Chapter 10 Gifts of Evils and Blessings

Thus have the gods spun the thread for wretched mortals: that they live in grief while they themselves are without cares; for two jars stand on the floor of Zeus of the gifts which he gives, one of evils and another of blessings.
Homer, The Iliad Greek epic poet (800 BC - 700 BC)

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(Authors note, the Trprian passages in this and succeeding chapters have been translated into English for your reading pleasure.)

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"Daddy, are you going to wake up soon. I'm bored." Jason sat up and looked around the room. There was no TV and he saw nothing that interested him in the least. He thought to himself, these people didn't even have paper and crayons for me to draw on or color. He lay back down between his dad's arm and side once again putting his head on his dad's shoulder. With nothing better to do he started counting his dad's heartbeats glad that he had a heart. He stopped counting as he wondered if that bad man with no heart that looked just like Daddy was still kissing Mommy. Then he went back to counting his real dad's heartbeats again till he fell asleep.

A couple hours later Jason stirred again and this time Superman woke up. "Are you all better now Daddy?"

"Yes, I'm much better now." Superman was still weak and as he sat up slowly he pressed on his chest with one arm. Jason moved out of the way watching closely.

"Are you sure you're all better?"

"Just don't go jumping on my chest yet, OK."

"OK Daddy, I'm bored, is there anything to do here?"

Superman looked around at the room seeing it for the first time. "We'll have to find something to keep you busy. I'll be more comfortable if you stay with me at all times. We don't know what all these people have planned. So whatever you do don't go running off without me understand?"

Jason just nodded his head in agreement. "Is there anything to eat, I'm hungry."

Superman got up and went to the door but it refused to open so he turned back to Jason and shrugged. "Sorry, I guess we'll have to wait." He looked down at the clothes they had put on him and sighed loudly in irritation. He didn't like looking like one of them in the least.

Looking around the small room he noted the sparse decor. The only furniture besides the small bed was an empty desk like table and what looked like perhaps a bookshelf area which was also empty. There appeared to be some drawers coming out of the wall. Opening one he found several suits just like the one he was wearing. Pulling out a second he found boots and footings which appeared to be his size. Not relishing the idea of finishing his attire he just closed the drawer without putting them on preferring to stay barefooted for at least the time being.

Just then the door swished open.

A young woman came in with a tray of food and drinks which she sat on the table. "My name is Mer Kaper. I have been assigned the task of meeting all of your needs. There is plenty more food if you so desire. If you wish more, just push this button and I'll come back." She pointed to a small button on the wall by the table. "Or if this is not to your liking let me know and I will provide other selections. Do you require anything else my Lord Kal-El. I am totally at your service." She bowed at the last statement.

"Are there any other children on board this ship? My son is bored."

"Several my Lord Kal-El, what is it you wish. Something to entertain the child perhaps?"

"Yes, that would be nice. Please don't call me Lord, my name is just Kal-El."

"My Lord, I cannot be disrespectful." Noticing his bare feet she asked. "Are the boots not to your liking, we can get others"

"I haven't even tried them. I'm sure they're fine."

"I will return shortly, with something for the child."

Jason had watched the whole exchange from the bed. Jumping down he went to the food and looked not recognizing anything he hesitated. "What is this stuff Daddy, I don't know if I like it or not."

Superman wasn't really feeling hungry but decided perhaps eating would help build his strength back up. He had no idea how long he had been unconscious and therefore had no idea how long since he had last eaten. There was no reason to believe they would try to feed them anything that was harmful so he picked up something that looked vaguely like an egg roll and took a bite. "Hmmm, pretty good, it tastes like an egg roll. You like them don't you?"

Jason shook his head and picked something that looked just like the one his dad had taken. He took a bite and smiled. "Yes, just like egg rolls." He picked up a second one as he ate the first then looked to his dad to try something else.

This continued till they had eaten most of what was on the tray at which time Mer Kaper knocked gently on the door just before it swished open.

"Was the food to your liking, My Lord Kal-El? Do you require anything else to eat or drink?"

"No, this was fine thank you."

"I have brought this for the child. It is what the children of our world play, it also teaches them as they play. I hope it is satisfactory."

"Yes, thank you." He took the small device which looked somewhat like a hand held video game.

The door swished open and Der Motin entered. "Ah, glad to find you doing so much better Lord Kal-El. Lord Arnken will be much pleased. I see you have met my daughter Mer Kaper. We will both be at your personal service. I have served Lord Arnken for many long years and will be honored to serve you as well my Lord."

"Must you call me my Lord? I am just Kal-El."

"My Lord Kal-El, it would be sacra-religious to call you anything but. You are the chosen one. Lord Arnken has already deemed it so. If you will follow me I will escort you to your new quarters."

Superman looked back and held out his hand to Jason and then followed Der Motin. Mer Kaper followed close behind them. The hallways were empty as they proceeded down one after another finally coming to a more expansive area where Der Motin stopped and opened a door leading into a suite.

Superman walked in, Jason by his side and at once noticed a room to one side with a large bed on one wall. An adjacent room had a smaller bed. The main room was similar to the one he had just been in except much larger and more richly appointed. There was a lounging couch like piece where the small bed had been.

"You will find clothes for each of you and the computer link up will be activated shortly. If you wish anything just push the button near the table and Mer Kaper or I will respond momentarily. We are both at you beck and call day or night. For any thing you might desire." He gave a knowing nod to Superman then nodded softly to his daughter who lowered her head shyly. "Anything."

Superman just shook his head in disbelief as they left. The door swished closed behind them. Superman walked to the door but it refused to open for him. He sighed deeply. "So the 'Lord' is locked in his chambers, pheft! So much for respect if you ask me!"

Sitting down motioning for Jason to get in his lap he looked at the device Mer Kaper had given him for Jason to play. "Ok, Buddy lets see what we have here."

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Several reports had been broadcast detailing Superman's strange behavior and the final UN appearance had been captured on live TV. Everyone at the farm house had watched it and just afterwards Perry had called wanting an explanation.

"Perry we have strong reason to believe that Superman and now Jason have been taken by the Trprians and that the Superman roaming around the world is an impostor of some sort. An impostor without a heart according to Jason."

"What, Great Caesar's Ghost! How have you come to that conclusion? Sure Superman is acting strange but that is quite a leap and did you say Jason's missing?"

Richard went on to give Perry all the details and then cautioned him about printing anything yet. Finally he said they, meaning himself, Lois and Chloe were staying put for the time being and would cover the story from the farm. Perry crumpled but understood given the circumstances.

Turning back to Lois he saw her mindlessly combing her fingers through Kala's hair while the other hand rested on the girl's shoulder. Both looked forlorn and lost.

General Lane looked at Richard both thinking the same thing. "Richard, we can't just sit here doing nothing. But what can we do?"

"Kryptonite, we need to get some Kryptonite if that is truly not our Superman but some kind of alien impostor or machine of some sort then Kryptonite won't affect it and we can expose it?" General Lane jumped up as he spoke going to Martha. "Lois told me about the time you tested Jason with a piece of Kryptonite do you still have it?"

"Yes of course, I'll get it." Martha answered somewhat hesitantly.

"Are you sure it's a good idea to expose him openly like that. If he is an impostor, which we all agree is most likely, we don't know how he'll react or how powerful he is." Chloe added cautiously.

"Call Batman, he's Clark's friend he'll help us figure this out." Lois answered coming out of her reverie.

"Batman will help you figure what out?" the android Superman asked as he entered the room still wearing the same damaged suit with most of his chest showing. He headed directly for Lois.

"We were just worried about you, you don't seem yourself." General Lane spoke standing up to place himself between Lois and Superman.

"And how would you pretend to know me well enough to know when I am not myself old man!"
He looked menacing as he spoke the words.

As Ben and Martha came up behind Superman she handed Ben the small lead box. Richard and Sam nodded their heads to proceed.

The Superman android noticed and turned to see them as Ben opened the box holding it up towards him.

The android laughed. "Surely you don't think I have his weaknesses. I may have his memories but I am his superior. That little green crystal holds no pain for me. I guess my inability to feel his compassion for you puny primitives gave me away. No matter, I can still complete my mission. Do not attempt to expose me or you will be sorry."

He brushed General Lane aside as nothing and grabbed Lois to him "Perhaps I feel no compassion but there is still a passion for this one." He kissed her roughly before she jerked away slapping at him but missing as he moved his head out of her reach. Richard and Sam swung at him with Richard making a connection and hurting his hand. As he shook his hand in pain the android laughed again and once again grabbed Lois and started for the door pulling her by the arm. "You're coming with me."

"No, you're hurting me!" She gasped as she screamed out the words.

The android stopped…and began talking as if to himself with unfocused eyes …"Love, Lois, Jason, Kala, Mom, love…love …do no harm….love…" the android stood there not moving as Lois pulled away running back to the arms of her father as Richard and Ben both stepped in between them and the android. Martha and Chloe were comforting Kala but all were watching the android as he stood near the door as if frozen.

The android with eyes still unfocused finally moved then looked up from one face to the next. "Very well, it seems I am not to harm you. I repeat, do not attempt to expose me or I will be back." He left as quickly as he had come.

"Well I guess that answers that question. But what did you make of the way he just froze for a time and was he talking to himself?" General Lane seemed truly puzzled.

Wiping the tears from her eyes Lois pulled away from her father and sat down heavily on the sofa. "That was Clark trying to protect us from a distance. They must have stolen his memories and he somehow left that command to love us and do no harm. I have had the feeling many times since we were married that Clark is a lot smarter than he lets us know."

"That does sound just like my boy. He would protect us with his very last breath. He's always been that way from the day he came to us just little more than a baby and yes he is very smart in ways we cannot even understand." Martha sat down next to Lois on the sofa bringing Kala to sit with them.

"From the look of that suit he may very well have been seriously hurt. Along with that, if we're right, which I pray we are, he now has the added concern of keeping Jason safe." General Lane seemed doubly worried.

Lois looked at him and fresh tears started to fall.

"Honey, why don't you let me give you something to sleep? This is just too much for you."

"No, You gave me something the other day, I wouldn't have let you had I known you were about to do it either. I don't know how to say this… I really wanted Clark to be the first to know. I…I took a home pregnancy test the other day. I think I may be pregnant. I wanted to be sure before I said anything and now… he's gone. I just can't do this alone, not again. He has to come back to us… He has to bring my baby back. I can't do this without him again."

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Please Review
The mean Android is still threatening to twist your arms if you don't!
Plus he takes it out on me personally. Ohhhh my arms hurt so much now I can hardly type. Don't you want the rest of the story?!