(~˘▾˘)~~(˘▾˘~)
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"I am your father, Kal-El,"
Jor-El's intelligent projection paused and continued.
"At least, his consciousness, his projection. My name is Jor-El."
"Kal-El, is that my name?"
Clark felt surreal for a moment, with the answers he had pursued for nearly two decades so close. The thought of being able to see his biological father in person left him with his mouth open, not knowing where to start. "I... I have so many questions."
"My son, don't worry. I will answer all your questions."
Jor-El's eyes were filled with kindness and patience.
"We have plenty of time."
...
"I found it, Mom and Dad."
In the evening, the cool autumn breeze swept through the farm.
At the dinner table, as Clark took a few bites of food and with a smile on his face, he suddenly said, "I found them."
"What?"
Jonathan, holding a spoon in his hand, looked at his son with a puzzled expression.
After returning home from delivering the Lantern Rings to the Atlanteans for research, David knew what Clark was talking about when he saw the joy and peace in his eyes that he had never seen before.
"Thank you, brother."
Clark thanked David and then turned to his parents, explaining with joy.
"My people, my parents, I now know my heritage!"
Jonathan was taken aback.
Martha found it hard to contain her shock, and this incredible news seemed to catch her off guard.
"Wow, that's... that's amazing."
As she spoke, she became somewhat silent, as if she wanted to ask something but couldn't find the words.
"What's wrong, Mom and Dad?"
The dinner table suddenly grew quiet, and Clark, filled with joy, was a bit puzzled.
"It's wonderful, Clark. You've found your heritage, found the place where you belong."
Jonathan, who never smoked, for some reason suddenly felt like lighting a cigarette. He reached into his pocket, only to find nothing there, leaving him feeling a bit awkward as he spoke in a subdued voice.
"Mom, Dad, you don't need to worry.
Clark won't go anywhere."
After this brief statement, the two parents were immersed in the unexpected news for a long time and couldn't calm down. David comforted the couple, knowing that they thought their son, whom they had raised for twenty years, had suddenly found his homeland, his relatives, and the inevitable next step would be to return to his homeland, that distant alien planet, to go back to where he truly belonged.
But Krypton was long gone, turned to cosmic dust.
"My homeland was destroyed in the planet's core explosion.
My biological parents also died in that explosion."
From Jor-El, Clark learned the answers to all his questions, such as who he was, why his parents were separated from him, and why he was sent to Earth.
"The only thing they did before they died was to send me to Earth to save me from the disaster."
"My child, don't be sad. Although I've never met your birth parents, I can imagine that they must have been great parents."
Martha rose to her feet and embraced her somewhat sentimental adopted son, gently stroking his head, while Jonathan looked into Clark's eyes, comforting his eldest son with his words.
...
United States, NASA Space Surveillance Station.
"General Swanwick, I think you must see this."
The tall and imposing black general was urgently led into a room by the department head. On the large screen in the room, near Earth's orbit, an unidentified flying object was floating.
"What is it, Doctor?
A comet or an asteroid?"
"Comets don't adjust their orbits, General."
Swanwick scanned the room, and every technician's face carried a sense of unease.
After all, not long ago, the last thing that came to Earth from space wasn't a good thing; it almost turned an entire city into skeletons.
"It's too massive; even amateur astronomers can see it through telescopes. Before it causes panic, I had to inform you."
The head of the department said nervously.
"Have you tried to contact them?"
Swanwick, who had lived in the human world disguised as a high-ranking figure for many years, narrowed his eyes.
Black, rigid, exuding a sense of iron-bloodedness - it seemed to be the style of a Kryptonian Spaceship.
"We've sent signals, but they haven't responded so far."
When mentioning this, the person in charge sounded somewhat panicked.
Sometimes, not speaking can convey an attitude, like disdain or indifference.
At least flying a spaceship to another species' planet, ignoring friendly greetings and inquiries from others didn't seem like they were just here for a casual visit.
'What does it want?
A casual landing?
Or... is it here to find someone?'
Swanwick remembered the young Kryptonian who had recently learned to fly and had been flying around Metropolis.
"Be prepared; Earth may be facing a challenge," he ordered, turning around.
...
After dinner, as usual, Martha was washing the dishes.
The father and son sat on the living room couch, watching television.
On the screen, an intense football game suddenly stopped, and an urgent news bulletin interrupted.
A screen showing a spaceship near Earth's orbit, with a host looking anxious, interrupted the broadcast with a groundbreaking announcement: A technologically advanced alien civilization's ship had been discovered near Earth's orbit. Before the host could finish, the channel started disconnecting.
Jonathan sat up in a daze at the news.
"That is... the Kryptonian fleet mothership."
Clark, on the other hand, immediately recognized the ship, feeling somewhat stunned.
Didn't the holographic projection of his father, Jor-El, say that Krypton had been destroyed, and everyone, except him, had perished in the explosion?
'Zod is indeed here.'
David raised an eyebrow.
He had expected this moment after hearing Clark's account of what happened when he activated the Arctic ship. He just hadn't anticipated that Zod would arrive so quickly.
'Is he so eager to reclaim the Kryptonian Codex and rebuild Krypton?'
ZZZZ!
With a buzzing sound, the house suddenly went dark.
"Power outage?"
Martha wiped her wet hands on a towel and walked out of the kitchen in confusion. She noticed that the television seemed to be malfunctioning, displaying static and repeating audio as if calibrating.
[You are not alone.]
Father Jonathan took out his phone, and to his surprise, the same message was playing on his phone screen.
[You are not alone.]
"It's a global-scale signal intrusion," Clark listened intently for a moment. Different television stations from different countries and regions were playing the same message in different languages. He sat up in astonishment, knowing who the 'you' in that message was referring to.
'Could it be that I'm not the only surviving Kryptonian in this huge universe?'
"Son, is that ship looking for you?" Jonathan asked in astonishment.
"Seems... yes," Clark's expression grew solemn as he instinctively looked at his brother, speaking with a heavy tone, reminding him to prepare for a battle.
"David, we might need to get ready."
"Don't you want to say hello to your fellow Kryptonians who've traveled so far to visit?" David replied.
After meeting his biological father, Clark seemed to have matured considerably. He was no longer as restless and understood the value of his life and the mission he carried.
'Jor-El sent Clark to this planet with the hope that he would guide this new race, similar to Kryptonians, lead them forward when the Earth was still in its infancy, overcome possible disasters, and become a symbol of hope.'
"They might not be here with friendly intentions."
Facing his parents' inquiring gazes, Clark shook his head.
"My father, Jor-El, told me how corrupt and stagnant Krypton had become before its destruction. The rigid class distinctions were encoded in our genes. Once you were a laborer, you were always a laborer, and a soldier was forever a soldier.
Those who could operate and command motherships for galactic expeditions were at least high-ranking military officers. And those who could command high-ranking officers..."
As a military force that had almost conquered the entire known universe, the Kryptonian Imperial Army was known for its brutal and iron-blooded ways, with bloodshed and conquest flowing through their veins. Their arrival on Earth might not be a good thing for the planet.
[I am General Zod.
I come from a distant planet, crossing the vast galaxies to your world because one of my people is hiding among you.]
On the television, Zod's image formed from static, and his tone slow and unhurried, held an irresistible sense of authority.
[Kal-El, humans may appear similar to us, but they are not the same.
You enjoy playing the hero on this planet, engaging in make-believe games. If you truly care about the fate of this world, I give you twenty-four hours to surrender!]
As Zod issued his warning through a remote conversation, Clark clenched his fists. Things were indeed progressing toward the worst-case scenario he had expected.
They were using the entire planet to threaten him.
'But it's not an empty threat. Just a few Kryptonians who have basked under a yellow sun have the power to destroy the world.'
David looked at him and asked with a smile.
"What's your plan?"
"You don't seem at all worried, David?"
Clark was stunned for a moment.
"The enemy is pretty clear, aren't they?"
David shrugged.
"What is there to fear?
I've grown up and lived with their people for over twenty years, and I know their capabilities inside out."
Clark choked and was at a loss for words, but David's relaxed attitude did help ease the tense atmosphere in the house.
"Clark, we don't understand their motives."
The oppressive image on the television was cut off, the light bulbs illuminated the room again, and Jonathan breathed a sigh of relief. He placed a hand on his son's shoulder, hoping to get him to hold off any rash actions.
The term 'surrender' used by the other side made him realize that these people had a clear hostile attitude towards his son.
"But we have no other choice."
With a heavy voice, Clark made his decision, looking at his brother.
"I can't let Earth be threatened because of me, especially when you and David are on this planet."
...
Aliens invading and speaking through all electronic display devices, addressing Earth, and talking to Superman, ignited global discussions.
"Superman, he really is an alien!"
Rumors that had circulated for a while were now confirmed.
"Why did he come to Earth?"
Earth was facing a dangerous situation with the arrival of Superman, and some people were getting anxious and getting defensive.
The very existence of Earth and the lives of billions of humans were threatened with destruction due to the presence of Superman.
"Surrender Superman, Earth must not be harmed. Why should we bear all of this?"
"Oh God, is the apocalypse upon us?"
"Superman has brought disaster and attracted dangerous attention from the universe. He is the source of disaster!
General Zod must take him away, or this won't be a one-time occurrence!"
"And there's Beyonder, he might be an alien too!
A person that powerful can't possibly be human. Why didn't that alien general mention him?
Is he another species of alien?"
Some people defended Superman, stating that he had saved many lives and improved the lives of many, and he had even worked alongside the Beyonder to save a city. Now, were they going to abandon their hero?!
But these few voices of support for Superman were drowned out by the overwhelming demand to hand him over.
"Human nature has its moments of brilliance, but most of the time, it's ultimately selfish."
In the morning sunlight, over the skies of Metropolis, Clark looked at his phone, frowning as he scrolled through online discussions about the situation. David glanced at him.
"This is what humanity is like, Clark, are you disappointed by this?"
The two hovered on the edge of the city, waiting for Zod's arrival.
Clark had changed into a new outfit, no longer the youthful version of Superman with the blue half-sleeved and red cape. He wore a tight-fitting, dark blue, high-density material battle suit that wouldn't be easily damaged in combat, exuding a solemn yet approachable aura.
"I can listen to the voices of the entire continent without using a phone. If you think this can bring me down, you're looking down on me, David."
Clark laughed, put away his phone, and then grew somewhat sentimental.
"You shouldn't have followed, brother."
He gazed into the distance, using his super-vision to see that the Kryptonian mothership in near-Earth orbit had dispatched a shuttle that was approaching.
With electronic devices capable of invading an entire planet, his eyes and ears were everywhere. How could Zod not know that he and David were above the city?
"If there's danger later, don't worry about me and leave me alone."
"You seem to have lost confidence in yourself,"
David said.
"You don't think you can deal with them."
Clark had indeed matured more than before, but influenced by his presence, Zod's arrival on Earth had been brought forward considerably.
Without going through the events that were supposed to occur in the original plot, including the loss of his father, he didn't have the same level of maturity and determination.
"The talents and abilities of Kryptonians are determined from birth.
A warrior's son is a born warrior, a repairman's son can only do repair work.
And I am the son of a scientist..."
Clark frowned and clenched his fist.
He was prepared for battle, even for the possibility of sacrifice. But he didn't have much confidence in the outcome of this battle, and he disagreed with David's earlier assessment.
"You can't casually assume that my power is on par with Zod's.
A well-trained warrior can take on several scientists who spend all day in a laboratory, probably more than a dozen."
"You underestimate your potential, Clark," David said, as the black shuttle approached from a distance.
He showed no signs of anxiety and didn't act like he was facing an enemy, just a calm smile.
"And you underestimate the power of scientists."
Jor-El may have been a scientist, but he was also a scientist who defeated Zod with a set of fighting skills. If he hadn't looked up at Clark's spaceship with joy, surrendering and giving up resistance, Zod might not have been able to kill him.
Swoosh!
The black spacecraft hovered in mid-air, and its hatch opened.
A confident and fierce-looking female adjutant stepped out of the spacecraft and stood at the open hatch.
"I am Faora. The General has been waiting for you for a long time, Kal-El."
She looked at Clark, who bore the House of El's family crest on his chest and recognized him as Kal-El.
Clark frowned but didn't respond.
"Who are you?"
Faora's scrutinizing gaze shifted to David, who was floating nearby, and she raised an eyebrow, her tone slightly surprised.
"Are you a human?"
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(~˘▾˘)~Don't forget to send your power-stones!~(˘▾˘~)