Chapter 11: Understanding
Clark opened his eyes and was surprised to see the sun shining. He rolled over and looked at the clock: 9:30! He had not slept past sunrise since he was about 7 when Jonathan had finally let him have some regular chores. He had loved helping his dad with the chores when he was a child. He wondered why his mom hadn't called him down. He got dressed and headed down the stairs. On the counter he found the morning paper, a coffee cup, and a fresh pot brewed for him. Martha was nowhere in sight, so he cocked his head a little to better concentrate while he listened to find her. He smiled. She was on the tractor, humming to herself as she fed the livestock.
Martha looked up to see Clark suddenly appear beside her as she worked. "Good morning, sleepyhead. Nice to see you've finally joined the world again."
"Why didn't you get me up? You shouldn't have to do the chores."
"I heard you come in really early this morning, and so when I couldn't get you up I figured you needed the sleep. Besides, I enjoy doing the chores and being a senator takes up my time and I don't get outside much any more. It feels good to work hard for a change."
Clark smiled at her. "How about you unload the round bale in the feeder over there and I'll put out the grain and finish the chores. I'll meet you back inside for breakfast."
"Sounds like a plan. How do pancakes and sausages sound?"
"Perfect. Make plenty. I am going to go bring Chloe down from Metropolis. I have some amazing news to share and you may as well hear it together."
Martha was intrigued and checked her watch. "Ok. Can you finish and be back in 30 minutes?"
Clark smiled as he got out his cell phone. "Easily."
Chloe heard the phone ringing in her dream and when she finally answered it she was still in a major fog. WHO ON EARTH would call her so early in the morning on a SATURDAY? Her caller ID flashed "Clark" as she flipped the phone open. "The world had better be saved or about to be destroyed if you are calling me at…(she checked the clock) 9:50 am." ……"Morning is your opinion, oh boyfriend of mine. You weren't up late working on a term paper." ……"No I am not decent! You woke me up. Pajamas are not appropriate outside the house."……"I most certainly can be snarky. I'm not a Saturday morning person and if you didn't already know that you better learn before we get married."…… "How about 20?..."Make it 10 and bring coffee. See you then. Me too. Bye."
Chloe lay back down and was getting really drowsy again while she replayed the conversation in her head and suddenly sat bolt upright. "10 minutes!!??? Crap! I have to get moving!" and she jumped out of bed and grabbed some clothes as she ran for a fast shower. She was just finishing dressing when she heard a knock on her door, and opened it to find Clark, holding a huge triple shot cappuccino. He walked in and she took the coffee from him as she gave him a quick kiss. "MMMM. Perfect. Thank you."
"Are you ready? We have a few minutes before we have to head back but mom will have breakfast ready soon and pancakes aren't good cold."
"I just have to get my computer and a few files and then I'm ready to go. Unlike you, I'm not Speedy Gonzales, and need more than 10 minutes to shower, change, dress AND get my things together," she took another sip of coffee and gathered her things, and checked her watch. "You know, I believe that as it only takes seconds to get to your house from here, we have a few minutes before we have to leave …."
Clark didn't need a second hint. He crossed the room to her in an instant and wrapped her in his arms as he pulled her into a deep kiss. He definitely could not get enough of her.
Breakfast was finished and cleared away and Martha and Chloe, each with full cups of coffee, sat looking at Clark to begin. "So what has you all about to burst, Clark?" Asked Chloe.
"Last night I went to the Fortress and had a talk with Jor-El. A real talk, Mom, not the usual verbal riddles and annoying non-answers." Clark was so excited even his voice was smiling.
Martha was intrigued. "Wow, Clark. What was different about this visit? Hasn't it been a while since you were up there? I thought you weren't supposed to go back until you were ready to begin training."
"I wasn't, but Chloe and I can't plan our future until certain questions were answered, and only he could give me the answers. I had to go up there and sort things out. I am glad I did, because not only did I get the answers I was looking for, I got answers to everything. I understand it all now. I understand why I was sent here and what my real destiny is!"
Martha and Chloe were speechless.
"I do have a destiny, Mom, and it is one that I can live with and have agreed to. We were wrong when we thought that Jor-El planned for me to rule the earth and I was oh so right to fight him the way I did. He was putting me through a series of tests. Can you believe it?"
Chloe was puzzled. "Tests?"
"Yes. Remember when I found Jor-El's journal in the caves? He was sent here when he was a young man and instead of bringing the file home to his father, he left the real journal here for me to find and took a different one back. It was through the journal that I learned he had planned for you and Dad to raise me."
Clark paused as he poured another round of coffee. "That fact had been bothering me for a while. How could he send me to you, knowing how I would be raised and yet insist I conquer and rule the planet? It didn't fit. I didn't know it but by asking that question and insisting on setting my own destiny I finally passed and Jor-El could explain everything to me."
"I can see the conflict between the two ideas now that you have pointed it out, but how was that a test? I am sorry, Clark but I don't follow," Martha had tried not to interrupt him because he was so excited but none of it was making sense.
"Oh. Sorry. Jor-El explained to me that while I would be raised the way he wanted, he realized the temptation my great strength and abilities would present and he needed to be sure that I would choose the real destiny he envisioned for me."
"Seeing what happened when Eric Summers temporarily got them, and that summer you were otherwise known as 'Kal' in Metropolis, I can see why," recalled Chloe.
For the rest of the morning, Clark relayed the conversation he had with Jor-El. As Martha and Chloe listened, they could both see a visible change in him. "Mom, I feel like a different person now. For the first part of my life, I always felt so isolated and alien, and had to be sheltered from people who wouldn't understand my abilities. As I got older you let me have more freedom, but I was under constant pressure to be careful and fit in as much as possible. It was so hard because I felt so alien. Then Dad explained that I really was an alien,"
"Hey, I thought you preferred 'intergalactic traveler,' " interrupted Chloe.
"-intergalactic traveler." Clark smiled at her. "Anyway – Dad showed me the key and my ship and when we put the key in my ship and heard I was supposed to rule the planet I was just plain horrified and then angry." Clark stopped and looked at his mom. "I guess I do get that from Dad. He didn't let any one just tell him how to live his life either, did he?" Clark's smile lit up the room.
"Not at all," said Martha, nodding in agreement.
Chloe had been thinking for several minutes, and finally spoke. "I see what Jor-El was doing. Had he simply told you when you were fifteen that your destiny was to protect and help people it wouldn't have meant anything to you. By making you prove to him what your destiny really was, it became something you truly wanted and believed in because you've lived it. Wow! The man I am going to marry really is going to be a super hero!"
"Not yet. My training will take a while, and I won't be allowed to leave unless there is a big threat. I need to recapture the remaining escaped Zoners first. I have a feeling that will keep us busy for a while," said Clark.
"Two years is definitely a long time. I guess I'd better get going at being the world's best investigative reporter so that I'll be busy enough I don't go crazy missing you. Oh who am I kidding? I am going to go nuts. Six months? No offense Clark, but he can't have ever had to leave your mother or he'd know that will be near to impossible," Chloe was almost desolate.
"Let's not think about that right now," said Clark. "I'm not going anywhere without you for now. Let's put our energy into planning our future, helping people who need it, and capturing the Zoners."
Chloe downed the last of the third pot of coffee and stretched. "Some of us have a term paper to finish and don't have time to save the world today."
"Can you stay for supper? You can work in the loft, and I am sure Clark can find enough to do to leave you alone," Martha said hopefully. She really loved the girl and wanted to have her around as much as possible. Chloe was the daughter she always wanted.
Chloe gave in so that they both wouldn't have to beg her to stay. "I can see that you both are going to gang up on me to convince me to stay. Clark's ability to speed-read would be invaluable and your pot roast is not a thing to miss. I can stay, but I have to be back in my dorm tonight."
"Sounds great. I'll help you take your things over to the desk and let you get started. Thanks, Mom," said Clark as he began gathering her things.
That night as Chloe finally climbed back into bed, she smiled to herself. It had been a really productive day. She had gotten most of the research done for her paper, and Clark had realized what he was going to do for the world with his abilities. Not bad for a Saturday. She pressed her button and rolled over. Not long after, she felt her answer, closed her eyes and fell asleep.
