TITLE: A Different Kind of Hiro

AUTHOR: William Rayne

EMAIL: knytmareyahoo.com

RATING: PG-13

SPOILERS: Premiere, Talisman, Relic

DISTRIBUTION: FanFiction.net, email me

DISCLAIMER someone else owns 'em, I'm just taking them out to play. Don't sue me, I have no money

FEEDBACK: Desired like none other.

A/N: I'm interpreting the meanings of the traditional Superman symbol and the Smallville (Jor-El branded) symbol to mean whatever fits my stories best…I apologize for confusion b/c I'm lazy. Plus, AU, I think I have some leeway to fudge a bit. Krypton is a Matriarchy in this universe.

As always: bold italics for stressed, italics for thoughts or voice-over, and underlines for sarcasm or disgust. 

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A Different Kind of Hero

Chapter 4

Smallville, 2021

"That's exactly my point, Hiro," Lex sighed, "No one knows anything about him but what he tells us. How do we know it's the truth? How do we know there's no hidden agenda?"

Lex looked at the boy seated across from him in Lex's study within the Luthor Mansion and waited for an answer. Hiro's appearance didn't faze him, unlike the rest of the town. Lex has no room to talk, considering his own adolescent adventures. Also, he knew what it was like to be treated differently based on appearances. Though Lex was surprised that the Smallville coach hasn't cracked down on him yet. Then again, Hiro probably gave the ultimatum it's either like it or he leaves the team. Normally, I could see the coach waving bye but what Hiro can do, it's almost inhuman. Then again I thought the same about his brother once. Guess it's something about the way Jonathan and Martha have raised them.

Hiro grinned at the man he once and in some ways still considered an uncle. Now Lex was more of a mentor and brother to him. Sometimes Hiro felt closer to Lex than Clark, Lex wasn't as controlling as Clark. His hair was done up in a faux-hawk complimented by the hair color of the month, which was construction orange. The face piercings were minimal, the eyebrow and top of the ears were done as well as his tongue which became visible when he said, "When you put it that way, we don't. But let me ask you this, if Superman is such a bad person, why the act for…what, 7 odd years now?"

Lex shook his head, "Yes, 7 years and he hasn't seemed to age a day."

"Oil of Olay?" Hiro offered with a smile.

"Very funny. What I meant was that, we know he's alien. That he claims to have been raised on Earth and that his intentions are good and noble but that's all we know in the 7 years since he emerged into the public spotlight."

"Claims?"

"Yeah, claims. We can't confirm it since he wants to supposedly protect the family. Which is understandable but that sort of threat comes with being in the public eye, I know from experience. Besides that whole story is probably a load of horse shit."

Hiro laughed, "This I've got to hear. Why don't you believe he was raised on Earth?"

"He's above us. He has powers like unto a god, why would he be happy pretending to be less than he is? It would be beneath him, he'd be unhappy. Besides, anyone with that kind of power should be held under severe scrutiny. It's like I discussed with Clark long ago, power of that magnitude needs the brave to step forward and keep it in check."

Hiro looked at Lex thoughtfully and said, "I've never thought of that either. But for the sake of argument, let's say that claim is true. Would you trust him then?"

"That would all depend. Again it would be the issue of privacy he maintains. We don't know who raised him. They could be as decent as your parents or as twisted as my father. Even then, I think anyone would support his claim of parentage just to share the spotlight. Irregardless of the danger that comes with it. Hell, I think even Jonathan and Martha would even do it. And they're the most decent folks I know!" Lex threw up his arms in exasperation and to emphasize his point.

Hiro laughed for other reasons unknown to Lex. He always liked this debate. It made him feel like he was disobeying his folks yet not. It was a dagger's edge he ran and the knowledge of that thrilled him more than any game he's ever played. "So is that all you have against him? Other than the whole prop---"

The discussion was interrupted when the door to the study slammed open and a 4 year old boy with red hair ran into the room screaming, "Uncle Hilo."

Hiro scooped him up into his arms and threw him up into the air to catch him. Lex shot him a death glance and then smiled slightly and shook his head. "Hiro, He-Row," he said to child neutrally. "You really have to work on your r's, Lewis."

Lewis nodded as Hiro smiled and asked warmly, "How was school? My favorite little nephew isn't having any troubles? Don't need me to beat up someone, do ya?"

Lewis shook his head 'no' and as Lana entered the room with a squirming baby girl in her arms said, "Mommy, mommy, I told you that Uncle Hilo was hele."

Lana smiled and said to Hiro, "Happy 16th, what brings you around here? Is the Miata the wrong color? You do like it, don't you?"

Hiro grinned, "No, no, it's perfect," his face shifted into a frown as he finished with, "Well, almost perfect. Dad says I can't keep it."

Lana sighed, shifted the baby into her other arm as it wiggled more and said, "Ah, so you're here to return it. I remember when the same thing happened to Clark. I guess even if it is from me, Jonathan will never accept anything with the Luthor name attached."

Hiro shrugged in agreement and Lana called to Lex, "Lex, can you take Lillian? She's been fussy all day, I think she misses you."

As Lex came over to take the baby and kiss his wife on the cheek, Hiro kicked at the floor as if it was dirt and looked sheepishly down at his feet as he said, "Actually. No."

"I don't get it. If you can't keep it and don't want to return it, what do you plan to do?"

Hiro looked to Lex for support and Lex smirked, "I told you before, you'll have to ask her." Lex went back to tending the now calm baby, indicating clearly that the matter was settled.

"Ask me what?" Lana said and Hiro chose carefully what he was going to say next.

Lana repeated her question, this time with a hint of dread and authority mixed into the curiosity.

"Well, you see," Hiro said as he look everywhere except for directly at Lana. "I figured, you bought back your old house and all for memories. And you're not really using it. I could put the car in the barn and dad won't have to see it. Everybody wins," he stated so quickly that it was surprising he could get it out in one breath. Hiro saw Lex out of the corner of his eye visibly trying to contain his amusement and failing.

Lana stared at Hiro in a way that reminded of the way his mother looked when he did something wrong. Hiro got down on his knees and pleaded, "Please, Lana? Pretty, pretty please? With cherries on top? It's not fair that I have to suffer because Dad dislikes Lex because Clark still holds a grudge. It's not fair!"

Lana shot Lex daggers when he let a chortle slip out and he promptly became somber. This distraction was her downfall. When she looked back at Hiro, he had unleashed his patented pout. Lana resisted, "Hiro, you just can't lie to your father and ask me to help you do the same."

Hiro remained silent and his face may as well have been a statue's. Lana rolled her eyes, "Well, I suppose it's not really lying since, knowing you, you'll word it precisely so that it's ambiguous. But it's still wrong and…will you quit that already, you win!"

Hiro smiled as Lana turned to Lex and testily teased, "Why did you ever teach him that look? You knew how dangerous it was when he was young and now he's just perfecting it more and more."

Lex responded, "He would've learned about its power sooner or later."

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Smallville, 1986

General Zod stood in front of an octagonal crevice in the cave wall in front of him. Finally, once and for all, I can prove Jor-El's treasonous ways. I had to sway the Council to grant permission to come to this primitive planet. Of course, they required that I wear this memory charm, Zod fingered a pendant that bore the symbol of his station, to ensure their precious directive of leaving these animals to their own 'evolution'. At least I can take it off when I do the latest military intelligence update. To think they would presume to strip me of my rank should I violate their conditions.

Zod held his palm towards the indentation and a brilliant white light ebbed between him and the wall. He searched Nam-An's memory archive for the time Jor-An, now known as Jor-El, was allowed to update the archive as well as the programs contained within it. Zod found what he was looking for, a seemingly ambiguous subroutine that accepted Kryptonian transmissions to update an Avatar of the Jor-El in the event he is forced to send his future family to this planet. This was a blatant disregard for the Council's edict of non-colonization and all the evidence Zod needed to convince them of Jor-El's treason. Forcing himself to remain calm for the recorder, he whispered towards the pendant, "I hope that this is enough to convince the council of my warnings. Now I will update the military database. This will take approximately 36 Earth hours."

Taking the pendant off and setting it aside with his free hand, General Zod thought to himself, So much for playing nice for that damn recorder. 36 hours is more than enough time to do the update and make a few changes of my own. Soon my family will be avenged for the disgrace the House of El brought us so millennia  ago.

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Krypton, Time of Destruction

Zod raced out of the lab and towards his ship. As he prepped it to leave the dying world, a section ground fell beneath the craft. The fuel core broke and muffled explosions could be felt as the entire rear section of the shuttle was destroyed. "#$ !$kqn- &&ooix," Zod swore a Kryptonian curse that is has no equivalent in any human tongue. As the rest of the ship sank into the molten core of the planet, Zod sent an update signal to the memory archive and smiled with the knowledge that his will would live on.

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Undisclosed Hospital, March 2023

Clark sat beside a comatose Hiro, holding his brother's hand. Their parents weren't due for another hour. When Clark had come for them after dropping Hiro off at the nearest hospital, they had said the hospital called and they would drive there. Clark looked at them in awe until Jonathan said, "You've done all you can for him, son. If we arrive there within seconds, minutes even, there will be too many questions and from what you told us, that's the last thing we need. Go. People, especially the media, will start to wonder why Hiro's brother hasn't answered his voicemail. We'll try to keep them focused on us."

Clark played his role in keeping his true identity secret. He did indulge and say his sudden appearance within minutes by stating that he requested that Superman bring him there quickly. Given the amount of 'exclusives' Clark has had with Superman, the story wasn't questioned.

Looking at the still form of his brother, Clark held back tears, let go of Hiro's hand, and bowed his head down with his hands clasped together in prayer. "I'm sorry, Hiro. I promise you that this Zod will pay for this. I just need to find him."

The only response was the steady beeping of the monitors, "You can make it through this. You're strong. A lot stronger than me at times. I should be in that bed, not you."

Sniffling, he continued, "Would it help if I promised I won't lecture you about the drinking, if you just wake up? Lord knows I couldn't tell Mom and Dad about the motel. I just told them about you needing to talk and Zod appearing. I promise I won't tell them anything, it'll be between you and me."

Tears streamed down his cheeks, "I promise not to ride you anymore about the piercings, hair and whatever else you choose to do as long as I don't think you're in immediate danger. Just come back to us, Hiro. Mom and Dad would be broken if they lost you. I would be too. What do you want, God? What will it take to have my little brother back?"

"You could also promise to hook me up with a computer internship," said a familiar voice.

"Hiro!" Clark exclaimed.

The youngest Kent smiled mischievously and Clark looked at him suspiciously, "Just how long have you been awake?"

"Since a little before you started making promises," Hiro mumbled.

"You little shit! Do you have any idea what you put me through?"

"Consider it payback for telling me you'd jail me," Hiro shot back.

The brother's stared at each other and laughed. "Besides, when you started that, I was curious just how badly you wanted me back."

"Well since you were already awake, I'm not bound to keep them."

"Uh huh, you are too," Hiro asserted.

"We'll argue about that later, I need to tell the doctors you're awake now. Other than some weird thing with your blood tests, and of course the coma, they say you're fine."

"Yeah, about that…"

"What?"

"Nothing, get the doctors and I'll explain when they're done"

Clark looked at his brother, tempted to have him explain now but worried there may be some complications the doctors missed. He decided it was better to wait and make sure Hiro was truly okay.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The doctors checked on Hiro and hours later, the Kents were told that barring the results from the next blood test, he was in perfect health. They were at a loss to explain his previous state. Jonathan and Martha had handled the press. Clark called in a few favors, including one to Chloe for assistance to get the other reporters to wait for an official press conference to ask Hiro their questions.

Clark did one more thorough sweep of their surroundings and was interrupted by his brother's simple statement, "its clear, Clark. No one can hear us but ourselves."

"You can't know that unless I…"

"I do know, I checked too," said in a near whisper but his family caught it.

The remaining Kents all said at once, "How can you…"

Hiro stopped them by holding up his hand and said with authority in his voice, "Let me get to that later. Short explanation is I'm not sure if it's a residual effect of the bond with Zod or this is a permanent thing but I know I need to let Clark know what he needs to know. I can't chance it wearing off. If it does before I can tell him, Zod will conquer the Earth."

There was a knock at the door and the doctor asked to see Jonathan and Martha. They asked for one second and the door closed. Clark told them he'd fill them in and they went to see what the doctor wanted.

They left the room and as soon as they were alone, Hiro turned to Clark and stated coldly, "General Zod has to die. There is no other way and we have less than 48 hours to do it."

"Hiro, I agree that he must be punished, but we have no right to act as judge, jury and executioner."

"On the contrary, we do. By Kryptonian law…"

"We're not on Krypton and how do you know their laws? And I thought you said you'd start from the beginning."

"I am, I just wanted to make that clear and then you side-tracked me. Like you're doing now."

"Am not."

"Are too and don't start, I'm starting from the beginning, starting now. Remember when you found me unconscious in the cave this past January?"

Prompted by Clark's nod, Hiro continued, "That's the beginning. I guess. Don't look at me like that. I say I guess because it's where it began for me, but not the actual beginning beginning. Anyways, long story short is that the cave downloaded Zod and a vast amount of Kryptonian knowledge into me."

"Zod gained control because the process of downloading that to a human required, um, uh," Hiro stopped to think and finally said, "I guess nanobots would be the best term in English. What he didn't count on was that I figured out, subconsciously, what was going on and started reprogramming the nanobots to reassert control of my body."

"How could you do that?"

"When Zod downloaded into me, he had to also download the entirety of Kryptonian knowledge," Hiro stated plainly, "there's more but we don't have the time to get into details. Suffice it to say the times you felt drained, it was for a reason. Zod needed to replicate your DNA pattern so that he can access a Kryptonian military outpost in Antarctica. After that fight, he had gained enough and will have accessed it by now."

"I thought you said we had 48 hours."

"We do, I'm not worried about what's in the outpost. He needs another form to inhibit or he'll cease to exist, preferably one already matured with Kryptonian technology."

"Where would he find that?"

"With Lionel Luthor and since Lionel won't resist the merge in any way, they'll be one being within 48 hours. Then Lionel will know all Zod knows, he'll know about Clark Kent. About our family."

Clark paled, "There must be some other way other than killing him. There has to be. I'll find it, I need to go."

"Clark, wait, I'll come with you and help."

"No," Clark said vehemently, "I can't allow you to be put in harm's way anymore." Upon stating that, Clark sped out of the room and southward.

Dammit, Clark. You didn't let me finish. Zod will use Kryptonite against you, he won't make it a fair fight unless you challenge him in the proper Kryptonian ritual form. I've come away with that knowledge and something else, I can help. Hiro closed his eyes and concentrated. A moment later, he was the center of a circular white wave of light that exploded around him and swept through the hospital causing time itself to freeze around him.

commercial break

A/N: Please, wait before the flames, I'll explain sometime in the next chapter or at least in a note about how the remaining nanobots in his body have changed him. Suffice it to say, the next chapter may look cheesy b/c I'm giving Hiro some powers but I just can up with a sequel idea that'll carry that arc into the next story. Thus making what will hopefully be a good trilogy. I just didn't feel like writing the dialogue now to explain it all. I may redo that later, dunno. You can also email or message me and I'll try to explain.

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