Chapter 21

Approx 30mins ago...

Consciousness returns to one Clark Kent aka Kal-El, Last Son of Krypton. The last thing he remembers...the last thing...was…

"Raya!" he shouts as he shoots up from lying down to a sitting position. He frantically looks around.

He is no longer in the Phantom Zone.

In fact from the frigid ice of his surroundings he's somewhere with an Arctic climate. Getting acclimatised a bit more he realises he's in a small crater, one most likely made by his body when it hit the ground.

Rising to his feet he spots something familiar on the horizon. His Fortress of Solitude. Luckily, being summer, there is a big yellow ball in the sky, which at this time of year, never sets. He's not sure how long he's been lying here but long enough it seems for the sun to recharge his body as he zips into his Fortress.

The sight which greets him makes him go pale. The translucent glow of the Fortress's crystals was gone. Replaced by a dull purple.

Rao, what had happened here?

He zips over to the control console and tries to activate the holographic interface.

Nothing.

It's dead.

What has Brainiac done? What has he done with his misjudgement?

They are very good questions but ones he will have to answer later. He has to get back civilisation. He has to find Zod and correct his mistake as best he can.

Clark turns round to leave, only for his eyes to fall upon the suit. The one he got from the Collector. A little piece of home...like Raya had been.

He failed to save her but perhaps he can honour her and his people by wearing it. In all honesty he's not even sure what's been stopping him before now. In seconds he has put it on...and then he remembers what stopped him. It just didn't feel right? Look right? Like something was missing.

And yes, he knows, he knows. He doesn't have time for this internal debate when he needs to find Zod.

Clark is all about to fly off when out of the corner of his eye he spots his red blanket…

The Present...

Which leads us to here and now. Clark was just flying down the East Coast when he saw the beam of white energy erupt from the middle of Boston. While he couldn't be certain it was Zod, the fact that it was where Emma lived and that she had clearly made a deal with Brainiac...well too much of a coincidence to ignore even for the Big Dumb Alien, as Chloe loves to call him.

And now he was once again face to face with his family's greatest enemy. The destroyer of Krypton.

"Kal-El," Scott/Zod acknowledges him with annoyance.

"So tell me Zod? How many is enough? How many billions do you have to kill before you're satisfied? Was the genocide of our race not enough?" Superman asks, fury brimming in his voice, fire burning in his irises.

"They made their choice," Scott/Zod replies. "Their fate was their own doing," he says callously.

"They did not choose to die. You chose to murder them and now you try to do the same to humanity. As I told you before I will not let that happen."

"I don't know how you escaped the Zone, but you were safer where you were," Scott/Zod says, his anger at being thwarted burning through just before he launches himself at Superman and with a bone rattling impact the two disappear into the sky.

They leave behind a rather stunned mass of mutants.

"I know this is a totally inappropriate thought right now," Domino breaks the silence. "But damn!" she wolf-whistles. "Did he look hot."

"Oh mah Gawd, we are so not related," Rogue mumbles in embarrassment. Yeah, she agrees with that assessment. Of course Clark is hot but seriously? There's a time and a place.

Staring through the broken window at the point the two combatants vanished is Jean, her heart beating furiously. He was back. He was alive. The man she loves...and now, just like that, he was gone again, fighting not only for his own life but for every one on this planet. Fighting the possessed body of her ex-boyfriend.

Yep, that's gonna takes years of therapy to come to terms with.

For the moment Jean will settle for not falling apart in front of everyone. Especially Emma. Speaking of whom…

SLAP!

The sound echoes around the round as Jean leaves a very red mark on her hated rival's cheek for the 2nd time today. "Stupid bitch," she insults her fellow telepath. "I am not even going to waste my time asking what the hell you were thinking because it probably involved some worthless promise of wealth and power. That seems to be all you care about and to hell with the rest of the world right?! I don't even know what it is Scott saw in you. He kept seeing something I never have. He, actually, thinks you're worth it and how did you repay him, huh? Selling him out to Zod! A man who eradicated his own race! Are you happy now Emma? Did you get everything you wanted? Life is about more than accumulating wealth and power. It's about more than simple survival. It's about actually living the life you've been given to the full and if you're really, really lucky you'll find someone to share the joy of that life with but you'll never understand that. You'll live out your life stating that you're happy and fulfilled but in the end you'll die alone. Your wealth and power mean nothing when the end comes. You'll just be a sad, empty, hollow, dried out husk of a person. Frankly that's almost a better fate than you deserve," she says in a rather epic rant.

Afterwards Jean needs to take a few deep breaths.

"Feelin better?" Wolverine asks her, a small smirk of amusement pulling his lips.

"Little bit actually, yeah."

Wolverine shakes his head. Kids. He turns to Magik. "Can you trace them?"

The demon-sorceress gives him her best 'Are you kidding?!' look. "Do you know how fast they were travelling at? I may be powerful but I ain't Mary Sue."

"Mary who?"

Magik mutters in her native Russian a few choice insults.

"So are we done here?" Iceman asks.

"Yes. You are," Emma answers. "Leave," she orders them, having resisted any urge to rub her stinging cheek.

"Not quite yet, lass," Banshee contradicts her in his Irish lilt as he walks over to where both the briefcase and the broken remains of the hard drive lie. "No offence but I don't think ye should be keeping t'is," he says as he gathers the pieces of technology up.

"Good spot, Irish," Wolverine compliments his fellow teacher because yeah, how bad would it have been to have left this alien tech in Frosty's hands but otherwise, yeah, they're done. They have to see if there is any way they can track down Space-boy and help. Whatever mess Emma has gotten herself into...know what just leave her in it. They ain't the police and it's not their job to arrest her but surely there will be a day when their 'relationship' with the blond telepath will reach its final conclusion.

Forbidden technology in hand the X-Men depart...though Jean's mind is a million miles away on her boyfriend's fate.

"I wouldn't worry too much."

"Huh? Who? What? Sorry...Magik?" Jean queries as she spots who spoke to her there.

"Clark. I wouldn't worry too much," the blonde repeats herself.

"How can you say that?"

"You only get to know someone when you hunt them. I know Clark all too well. Did you see the way he just appeared, floating like that?"

"Yeah?" the red-head says, no clearer on what Illyana is driving at.

"He was putting on a deliberate show."

"And?"

"It means he has a plan. That was, like I said, a show. Clark's far more cunning and conniving than you imagine. They're the traits that turned me on the most."

It worries Jean that Illyana seems to know her own boyfriend better than she does. She would have never guessed that. She means she knows Clark keeps secrets but she also learned that pushing at him just makes him button up tighter. When he's ready to share she'll be here to listen. She sighs. "Still plans can go wrong," she raises a concern.

"Well maybe plans I don't make up, true," Illyana concedes, while boasting about herself. "I guess it depends on how much faith you have in him."

That gets Jean's ire up. Is Illyana questioning Jean's belief in the boy she's in love with? "I have complete faith in him," she says through almost gritted teeth.

"Ok then. That being the case you two interested in a threesome?"

Jean looks at Illyana twice. "W-what?" she says in a shocked whisper.

"It's like I said; when Clark's being all conniving and cunning I get turned on...and between us girls I miss the sex. I'm sure you understand why," the blond says with a smirk.

Jean stares at the sorceress. The problem with Illyana, is basically, like Clark, her mind is unreadable and Jean cannot for the life of her figure out when her boyfriend's ex is joking or being serious. Clark can...which just brings back her concerns about how well she really knows her boyfriend. Great. Terrific. Now she has doubts where before she was about to declare her undying love. God, Jean really, really hates her boyfriend's ex.

Speaking of her boyfriend, not to mention her own ex, he and Scott/Zod were flying through the air at great speed, grappling with each other, each trying to get leverage on the other, each with matching glares of hatred for the other.

Superman, of course, is hating the person inhabiting his friend's body.

By now they are far away from Boston, into the unpopulated wilderness and descending fast as they smash through trees and plough into the ground where Superman smashes his head into Scott/Zod's.

The two roll away in opposite direction before springing to their feet and then zipping towards each other. The two titans exchange blows, powerful enough to shake the ground before Scott/Zod ducks under one, spinning and delivers an elbow to Superman's gut. He then grabs his foe and throws him away.

Superman smashes into a massive tree which begins to fall over but he manages to kick his feet off of it and go airborne. Heat blazes from his eyes forcing Scott/Zod to dodge which was what Superman was wanting. He flies in, only to have his opponent move too swiftly as he anticipated the attack and smashes a kick into Superman's side, sending the younger Kryptonian spinning through the air until he crashes into a large boulder.

In an instant Scott/Zod is on top of him, smashing powerful blows into his face. "Did you really think you could win?!" the Kryptonian General yells at his enemy's son, his anger threatening for just a moment to override his normally iron control. "You're an idealistic fool. Like your father," he says with disdain.

The taste of blood fills Superman's mouth as the boulder begins to disintegrate under his form. Ok, this is going almost as badly as last time and last time he got thrown into the Phantom Zone. He manages to get a foot against Scott/Zod's torso and pushes his foe away with a cry of effort. Wasting not even an instant he flies forward and this time is the one to smash a shoulder into his opponent's gut and the two plough once more into the ground.

Now it's Superman's turn to rain the blows in...only for his right arm to get caught, twisted and before he knows what is happening he is face down in the dirt and Zod is wrenching his arm behind his back until something pops.

Namely Clark's shoulder out of its socket.

Dear Rao, does that hurt!

Kicks pepper into him next until one is hard enough to both send him flying and probably break a rib...maybe two but Superman gets no time to recover before he is being pounded into the ground over and over, deeper and deeper.

Does the phrase 'Out of his league' ring true here?

The blows stop and Superman coughs painfully.

Scott/Zod stands over his fallen opponent, hands behind his back, taking a moment to rein his emotions back in. "After your defeat of Nam-Ek and Aethyr I expected better," he says in disappointment, almost like a teacher talking to a failing student.

Superman gets back up to his knees. "In...all honesty...cough, cough...so did I."

"Yield, Kal-El. You cannot defeat me any more than your father did."

Superman manages to rise back to his feet, holding his dislocated arm against his body in a protective manner. "But he did defeat you," he argues. "Or were all those years in the Phantom Zone just an illusion?"

Scott/Zod's expression darkens as his memories of being a bodiless wraith rise up within his mind. Lesser men would have been driven insane by such an experience but he is Zod.

"It matters not either way. I will not let you destroy this planet as you destroyed our home," Superman tells him, though it doesn't seem likely he can win. With only one working arm this looks a truly hopeless battle.

"You will die in the attempt," Scott/Zod states factually as he sees it.

"Been there. Done that. Death holds no fear for me."

And Zod can see from the look in Kal-El's eyes that that is a true statement. Admirable. "Perhaps you do not fear death but what of your friends, Kal-El?" That gets a reaction. Fear does flash across the young Kryptonian's face. "I will kill them, Kal-El," he promises. "Slowly. Painfully. And I will make you watch," he ups the threat. "Or you can accept an alternative."

Superman's eyes dart back and forth. "What alternative?" he finds himself asking, though with great reluctance.

"Swear your allegiance to me and the ones you love the most will be allowed to live," Scott/Zod makes the offer. Why, you may ask? Because with the destruction of the hard drive, to achieve his goals, Zod needs a new plan and those plans will now have to involve Kal-El. It's simple pragmatism. "Kneel, Kal-El. Kneel before Zod and those you love will live," he instructs his beaten foe. Also a tiny part of Zod just may get some satisfaction in seeing Jor-El's son not only on his knees before him but being his servant. If only his dear old friend was still around to see that.

Superman's expression is one of a man deeply torn by the choices he is facing but what does further resistance achieve? He can't win. That much is clear. If he continues Zod will kill him and then no-one will be left to stop him so with a heavy heart he drops to his knees...and then bends over, coughing hard again, his cape covering most of his form. When his coughing fit stops he looks up to see Scott/Zod has extended a hand. Obviously he expects Clark to take it as a show of his loyalty. Again with great reluctance he does so.

A few moments later Scott/Zod gasps as an energy washes over him.

Superman's bloodied lips curl up slightly. "My father sends his regards."

Scott/Zod turns his hand over to find a crystal in it. The crystal Raya had.

Flashback...

In hindsight Clark probably did know what Raya was about to do but right now as he looks into her pale blue eyes he is just confused...about many things.

Part of him so desperately wants to trust her. Believe in her. To finally have met one of his own people who, not only, wasn't a criminal but actually knew his biological parents. Someone who could finally answer all those questions he has.

On the other side another part of him is screaming about how he can't trust her. That she could well be just another criminal. After all this is a prison for the worst of the worst. Therefore she is lying to him, to earn his trust because he's her ticket out of this hellhole.

It's that moment of indecision that allows her to get away from him and use herself as a distraction but before she goes she leaves him a gift. When she squeezed his hand she left behind the crystal she had been using to protect herself...but Clark doesn't have time to think on it right now as he heaves his body over the rise and sprints for the portal...

…

…

Yeah, so, this fight is going badly. Clark does not know what Brainiac did to alter Scott's body but no matter how hard he tries Zod always seems a little bit faster, a little bit stronger, not to mention that it's very clear Zod is a much better fighter.

That's not really a surprise when you think about it. For all his training at the Institute Clark is still just a 19year old kid. Zod is an experienced General. Supposedly one of the best soldiers Krypton ever produced.

And the result is inevitable. Clark down on the ground beaten, his right arm basically immobile with Zod making, what the young Kryptonian knows, are worthless promises about sparing his loved ones. He heaves over, coughing, his chest killing him. Something is definitely broken and it will heal if he had a few minutes...but he doesn't. Zod is looming over him, waiting for an answer. Was this how he planned it to pan out? No. Of course he hoped that he could figure out a way to win the fight but now that that has failed it's time to improvise a plan B.

Clark's cape hides most of his form and as long as Zod doesn't use his x-ray vision he hopefully won't see Clark's left hand reach up under the collar of his suit and pull out the string, attached to which is the crystal. Clark had been wearing it backwards, so that his cape hid the outline of the crystal under his suit. That may have been another reason he chose to use his blanket in such a manner. He has been waiting and looking for the right moment to use it and with Zod giving him an opening that moment has come as he snaps the string and clutches the crystal in his left hand before he reaches up and pretends to take Zod's hand in a show of 'loyalty'.

'Loyalty,' he mentally snorts. To the person responsible for Krypton's destruction and his parents' deaths. Yeah, right. That'll be the day.

The present…

Clark watches as Scott/Zod's form convulses.

"Jor-El!" Scott/Zod roars in outrage. "Noooo!" he howls in despair as he feels himself start to get ripped out of this body.

Clark watches on as a wraith-like form starts to be pulled away from Scott's body, encased in the white energy of the crystal. He can even see the fuzzy outline of a bearded face, the mouth open, screaming in rage and fury though there is no sound emerging.

Then suddenly the form is sucked down into the crystal.

For a moment Scott's body stands there, swaying before it topples over. The crystal falls from his hand, leaving behind a burn mark scorched into the skin.

Clark bends down and feels for a pulse with his one good hand and is relieved to find one. He then picks up the crystal and looks at it. Sadness overcomes his features. "Thank you Raya," he says, his tone tinged with grief, in appreciation to the woman who sacrificed her life to give him this chance.

And at least, in her memory, he can say he didn't squander it.

It's over.

He did it.

He won.

Yet it doesn't feel much like a victory.

It came at too high a price.

So yep, definitely one of those days.

Author's Note: In the episode Clark gets his ass kicked easily because of course he does. He's an untrained 19 year old and Zod is a freakin General. Now my Clark isn't untrained but he's still only 19 and Zod should be his superior in combat. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; the wrap up of this story begins in One Journey has Ended.

AN1: As always hope everyone is keeping safe and well in these trying times.