Fear the Unknown
Chapter 3: Those who believe.
Smallville, Kansas - 1967
"Thank you, Jonathan. Your contribution is always greatly appreciated."
The Reverend Mr. Richard Reynolds tipped his black felt hat and flashed a toothy grin at the couple, then turned to walk away. "Always happy to give, Mr. Reynolds." Jonathan Kent slowly closed the door of his farmhouse and let the cheery smile evaporate from his face. The broad shouldered farmer gripped the doorframe tightly until he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Take it easy, Jonathan. You don't want to get upset." "I hate this, Martha! I can't stand those men and their pasted on smiles and their sanctimonious preaching and. and." With a snarl, Jonathan twisted his body around and hammered his balled fist against the oaken door, sending a jolt back into his arm and a wet crunching sound into his ears. "Well. Now you've gone and done it, haven't you?" Jonathan tried briefly to flex the hand, but his face twisted in pain. "Yeah, I guess I have." "Go put it on some ice. We'll wait a bit, then I'll drive you in to see Doc Harper." Jonathan had his hand wrapped in a thin cast as, several hours later, the battered Kent pickup made it's way down old 68 highway toward the farm. Suddenly, without warning, the truck was jolted off to the side of the road as the concussion from a massive impact struck it. In the field nearby, Jon what appeared to be a deep furrow that had crossed the road just in front of them. Several hundred yards off to their left, the furrow stopped in the cornfield. "Good Lord! Come on!" Jonathan jumped from the truck and, after helping Martha out, ran at a full sprint to where the furrow stopped. At the very end of the furrow was what appeared to be a craft of some sort, egg shaped and smooth, glossy black. When Jon put a hand out to touch it, it split open, the sides flowing away to reveal its contents.
Within was a small child, peering up at them.
"Jon, it's. a baby."
"Stay back, Martha, we don't know where it came from or what it is."
"Jonathan Kent! You have eyes, you can see perfectly clear what it is." She reached into the padded contours of the craft and pulled the child free.
"We'll call him Clark."
Metropolis - Present Day
The skies were blue over the city of Metropolis. The yellow disk of the afternoon sun shone brightly against the white facades of the city's buildings. The skyline was visible for miles around, as was one of its most famous landmarks, the Daily Planet. The motto of the newspaper was chiseled in the marble surrounding the main entrance.
"Serving the Truth for over one-hundred years."
In the offices atop the building, Perry White glared across his desk.
"What is this trash?"
"Chief, I don't understand."
"Look Olsen, just because you're a pretty face and your mommy happened to know someone in the business office doesn't mean I'm going to tolerate this kind of low-level tabloid trash coming into my office. What is this?" He reached down to the copy on his desk. "'Prosecutor saved by miracle wind'? 'Emerald glow prevents train wreck'? If I didn't know better, son, I'd say you were possessed by some demon."
The look of utter terror on Olsen's face shocked White.
"Don't even suggest that, sir! How can you say such a thing? You know that just by suggesting that, you could get me up before the Inquisition?"
"Look, kid. How about you stick to reporting real news and let the canons handle the fright stories?"
"I'm sorry, sir. I'll get something better, I will."
"Good, and get it by nine, I'm on a deadline."
Olsen scurried out of White's office, and the editor-in-chief breathed out a heavy sigh. Standing, he walked to the window and looked out. It was becoming harder and harder to conceal the activity of those who had special abilities. It was as if the world itself was rebelling against their suppression, trying to draw them into the open. Perry had often wondered what the world might be like if men like Barry and Hal were free to use their gifts. Every day he lived in fear that he would be found out, that the powers that be would discover that he had been covering up evidence of superhuman activity since had had been working for the Daily Star, years ago. He couldn't help it, though. He knew that something was wrong in the world, and that these people were the answer to it. They just needed a sign, something to inspire them, something to give the people hope. The world didn't just need people with power. It needed a hero.
Perry jolted at the sound of a rapping at his door.
"What is it?"
"Perry, some guy just walked in asking if he could get a meeting with you. Says his name's Kent."
"The Newstime writer?"
"He's that Kent? What's he doing here?"
"Send him in, let's find out."
Perry was momentarily started at the sheer size of the man who walked through his door. Clark Kent easily stood a head and a half over Perry, and he wasn't a small man. The conservative coat and tie that the clean- cut man wore barely concealed the bulging frame beneath.
"What can we do for you, Kent?"
"If I could just have a moment of your time, sir, I'd be very grateful."
"My time's pretty valuable son. Better make it good."
Clark shut the door behind him.
"You know that I've been with Newstime for the past several years."
"Yeah, that I do. Go on."
"I even applied here when I first moved to Metropolis, though I doubt you'd remember."
"Not really, no."
"Well, I was hoping that maybe I could convince you to give me a second chance."
Perry sat for a moment, looking over the young man in the chair before him. Something wasn't quite right about this man.
"Now, tell me something, Kent. From what I hear, you're a pretty fair reporter. I know that Lois is constantly complaining that you seem to get to a lot of things before she does. You've made a pretty good name for yourself at Newstime. Why switch horses?"
Clark looked down for a moment, collecting his thoughts.
"Mr. White. we all know that the world is the way it is, and that it's probably not going to change any time soon."
"Well, I can't say that I disagree, but what's that have to do with anything?"
"If you'll let me finish, sir. The world isn't going to change, but that doesn't mean that it's right. We both know that there are things that go on every day that are beyond most people's comprehension. That there are those out there who are. special."
Perry's heart began to race. If this man was going to attempt to blackmail him.
"And just as there are those who would like to see these people torn down, there are others who know what they're trying to do. There are those who say that you're one of the latter."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Kent. Now, I'm a busy man."
"All right then, Mr. White. I understand." Clark stood and reached out to shake Perry's hand. "Barry says to say hello to Alice for him."
Perry's eyes went wide and he looked into Kent's eyes for the first time. The earnest face smiled back at him and nodded.
"I'll tell you what, Kent. Why don't you go ahead and post notice with Colin Thornton. I think that you'd fit in well here. We could use a man like you."
"I won't forget it, Mr. White. Thank you."
Clark walked out of the Daily Planet building with a smile on his face. He waved to the two men waiting in the diner across the street. They waved back and he joined them quickly.
"So, how'd it go?"
"I ended up dropping your name, Bar, but it went well."
"Perry White's a good man, no two ways about it."
"So, what now?"
"Well, the MPD is reviewing my request to transfer, and Hal, well, why don't you tell him, buddy."
"It seems that the renowned LexAir military division has quite a few rowdy young cowboys in the pilot corral that need someone to keep them quiet. My rep speaks for itself."
"How's Carol taking the news?"
"Carol knew when we started this that there would be changes. She understands."
"Good. So, there we are."
"Here we are."
"To a new beginning!"
Chapter 3: Those who believe.
Smallville, Kansas - 1967
"Thank you, Jonathan. Your contribution is always greatly appreciated."
The Reverend Mr. Richard Reynolds tipped his black felt hat and flashed a toothy grin at the couple, then turned to walk away. "Always happy to give, Mr. Reynolds." Jonathan Kent slowly closed the door of his farmhouse and let the cheery smile evaporate from his face. The broad shouldered farmer gripped the doorframe tightly until he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Take it easy, Jonathan. You don't want to get upset." "I hate this, Martha! I can't stand those men and their pasted on smiles and their sanctimonious preaching and. and." With a snarl, Jonathan twisted his body around and hammered his balled fist against the oaken door, sending a jolt back into his arm and a wet crunching sound into his ears. "Well. Now you've gone and done it, haven't you?" Jonathan tried briefly to flex the hand, but his face twisted in pain. "Yeah, I guess I have." "Go put it on some ice. We'll wait a bit, then I'll drive you in to see Doc Harper." Jonathan had his hand wrapped in a thin cast as, several hours later, the battered Kent pickup made it's way down old 68 highway toward the farm. Suddenly, without warning, the truck was jolted off to the side of the road as the concussion from a massive impact struck it. In the field nearby, Jon what appeared to be a deep furrow that had crossed the road just in front of them. Several hundred yards off to their left, the furrow stopped in the cornfield. "Good Lord! Come on!" Jonathan jumped from the truck and, after helping Martha out, ran at a full sprint to where the furrow stopped. At the very end of the furrow was what appeared to be a craft of some sort, egg shaped and smooth, glossy black. When Jon put a hand out to touch it, it split open, the sides flowing away to reveal its contents.
Within was a small child, peering up at them.
"Jon, it's. a baby."
"Stay back, Martha, we don't know where it came from or what it is."
"Jonathan Kent! You have eyes, you can see perfectly clear what it is." She reached into the padded contours of the craft and pulled the child free.
"We'll call him Clark."
Metropolis - Present Day
The skies were blue over the city of Metropolis. The yellow disk of the afternoon sun shone brightly against the white facades of the city's buildings. The skyline was visible for miles around, as was one of its most famous landmarks, the Daily Planet. The motto of the newspaper was chiseled in the marble surrounding the main entrance.
"Serving the Truth for over one-hundred years."
In the offices atop the building, Perry White glared across his desk.
"What is this trash?"
"Chief, I don't understand."
"Look Olsen, just because you're a pretty face and your mommy happened to know someone in the business office doesn't mean I'm going to tolerate this kind of low-level tabloid trash coming into my office. What is this?" He reached down to the copy on his desk. "'Prosecutor saved by miracle wind'? 'Emerald glow prevents train wreck'? If I didn't know better, son, I'd say you were possessed by some demon."
The look of utter terror on Olsen's face shocked White.
"Don't even suggest that, sir! How can you say such a thing? You know that just by suggesting that, you could get me up before the Inquisition?"
"Look, kid. How about you stick to reporting real news and let the canons handle the fright stories?"
"I'm sorry, sir. I'll get something better, I will."
"Good, and get it by nine, I'm on a deadline."
Olsen scurried out of White's office, and the editor-in-chief breathed out a heavy sigh. Standing, he walked to the window and looked out. It was becoming harder and harder to conceal the activity of those who had special abilities. It was as if the world itself was rebelling against their suppression, trying to draw them into the open. Perry had often wondered what the world might be like if men like Barry and Hal were free to use their gifts. Every day he lived in fear that he would be found out, that the powers that be would discover that he had been covering up evidence of superhuman activity since had had been working for the Daily Star, years ago. He couldn't help it, though. He knew that something was wrong in the world, and that these people were the answer to it. They just needed a sign, something to inspire them, something to give the people hope. The world didn't just need people with power. It needed a hero.
Perry jolted at the sound of a rapping at his door.
"What is it?"
"Perry, some guy just walked in asking if he could get a meeting with you. Says his name's Kent."
"The Newstime writer?"
"He's that Kent? What's he doing here?"
"Send him in, let's find out."
Perry was momentarily started at the sheer size of the man who walked through his door. Clark Kent easily stood a head and a half over Perry, and he wasn't a small man. The conservative coat and tie that the clean- cut man wore barely concealed the bulging frame beneath.
"What can we do for you, Kent?"
"If I could just have a moment of your time, sir, I'd be very grateful."
"My time's pretty valuable son. Better make it good."
Clark shut the door behind him.
"You know that I've been with Newstime for the past several years."
"Yeah, that I do. Go on."
"I even applied here when I first moved to Metropolis, though I doubt you'd remember."
"Not really, no."
"Well, I was hoping that maybe I could convince you to give me a second chance."
Perry sat for a moment, looking over the young man in the chair before him. Something wasn't quite right about this man.
"Now, tell me something, Kent. From what I hear, you're a pretty fair reporter. I know that Lois is constantly complaining that you seem to get to a lot of things before she does. You've made a pretty good name for yourself at Newstime. Why switch horses?"
Clark looked down for a moment, collecting his thoughts.
"Mr. White. we all know that the world is the way it is, and that it's probably not going to change any time soon."
"Well, I can't say that I disagree, but what's that have to do with anything?"
"If you'll let me finish, sir. The world isn't going to change, but that doesn't mean that it's right. We both know that there are things that go on every day that are beyond most people's comprehension. That there are those out there who are. special."
Perry's heart began to race. If this man was going to attempt to blackmail him.
"And just as there are those who would like to see these people torn down, there are others who know what they're trying to do. There are those who say that you're one of the latter."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Kent. Now, I'm a busy man."
"All right then, Mr. White. I understand." Clark stood and reached out to shake Perry's hand. "Barry says to say hello to Alice for him."
Perry's eyes went wide and he looked into Kent's eyes for the first time. The earnest face smiled back at him and nodded.
"I'll tell you what, Kent. Why don't you go ahead and post notice with Colin Thornton. I think that you'd fit in well here. We could use a man like you."
"I won't forget it, Mr. White. Thank you."
Clark walked out of the Daily Planet building with a smile on his face. He waved to the two men waiting in the diner across the street. They waved back and he joined them quickly.
"So, how'd it go?"
"I ended up dropping your name, Bar, but it went well."
"Perry White's a good man, no two ways about it."
"So, what now?"
"Well, the MPD is reviewing my request to transfer, and Hal, well, why don't you tell him, buddy."
"It seems that the renowned LexAir military division has quite a few rowdy young cowboys in the pilot corral that need someone to keep them quiet. My rep speaks for itself."
"How's Carol taking the news?"
"Carol knew when we started this that there would be changes. She understands."
"Good. So, there we are."
"Here we are."
"To a new beginning!"