04: A Place Called Earth
Kal-El woke from a cold sweat, his heart pumping wildly in his chest. The fear soon left him as he realized he was in his room. Krypto was sleeping comfortably beside him, his large body cuddled against his thigh. Kal-El sighed, rubbing his face. He hadn't dreamt about the experience on Jinogra in years but he found that every time he did have the dream, he was just as afraid as he had been the day it had happened.
It had been eleven years ago. Kal-El reflected back on that day in contempt. So much had changed in his life thanks to that one unfortunate day. Sure, he'd been traumatized for months, terrified of being alone, flinching at the slightest noise, but after a year he was fine! His father had counseled him, healing him with his words, until Kal-El was no longer afraid of different cultures, dark hallways, and the night time. Despite his recovery, his father refused to nullify the rule he'd given to Kal-El about leaving the Endurance. Even now, eleven years after the incident, Kal-El was chained up inside while his friends got to leave and explore the planets they stopped at.
Kal-El had let go of living in fear, choosing to live with curiosity in the spirit of caution. He remembered when he was fifteen, eight years after the incident; he had approached his father about leaving the Endurance to explore Carnivalia with his friends. The planet was a huge carnival attraction, filled with rides and all different kinds of people. Ching-Mi and Zara-Ra were both going along with the other kids Kal-El's age but Jor-El had denied his desire. Deep down Kal-El knew he wouldn't relent his iron will but he'd tried anyway. Ching-Mi and Zara-Ra had gone without him but the worst blow was Kur-Nor and his friends boasting of all the attractions; they'd made it a point to emphasis Kal-El's absence from the field trip.
Kal-El had put up with their snide remarks for years. He was tired of them. He was tired of living a confined life. He was tired of the contempt his peers conveyed behind his back because of his heritage. He was tired of being different. He was so tired of it all, that even though it had been years since his last attempt to run off on his own, he was once again tempted to pack his bags and leave the Endurance for good.
All of these years and the Kryptonians still hadn't found a place to call home. What were they looking for? Kal-El knew for a fact that they had come across several prospects over the years but each one ended up getting rejected in the end.
Well, he was sick of swimming through stars. He wanted to make a life on a planet, even if that planet already hosted another race. Kal-El was so fed up with his own race that he honestly wouldn't mind becoming a vagabond. Kryptonian customs drove him crazy, the limitations they placed on all the things he was passionate about drove him mad, and his own father treated him like he was still seven years old! Kal-El had learned to hide who he really was from them instead of trying to be an individual. But he finally had had enough. He was eighteen. He was a man now. It was time to face up to his father, to demand to be set free from the chains he'd had to live with since Jinogra.
Unable to return to sleep, Kal-El got out of bed. It was early, a little too early to be awake, but his mind was already swirling with restless thoughts. Sleep was out of the question now. Stretching, he dressed and left, leaving the door open for Krypto whenever the dog felt like waking and venturing into the living quarters. Kal-El tiptoed passed his parents room, coming into the kitchen to make himself a light breakfast. After eating, he mused over what to do with his day. He'd finished education; he'd graduated two years ago. He suddenly thought of his cousin. He hadn't spoken to Kara for a few weeks. She'd been seeing Yax-Ro's son, Fan-Ro, the last time they'd spoken. Maybe he should go and pay her a visit.
Pulling out his crystal, he walked over to a control panel and typed in her name. The screen flashed a couple of times until Kara's image came into focus. Her hair was all over the place, her clothes hanging off her shoulders. It was obvious she was still in bed.
"Kal? What in the name of Rao are you doing awake this time of day?" she grumbled.
Kal-El smiled. "Sorry to wake you, cousin."
Kara tried to move her hair out of her face with one of her hands. "That's fine," she sighed. "What do you need?"
"I… had a nightmare," Kal-El confessed.
Kara sat up straighter. "The same one as last time?"
Kal-El nodded as he shyly admitted, "Yes."
"Do you want to go for a walk?"
Good old Kara; she knew exactly what he needed. "Please."
"I'll be over there in two minutes," she promised before swiping her crystal across the screen, ending the connection.
Kal-El sighed. Thinking back on it, the last time he really needed to lean on Kara was over a year ago. Since he'd grown, their positions had switched, Kal-El being the one to protect and comfort her. But there were occasions – like now – when Kal-El needed her and every time those occasions arose, Kara became his rock.
True to her word, Kara showed up two minutes later, her gorgeous blonde hair tied back away from her face, her complexion already painted with makeup. She was even wearing a nice outfit. Her look was completely different from how she'd been on the crystal screen.
Kal-El shook his head. "You never cease to amaze me."
Kara raised a thin, perfectly curved eyebrow. "Why do you say that?"
"You looked like a stray cat two minutes ago."
Kara smirked, eyeing him up and down. "Years of practice, my cousin. You obviously still need to learn how to get dressed on short notice."
Kal-El looked down at his usual robe, frowning. He couldn't discern anything different. It took him a moment to realize she was in jest. "Kara," he complained.
She chuckled softly. "Are you sure you are capable of walking, Kal? I'm concerned you are not fully awake."
Kal-El rolled his eyes. "Come on, let's go."
Kara let out another soft laugh as she followed him out into the hall. They walked in silence for a few minutes before Kal-El sighed. "I wish this nightmare would stop reoccurring. It was such a long time ago."
"Kal, it was a seriously traumatic experience," Kara consoled. "I still have nightmares about Krypton exploding. All the adults do."
Kal-El sighed. "I wish my generation remembered; I feel they would understand my hesitations. Instead some still treat me as if I'm a delicate flower incapable of handling hardships."
Kara frowned. "Kal, Nor is an idiot so I pray you are not letting him get to you again."
Kal-El didn't say anything.
"Kal, you cannot continue to allow him to get to you. Ignore him. It should be easier to do now that both of you have graduated."
"He still sees me in the halls," Kal-El argued. "Every opportunity he takes, he insults me. It's been eleven years; you would think he would let it go like I have."
Kara shook her head. "Have you truly let it go?"
"Yes!" Kal-El snapped. "I have! It only resurfaces when I have the nightmare and even then the fear only lasts a few minutes."
Kara remained silent for a few minutes, contemplating his words. After a while, she decided to voice her suspicions. "Kal, these things you're feeling are not really concerning your nightmare are they?"
Kal-El found himself smiling sadly. Kara knew him a little too well. "Not really," he admitted.
They started walking again. "Is this about Uncle Jor not letting you leave the Endurance?" – Kal-El remained silent – "I knew it. Kal, you have to understand, you're his only child and he almost lost you once."
"I'm an adult now, Kara! What happened on Jinogra was a long time ago. I feel like he doesn't trust me. How am I to learn how to be a leader of this people if I never leave this blasted ship?! Eventually we are going to find a home. I don't want to be left in this forsaken hunk of metal while everyone else gets to go off and live their lives just because my father is afraid I will be allergic to the soil or some other such nonsense!"
Kara tried not to chuckle over his antics. She knew Kal-El was miserable; he'd lost the glint in his eyes he'd possessed as a child a long time ago. He had become reserved over the years, a shell of the boy he once was. Kara found him staring out the window panels all the time, his eyes clouded over. She missed the young, slightly reckless, boy from the past. She knew that Jor-El's rules were making him unhappy but she couldn't very well tell Jor-El how to raise his son. She wished she could solve Kal-El's problems but she couldn't do much besides be a listening ear.
"I wish I could change things for you," she admitted.
Kal-El sighed. "I'm sorry; I shouldn't have ranted like that."
Kara shook her head. "Don't apologize. Your life hasn't really panned out favorably, Kal. You have every right to let off some steam. The least I can do is be a listening ear."
Kal-El smiled sadly. "Thank you, Kara. I do feel a little better."
Years ago, that statement would have come with an embrace but Kal-El had stopped physically touching others after he'd turned fourteen. Though she would never admit it, Kara was saddened by this; she'd actually discovered that she missed his hugs. He was different, a difference that she needed amidst all the drama she had to deal with, but that difference seemed buried under years of growing bitterness. Kal-El was becoming a shell of what he once was. If this kept going, the Kal-El she knew and loved was going to disappear forever.
She'd been toying with the idea of at least voicing her concerns to her Uncle Jor but every time she saw him, her tongue went dry and she lost her nerve. She had been able to talk to Lara, who readily agreed with her about Kal-El's alarming change, but neither woman felt that Jor-El would listen to them if they asked him to reconsider his decision concerning his son. Lara had been trying to do that for years but Jor-El had always remained true to his word. His stubbornness had ruined his relationship with his son, strained the one with his wife, and brought a hint of indifference to Jor-El himself concerning others. As an outsider, Kara could see the disasters down the road but the stubbornness of the House of El was ridiculously thick. It would probably take another twenty years before Jor-El began to even think about changing his mind.
"We should head back," Kal-El muttered, disrupting her from her thoughts.
"That's probably a good idea," she admitted. "I will see you later, Kal."
"Goodbye, Kara, and thank you," Kal-El said sincerely.
"Any time, cousin," she said, grinning.
He returned the smile, though Kara noted that it didn't reach his eyes; Kal-El's smiles rarely did now-a-days.
At a crossroads, Kara turned to go back to her living quarters while Kal-El walked down the hall towards his parents dwelling place. He was old enough to have his own now but his father wouldn't allow it; another humiliating restriction he had to deal with. Kara had lived in her own place since she was seventeen! He was a whole year older than she had been and he was still living at home! Even Zara-Ra and Ching-Mi had their own places. Oh, and Kur-Nor; Kal-El wanted to pull his hair out over that realization.
Kal-El turned another corner when, unexpectedly, his feet slipped from beneath him as the ship rocked back and forth. Slamming into the wall, Kal-El tried to regain his footing just as the warning alarms went off. The ship rocked again and Kal-El knew they were either under attack or they were traveling through an asteroid field. Normally his father would handle the crisis but he had taught Kal-El everything there was to know about this ship and Kal-El was closer to the bridge. Twisting on his heel and trying not to fall over again as the ship swayed he rushed to the bridge.
A minute later he burst into the control room, his eyes drawn to the front window panels. "AI 02, what is going on?" he demanded.
"The Endurance is currently traveling through a meteor shower, sir," the AI responded.
"I can see that!" Kal-El snapped. "I want to know why an alternate route wasn't calculated to avoid it!"
Before the AI could respond, another large meteor crashed into the ship's side. A screen popped up, indicating that the force fields had been disabled; the damaged machinery blinking red on the screen.
"The force fields have taken a critical hit and are no longer functioning, sir," AI 07 informed.
Kal-El rolled his eyes. "Obviously," he grumbled under his breath. "AI 03, 05, and 09, follow my command. We're going to navigate our way through. Do not deviate from my orders. The last thing we need is for another critical hit. AI 10, while we navigate, find the nearest planet with sufficient resources we can use to make repairs. AI 01, make an announcement to all passengers of the asteroid field and order them to stay in their living quarters in a secured location until further notice."
"Yes sir," all the AIs said at the same time, executing their orders.
Kal-El swallowed as he saw the massive cluster of moving rocks hurling around them. It was going to take all of his concentration to guide them through this. His father had trained him on simulations before but this was to be the first time he did this in real life. Sending up a prayer, he stood in the center of the highest raised platform and rested his hands around the provided rail. Taking a deep breath, he began ordering the AIs, shouting out the commands of "left", "right", "straight", "up", "down", "stop", and "go". He vaguely heard voices behind him but he wasn't about to allow himself to be distracted.
Ten minutes past and they were almost through, Kal-El having successfully navigated through most of the field. Just when he thought he could start relaxing, two huge meteors appeared. They were closing in on each other and Kal-El had two options: force the ship through with a burst of speed or put on the breaks. He heard panicked voices behind him and several shouts at him to speed the ship through but Kal-El had a feeling that was the wrong choice.
"AI 05," he commanded, ignoring the shouts behind him, "at my command, hit the brake."
"WHAT?!" a collective gasp shouted behind him.
"Are you a fool, Kal-El? The collision will tear us apart if you do that! We must speed through!"
Kal-El recognized the voice of General Zod but again, chose to ignore the counsel. He'd already calculated the motion of the asteroids and knew, based off their inevitable impact, the direction they would go after colliding. If the ship halted in its course it would avoid any damage verses a twenty percent change of speeding on through only to collide with an unseen force behind the large rocks.
"BREAK!" Kal-El shouted at the appropriate time.
The panicked voices behind him ceased as fear gripped the entire control room. Only Kal-El remained confident as AI 05 did as commanded. A loud crunch reverberated off the window panels, rattling them uncomfortably as the two massive rocks slammed into each other. The force for which they collided was so great that once impacted, both immediately spiraled in opposite directions, flying past the ship without so much as scratching it. Kal-El was not surprised to find that several smaller asteroids had been hiding behind the large masses; anticipating them, he easily had the AIs dance around them and the Endurance came out of the asteroid field without further damage.
Kal-El didn't realize he'd practically been holding his breath. He let all the air out of his lungs and hung his head, breathing deeply in relief. He'd done it. His palms were wet with sweat and, now that the ordeal was over, his knees felt a little weak.
"Sir, a planet has been identified," AI 10 declared, scaring him out of his stupor.
A little shaken, Kal-El lifted his head and immediately felt a stirring in his soul that he couldn't quite explain. The planet was large, not the largest in its solar system, but it was obviously the only one with habitable life. Most of its surface appeared to be a fantastic deep blue with dark green landmasses and swirling white clouds. According to the display screen, the planet's name was called Earth. Reading the name, Kal-El again felt that strange stirring. His heart started pounding hard in his chest but it wasn't with fear. It was with an unexplainable excitement.
"Set our course for Earth," Kal-El commanded, "but halt at the planet before it."
Speaking the name of the planet caused the excitement to double. What was it about this place? Kal-El wondered. Why was it stirring him so?
His musings were interrupted by the forceful voice of General Zod. "Kal-El! What gave you the irrationality to attempt to guide this ship?"
Kal-El turned around. General Zod, Han-Jar, Tray-Ur, and his father, Jor-El were all staring at him. Avoiding the eye of his father, Kal-El spoke to Zod. "None were on the bridge when the ship was first hit by the asteroids."
"And so you took it upon yourself to command the ship?" General Zod demanded, obviously furious.
Kal-El's eyes narrowed. He never had much liked the General. He couldn't ever put his finger on it but like his father, he didn't trust Zod. There was something about him… still, he was one of the Endurance leaders and it was usually his job to guide the Endurance through space. Though Kal-El didn't like it, he had to respect the man.
"The ship was in danger, sir," Kal-El responded as respectively as he could. "My father has been training me for years on how to navigate this vessel and when I saw the immediate danger we were in and none to remove us from it, I made an executive decision to take action. I apologize for not stepping down after your arrival and for ignoring your orders earlier but I felt it expedient to follow the calculations I deduced in the time of crisis. I accept whatever punishment you see fit from my actions of insubordination."
General Zod looked like he desperately wanted to punish him but Tray-Ur spoke first. "I believe Kal-El has earned a pardon," he said with a small smile. "The young man did navigate the Endurance with remarkable precision and skill."
"He also made sure the people were warned to secure themselves before attempting all those rather alarming maneuvers," Han-Jar opined.
General Zod was livid. Though Tray-Ur was the leader of the Council and Han-Jar was third in command, Jor-El was second. His voice was the one General Zod hoped would side with him. Kal-El finally turned his gaze on his father who was staring at him without emotion. A hint of fear went through Ka-El. Though he wouldn't admit it, the thing he wanted to hear most was his father say he was proud of him. Kal-El couldn't even remember the last time his father had said those words. He waited, hoping his father would say something, praise him in some kind of way.
"There will be no need for punishment today, General Zod," Jor-El said after a moment's silence. "We should direct our efforts on repairing the ship and according to the calculations the AIs are displaying about this planet, we have much to discuss."
Kal-El felt his stomach drop. Not a word. Not one word. Trying to hold back the hurt he felt, he held his head high. "May I be excused?" he asked.
"Yes, Kal-El," Tray-Ur replied kindly. "Thank you for your efforts today. You did well."
Usually a compliment from the leader of the Council would have been happily received but today it took everything within Kal-El to respond with a heartfelt "thank you". His father had already walked towards the large screens in the control room that displayed all kinds of information about the planet Earth. Kal-El found that a part of him wanted to stay, to learn more about this planet that appeared so fascinating but decided that he'd rather not. His father obviously didn't want him to or else he would have insisted he stayed.
Angry, hurt, and desiring nothing more than to get away from the presence of his father, he turned on his heel and left the bridge. As he walked, an announcement was made that the danger was over and the people were free to proceed with their usual routines. People poured into the halls, rushing to the nearest window panels to see if they could catch a glimpse of what happened. At the sight of Kal-El, each inclined their head. He did so in return more out of habit than anything else.
He twisted around the corner only to stop himself just before he could slam into Zara-Ra. "Oh, I am sorry," she said, halting as well. Then she recognized him. "Kal?"
"Zara! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to nearly run into you," he admitted.
Zara-Ra looked him up and down. "Are you alright? That was quite an ordeal we just went through! I wonder what happened."
Before he could reply, Ching-Mi appeared. "Lady Zara, are you alright?" he asked breathlessly, practically skidding to a halt to avoid running into her.
Zara chuckled. "I'm fine, Ching."
Kal-El observed his friends. They were so close. In fact, they were even more so than usual. Kal-El couldn't help but notice the way Ching-Mi hovered around Zara-Ra nor the way Zara-Ra's cheeks darkened and her eyes sparkled every time she saw him. Kal-El wondered silently why he hadn't noticed the chemistry between them before; they obviously dotted on each other. Over the years, Zara-Ra had blossomed into a beautiful young woman, though Kal-El would never see her as anything more than just a friend. Her hair was still long but her facial features weren't as rounded and her curves had definitely become more pronounced in the last couple of years. She hadn't grown much in height but she had definitely grown on the inside, being the smartest in her graduating class. Kal-El had graduated two years ahead of her and Ching-Mi but both had definitely proved they were very smart.
Ching-Mi was no longer the gangly boy Kal-El had grown up with. Now his shoulders were broad, his height almost to six feet, and his reputation in the army was known by everyone on board the Endurance. He had even succeeded Kur-Nor in rank! In fact, his skills were so profound that some were even daring to call him a prodigy and General Zod had high hopes for him. There was one thing about Ching-Mi, however, that people had a problem with and that was his heart. Some said he was a little on the softer side, the opposite of what a soldier should be, but Kal-El admired his integrity. The man had come far and Kal-El was glad he could still call him his friend.
"Lord Kal-El! This is quite the surprise," Ching-Mi muttered, inclining his head respectfully.
"Ching, how many times have I told you to call me Kal?" Kal-El complained. That was one thing Kal-El hated about the military: the soldiers all addressed the nobles as Lords and Ladies.
Ching-Mi shook his head. "I'm sorry, Lord Kal-El, but that goes against protocol."
Kal-El almost let a few choice words concerning protocol slip past his tongue but he stopped himself before he did. Instead, he let out a frustrated sigh, "Do what you have to, Ching."
Ching-Mi inclined his head. "Yes, sir."
"Ching, do you know what happened?" Zara-Ra asked.
Ching-Mi shook his head. "I don't, Lady Zara."
"We went through an asteroid field," Kal-El said before he could stop himself; usually the dangers the ship passed through were kept from the knowledge of the people to keep the peaceful atmosphere intact.
Zara-Ra's eyes widened. "An asteroid field?" she whispered, looking back and forth. "Kal, are you sure?"
Kal-El nodded. "The force fields were damaged but other than that the ship was navigated out of harm's way."
"We'll have to be sure to thank General Zod for his navigation skills," Zara-Ra said while Ching-Mi nodded vigorously next to her.
Kal-El scowled. "Actually, General Zod was not the one who led the Endurance to safety."
Zara-Ra and Ching-Mi looked on in confusion. "Who did Lord Kal-El?" Ching-Mi asked.
"I did."
An obnoxious roar of laughter was heard behind them and Kal-El turned around already filled with annoyance and dread. Kur-Nor, or Lord Nor as he now preferred to go by, stood behind them with his two faithful cronies, Gyru-Inz and Bal-Quin. Unlike Kal-El, who had grown into quite an intimidating man, Lord Nor was short and a little scrawny. His shoulder length hair was slicked away from his face but fell loosely about his neck while his beady greenish eyes, deepened with cruelty over the years, observed Kal-El with judgmental scrutiny.
"You maneuvered the ship?" he cried in a mockingly irritating voice. "I highly doubt that."
"Did you really, Kal?" Zara-Ra asked, ignoring Lord Nor.
Kal-El wasn't in the mood to deal with this today. Squaring his shoulders and reaching his full six, four height, he looked down on Lord Nor with fiery intensity. To his satisfaction he saw Lord Nor actually swallow nervously. "One thing I have committed to over the years is to never lie, Kur-Nor," he proclaimed, his voice dropping an octave. "So when I say I've done something, I have, and I did navigate this ship through that asteroid field. Good day."
And without a backward glance, he left all five of them in a rather alarming atmosphere. Zara-Ra and Ching-Mi had noticed the change in their friend over the years but neither of them had seen him like this. His very presence had demanded the utmost respect and attention and to their delight, Kal-El had forced Lord Nor into giving him just that. Infuriated, Lord Nor left in a huff, muttering to his friends about Kal-El's insolent behavior.
Kal-El felt bad about leaving his friends but the reality was he wanted to be alone. He hastened his pace, moving around the crowds of people in the halls, occasionally inclining his head as he went. He climbed the stairs, heading away from the living accommodations towards the recreational center. It was open this time of day for young mothers and their children. The room was patterned after the usual playgrounds on Krypton; various contraptions for children to climb and explore occupied most of the floor. The structures were made from the standard soft white crystal but had a small shield over them so as not to hurt climbers. The laughter of children filled Kal-El's ears and he noted three different families in the room.
Discretely sticking as close to the wall as possible, he made his way around the entire room unnoticed. A little while ago, he'd discovered a small stair case that led up to a small room containing a couch and a telescope. Even though it was intended for a child, Kal-El found the telescope a wonderful device. Through it, he could look out and see space, and when they were on planets, he could see the cities they visited in greater detail.
The telescope had become a priceless treasure to him because it was the nearest he could possibly get to seeing all the things he longed to see. Sighing, Kal-El walked across the room to the telescope and aimed it as far to the left as he dared. In the distance, its beautiful blue shining through the darkness of space surrounding it, was Earth. Shrill excitement coursed through Kal-El's veins.
"What is it about you that is so different?" he whispered to himself. "I've been captivated by worlds but there is something about you… what could it be?"
Sighing, he left the telescope to sit on the couch. His thoughts wandered this way and that as he pondered over all that had happened in so short a time. Had it really only been hours ago that he had woken from a nightmare? The asteroid field fiasco made him feel like he'd been awake for hours. Sudden exhaustion overcame him and he found himself drifting off to sleep, the stress of the last hour catching up with him.
He was in a simple room of some kind. The walls were deep red, the furniture a dark brownish hue. He was sitting on a sofa, the cushions soft and comfortable to his aching muscles. A large flat black rectangular object was stuck on the wall, its screen flashing with some kind of entertainment scene involving a group of friends wearing the strangest clothing. Despite the oddity of their appearance, he didn't seem to mind; instead he turned his head to look down a hall that led to what he somehow knew was the back bedroom. A light flickered on and a woman stepped out of the back bedroom into the hallway. Kal-El thought his brain had stopped working.
Her figure was slender, not too thin but not rotund either; it was simply perfect. Her legs, features that caused his heart to pound uncontrollably in his ears, were long and completely exposed. Her little feet lightly danced across the wooden floor as she sauntered toward him in nothing but a red lacy see-through dress that hugged her curves and allowed no room for imagination, the fabric stopping three inches below her hips. Her long loose curls were of the richest brown and held a kiss of reddish hue that only he could see when the light was cast across the locks in a certain way. Her eyes were incredible, the colors holding a magnificent array of greens, blues, and browns. She held the warmest smile Kal-El had ever seen, her white teeth perfect, her full lips a beautiful shade of pink. She was exquisite.
Her lips moved and he knew she was calling his name though he couldn't hear her voice. He wished he could. He was sure it was the most magnificent sound in the universe. She smiled at him teasingly, her eyes lighting up with pleasure. To his surprise and enormous delight, she slipped into his lap without pause. The physical contact did not surprise Kal-El in the least. In fact, he welcomed it so much that he put his own strong arms around her tiny frame, drawing her into his chest. Her thin arms wrapped around his neck and she leaned forward to seal her lips over his…
Kal-El awoke with a jerk. His heart was pounding furiously in his chest, the rhythm so loud for a moment he heard nothing else. He was fueled with a fever he never before had experienced in his entire life. His skin tingled, surging with a strange electricity that was so stimulating he felt he was going to burst if he didn't satisfy the cravings within him. He looked around him for the woman he had just been with, the only one who could curb these strange feelings. Her lips had been so close to his… it was almost as if the ghost of their presence dangled before his own, taunting him.
Who was she? Where was she? He'd never seen her on the Endurance. Where could she be? Suddenly, as if being led by an unseen force, he found himself standing in front of the telescope. Looking into its depths, his eyes immediately focused on Earth and somehow he knew she was there. He also knew that even if he was required to move galaxies, he would do it for her.
He had to find her.
She was the key… the key to what, he did not fully understand, but he knew that she was what he had been waiting for. She was what would give him purpose. For the first time in eleven years Kal-El felt hope.
Overcome with this singular thought of finding this woman, Kal-El rushed from the telescope room, his feet pounding down the stairs. He didn't even contemplate the ruckus he was making. Irrationality threw protocol out the window as he came barreling through the middle of the Recreation Center, vaulting over child structures in a single bound. The people he past gawked at him in disbelief; his behavior, after all, was what would be considered barbaric. Kal-El didn't care. All he wanted was to get to Earth.
He needed to pack. He could steal one of the evacuation pods if he had to! Wait, his mind reasoned, they needed to repair the Endurance anyway. They had to go to Earth! Of course; he could wait until they were there and sneak away! Nobody would know the wiser! Skidding to a halt in the hallway outside the Recreational Center, he tried to steady his breathing. Straightening his robes and trying to regain his composure, he walked at a brisk but controlled pace.
He made it to his parents' residence. He could hear his mother in the kitchen preparing the afternoon meal. Trying to be as quiet as possible, he slipped into his room and closed the door. Krypto was in his room sitting next to the bed, waiting for him.
Your thoughts are so loud you're giving me a headache, the dog complained.
Kal-El went right to the closet and pulled out a bag. I can't help it, Krypto.
May I ask what has you is such a reckless state? I know you want to leave the Endurance but why this planet?
Someone is there.
Who? He asked incredulously.
I don't know, Kal-El answered honestly. But I need to find her.
Her? A woman?
Yes! Kal-El muttered distractedly, tossing clothes into his bag along with other supplies he would need once he left the ship.
Kal, your behavior is giving me great cause of concern. You say there is someone there but how can you know this if you have never been to this planet before? How can you know of someone you have never met?
Kal-el sighed, setting the now hap hazardously packed bag on his bed. Krypto, I don't have all the answers. The only thing I can think of that can explain this is something I've only read about in fantasy novels from different cultures.
You mean the disgustingly passionate ones that share intimate details that other Kryptonians would die over if they even knew you were reading about them? Krypto sneered.
Kal-El frowned. Yes, those ones.
And what is the subject that those particular novels have that can explain this behavior?
Fate, he said simply.
Fate? You're saying that because of this imaginary happenstance called fate you feel intimate towards this woman whom you have never met but say resides on this planet called Earth?
Kal-El felt himself blushing. He felt so insecure. He'd never felt this way before. Was this how Ching-Mi felt about Zara-Ra?
Probably, Krypto said, interrupting his silent musings, except his infatuation is not as passionate, unbridled, and foolhardy as yours.
Kal-El threw one of his pillows at his dog. Krypto!
Krypto dodged the pillow easily. Kal, I seriously don't understand your obsession over an invisible woman.
Krypto, you didn't feel what I felt!
You are right, Krypto admitted. Wait, how could you feel something for this woman you haven't met?
The dream… it was so real.
Wait, a dream? You're basing a quest to abandon your people and explore an alien world on a dream?!
When you state it that way it sounds stupid.
It is stupid, Kal!
Kal-El sighed and squared his shoulders. Krypto, I know it doesn't make sense but this is the first time in eleven years that I feel… hopeful. I feel stupid admitting that and I know it sounds ridiculous to feel this way over a dream but there's something here, Krypto. She's the key, the key to making my life everything I have ever wanted it to be. I can't really explain how she is but I know I'm right. Please, I need you to understand.
Krypto sighed. The last time you listened to me you ended up in a slave market. If you don't listen to me this time, when I'm telling you not to go, maybe things will work out for you. Do whatever you feel is right, Kal.
Will you come with me?
Krypto snorted. You don't seriously expect me to stay here with these people, do you? They have no personalities! What kind of question is that? Of course I'm coming with you! What kind of dog would I be if I allowed my owner to go off on an alien planet alone? I made that mistake once. I'm not going to make it again.
Kal-El found himself smiling. I knew I could count on you, boy, he said as he scratched the dog's head.
Krypto closed his eyes and started panting. Oh that feels good. A little more to the left… yeah, right there.
Kal-El chuckled. The moment between them was interrupted as someone cleared their throat. From the tone, Kal-El knew exactly who it was. Standing straight and praying he wouldn't see the bag sitting on the bed, he said, "Father, what can I do for you?"
Jor-El came into the room. "I hope I'm not interrupting something?"
Kal-El fiercely shook his head. "Not at all."
Jor-El shifted back and forth as the awkwardness descended upon them. "Your mother almost has the afternoon meal ready."
Kal-El didn't know if he should respond so he simply waited.
Jor-El cleared his throat. "Listen, Kal-El, about the asteroid field…" – Kal-El inhaled with anticipation – "I won't tell your mother what happened."
Kal-El's heart plummeted. Even now, when they were in a private setting, his father wouldn't speak his mind? What he didn't know was that Jor-El was incredibly proud of him but he had also been terribly worried. On the contrary, he didn't feel that Kal-El had done a bad job – he had actually been quite remarkable – Jor-El had just been concerned as a father to have one so young taking such responsibility. He still wanted his son to remain youthful for a little while longer; he was having a hard time accepting that his little boy was now an adult.
Kal-El, not knowing this, only saw what he thought was disapproval and lack of interest. Sighing, he only nodded.
Jor-El searched for something else to say, unable to actually voice his thoughts the way he wanted to. "Concerning Earth," he said, regaining Kal-El's immediate attention, "we are going to have to tread carefully with this planet."
"Why?" Kal-El asked incredulously.
"They are the youngest species we have ever come across," Jor-El confessed. "They have only just barely tapped into space exploration and what they have experienced has not been enough to really alert them to other life in the universe."
Kal-El paused at this. He'd heard of species never experiencing alien life but he'd never considered that Earthlings would be one of them. "Are you saying that our presence would scare them?"
Jor-El nodded. "I believe so. I ran a diagnosis to see if any others have written about humans before and what I found was greatly disturbing."
"What?" Kal-El asked nervously. "What did you find?"
Jor-El started to pace. "From the information gathered, and from what I have been able to peruse in the last few hours, human beings are an egotistical race. The majority of them believe there in no other life in the universe and those who do are considered odd or mentally unstable. Not only that but humans are selfish, carnal, and devilish. They are ruled by passions and their governments are corrupt. Apparently the landmasses are divided; the people living on them have multiple cultures. It is a melting pot of chaos."
While his father viewed this as being a terrible discovery, Kal-El was fascinated. A race of beings filled with individuals? They didn't have one set standard that everyone lived by? There was variety, color, cultures, differences! He had only believed this lifestyle to be possible if multiple races lived on one surface but according to his father, humans were all one race that acted like multiple ones. His father saw it as a nightmare but Kal-El thought it was a dream come true!
He had to pull himself from his musings to hear the rest of what his father had to say. "Due to the asteroid field, we have to land on Earth's surface in order to make repairs. Theirs is the only planet in this solar system with the necessary resources to do so," Jor-El confessed nervously.
"Father, you make is sound as if there is a dilemma," Kal-El opined.
Jor-El frowned. "Kal-El, there is one. Human beings would be terrified of us! Imagine if our ship landed on their planet? They would attempt to annihilate us! I have seen several depictions of them; they are not only unbridled in their passions but they are also violent. They terrorize those who offend them, they beat each other, and take life when threatened! They are not a safe environment for our people."
"But you said so yourself that we need the resources they have in order to make prepares," Kal-El argued. "It sounds to me that if we don't go then the ship won't recover and our people will really be in danger. Can't we go and try to discuss things with their world leaders?"
Jor-El's eyes narrowed slightly. "You seem a little too eager to go to this planet, my son."
"That is only because you have confined me to a life of misery, father!" Kal-El snapped before he could stop himself, angered over the suspicion his father's demeanor displayed.
Jor-El then noticed the bag on Kal-El's bed. His eyebrows rose. "What are you planning to do? Run away?"
Kal-El's voice was just as quiet as his father's, channeling his anger. "And if I was?"
"I forbid it!" Jor-El thundered, raising his voice.
If Kal-El had been younger, he would have backed down under the intensity his father was presenting but the young man had had enough. Standing tall, he held his ground and for the first time in his life, shouted at his father, "You cannot keep me locked up on this ship any more, Father! I have had enough of you watching and hovering over my every move! If we do not land on Earth, I will find a way to get there even if I have to launch myself from this ship without any type of craft. Death would be better than living the life you have forced me to live for eleven years!"
Jor-El felt as if he'd been hit by an asteroid. He had not expected his son to shout at him with such bitterness and anger. He felt a mixture of fear and anger growing within him; fear of losing his only son and anger that he would disrespect him in such a way when he'd raised him to be better than this. Jor-El drew himself to his full height – the same as his son – and shouted back just as forcefully, "I am your father, Kal-El, and you will obey me! You are not going to leave this ship! Not now, not ever!"
"Get out!" Kal-El roared.
Angry, terrified, and impatient, Jor-El breathed heavily for a few moments before coming to a decision. It had been a last resort, one he was sure he would never have to use, but the situation didn't seem to give him any other choice. In a deathly whisper, he sighed, "You forced my hand, Kal-El."
Walking over to the control panel in his son's room, he placed his crystal into the lock and twisted it.
"What are you doing?" Kal-El demanded.
Jor-El ignored him, his fingers typing furiously across the screen that had appeared. After a few seconds, Jor-El removed the crystal, trying desperately to ignore the feelings of regret that swirled in his stomach over what he had done.
"What did you just do?" Kal-El asked, his voice suddenly filled with fear.
It was a fear that tore at Jor-El's heartstrings but he ignored those feelings too. "Every time you attempt to leave the ship, a shield will activate, preventing you from doing so. Don't bother trying to remove it; only I can with the sound of my voice. I told you, Kal-El, I forbid you to leave this ship. You brought this upon yourself."
Kal-El stood there, betrayed. His hopes, his dreams, had been swept away right before his very eyes and the only thing stopping him from leaving was the sound of his father's voice; his father's approval. The one thing he'd longed to hear for so long had become his worst enemy. An emotion Kal-El had never felt towards his father overwhelmed him and in a tone dripping with it, he whispered words that he knew he would regret forever.
"I hate you."
Unable to look at his father, he turned his back to him, staring at the wall. Krypto was shocked into silence, sitting near the bed watching the scene unfold dumbfounded. Jor-El felt the floor slip beneath him as his son refused to look at him, speaking words that he never thought he'd ever hear from his own flesh and blood. Lara, who had come down the hall due to the shouts stopped, her hand covering her mouth. Tears unbidden fell from her eyes; Jor-El, she thought, what have you done?
She closed her eyes, breathing heavily, trying desperately to control her emotions. She'd heard Jor-El explain what he had just done and Kal-El's exclamation that she knew had been given out of hurt. She shook her head. She had seen this coming for years, had feared it, but to have it finally happen… her emotions could not be controlled. She left the hall, slipping into her and Jor-El's bedroom, shutting the door behind her. Walking over to the bed, she stared at the sheets for a moment before collapsing onto them, crying uncontrollably.
Kal-El didn't move from his spot. He didn't mean a word of what he'd just spoken but the damage had been done. He couldn't take it back. His chances of getting in his father's good graces were gone. He closed his eyes, fighting back tears. He heard his father leave the room but what he hadn't been prepared for was the sobs from his mother. His father had retreated to their room, opening their door only so Kal-El could hear his mother's devastation like a poison to his ears. She was disappointed in him. He had let both his parents down. Unable to stand being in the residence a moment longer, he left, his thoughts telling Krypto that he needed to be alone for a while.
Lara heard Kal-El run down the hall and out of their home. She wanted to call after him, to stop him, but she knew she'd never catch up to him. Even if Kryptonians didn't run often, Kal-El was fast. Instead she stayed on the bed, crying her eyes out while her husband sat numbly next to her.
"What have you done, Jor?" she gasped through her tears.
Jor-El whirled around to face her. "What have I done?!" he cried incredulously. "Kal-El forced my hand!"
Lara felt a flare of anger lash through her. "You refuse to see this for what it truly is," she whispered, sitting up. "Kal has turned against you because you isolated him! You have confined him to a prison, Jor, refusing to let him be who he really is! Have you not noticed how unhappy he has been these last eleven years? Have you been so blind as not to see that the one thing he wants most in the world is your trust and approval?"
"How can I give him those things when he blatantly disobeyed me?" Jor-El snapped. "I cannot encourage him, Lara, not when he's capable of doing something all of us would regret."
"You have taken one mistake and made it into a monster of doubt and mistrust, Jor!" she thundered. "What you fail to realize is that children make mistakes so they can learn! Kal made a mistake when he ran away on Jinogra but that one moment should not have caused you to lock him away in fear that he'd make the same one again! Did you not realize that when he was ready to try exploring worlds again that he only wanted to do so if you were there with him? He didn't want to go off alone! But you refused him every single time and by so doing, you strained the relationship with your son! He is a free spirit, Jor. He is curious and desirous to learn. Does he not remind you of yourself in this regard?"
"I have not seen these qualities in him," Jor-El argued.
"That is because your rules have suppressed them! For years Kal has lived behind a mask, pretending to be something he is not. You haven't been able to see this because all you can see is a seven year old boy incapable of responsible living."
Jor-El breathed heavily, standing up. He paced back and forth a few moments before running a hand through his hair. "Lara, just tell me what I need to do."
"I think you and I both know what needs to be done."
Jor-El shook his head. "I'm not allowing him to wander off, Lara!"
"Do you think it does not pain me to accept the fact that our son needs this?" Lara asked, torn. "I am terrified just as much as you are about losing him but if we keep confining him to this ship we will lose him in a way we had never anticipated. Don't allow that to happen, Jor. You have to allow him what he has always wanted: freedom from this confined way of living."
Jor-El did not want to listen to reason. He wanted to defy it with everything he possessed but he knew his wife was correct. Kal-El was slipping away from them. If he did not allow his son to leave now, the damage between them would never be repaired. It would only deepen.
"This planet is the worst one to allow him to do as he wishes," Jor-El muttered, trying as a last attempt to change not only Lara's mind but his own.
"Is it worse than Jinogra?" Lara countered.
Jor-El paused. "In a way, yes," he admitted. "Lara, this species has hardly had any contact with alien life and anything they have found that is different from their own is treated with contempt. He would be an outcast. Our physiology is similar on the outside but on the inside we are different. They would notice! These humans would take that difference and try to experiment upon him! They would rather kill him that try to accept him! It would be worse than having him be enslaved. He could be slaughtered!"
Lara bit her lip. "Jor, I understand the risks but if you keep making excuses and giving him false hopes of leaving, eventually his hatred towards you is going to become real. We have to be willing to take risks and allow our son to live his own life. He needs this, Jor. We all do."
Jor-El closed his eyes. "I do not think I can let him go…" he whispered. "Not after what happened all those years ago."
Lara smiled sadly, remembering that day with unfortunate clarity. "It was the worst day of our lives."
"It was."
"But we can no longer allow that experience to let us live in fear," she whispered to herself as well as her husband. "We must allow Kal to live and that involves allowing him to make his own decisions."
Jor-El willed his tears away. Kryptonians did not cry, he had to remind himself. "You are right, Lara," he mumbled. "I will converse with him."
Lara wrapped her arms around her husband, pulling him towards her. While she sat, Jor-El stood, allowing her to rest her head against his stomach. He was glad she was not able to see his face; if she could, she would see the silent tears falling unbidden from his eyes.
Please review! I'd love feedback about what you guys thought of the dream and the current situation between Kal-El and his father! :)