4/16/05 - 12:01AM - Kawatche Caves - Smallville, KS

It was quiet in the Kawatche caves, they where kept closed for the preservation of a historical landmark but every once in a while someone would visit. But on even rarer occasions someone would come from the cave. Almost a year ago a girl kept in suspended animation after her brain went dead was revived by an advanced computer system that was based upon the mind of a Kryptonian scientist named Jor-El. The consciousness knew that one day the girl might serve a purpose so he kept the girl as a faux Kryptonian and used her to lure his son Kal-El to commence his journey. From there he suspended his son in a controlled environment of superheated irradiated Kryptonian crystal, such crystal was called black Kryptonite and was necessary to bring out the necessary qualities to ensure he fulfill his mission to save the human race from the coming danger that would threaten this promising yet troubled world.

The cave was designed by the natives who resided here centuries ago by the Kryptonian scientist Nam-An. Having crash landed upon the world and his ship completely destroyed he would live among its people. He learned from that point on that though he had no prospect for returning home to Krypton. He still had hope. But not just hope. For though living among such primitive beings he realized he was strong, stronger than he had ever been on his Krypton. He wondered for a long time why this was so. Still a scientist he learned much about himself. He wasn't just strong, but fast. Invulnerable. Could manipulate his visual spectrum by using his eyes to emit minute amounts of X-rays and microwaves. He could see through walls or cause fires with his eyes. His hearing was so exceptional he could hear clearly across great distances. But probably the greatest thing he could do was the ability to fly. It was a magnificent feeling. Many of the Kawatche tribe saw him as a great champion. For only champions of the people would have such abilities.

Yet Nam-An still wondered how this was. He came to realize that it was because of his DNA interacting with the young vibrant yellow-white star. And as he looked further around the world he began to realize just how powerful he could become he wondered about the humans. He tried, tested all within proper ethics, and noticed that if he used irradiated Kryptonian crystals and provided a catalyst that the human could achieve an amazing power. The most noble of minds of the Kawatche were given the ability to transform into animals. For these people animals where sacred and to be able to have this power was the greatest honor he could bestow upon them. Though there were many other seemingly more civilized corners of the world, many were violent and corrupt. This part of the world was peaceful and good and though devoid of the greatness that was on Krypton these people where truly worthy of his attention. Particularly because he loved the most beautiful woman of their tribe. He couldn't exactly pronounce her name in Kryptonian but through tireless effort he realized her name was the Kawatche word for Magnificent One or Wonderful One. He preferred Magnificent One or just simply Magnificent. Unfortunately she couldn't have any children with him, their DNA appeared incompatible and despite the power of the irradiated crystals she didn't wish to be any different. And he respected that. They lived long and happily together, what amounted to two decades on the world yet she was still beautiful and wonderful. Tragically she would succumb to an illness even he couldn't be able to cure. Yet she still lived as far as he concerned in his heart and in the very world.

For though the father refused to grant them his permission to wed but he eventually relented. It was one of the other wise men who oversaw the marriage. He refused to be a Skinwalker like the rest of his noble warriors but he requested something else. Something that would require the wisdom to guide his people when Nam-An would leave. It was odd for Nam-An to hear this, for he didn't see anyway of leaving. Even though his Magnificent was gone he loved this part of the world and no one was going to convince him to leave. But he granted him the ability or should he say he enhanced an ability of his. For elsewhere as well as on Krypton people believed in a supremacy beyond that gave them the gift of insight, a deity who made them great seers of not just the truth but the future. This world called them prophets. It wasn't something he really believed being a man of science but even that was an ability that science had some explanations. Then the great chieftain was able to see things and commanded his people to write their chieftain's visions upon the stone cave walls. He saw the deeds he did with the powers shown on the walls he even saw his beloved Magnificent with the bracelet he forged from a precious Kryptonian metal used for weddings. On Krypton he was too busy for marriage and hoped to give it to his other sisters wedding, instead he ended up giving it to Magnificent. After she died he gave it to the chieftain in memory of his daughter perhaps give it to his other daughters when they were to be married. Her father accepted it without surprise almost as if he knew it must stay on the planet. He saw more images some things he knew he never did, some things that scared him. A two headed monster of benevolence and evil, only the evil wins. And of course the mighty image of him. Only it was odd, that the symbol didn't resemble his shield a five sided diamond with an upright infinity. But another symbol a curving symbol that he couldn't place yet found it vaguely familiar.

Eventually he wondered why would the chieftain would want this written down. Why write about him like this. Then the chief shocked him by telling him that this was not his story. This Child of the family of the Star is who this is for. He then told Nam-An that it was time for him to leave. No sooner did he say this that he was found by a Kryptonian ship that had traced him to the planet and had come to rescue him from this backward world. Nam-An was angry to leave but promised that one day he would return, he said it was to bring the people's champion back where he would protect them forever. He left the planet Terra as it was known by the most scholarly culture of the world, out of the Sol star system and out of the Via Lactea galaxy out of sector 2814. He was returned back home to a hero's honors, banquets, parades and medals. For his quest was seen as grand adventure one that many would dramatize for ages. Yet he made it clear to the Science Council that this was a place worthy of frequent visits and though he was unable to be sent back indefinitely he would be in charge of creating a portal with the most advanced system in the galaxy that would allow Kryptonians to visit the planet when the time came. He would have started right away if not for his sister reminding him that she had a wedding for him to attend. He went to her wedding, though it only pained him of his time with his beloved Magnificent. The wedding was wonderful and the man was a very noble and honest man. Seyg-El was his name and he was honored when the time came for the news that they would have their first child. Still he worked and worked to create the portal hoping he would have the time to send it and go to Terra once again.

He finished and was all but ready to relax with the knowledge of seeing that azure sky and that golden sun, feel its radiation making him strong once again and to fly above the heavens. Krypton still had Sanctuaries of Rao, but there wasn't that many true believers. Yet even he wondered if that's what it felt to be a god. Not the followers but the power to serenely be amongst them in splendor amongst the skies. It seemed that days working to get the portal to work all he had to do was send it and install. But it was years, several decades actually and he was becoming too weak to travel anymore. Nam-An then picked up a book one day looking into the ancient etymology of Krypton and looked up his name, and others. His beloved Magnificent sounded nice in Kryptonian as well as Kawatche. He then noticed his sister's husband had the last name El and according to the book El translated to Star. The chieftain's words, the symbol on the wall. It wasn't my story he was telling. It was the story of his descendent an heir from the house of El, the shield of Hope. He sat down for the last time at his console with the portal all but finished he said a prayer to Rao above and then left his last will and testament to his sister that she would honor his request to send the portal to Terra, have his nephews and their children and their grandchildren and all their heirs to continue his work until the end of all time. For he knew that deep down that was the only thing keeping him from returning to Terra, was Krypton and he understood why the chieftain created the paintings in the cave. It was Krypton's legacy to its people. He went to sleep for the last time, knowing that the last time he closed them he would be reunited with his Magnificent. He was given a grand funeral and his brother in-law encouraged by his stories and will continued his work.

Since then a member of the House of El continued the work of Nam-An only warned to be careful. For Nam-An wrote of their primitiveness he also spoke of their wickedness. While they sent the portal back they also sent the great stones of knowledge intending them to be found by a Kryptonian in order to create the great fortress of knowledge for their people if time came to visit the world indefinitely. Coming back, each generation updating the stones with more information. Some members of the House of El eagerly performed these rights of passage, others were vehemently opposed. But they were frequently encouraged or forced to. For this was truly something stronger than a responsibility it was destiny. There was no choice. But it didn't mean that was wrong it mean that it was something great. From then on it the final right of passage would be achieved through the last member of the House of El. For Krypton was no more, its destiny would be fulfilled through its last surviving member. Terra or as it was know by the people living now as Earth was loved by Nam-An's final descendent. Only this heir though possessing the same love of Earth was resistant to the great destiny his father Jor-El had set him towards. Selfish and unbelievably single minded to live his life the way he wanted it. No matter how much pain it caused the people he cared about.

But Kal-El is wrong, he cannot chose his own path. For if he truly knew what his destiny was he would accept in a heartbeat. Nam-An knew this and so did the chieftain. That was why the bracelet was preserved. That was why the painting was made. Even now there were forces already violating nature by attempting to change destiny. For destiny will always be preserved for even now a new Magnificent one was arriving to stop the evil. To save her beloved. To be the equal the previous one couldn't be for Nam-An. She is coming.

LIGHT, pure radiant light was enveloping the entire cave. It was coming from one symbol in the cave. Not the key-hole, not the console, not the journal, not even the painting of Naman. It came from the painting of Magnificent as her light fell upon the cave's floor until only she remained. She is here.

She took a breath. The air smelled clean and the cave was lit with lights from a series of lamps. She looked at her phone, the old cell phone that was told she needed for though its systems where over two decades old she was told it would function perfectly. She stood there waiting for it to respond. It read April 16, 2005. That vile piece of vermin plans to kill him days before... She couldn't think about that now. All she had to was to find Hardcastle, bring him back but above all else make sure Kal-El survives. She had to avoid him if possible but needed to keep eyes on him. She knew who to go to and how to get it done. Hardcastle, that was going to be tricky. If she knew him he was going to make contact with anyone from his past. Generals Wilson and Lane were the likeliest of men. But she got it covered. She needed eyes on two old friends of hers and Kal-El, they'll do their job. Especially her friend, as long as he drew breath that man would never let her down.

But she needed to remember it was Kal-El that mattered above all else. She prepared to leave the cave only she realized she was still in her armor. The ground was too rocky so she stood at the front entrance seeing the stars at night knowing full well what the heavens held above, fell to her knees in prayer.

"It is often forgotten that there are two Gods of War. Ares, the violent aggressor and you Athena the great defender. Ares creates monsters for heroes to destroy. You create heroes to destroy those monsters. Guide me, help me protect my beloved. The future depends on me."

She stood back placing a dark satchel on the ground and opening it up. She then changed into some new clothes changing her demeanor to suit an unsure, cowardly woman who though clothed in the athletic outfit of a member of the United States Navy she knew would not be given a second thought. As she adjusted her glasses above her face as she walked into a slow but steady jog for the US navy had a small proving grounds where a few research officers wouldn't bother her much near Crater Lake. That part of the lake was all but abandoned but there was always an unquestioning group of passed over military officers facing said posting as a punishment for some infraction. Apparently the navy was considering leasing the area for future testing. Must have made A.C. very mad.

Still she jogged knowing she'd find a place to rest and give a convincing excuse to the naval officer providing the proper documentation. Until then Diana Prince was enjoying a late night stroll.