Chapter 82: Coming of Age
Disclaimer: All things Supergirl/Superman belong to DC. No infringement is intended.
Twelve years ago, the Arctic
Kara was sitting on top of a glacier, the icy chill of the arctic wind not bothering her in the least, and watched as the fabrication crystals were finishing their work. The Kryptonian outpost was almost ready now, the last remaining stronghold of an extinct species. The crystals had been stored away in her escape ship ever since she had launched from Krypton, but she had refused to use them for quite some time.
Getting up from her perch with a sigh, she quickly flew over to where the outpost, her Fortress, was now coming online. The doors opened for her after a brief scan of her cellular structure to confirm her identity. As she floated inside, she was quickly reminded why she had hesitated so long to build this place.
Kryptonian architecture was very much standardized. Not people's individual homes, but everything that was public or used by the government or any branch of the military kind of looked the same, really. The corridor she was standing in front of could have been in any of a thousand buildings back on her home world. If she ignored the arctic vista outside, she could easily imagine herself back on Krypton.
Except that it was utterly empty. She was alone here.
"Nothing here but ghosts," she muttered, even as she approached the outpost's primary control center. The computers were already up and running, just awaiting her commands. The fabrication crystals had created the outpost in a sort of default setting, it was now up to her to supply the fine tuning. This would not be a military outpost, after all, nor would it be a research facility housing dozens of scientists or a beachhead on a new colony world.
"I doubt they included 'workplace for the last daughter of Krypton' in the pre-installed settings," she muttered, even as she got to work.
She had spent years going over her plans. Well, at least when she had not been busy moping, despairing, or having panic attacks about all the things that might happen to Clark if she was not there to protect him 24/7. Now, it was finally time to put her plans into motion.
After all, today was the day that Karen Kent, her human alter ego, turned eighteen and was thus officially an adult by the laws of the country she now called home.
She closed her eyes, sighing. No matter her age, her childhood had actually ended five years ago, the day she had ceased to be young Kara Zor-El and instead became Kara-El, oldest living member of House El and sole parent of Kal Jor-El. That was not something she could tell the authorities here on Earth, naturally, so she had had to wait until Karen Kent became legal.
"Computer," she commanded. "Run a comparison between this world's current technological base and the Science Archive of Krypton. Search parameters: devices and concepts of Kryptonian make that can be recreated using technology and materials currently available on Earth."
There was still a lot of paperwork to complete and a lot of errands to run, but once her new company, K-Solutions, officially started to exist, it would hit the ground running with technological innovations that would push this world towards a hopefully golden future.
"Happy Birthday, Karen Kent," she muttered, even as she worked.
Later that day, upon returning home, Kara would do her best to act surprised at Martha and Jonathan's surprise party for her birthday, despite having overheard them planning it for weeks now. The drawing that young Clark gave her, showing the two of them with the word 'Mom' written above the stick figure meant to be her, would end up being one of her most precious possessions.
The Present, Metropolis
"I don't know how you expect this to work, Superwoman," Perry White said, sitting down on his couch. "Contrary to popular belief, I do not actually have the power to change the views and opinions of the public according to my every whim."
"Really?" Kara asked with mock surprise. "You have been lying to me all these years?"
He chuckled, sipping from his drink. "Jokes aside, I'm really not sure how I can help you with this."
"I know it will take time," Kara told him, sitting down as well. "I just think it would be a good start if the Daily Planet exclusively referred to him as 'Superman' from here on out, not 'Superboy'."
Perry nodded. "That I can do. It will still take quite a while before people's habits change, you realize. He will be Superboy for quite some time yet, I fear."
"The names you come up with tend to stick, yes," Kara told him teasingly.
"Just be glad I didn't name you Supergirl way back then," Perry shot back. "My editor actually wanted me to use that one, but I convinced him otherwise."
"I shall be eternally grateful," she promised him.
She then reached into the small bag she had carried with her to this visit and took out a small stack of papers.
"Everything is prepared, it just needs your signatures."
Perry sighed. "I told you that this is entirely unnecessary."
"Maybe, but I want it that way. You have done so much for us, Perry. Never mind the things I know you have NOT done in order to protect me and my family."
"I never should have told you about that," he grumbled.
"Well, you have, now you need to live with it."
Perry grumbled something under his breath about pushy aliens, but finally took the envelope. Looking over the papers, he found that everything was as agreed. He was still somewhat reluctant, but finally signed his name where indicated. That's when he noticed another thing among the papers.
"What's this now?" he asked.
"An invitation," she replied, smiling. "Well, and a first-class plane ticket to get you there, too."
"Invitation to what?" he asked, puzzled.
"A birthday party!"
Smallville
Clark Kent's birthday breakfast
"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Cla-ark! Happy birthday to you!"
A large cake was in the middle of the Kent breakfast table, the number 18 proudly displayed on it. Clark awkwardly brushed his hand through his hair. He had known a party was coming, of course, but he was still pleasantly surprised.
His entire family was already sitting around the table. Aunt Martha and Uncle Jonathan, his mom, his little sister Kona, as well as the newest member of their weird little clan, Sandy. Cousin John, aka the Martian Manhunter J'Onn J'Onnz, was also present, wearing his human guise that made him look like an older, male version of his mom.
"Happy birthday, Clark," his mom said, coming around the table to hug him. In a way it was still weird that he was slightly taller than her now. "How can you already be 18 years old? I am sure we celebrated your 6th birthday just a few weeks ago."
"Mom," he mock chided her. He had certainly heard more than a few variations of this complaint over the last few weeks.
"I know, I know," she said, letting go of him. "My son is all grown-up and a man now. Do not listen to the lamentations of a mother who is in no way ready for that."
"You'll need to get used to it, Clark," Martha said, stepping up to hug him as well. "Your mom is over 30 and I still have a hard time seeing her as anything but that little girl who fell to Earth. It's the curse of parents the universe over. We stop accepting changes in our children around the time they turn 6 or so."
They sat down at the table and Clark (carefully) blew out the 18 candles on his cake. He still remembered his 13th birthday, forever known in the Kent household as "The Day the Super-Breath Kicked In".
"Now eat up, Clark," his mom told him. "We have a lot scheduled for today, so you will need your strength!"
"We do?" he asked, slightly confused. "I thought we would just have a big party this evening? I already invited Lana and my friends from school."
"That is Clark Kent's birthday party, yes," his mom nodded. "I thought you might also want to attend Superman's birthday party."
Clark's eyes widened. "What?"
Hall of Justice, outside Metropolis
Superman's birthday party
"This could be the beginning of a really weird joke, you know?" Flash said, chuckling.
"How so?" Clark asked, confused.
"An alien, a clone, a robot, and a sand thing walk into a bar!"
Clark's gaze briefly went to Kona, the Red Tornado, and Sandy. "Very funny, but please don't call Sandy a 'sand thing', okay? And what about the speed freak and the witch?"
"Would be a bit much," Flash said, wiggling his hand. "You gotta be careful not to overload these jokes, you know?"
Clark laughed at his friend's antics, even as he continued looking around.
It was a great idea, he had to admit. There were quite a few people who did not know who Clark Kent was, but who were friends of Superb… Superman. The Teen Titans, the newer members of the Justice League, Batgirl, and a few others he had met during the last few years.
There was Robert Long Shadow, a novice superhero with the power to grow to gigantic heights, whom Clark had met while saving people from a mudslide at the Fort Apache reservation. Some papers had apparently tried to name him 'Apache Chief', but thankfully a quick call to Perry White had managed to circumvent that, so now Robert was actually known by his real name and proud of it. He and Clark had become friends over it.
Clark then greeted El Dorado, a superhero he had met along with the Teen Titans in Mexico. Much like Zatanna his powers were magical in nature, which had come in handy when the Titans had encountered a mystic nutjob called Brother Blood. They had agreed to stay in touch and Clark figured that Zatanna might actually be a bit sweet on the guy, given that she had been chatting with him for over an hour now. He would have to ask Kona about that.
"Have you been successful in your endeavor yet?" he heard Red Tornado speak to Sandy.
"No, I am afraid the skill still eludes me," Sandy replied, sounding a bit sad.
"What are they talking about?" he asked Kona, who was sipping a drink next to them.
"Sandy is trying to figure out how to sleep," Kona told him, smiling. "And apparently Reddy overheard and made her promise to teach him once she figures it out."
Clark shook his head, chuckling. A girl made from sand was going to teach a living android how to sleep. He had a really weird circle of friends.
"Happy birthday, Superman," a voice greeted him from behind.
"Mr. White," Clark exclaimed, surprised to see the reporter here. "I... I didn't know you would be coming."
Ever since he had first met the editor of the Daily Planet at the tender age of 14, Clark had admired the gruff old reporter. Meeting him, talking with him, had played a large part in Clark's drive to become a reporter himself. He eagerly shook the man's hand.
"Well, your mom invited me. How could I say no?" White looked around, taking in the number of costumed characters mingling around the Hall. "Though it will be really hard not to write about it."
Spotting another two figures entering the Hall, Clark could not help but laugh.
"Mr. White, you have seen nothing yet."
Leaving a somewhat confused reporter behind, Clark walked to greet the two newest visitors. One was a tall man with long, wavy hair and looking like a Greek god in a B-picture space suit. The other was a huge tiger walking upright.
"Tigorr! Primus!"
The leaders of the Omega Men from Vega greeted him cheerfully.
"Great to see you again, pup!" Tigorr growled, slapping Clark hard enough on the back that a human would have been broken in half. "All grown up now, I hear?"
Clark shrugged. Given that their first encounter had ended with him threatening to skin Tigorr if he refused to help them, it seemed strange that they actually formed a solid friendship later on. Battling the Citadel together, though, had quickly created a bond.
"You came all the way from Vega just for my birthday?" he asked them, shaking hands with Primus.
"Well, you and your family helped us win the war," Primus told them. "And Tigorr never needs much of an excuse to attend a party."
The huge tiger man snorted. "You just don't appreciate the finger things in life, Primus. Anyway, pup, your mother invited us and apparently there is some stuff she wants to speak to us about, too."
"We can do that later," his mom said, having joined them. "I am glad the two of you could join us, though. Hope the journey was not too long."
"Not at all," Primus assured her, bowing and kissing her hand. "The improvements you suggested to our hyper drives have really worked like a charm, Lady Kara. I am looking forward to future cooperation between our people."
Clark gave her a questioning look, but she merely mouthed 'later' at him. Tigorr laughed. "You can do the schmoozing, Primus. I will check out what kind of beverages they serve here on this planet!"
The party continued on. Perry White talked to Tigorr, apparently getting a first-person account of the long revolutionary war in Vega. A local superhero from Metropolis, Black Vulcan, whom Wally and Clark had met a few months ago and helped out of a jam, organized an impromptu band for the party. With Wally at the drums, Vulcan playing the guitar, and Kona and Zee doing their best to sing, Clark quickly understood why Zee was a stage magician and not a stage musician. He appreciated the effort, though, and it was lots of fun.
Looking around, Clark marveled at the sheer number of people that had turned up. He figured his mom might have some ulterior motives for inviting some of them (he saw her talking to Primus as the party went on, right next to Zatanna flirting with El Dorado), but he still found himself in awe.
Best of all? Not one of them called him Superboy. Not even Wally. Life was good.
Smallville Kansas
Clark Kent's birthday party
Compared to the eclectic mix of attendees at Superman's birthday party, the party for Clark Kent's 18th birthday seemed almost mundane in comparison. That was mostly due to the fact, of course, that many of the guests had no idea who they were mingling with. Some of Clark's fellow students commented, for example, on how beautiful his mom's dark-haired friend looked and how cute her little daughter was, but none of them except Lana knew that they were actually talking about Wonder Woman.
Still, it was nice to just hang with his friends. With school ending soon, he would probably not see them that often anymore. It was nice just to be a normal teenager once in a while, no matter how much fun it was to hang around with aliens, robots, and superheroes. The Kent family barn had been redecorated into a party room for the evening and most of the adults made sure to stick to the main house, leaving the younger generation to their fun.
"There were really aliens at your other party?" Lana asked as she was dancing with Clark.
"You mean apart from mom, J'Onn, Kona, and me?" he replied, smirking.
She swatted at his shoulder. "Doofus! You know what I mean!"
"Yes, we had visitors from Vega," he told her, the loud music ensuring that no one but Lana could hear him. "I told you about Tigorr, right?"
"The big tiger you beat up? He came to your birthday party?"
Clark shrugged. "Yeah, apparently beating someone up is basically a hello in his culture. And we did help them win their war, so…"
They kept dancing for a minute longer before Lana looked into his face again. "You'll be leaving Smallville after school is over, right?"
Clark nodded. "Yeah, though visiting home is a lot easier if you can fly, you know? What about you?"
"Not sure yet. I got acceptance letters from several colleges, most of them pretty far away from here. It's just... scary, you know?"
"I know, Lana, believe me. I've been to all sorts of places, but at the end of the day I always came back home to Smallville. The thought of that changing... it's exciting and scary all at the same time."
"It is, yes," she agreed, clinging a bit tighter to him.
Clark hugged her as well. Never mind that they had both come to the realization that they would never be more than friends; it didn't change the fact that he had deep feelings for Lana. The thought of not seeing her every day... it would be hard.
"Promise me we'll never lose touch, okay?" he said, looking into her eyes. "That's the only birthday gift I'll need from you."
Lana nodded, then smiled. "So, I can return that positively archaic travel typewriter I got you to the store then?"
He laughed and hugged her again. Things were changing. His childhood was rapidly coming to an end and he was sure that there were many challenges ahead, both for Clark Kent and Superman. But that was okay. He could deal with that as long as he knew that his family and his best friend would always be there.
The final party of the day was winding down. Most of the guests had already gone home, only those few who would spend the night at the Kents' were still there. Kara saw that Kona was sprawled across the couch, fast asleep, while Sandy was sitting in the armchair, her eyes closed, once again looking for that elusive ability called sleeping. J'Onn was in the kitchen, loading the last few dishes into the washer. Martha and Jonathan had retired to their room about half an hour ago.
Smiling, Kara stepped outside onto the patio and sat down beside her son, who was gazing out across the fields. There was an envelope clutched in his hands, his fingers absentmindedly brushing across it over and over again.
"Had fun today, Clark?" she asked.
He smiled. "It was a great day, mom. Thank you!"
Her eyes glanced at the envelope, the sender's address quickly telling her what it was.
"Did that arrive today?" she asked. "Great timing."
He chuckled. "I doubt they timed it that way."
She shrugged. "So, it is good news, I guess?"
He handed it to her, and she quickly opened it. Smiling broadly, she read that Metropolis University was proud to accept one Clark Kent as a freshman.
"I never doubted it, Clark," she told him, handing the letter back. "So just a few more months here in Smallville and then it's off to your next great adventure."
Clark turned to look at her and she could see the worry in his eyes.
"What's the matter?" she asked.
"I…," he began. "Do you... I mean..." He sighed, looking down. "Look, mom, I... are you okay with this?"
"With what?" She was a bit confused.
"With me doing this entire... thing. I mean, I know you are working on your plans, every day. Even today I saw you talking to people and I know it's because you are always looking to make the world better. Meanwhile I go and… you know, live a normal life. Being a teenager in college, just... living. You never got to do that. Half your childhood was stolen from you because you were stuck taking care of me and..."
She put up her hand. "Let me stop you right there, Clark. First thing, yes, a large part of my childhood was taken from me, but that had nothing to do with you. My childhood ended the day Krypton died. There is something, though, that you ARE directly responsible for, Clark."
She reached forward, her fingers clasping the back of his neck, and pulled him closer until their foreheads touched.
"You saved me, Clark! If not for you, I would be dead! On the day that I lost everything, you were my anchor, my light, my guiding star. Without you, I would never have survived. You kept me alive. You kept me living. So never, ever think that I was stuck with you, or burdened with you. You are the best thing that ever happened to me, Clark! Understand?"
With tears in his eyes, Clark nodded. "I understand, mom."
"Good! And seeing my son living a great life, doing whatever you want to do, being whoever you want to be, is more important to me than any plans or any work. It's the greatest gift I could have asked for. You need never feel guilty for that!"
"Okay," he agreed. "I'll do my best then."
She let go of him and they sat back, both of them staring out into the night again.
"Remember when we were in Vega?" Clark said after a minute. "When you told me that I am no longer a boy? You were wrong about one thing."
She looked at him quizzingly.
"You said that, all my life, I had been Kal Jor-El. That might have been my name during those few months I actually lived on Krypton, but ever since then I have been Kal Kara-El. And I am proud, very proud, to be your son."
Mother and son embraced. In a few months Clark Kent would leave Smallville for Metropolis University, where he would major in journalism. For tonight, though, he was content to simply enjoy the feeling of being at home with his mom.
All was well.
End Chapter 82
Author's Note: Once again, sorry that this chapter took so long. I'm starting a new job which soaks up nearly all of my free time these days. Hopefully this will improve in a few weeks and I'll get back to a more regular posting schedule.
Long Shadow aka Apache Chief, Black Vulcan, and El Dorado are characters originally created for the Superfriends cartoon (though Black Vulcan is really just Black Lightning, who could not be used due to copyright problems at the time). Most of them were little more than horrible ethnic stereotypes, but I do remember them with a certain fondness and wanted to include them here (hopefully in a less offensive way). I briefly considered adding Rima, the Jungle Girl, but couldn't really think of a good way to do so.
Up next: Anti-matter storms, colliding worlds, battles for the fate of the entire multiverse, and people who know things.
