the ground. “The Master awaits you both.”

“Tough crap!” the Protector snarled before returning fire with a dark fire burst, dropping that one as well. “Petersen, git ‘em!”

“Right,” Steve agreed as he and Garth moved to secure the adversaries. He radioed, “Outpost to Central Base, this is Petersen. Need a van ASAP. Over and out.”

At that moment, the enemies and the statuette vanished in a burst of orange light.

“What the?” Garth asked while priming his pistol.

A dark laughter echoed throughout the chamber.

The Protector screamed in challenge back at it. “DAMN FIRE CREEP! SHOW YERSELF!”

“Fire creep? That thing?” Steve inquired in disbelief recalling their last encounter with the thing from high school.

“Yeah, it’s the wuss,” the Dark One retorted tersely while looking around.

“What?” Lana wondered as she and Clark got back up.

“Who?” Jasmine inquired while joining the others.

The fire pyre shot up out of the now empty display as the demon’s fire avatar appeared. I await you and the children, Creature! Then it vanished again.

“This just keeps getting better and better,” Steve groused.

The Protector scowled at the scene. “Stoopid fire creep!” He looked back at the legion members. “Hit the road! We ain’t dealin’ w’ no cops!” Then he vanished in a dark flash of light.

Jasmine made sure Byron, Samantha and Sasha had a ride on Carpet before they all took off.

Sasha’s swarm flew after them.

Clark and Lana sped out of the room, barreling at supersonic speed toward Smallville.

“Cheese and crackers!” the onlookers’ teacher, Steve Barkin, exclaimed. “Who are they?”

“Friends. You should be thankful. Those ninjas would’ve killed us all, Mr. Barkin,” Steve informed him. “Meantime, you’d best get these students out to the busses. The FBI will have agents at your school on Monday to talk with them and their parents.”

Barkin nodded. While he didn’t like police lurking at Middleton High School, he certainly understood under these circumstances. What did you do now, Possible? And what was the deal with Stoppable? He turned to the students. “You heard them! Move it!” With that, they all left.

“Dave sure picks them, doesn’t he?” Garth noted. “We’d best get this place sealed off before Farrell hits the roof.”

“He’s there already. Speaking of hitting the roof, call your better half. It’s been two days….” His partner walked across the room to start the operation.

Garth sighed. I’d have to forget to do THAT. He took out his cell phone and began to dial. “Hi, Honey. Yeah it’s me.” He winced before continuing, “I’m sorry. It’s been a busy couple of days. Listen, umm….we’re all okay. But the fire creep’s back….Yeah that one….”

 

Chapter 3 [Yamanuchi School, Japan—An hour after the museum standoff]

Sensei walked through the central courtyard with a heavy heart. Just twenty minutes earlier, he had lost contact with Team Possible, Miri and the rest of the Middleton student group. He knew that meant more of the mysterious demonic activity and a standoff with the Ming T ‘sai. <What is this force?> He felt an iciness in the air and turned to see a dark flash.

The Protector appeared in front of him. “Whadya starin’ at?”

“Forgive me.” The teacher straightened himself, not wanting another confrontation at this point. “What of the students?”

“Kiddies’re safe. We whupped black faces an’ glowin’ snake boys.” The Dark One scowled. “Fire puss is back!”

“Fire puss?” Sensei asked, not understanding the visitor’s jargon.

“Demon boy. Pain in the ass.”

“Ah. The Ming T ‘sai has a demonic overlord. That explains a great deal. What about the statue?” Sensei deduced.

“Damn wussies took it. We’re gonna git it back!” the Protector snapped tersely. Then he glared around them and frowned. He vanished again in another dark flash of light.

Sensei shook his head, fully understanding the Protector’s message. <The Ming T ‘sai have linked themselves to the statue. Soon they will have an army of such forces!> He furrowed his brow. <We have no choice. I will have to prepare the alumni.>

Hirotaka, his second best current student behind Yori, rushed over to his side. <”Master Sensei, what is going on?”>

<”Miri Chan’s uncle. The Ming T ‘sai has already struck at Denver and have the statue. Come. We must make preparations,”> Sensei explained before leading his student away toward the central building in the complex.


****


[Luthor Mansion]

Ron Stoppable rolled over on the guest bed he was on and blinked twice. The last thing he remembered, he was fighting the iguana-ninjas in the museum. Now he reclined on a fancy four post bed. “Check…this out.”

“Ron San! You are awake,” Yori cheered as she jumped out of the chair before regaining her composure. “How are you feeling?”

“Just stiff. Where are we?” he inquired.

“We are back at Luthor San’s house in Kansas. Baker San brought us back here from the museum,” she explained.

“That’s cool. Hate to have to explain this to the folks though,” he noted. “And what happened with the monkey stuff? Why’d it run out?”

“I cannot say, Ron San. We shall have to ask Sensei when we return to Yamanuchi. Perhaps you need to work on your stamina?” she suggested with a smirk.

“Oh yeah?” he supposed while kissing her. “How’s that?”

“Good exercise,” she agreed while returning the contact.





Chapter 4 [Kent Farm]

Lana came out of the bathroom while wiping her face on a towel. After returning from Denver, she and Clark had checked on Ryan before relaxing for a couple of hours. Another close call! She descended the stairs to find her husband and April watching the baby and the twins. “Hi, April. What’s going on?”

“You tell me. Dave’s been out of it since you all got back. At least he’s calmed down,” April replied.

“We took on these weird lizard men,” Clark recounted. “And then there was this fire thing that sprouted up out of the floor. The Protector knew it.”

“Knew it?” She instinctively hugged her babies tightly to herself. “It’s Dahak. Remember when the Mystery Man and Therese attacked here?”

“I thought I heard him muttering about score one victory but others remained,” Lana recalled from the morning following that particular confrontation.

“Dahak is their master. It’s been there since high school,” April explained. “And a constant thorn in our sides.”

“And it knows about how kryptonite affects us,” Clark sighed.

“Your parents are going to love that. Terrific,” April replied. “Not to mention Dave and the Other.” She looked out the window toward town. “At least he’s able to sleep a bit.”

“Any word on our friends from Colorado?” Lana asked.

“Kim and Rick are at the medical center. Ronald and his girlfriend are at Lex’s mansion. Look, I can watch these three. Your mother will be back in about fifteen minutes. Why don’t you go to the medical center?” April reported.

“Are you sure?” Clark inquired.

“Go on ahead. It’s okay. If I need anything, I’ll get you on your cells,” April assured them.

“Okay.” Lana picked Ryan up and kissed his forehead. “Love you, little one.” She handed him back to April before she and her husband sped out the door and up the road toward town.


****


[Althanor]

Dave woke up and blinked in surprise. He’d expected to look around and see the apartment bedroom. Instead he felt soft green grass under himself and shivered a bit in the mist. “Where?”

“You should know, Dubois. You’ve been here before,” Heloise advised him tersely.

“What are you talking about?” He saw Deirdre approaching them and realized, “This is Althanor.”

“It is,” Deirdre concurred. “Welcome back, David. What do you remember of the museum standoff?”

“Nothing. I’m guessing the Protector led those kids into a glorified death trap,” he guessed. Then he smelled the ozone coming off of his burns. ‘Great.” He looked at his arms and side and grimaced. “Only one creep’s singes reek like this. Dahak showed up, didn’t it?”

“Indeed. Worse, the statuette was forged from kryptonite! That almost cost my niece and her consort! Could the demon have done any worse?” Heloise spat.

He glared back at her. “Hey! They knew about that! Jor-El warned them. They’re okay though. The ones you should be concerned about are the ones from Middleton.”

“They accounted well for themselves all things considered,” Heloise noted. “The fire hair and her consort recover at Smallville Medical Center. The blonde and his Asian companion rest at Alexandre’s mansion.”

“I should talk to Kim’s parents after I see her and the boyfriend,” he declared while standing up.

“He has a point, Heloise,” Deirdre indicated while opening a portal. “Go ahead. We’ll talk again before you and the Legion do anything else.”

“Best to your parents,” he expressed. “Oh I meant to ask…did your mother?”

“Deirdre beamed proudly. “It was a close call but Mama had a son, Ricardo.”

“I’ll bet Karen and Dr. Alvarez are pleased by that. Please let your parents know April and I send our congratulations,” he wished before disappearing into the mists.

“Hopefully he’ll think of the details as clearly on our side as he does on yours,” Heloise chastised.

“He does. He’s not as polished a leader as Papa but he does,” Deirdre commented while turning back toward the lake and her own thoughts.




Chapter 5 [Smallville Regional Medical Center]

Kim stared at the ceiling wondering how she’d ended up in this particular situation. She knew the ninja creeps at the museum had beaten her black and blue. Worse, a cast covered her right leg, signaling a break of some kind. “Great.”

“Sorry I couldn’t do more,” Rick apologized sheepishly from the next bed over. “Guess that’s it for you and cheering?”

“No big. I wasn’t going to do it in college anyhow,” she assured him although she would’ve liked to have had one more shot at the State Competition on the following week. She saw his bandages and sling. “What’s your sitch?”

“Broken arm and collarbone,” he reported morosely. “Guess we’re stuck, aren’t we?”

“Looks that way,” she conceded while looking around for the Kimmunicator. “Ron? Where’s he?” Then she heard a knock at the door. “Clark and Lana Kent?”

“We were at the Talon and decided to swing by to check on you,” Clark noted as he set a cup of coffee down on each of their nightstands. “Something better than the hospital stuff.”

“You have no idea. Thanks,” Rick expressed while sipping on the Talon java. “Mmmm! Great!”

“Besides we figured you could use a couple of visitors,” Lana interjected while eyeing Kim’s leg. “Sorry about the leg. Clark, the door please?”

As he closed it, Kim asked, “What’s the 411 on our sitch?”

“411? Sitch?” Clark queried in confusion as he shut it.

“She means the iguana standoff,” Rick translated.

“The creeps disappeared with it. You know about the effect it had on those ninjas. We also know why the telepathy’s been so hard. They’re being led by a fire demon,” Lana reported.

“Fire demon?” the two patients chorused in shock.

“You’ll need to ask Professor Dubois. He’s been facing it since he was your age,” Lana said. She looked at Clark. “If they’re unable to fight, we’ll need more help.”

“Maybe our counterparts?” Clark supposed.

“Counterparts?” Rick asked.

“Long story,” Lana replied while deflecting the conversation back toward the topic at hand. “Meantime, any way to….” She heard a beeping noise. “What’s that?”

Clark opened the closet door to find the beeping coming from the Kimmunicator. “It’s this.” He brought the device over. “Is this yours?”

“Please and thank you,” Kim expressed while accepting it from him. “It’s probably Wade.” She pressed the middle button. “Go Wade.”

“Kim! Hey, you’re okay!” the genius replied. “The parents are really worried.”

“I’ll bet they are….” She winced. “As for being okay, well….” She turned the device so he could see her leg and then Rick. “Not so much.”

“Ron and Yori are okay at least,” Wade reported. “Who are your friends?”

“These are Clark and Lana. They’re two of the folks who pulled us out of there. Hush on them, right?” Kim requested.

“Lips are sealed as always,” Wade agreed. “Thanks, guys.”

“Our pleasure. And you are?” Lana asked.

“I’m Wade, their tech guru/communications person. By the way, I got some weird readings from the museum and saw glowing reptile guys,” Wade introduced.

“It was the statue,” Rick mentioned. “It did something to Ron too. It sapped his monkey stuff.”

“Great. They can feed off of him too. Wonder if Sensei knows about this?” Wade inquired.

The teenaged quartet in the hospital room shrugged.

“If we find out anything, we can let each other know. That goes for when we can get a hold of your folks too, Kim,” Lana noted.

“They know, Lana,” Dave indicated while walking into the room.

“Great! I’m so dead!” Kim sighed.

“I told your parents you asked me to call, Kimberly,” Dave assured her. “They appreciated the thought if you get my drift.” He winked at her.

“How can a guy be so cool and yet so postal?” she asked him.

“Thank his condition, Kim,” Wade explained. “Professor, if I find out anything about the iguana, I’ll let Ron and Yori know.”

“Very good. And our two patients here are sitting out the rest of this one on orders from the parents, GJ, the FBI and me,” Dave replied.

“Trust us. Don’t argue with him,” Clark advised.

“We won’t,” Rick conceded.

Kim rolled her eyes wondering if this sitch could get any worse…..




Chapter 6 [An hour later]
[Cowache Caves]

After reassuring their friends, Clark and Lana rushed over toward the caves to check in with Jor-El. As soon as they reached the central chamber, they found him waiting for them.

My children, you are safe. I felt your sickness.

[“We’re fine except we had a scare with these iguana-ninjas. They’re kryptonite powered,”] Clark reported.

Did I not warn you about that? Jor-El lectured. Kal-El, Lana, you must be more careful! Fortunately, the Protector intervened. Now we must get the statue back AND defeat our enemies. He considered his next words carefully. Rest now and be with Ryan. I have some things to consider. With that, he vanished.

“That was too weird,” she declared.

“He gets like that when he’s worried. Come on,” he noted before taking off for the farm.


****


[Talon]

Pete rushed into the café not sure if his girlfriend or the others were okay. Not seeing any of the people in question, he made his way to the counter.

Miranda set a coffee in front of him. “Relax, Pete. Everything’s okay.”

He leaned over and whispered, “Nobody’s hurt? Sorry, hadn’t heard anything since the news clip.”

“She’s in the corner booth along with the others.” She motioned to the table over by the far corner parallel to the old theater’s entrance.

“Thanks!” he exclaimed before walking off in that direction.

For her part, she admired his concern. Nice to see him looking in on one girl. With that, she went back to her other orders.


****


[Far corner booth]

Since returning from Denver, the legion members had checked in on things at their respective living places before meeting at the booth. As with their encounter with the Black Hand, the standoff had gained them some exposure. They’d contained the ninja threat and rescued the museum patrons. Clark, Lana and the Protector had dealt with the glowing guys.

But the demonic pyre frankly scared them—even Byron in his darkest mode.

“I can’t believe that’s what well made him,” Sasha noted low while nervously adjusting her glasses.

“Given how dark the Jinn is, should we be surprised?” Jasmine inquired while looking around.

“Not to mention that witch lady and the Mystery guy,” Samantha piped in. Then she saw Pete coming over. “We’ll pick this up again later.” She waved to him. “Pete!”

“Hey, what’s going on?” he asked as they kissed.

“Not much. Everything’s okay here. Two of the Colorado kids are in the hospital,” she reported.

“Man! This doesn’t have to do with that statue from class, does it?” he supposed.

“Everything, Pete,” Byron noted while motioning for him to join them. “Even our dynamic duo had problems with things there.”

Pete looked concernedly at the group who basically nodded as one at him. “They’re okay?”

“Sure. We just need to have a better plan next time,” Alicia insisted. “I know Professor Dubois wishes he would’ve been in on it.”

“Just like me, when he changes, he’s out of it,” Byron reminded them all. “At least though we did get everyone out. Next time, we’ll get the statue back.”

The others looked perplexedly at the poet. They loved his optimism but wondered how they’d deal with an army of the glowing lizard-ninjas at their next encounter.

And that wasn’t counting what was about to come through the front door either…..


****


[Upstairs Apartment]

Just as with the students, Dave was bothered by the standoff’s results. True, they’d rescued everyone and the museum was undamaged (for the most part).

But seeing Kim and Rick in that hospital bed bothered him. Granted, he knew how rash teenagers could be. Hell, he’d been worse at their age.

But to go up against Dahak like that?

He heard a gurgle and saw Colin staring up at him questioningly. “Sorry, Champ. Didn’t mean to ignore you.” He gently rocked his son.

“It’s okay, Dave,” April assured him from across the table where she was feeding Peggy. “At least he led the kids in and out of there. From what Garth told her, Karen says the fight was only about fifteen minutes long. Those kids will heal.”

“That’s not the question, Honey,” he indicated while burping his son. “That fire creep gets a hold of you and well…they could be like me.”

“As long as you’re on the scene, I know that won’t happen,” she told him frankly. “Have faith in yourself.”

“And then there’s Peggy too,” he sighed.

She eyed him sympathetically. “You did all you could that day, Dave. What happened wasn’t your fault.”

“I can keep telling myself that and….” His eyes went glassy for a second before returning to normal. He stood up and took Colin into the bedroom.

“Dave? What is it?” April asked

“Speaking of Peggy, I felt something I haven’t felt since the meteor shower. Stay here with the kids, April. Cassie! Angie!” he called.

The two girls stuck their head out of the bedroom. “Yes, Papa?”

“Stay here and listen to April. I’ve got to deal with something,” Dave instructed while grabbing his bow and quiver from the closet. [“Miri?”]

[“What is it, Uncle Dave?”]

[“Anything downstairs?”]

[“Full café. Why? What’s going on? The Protector feels like he’s about to come out.”]

[“We’ve got trouble. Be down in a second. Call Clark and Lana in but tell them to come in normally. The leader of the museum band’s here,”] he noted before heading out the door.

The rematch, it seemed, was about to take place…….




Chapter 7
[Kent Farm]

After returning from the caves, Clark and Lana whipped through the chores around the farm and checked on Ryan and the parents.

To say that Martha and Jonathan were concerned was an understatement.

“You went there despite knowing that there was kryptonite involved?” Jonathan lectured.

“We went in with back up, Dad,” Clark argued.

“We kept our distance from the statue,” Lana noted.

“But if those ninjas were affected by it, how can you fight them?” Martha wondered.

Clark bit his lip. While he wanted to say ‘it’s their job’, he knew Jor-El and they were being right. He couldn’t endanger himself, Lana or the baby by being reckless. “Maybe Jor-El or the Professor can figure something out. If not, we may need to sit one out.”

As he said the words, they heard Miranda call telepathically, [“Guys, Uncle Dave just picked up on trouble here at the Talon. Come quickly.”]

“What is it?” Jonathan asked.

“Miranda needs some help at the Talon. Come on, Clark. Quick cup of coffee before dinner?” Lana proposed before handing Ryan off to Martha.

“Sure,” he agreed while helping the cover operation. Then they took off for town.

“What is it now?” Martha wondered.

“Beats me, Martha. I hope they know what they’re doing,” Jonathan hoped.



****

[A/N: Brace yourselves, this is going to get *really* ugly.]
[Talon]

Even as the forces around Smallville converged on his location, Dijon appeared in the alley behind the Talon. He considered the area, conceding the improvements made since Kara’s attack years earlier. <The fools maintain their illusions however! No matter!>

<Remember your purpose!> Dahak goaded.

[<”I remember, Master.”>] Dijon collected himself. While his ninja forces trained and the scientists studied the statuette, he had a message of sorts to deliver. He stalked around the corner, took three steps on the sidewalk and almost strutted right through the café’s front door. <”Dubois never changes,”> he scoffed. He looked toward Angie’s and smiled coolly. <”She’s here? Excellent!”>

As he watched, Miranda looked up at the immortal. From the link with her uncle, she knew the guy was trouble. [“Guys, drop the normal thing and come in with full force!”]

[“Got it,”] Clark responded.

She fingered the kitana under the counter, feeling reassured by its presence. Seeing Garth walk into the restaurant, she motioned with her head toward the flower shop.

Seeing the hulking figure moving in on his wife and daughter, the agent drew his sidearm and rushed toward them.


****


[Angie’s Floral Emporium]

Karen finished inputting the last of the latest order into the computer and stretched her arms toward the ceiling. Hopefully this’ll get us through Mother’s Day. Anything to help April. She took a sip of coffee and turned to where her daughter read a catalog. “Any ideas, Sweetie?”

“Sorry, Mom. It seems so bland,” Marti replied crestfallenly. She wanted to come up with something special every year for her mother and Aunt April. In that case, she was getting nothing.

“Give it time,” Karen soothed while hearing the bell go off.

Marti stared at the hulking man. Even without psychic powers, she knew he was trouble. “Mom?”

Karen turned to find herself face to face with Dijon. <”You? What are you doing here? GET OUT!”> she ordered in French while pointing to the door.

The Burgundian intruder scoffed at her attitude. “Karen Dubois, still as charming after all of these years. I have a message to deliver. You’re just as likely a vehicle as any.”

“Trust me; just by being here, you’ve done it. And here I thought the message we sent to your wife was enough,” Karen fired back.

“Mom, who is he?” Marti wondered.

“Yes, Karen, do tell her who I am,” Dijon challenged. “That is if your husband isn’t going to exhibit my wife’s handiwork.” He heard a gun safety click off.

“I’m quite fine thank you,” Garth growled while holding him at gunpoint. “And she’s my wife now, Dijon.”

“Singleton. As much the maverick as ever. Not that I’m surprised after what I saw at the museum,” Dijon spat before spinning around and pinning the agent up against the wall in a blur. “I can still kill you.”

“Daddy!” Marti exclaimed.

“Patience, child. You’ll be joining him and your cousin, Margaret, soon enough!”

At that moment, Clark and Lana sped into the shop keeping themselves out of clear sight of the patrons. Together they knocked both agent and aggressor out of the shop and across the café.

Midway across, a telekinetic “hand” ripped Garth from Dijon’s grasp, arresting his flight.

Dijon, however, kept going, impacting against the back wall and scattering patrons in his wake. <“Curse those children!”> He stared up at the plaque, noting it glowing bright orange.

“They’ve got nothing to do with it, Asshole,” Dave disagreed in a very low menacing voice from the staircase. He walked in very deliberate steps; his eyes never leaving his longtime adversary’s. He held his bow at the ready. “Still crashing cafes? What’s the matter, wife’s charm school not enough anymore?” He glared at the other patrons. “Show’s over, Folks! Clear out now!”

At the sight of the medievalist holding his bow, the remaining patrons knew well enough that they didn’t want to be there.

Dijon chortled. “Her work is evident here, Dubois. For all of your bluster, you know that as well as I.” He motioned to the plaque. “You change. My master wins.”

“Funny. We had a standoff earlier at the museum,” Dave disagreed firmly while standing by Garth.

“We can take him, Dave.”

Dave shook his head. “There’s no we, Garth. Karen and Marti need you. I’ve got this bastard. Call Steve in. You’re going to have a murder collar tonight.”

“Always the cocky one, eh, Dubois?” Dijon climbed to his feet. “Especially with all of these potential victims here? Or don’t you remember the last time you faced my forces?”

“Shut up,” Dave hissed.

“Margaret Masters, remember her?” Dijon taunted. “She died…wanting to be remembered or some such garbage. Poor girl….”

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” Dave yelled; the tears starting to come down his face.

“So it still eats at you. I thought it might,” Dijon continued, pushing the other man’s buttons.

“It…still….eats? You…YOU!” His eyes went crimson. “Ya’re st…upid ‘nough to conf’nt me here. Moron!” He focused.

The plaque glowed red in tune with his eyes.

Dijon floated off the ground again. “You don’t have the stones.”

Dave laughed wickedly and motioned with his hands which glowed jet black.

Twin blasts of dark fire burned Dijon inside out, causing him to scream.

Then Dave twitched his head.

His ancient adversary slammed hard into the ceiling. Then he did a pretty fair imitation of a racquetball, bouncing and skidding off of the walls before being flung through the far doors and into the old theater.

As he stalked past the legion, Dave growled, “STAY PUT!” Then he kept going into the theater.

“Let’s make sure that the Singletons are okay,” Sam suggested.

“What about them?” Pete wondered.

“Don’t go there, Pete,” Miranda advised. “If that creep’s who I think he is, you don’t want to come between him and Uncle Dave right now.” She heard the screeching of brakes outside. “Oh now what?”

Lex rushed in along with Ron and Yori. “What’s going on? It’s all over the police band!”

“Dijon’s back, Lex,” Garth rasped from Angie’s entrance. “He just incited Dave and….”

From the theater, they heard Dijon scream.

They heard Dave bellow, “YER GONNA PAY FER KILLIN’ ‘ER!”

They all heard the Scream.

They felt the impact as something hit the back wall of the old theater.

“Tremendous,” Lex groused. He knew there would be Hell to pay in repair bills and social standing for this episode. Worse though, he worried for his friend’s psyche.

“Miri Chan, what is going on?” Yori demanded while drawing her kitana.

“Remember when I told you about my cousin, Peggy? The one who was killed up in Amherst?” Miranda asked while keeping her own blade at the ready. “Dijon’s the one who killed her. Uncle Dave’s wanted his sorry ass for twenty plus years.”

“We need to find that leader guy and if he’s all scary….” Ron started.

“Ron, Dijon is their leader!” Miranda snapped. “And do you really want to go in there right now?”

The blonde teen gulped nervously, still wishing they could talk to Sensei.


****


[Old Theater—Five minutes earlier]

Dijon managed to teleport himself into the upper balcony so he’d have a minute to lick his wounds. From the “levitate and smash,” he knew Dubois had broken his shoulder and a leg. He wiped the blood off of his face, feeling his nose bent out of shape. However he’d taken out prey with far greater injuries.

<GET OUT OF THERE!> Dahak ordered.

<”No, Master, not when we’re this close!”> he disagreed while sensing Dave’s entry into the theater. For a full minute, he watched his mortal nemesis despite the dim lighting.

Then he saw the other stop right under his position and tense.

Silently, Dijon leapt down toward his adversary in a seemingly perfect ambush.

Without even looking, Dave snapped his fingers, preempting the attack and making the other float in mid-air. “Yer slipping, Shithead.” He wheeled and fired a specially prepared shaft right through the other’s remaining good shoulder.

Dijon howled in pain. <”CURSE YOU!”>

“A little something I borrowed from a friend of mine,” Dave hissed, referring to his counterpart from the Duboisverse. He stalked over to the floating man. “You think you know pain. You’re the Butcher of Burgundy after all. Well tonight, I’m going to teach you PAIN!” He flicked a finger, pushing the other back onto a gargoyle motif’s sharp edge.

The spike stuck right through the other’s right leg, eliciting more blood, gore and another pained howl.

“Play time’s a bitch, ain’t it?” Dave shook his head tersely, feeling his anger surging though himself. His head going completely numb. “YER GONNA PAY FER KILLIN’ ‘ER!”

The Protector screamed as he assumed control. “Ya’ll an’ Iso-Smell think yer so SMART, don’cha? EAT MAH CRAP!”

But before he could do anything else, Dijon disappeared in a dark flash.

“DAMMIT! STOOPID FUCKIN’ FIRE PUSS!” the Protector bellowed at the ceiling.

“What’s going on?” Lex asked, remembering to keep his voice modulated.

“What’d’ ya think? Damn Mustard Boy got ‘way! Tha’s wha!” The Protector snapped indignantly. “Ah had ‘im! Ah had his fuckin’ ass!”

“You didn’t…..” Lex hesitated, considering the worst.

“Ah woulda if stoopid fire puss stayed outta it! Dammit! Ah can’t do NOTHIN’ right!” He slumped to his knees. “Couldn’ git even fer Peg…gy.” His eyes watered. “She ain’t gittin’ wha’s right, Lexie!”

“She will one day.” Lex approached him slowly. “And you did okay. Both you and Dave. You kept the patrons out of it for the most part. The building’s standing.”

“WHO CARES? HE GOT ‘WAY!”

“You do! All right?” The billionaire grabbed the other man by the arms and shook him. “You’re not a monster. Think of the kids. You think Peggy would want them to see you like this? I remember how she was. She wanted the best for you.”

“IT HURTS, ‘KAY?

Lex nodded. “I know. It always will. That’s okay. Remember you’re not a monster.” He hugged the other man and soothed, “If you want to cry then cry. Nobody’s going to judge you for that.”

The Protector bowed his head and relaxed, letting Dave back out.

“L…Lex?” Dave asked. “Damn it, I…I….” He grabbed onto his close friend and began crying his eyes out.

Lex looked over his shoulder at the others who watched through the door entrance. “Give us some space and let April know everything’s under control.”

“I’m on it,” Lana agreed while speeding off in that direction.

After the door closed again, Lex rocked his friend gently, calmly humming to him in the dim lighting.

Several minutes later, the door opened again, allowing April to peer in. “Lex? Dave?”

“It’s okay. He’s just about cried out, I think,” Lex indicated while helping his friend up. “Dijon worked his emotions over pretty hard.”

“The others told me,” the florist noted sadly. “I’ll take over from here. Thank you so much, Lex.”

The billionaire rubbed his friends’ shoulders. “He’s my brother, April. Maybe not in blood but by choice. It’s my pleasure.” He looked at Dave. “If you need to talk, call the mansion anytime. Okay?”

“O…okay,” Dave agreed while picking up his bow. After the other man left, he hugged his wife. “Sorry if we…scared you.”

“Dijon didn’t leave you much of a choice. I understand though why you went off on him. Peggy’s death hurts both of us,” she assured him. “You might want to talk to the girls though.”

“Great,” he sighed while rubbing the back of his neck. “Can I do anything right?”

“They know it wasn’t directed at them. They want to make sure you’re okay,” she noted.

“Okay. Let’s go,” he agreed as he followed her out of the theater and across the café.

Once Dave and April had disappeared into their apartment, Garth shook his head at Lex. “Can’t believe that creep’s back.”

“He was going to pop up again sooner or later,” Karen said.

“We’ll be ready next time,” Clark vowed.

“Count on that,” Lana agreed.

“For all of our sakes, guys, we’d better be,” Lex told them gravely. I just hope he’s going to be okay.

 

Onto Part 2