Chapter 7

The Message

Clark sat there in the field, expressionless. The sky was clear, but it didn't seem sunny. It was quiet, a bit too quiet for him. The only sounds were the wind and the old preacher finishing up his words.

"As we go on, we will remember Jonathan Kent and all he did for us. He did not die in vain, and I'm sure he would've wanted us all to carry on strongly," he said in a strong tone. "We will go forward and carry on until we meet Jonathan again in God's realm."

It was that moment before the workmen lowered the coffin into the earth, looking as though they didn't want this job. Then, one by one, everyone took their turns piling dirt into the ground. When it came to be Clark and Martha's turns, it was like someone had stuck a knife into Clark's heart. Very steadily, Clark put the shovel into the dirt, raised it, and dropped it into the ground. He kept doing this until he couldn't take it anymore, and then handed it to his mother, who appeared to be having the same amount of trouble Clark had. After everyone had their turn, most people left. Clark and Martha, however, stayed rooted by the grave.

Clark couldn't even begin to think what Martha was feeling right now. This she had been married to this man for almost thirty years, had a business together, and raised a child together. And now he was gone.

But still, she stayed strong. "Clark, do you remember every Christmas? Jonathan suggested we wrap your presents with tin foil underneath so you couldn't peak at them."

"Yes, I do remember that," Clark replied, his spirits only slightly lifted. "But I could always see you guys wrapping them."

"I also remember on your fourth birthday, when you broke the keys to his new car. That gave him a laugh."

Clark could still remember that to this day. He had done so many things with Jonathan over the years. He thought of all the lessons he taught him, how protective he was, all of the fun things they did together. And now he would never have a chance to do any of that stuff again…

After a few minutes, which seemed like hours, Martha said "Clark, I'm leaving now. Follow me whenever you want," and with that, she went across the cemetery, got in her car, and drove off. Clark could not decide if he was happy or sad Martha had gone. On one hand, he wanted company to help him get through this. But on the other hand, he wanted to be alone.

Now Clark just sat there, motionless. He wasn't sure how long he had been in the cemetery, and he didn't care to know. All he wanted now was to have his father back. No matter what might happen, Jonathan was gone forever. Clark now just stood there, looking at the grave that seemed like it would haunt him for the rest of his life:

Jonathan Kent

1950-2008

After a while, Clark couldn't even stand near the grave anymore. He walked across the graveyard. How could all these people, thought Clark, have so many people lost to them? He didn't want to think about it. Once he got to his car, he drove off to meet his mother in Smallville,. The drive seemed longer, much longer, than normal. Possibly it was his mood, or his awareness, or something else.

Finally, he reached the sign that said "Smallville," drove a few more miles, and then pulled into the driveway of the house he had lived in since his parents had found him. Home at last.

He walked past Martha without saying a single word. She looked dreadful, didn't even say "Clark, you're home," or "hello, Clark." This was alright. He wanted to be left alone. He walked into his room that he had lived in his whole life and slammed the door shut.

For the past few days, Clark hadn't shown any emotion at all. Whenever someone came up to him to say "I'm sorry," or "what happened?" Clark just brushed them off like it was nothing. Deep down, though, Clark knew what he felt. Just as his dad had once described it…

"DAMNIT!" Clark yelled out as he punched a hole in the wall. He didn't care anymore. A fire of fury was inside of him. He was so stressed, his vision went red, as if looking at something would make it burn...

Then, all suddenly, the wall was singed.

He had a moment of confusion, but then reality hit him. Was this a new power? Burning things by looking at it? Clark had almost completely forgot what he was, and now he was more dreadful than ever. No matter what he did, he would never be normal.

"AAAGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!" Clark screamed as he burnt his hand with just as much fury as the first time he did it. Whatever this heat was, it was strong enough to hurt him. He just needed something to distract himself from what had happened days back. It was now that Clark lost control of himself.

He was throwing things left and right, burning some of them. He broke the leg of his beg, burnt the lights out, and pulled the vent off the ceiling. He was ripping things out from under his bed, everything from sheets to homework to old toys. Until he found something laying at the back. A shiny, silver cylinder. He picked it up, and sure enough, it had the diamond with an S symbol in it.

After nearly twelve years, he still hadn't seen the message. From day one, his parents encouraged him to look at it, but he always refused. He didn't want anything to do with his alien self. He was now looking at it, wide-eyed, as if he didn't do something his father had asked him before he died. Clark was still too hesitant and scared to see it. What would it say? He didn't wish to know.

It's what your parents wanted, a voice inside his head spoke.

But what will happen if he sees it? Will he ever be the same?

It's what your father wanted. He would have always wanted you to embrace who you really are.

There was still a continued war in Clark's mind. Should he see it? Or should he try to rid himself of it? Also, Jonathan wanted him to conceal himself. So why would he want his son to see it? But what if he just wasn't ready to show himself?

Then he remembered. Both of his parents wanted him to be safe, but to also be himself. He thought that there couldn't be a balance, but there can.

He was still terrified. But that didn't stop him. Finally, he got the strength.

Clark took the cylinder, pressed the button on the top, and jumped back in astonishment.

It was amazing- almost like a virtual world around him, Somewhat like a hologram, except that it seemed much more real. Some grey energy barrier was shielding him in, and in the middle stood two people- a man a woman- both resembling different aspects of Clark. They also had that same S logo on their chests.

"I, uh, what is going on?" Clark said, trembling. "Who are you?" Though Clark knew instantly who they were.

The man had dark brown, almost black hair, and blue eyes. He was very tan and was tall, muscular, and handsome. The woman had a healthy pale appearance, was on the taller side, had green eyes and pure black hair. She was beautiful. Clark could definitely see where he got his looks from both of them.

"Kal-El," said the man, looking at Clark.

What? What is he talking about? They were clearly addressing him.

"I'm sorry, but, what did you just call me?" Clark asked. He wasn't even sure who these people were- well, he was pretty sure he knew who they were, but what were they was the question.

"Kal-El, our son."

Clark then interjected. "Are you my… parents?" even though he was almost certain who they were.

"Yes," the man, now confirmed to be Clark's father, said.

Clark couldn't wrap his mind around it. Were they real, or a recording?

"Um, what are you?" he asked.

Then the woman finally started speaking. "We are a virtual reality system implanted with digital representations of ourselves."

Clark couldn't believe it. He was there, and even though he knew they weren't real, he still felt closer to his parents then he ever was before. They aren't really your parents, the voice in Clark's head said. Don't get too emotional. But he couldn't help.

"How can you speak English?" Clark asked.

"We are programmed with billions of languages," said the man.

While trying to wrap his mind around this, Clark asked "Who are you? I mean, what are your names?"

The man then spoke. "I am Jor-El, your father. I was a scientist who sent you here. And this is your mother, Lara Lor-Van, astronaut and scientist herself. You, my son, are Kal-El."

Kal-El. Interesting. It sounded like a Hebrew word Clark one heard.

"Go on, ask us anything you want," Jor-El said.

"I have so many questions," Clark said. His mind was racing. Where should he start? "Where did I come from?"

"You came from Krypton, one of the most scientifically advanced planets in the galaxy," Jor-El said. "You were the last Kryptonian baby born, and the first live birth in years."

Clark was confused by this. Last first live birth in years? "I'm sorry, but what do you mean?"

Lara spoke. "In Kryptonian law, all children are to be conceived by use of technology, and not naturally. This is to prevent any defects in the child."

This was a weird law. He could understand it on one hand, but it does seem like an invasion of personal choice.

"So, you didn't want to give up the child, so you kept it in secret?" Clark asked.

"Precisely," Lara answered.

Clark then thought up the next question. "Why did you send me here?"

Jor-El spoke. "Because the pressure in Krypton kept building up, I was measuring it myself. I knew this planet was going to blow up in coming months. I told the Council of Krypton, and they didn't listen."

"But why didn't they listen to you?" asked Clark. He was mad they didn't listen to his father. Were they that ignorant?

"For millennia, a war has been going on between the worlds of New Genesis and Apokolips. It is a brutal war, and is something that should be a top priority. In recent decades, the conflict has been growing, and many other planets had to get involved." Jor-El continued. "But I think that Krypton's existence is a more urgent issue. They didn't even listen."

Recalling all he had just heard, Clark said "Okay, so you two are scientists, who figured out that Krypton was going to blow up, you conceived me outside of the law, some war happened so they couldn't listen to you, and you sent me here?"

Both of them nodded their heads. Clark continued to ask questions and get answers from both of them.

"If you- I mean we- are aliens, why do they seem to be the same as humans on Earth?"

Lara was able to give the best answer she could. "That is something that many scientists across the galaxy are still unsure about. The most commonly accepted theory is that life would evolve similarly under similar environments. Krypton and Earth, as well with many other planets, have near identical atmosphere, climate, gravity, and habitat, As a result, the physiology of the different species are near identical."

This was interesting. But if that's the case, why is Clark so different?

"Why do I have abilities far beyond anyone else?" he asked. "If Krypton is so similar to Earth, then why do I have these powers?"

Jor-El answered. "Great question. You see, Kryptonian genes have adapted to a certain type of star radiation, specifically what we call a red star. What people have found is when they send people of a certain star type to other solar systems, there are mutations. In Kryptonian people's case, when they are sent to what they call a yellow star, over time, they get mutations to hyper levels. This caused the galactic law to agree that no one on Krypton shall live in a yellow star system, out of fear of something that powerful. But Earth was the closest habitable planet to Krypton. When we sent you to Earth, the sun has mutated your cells to great levels. The energy is stored inside the cells, giving you the strength. Think of it like a solar aura. You are far stronger, faster, and more durable than any human being. There might also be other mutations, which has not been clarified."

Okay, so the sun caused Clark's enhancements? He could somewhat swallow that.

Still not believing that he was actually seeing his parents, he continued to ask questions. He was eager to find out all he could about Krypton.

"What was Krypton like?" he asked.

"It was one of the most advanced civilizations in the galaxy," said Jor-El. "It was what all others looked to."

"It was beautiful. Great landscape, fantastic wildlife, astounding cities," Lara said.

"And it had… artificial procreation? Holograms? Digital representations of people?" asked Clark.

"Yes," answered Lara.

"Was it divided into countries? Or was it one government?"

"It used to have political divisions, but over time we all learned to be in peace," she once again replied.

"So was there any violence within the society?"

"Yes, occasionally. But it was almost always worked out."

"All of that, such a great civilization, just went crumbling down, just like that?"

They both answered "Yes."

He still couldn't believe he was seeing his biological parents after he had been with his adoptive ones his whole life-

The thought of Jonathan was a knife in his heart. But still, he couldn't believe it. He had found his parents. He didn't want to say "real," because Jonathan and Martha would always be his. But it was unbelievable what he was seeing.

This was overwhelming, but he now has found his birth place. He couldn't think of how to thank them, even though they weren't real. But still.

"Thank you, very much. Mother and Father."

They both nodded.

"Um, excuse me, but how do I turn this thing off?" Clark asked.

"Just hit the button," said Lara.

Clark looked for the cylinder for a few minutes. He had dropped it after he activated it. He finally found it. Then he took a look at their chests, and a question came to mind.

"That symbol, on your chests, what does it mean?" asked Clark.

Jor-El then responded "It is the crest of the House of El, our family line. You see, it is a symbol of hope on our planet."

And with that, Clark turned it off.