Superman: The Ark of Krypton
Chapter 45
by
Jason Richard
"By the way sir," said the AI just as Clark was about to fly out of the Ark's control room. "I compiled the information you requested."
"Oh right," said Clark, flying back down to the chair in that control room. "I forgot."
They were of course referring to the scientific knowledge that Superman had agreed to share with the world. Clark had requested Krypton's medical science first, thinking that would be the safest place to start. Since the AI could connect to Earth's internet it was able to cross reference Kryptonian medical science with human biology.
The screen in front of him showed some readings Clark didn't understand, and then a small box on the nearby console opened to reveal...a regular Earth CD.
As Clark took it he said, "I still find it strange that you were able to connect earth technology to these systems."
"It was quite simple actually," said the AI. "Designing the physical apparatus was easy. Decoding the information so Earth computers could understand it was the real challenge, but it was…" suddenly the AI paused for a moment before saying, "Pardon me sir, but you wished me to inform you of any disturbances back in metropolis. The police have reported something flying through the sky...something that clearly isn't' you."
Clark put the disk away quickly and said, "Thanks. I'll be back soon." And he flew out, hoping that whatever was back in metropolis wasn't dangerous.
…
Martha Kent was busy minding her own business, washing dishes, when something crashed through the roof, bringing rubble with it. In a fright Martha turned around to see Lexcorp clone of Superman standing in the middle of the kitchen, giving her a bin grin and opening his arms wide as if to hug her.
"Ma!" cried the Clone.
In her shock Martha Kent dropped the plate she was holding, letting it shatter on the floor. Then she called out, "Jonathan!"
Jonathan Kent rushed into the kitchen from outside covered in engine grease from fixing the tractor, when he stopped short and saw the clone. The clone, of course, gave Jonathan a big grin as well.
"Pa!" said the Clone
"Clark?" asked Jonathan in disbelief. 'Martha, what happened to him?"
"I don't know," said Martha, completely flustered. "He just crashed through the roof looking like this?"
The clone didn't understand why they were so shocked. "Looking like what Ma?"
Jonathan and Martha Kent hesitated to answer. It was Jonathan who broke the silence.
"Son, you look...different," he said.
The clone, confused, went to a nearby mirror and checked his reflection. It hadn't had any mirrors at the lexcorp facility, so this was the first time it saw itself, and the first time it realized it didn't' look like it was supposed to.
"What wrong with me?" it asked mournfully.
"Jonathan, do you think he's sick or something?" asked Martha, suddenly getting panicked. "Something must be wrong with his brain too! He didn't even noticed he looked like this."
"Martha I don't know," said Jonathan, feeling a little panick himself. "I don't know what to do about this."
"Well," said Martha, thinking. "He's got that ship with that computer in it? Maybe that can...I don't know, diagnose him or something?"
"We've not way to contact it," said Jonathan.
The next sound they heard was the clone beginning to cry. They could tell it was getting scared.
"Okay dear," said Martha, putting her hands on the clone's shoulders to calm him down. "We'll figure out what this is. In the meantime, why don't I cook you something. Alright?"
It wiped the tears from its face and said, "Okay Ma."
As the scene inside the farmhouse calmed down, outside the house Superman watched the scene unfold with a mixture of confusion and anger. According to the Ark's AI the disturbance had originated from Lexcorp, but the clone had been travelling too fast for human technology to track it. The AI was able to pinpoint this path here. Seeing his family talk with this clone, thinking it was him, made him nervous, but if he just rushed in there he didn't know how the clone would react. He'd have to handle this situation delicately.
…
As Martha made what she thought was her son a decent meal, Jonathan Kent went to get "Clark" a decent change of clothes. In the bedroom he temporarily picked up the cell-phone of the dresser, musing that he wished he knew the AI's number, when he got a text.
From Clark.
He did a double take when he saw it. It said, "That's not me."
Jonathan carefully went to the door and opened it just a little, peeking through at Martha and the clone. He then turned back to phone and texted back, "Where are you?"
"Outside, watching," Clark texted back. "Let's keep this to text in case my doppelganger has super hearing."
"I figured," Jonathan texted, wiping some sweat from his forehead. "What do you want me to do?"
"Just be careful," Clark Texted. "I have reason to believe it came from Lexcorp, but it doesn't look dangerous. Do try to tell Ma, but be careful about it."
"You got it," texted Jonathan, before peeking out the door again. It was true. The clone did seem harmless, and even enjoyed the motherly affection Martha mistakenly gave it. Still, Jonathan didn't like this turn of events. Not one bit.