As Clark remained in mid-air, awaiting the return of the young man, he wondered how smart his offer was and what exactly this other Clark was up to. He resolved that in order to gain the young man's trust, he would stand his ground. It was worth anything to get back home to Lois. There was something else he needed to find out. Could he trust this Jor-el. He'd only ever known Jorel as a recording. If Krypton also exploded in this universe, how could the mind of Jor-el live on. And what had this Jor-el done to this Clark to make him resent his own biological father so much. Clark himself would have jumped at the chance to have a live conversation with his biological parents.
Clark began using his super hearing to see if he could hear where the other Clark had gone. He heard voices, then the "whoosh" of super speed, a couple of doors creaking, then footsteps coming his way, multiple pairs. Soon enough young Clark and a middle aged couple were coming up the stairs. Clark assumed these must be the boys parents. Young Clark stood in front of them.
"These are my parents.."
"Jonathan and Martha Kent?" Clark interrupted.
"How...how did you know?" Jonathan asked.
"Folks, I can assure you, I'm not here to hurt you. I don't know exactly what the Jor-el in this universe has put you through, but I assure you, I don't belong to him. He didn't create me. I'll gladly explain as much as I can. But I get the feeling you don't trust me. That's why I've proposed this test."
Jonathan was skeptical and yet something inside him wanted to trust this stranger who claimed to be...Clark? "Okay, Clark told us what you had in mind. You can certainly understand why we're hesitant to trust you. We've had enough bad experiences with "Kryptonians" or those who claimed to be from that planet. Clark," Jonathan said to his son, "Go into the house and listen for us. If anything goes wrong, remember what we talked about. Don't come in here unless you can protect your self from the kryptonite." At that point young Clark sped out of the barn as instructed. Clark on the other hand floated back into the barn and landed on the floor of the loft.
"Whenever you're ready Mr. Kent." Clark braced himself. He knew what kryptonite felt like and didn't like it. But he knew it wouldn't last long. If these Kents were anything like his parents, they would realize the truth.
"All right, here goes." Jonathan opened the box and the kryptonite displayed it's menacing poisonous green glow. At the same time Clark keeled over. His face becoming pale. Jonathan still wansn't convinced it wasn't a trick yet. Then he saw something catch his eye. There was something under Clark's shirt. Jonathan, thinking this man was hiding something, ripped open the shirt to reveal the "S" shield. Jonathan stepped back. He'd never seen it before, or had he? He'd seen something like it. In the caves. It looked similar to one of the kryptonian symbols, the one that stood for Clark's biological family. It was similar to the one that had once been burned into Clark's chest. Jonathan was now more confused than he had ever been. But, being the man he was, he made a decision. Obviously the kryptonite would work if this man did try anything, so he was worth at least listening to. Jonathan closed the box and helped Clark up to his feet.
"Thank you..." Clark said, barely able to get the words out. "Please...take me out into the sun. It'll help me regain some strength. I promise...I'll do my best to explain what...I can." Clark felt awful, but as Jonathan took him out into the sun, he started to feel a little better.
By the time Jonathan managed to get Clark out into the sunlight, young Clark had come out to join them. "Dad, is he okay? "Why didn't he recover when you put the kryptonite away?"
"I don't know son. If he is from some other universe, maybe the stuff here is stronger. Clark...I have to admit, this man seems to be who he says he is. His story is starting to check out, and...and he's wearing a suit with a symbol that looks a lot like your family crest."
Having over heard the conversation, Clark turned to his side and spoke up. "That's because it is, at least in my universe." Clark laid back down, still slowly regaining strength. "As for the Kryptonite, in my universe, depending on the concentration, it takes time for my powers to come back. The sun...does help them to recharge a bit more quickly." Clark,having regained just enough strength, began to get up slowly. He needed to get down to business. This was the first part of his mission, to locate Jor-el's son and the people who took him in. Apparently, no matter what dimension you're in, the Kents are destined to adopt a alien refugee! Clark had to laugh. "If it's alright with you, maybe we can go inside and talk. Like I said, I'll try and explain."
Jonathan lead Clark into the house and pointed him in the direction of the Sofa. Martha headed for the kitchen to make tea while the three men sat down together. "Okay...Clark, you are obviously Kryptonian. And carry my son's name and abilities. So, how did you get here?"
"Like I told your son. His father, Jor-el, brought me here. I'm not sure how he managed to do it. If your son is here, I can only assume Krypton was destroyed along with Jor-el."
"We've wondered the same thing. Apparently, Jorel has programed himself into Krptonian technology left here on Earth in the Kawatche caves. It somehow allows him to actively do what he chooses to do. Do you know why he brought you here?"
"He said something about helping Clark fulfill his destiny. I have only a couple of theories about what that means."
"Does it have anything to do with that blue suit?" Jonathan asked, not quite sure what exactly Jor-el was planning.
"Maybe. Mr. Kent, please understand that in my dimension, I arrived on Earth in the 1960's not the 1980's. I didn't realize my full potential until I was in my late twenties. There appear to be some serious differences between our universes and I don't want to do or say anything that may prevent Clark from achieving his true destiny. He may have a very different one from mine."
"Speaking of which," Young Clark interjected. "If you're me from another dimension, and have all my abilities, why the glasses?"
Clark smiled and chuckled a bit. "It's a funny story really. When I was about eleven or twelve, I realized I could see through things, everything except lead. So my dad ordered Glasses with lenses that contained lead particles. It was to discourage me from using my visual abilities unintentionally. It worked out for the best. Wearing them has become quite the habbit and essential to leading a normal life. Well, as normal as life can get for me."
Clark quickly noticed that both Jonathan and his son were eying the blue suit that Jonathan had so wonderfully exposed. "About the suit. It's more of a disguise. Clark, I'm guessing you've had to be careful about using your abilities outside the farm."
"Well...I do have to be careful who sees me."
"And I bet you've come up with some pretty interesting excuses as to how you've survived certain incidents without a scratch."
"Yeah, lying has become kind of an art form."
"Well, this suit has allowed me to use my abilities in public. Take off the glasses and no one recognizes me. I know the suit looks a little corny. But it's been my ticket to being free to be who I am and live a normal life. It's what allows me to have a positive impact on the world." Clark buttoned up his shirt.
Clark could see Jonathan raise an eyebrow to his son and his son start to squirm. "Don't worry Clark, you may not necessarily run around in this suit. It's just something that works where I come from." That helped Clark relax.
"So," Jonathan began. "in your world, you're...a superhero that flies around in tights saving the day?"
"I guess you could say that."
"While still living a normal life?"
"Relatively. I mean, my enhanced hearing picks up distress calls, or when I see things on the news that need my help, I do my best, even if it means interrupting my home life."
Young Clark was taking all this in but one question still pulled at him. "You were taken here by Jor-el. Did he say when he'd be sending you back?"
"He did. He said after I complete my mission, he'd send me back to a few moments after I left." Clark's face dropped as he thought of poor Lois and how frightened she must have been. Then again this was Lois. She'd be all right.
"You all right?" Jonathan asked.
"Yeah, just my...wife was there when Jor-el pulled me here. I keep forgetting that if Jor-el is true to his word, she won't be worried long."
"Well, Jor-el does tend to stick to his word, even if it's not favorable." Jonathan said. "Well, if you're going to be here for a while, you're welcome to stay with us.
"Thank you. I was thinking that maybe Clark and I should get to know each other. I don't know what Jor-el expects, but I think I should get to know who Clark is, instead of trying to conform him to who I am. Maybe you could show me around your Smallville?"
"I could do that!" Young Clark replied. "But how would I introduce you?"
"Clark's right." Jonathan said. "Introducing you as Clark Kent may invite some unwanted attention. I don't know what life is like in your Smallville, but here, there are those who would like to expose whatever secret they think my son is hiding."
"I agree." Clark replied. "I was actually thinking about that while I was waiting for your son to leave the Talon. I think I'll go by my middle name for now. Jerome, but call me Jerry. It's just easier to remember. The fact that we look nothing alike will make it easy for me to blend in as a distant cousin in town for a visit."
Jonathan spoke up. "That sounds like a good idea. Clark, if Jor-el intends to use Jerry to help you "fulfill your destiny", maybe he'll finally leave us alone. Listen to him, get to know him. He certainly has the Kent heart that you do, I can see that much. Maybe you can learn something from him." Jonathan turned to Jerry. "You took a big risk with that kryptonite. I'm returning the favour by believing you're not here of your free will and that you're just a victim in all of this who wants to get home. But be warned, if anything happens to him. I won't hesitate to use that kryptonite to protect my son!"
Jerry nodded "I understand. Nothing will happen to him, at least not by my hands."
"Okay, why don't you two head into town. Clark, show him around, introduce him. Give him as much info as possible to work with. He obviously knows your secret, and has had to bear the same burden. Maybe he can help you carry yours son."
Clark and Jerry decided to take the pickup to the Talon. On the way over the two got to talking.
"So you're with Lana?" Jerry asked.
"Yeah, it's been a weird story."
"Does she know your secret?"
Clark sighed. "No. I want to tell her. But I'm afraid she'll reject me. If she knew I was the reason for her parents death..."
Jerry was confused. "How did you cause her parents death?"
"The meteor shower! Didn't you come to Earth in a spaceship accompanied by a meteor shower. It destroyed half of smallville!"
CJ frowned. "No. In my universe, a few pieces of Kryptonite fell with me, but they weren't found until almost thirty years later."
"Your lucky. Lana's parents were killed by the meteor shower, pieces of my home planet. The meteor rocks then started having some unique effects. They created what we call "Meteor Freaks"."
"Meteor Freaks?"
"We don't see them too much any more. But for a while, people were coming out of nowhere with different abilities caused by some kind of interaction with the meteor rocks."
"Clark, I'm sorry. You certainly have more to deal with than I did. I mean, I had the secret, that was hard enough. Lana and I only dated for a short while. There is no Talon. No "Meteor Freaks". The only people that new my secret were my parents. I didn't even find out about my own biological history until I started working at the Planet and found the ship while researching a government agency. I must have been about twenty eight or twenty nine."
"Well, in that case, I've got it a bit easier, although sometimes I wish I'd never found out. I found out a couple of years ago. We found the ship in the field. This museum owner had intercepted and decoded a Kryptonian message talking about "The last son of Krypton."
Jerry listened intently as Clark described the events of the past couple of years. The transferring of his powers. The inner battle. Even about red kryptonite. He talked about Kal. He talked about Jor-el and all the things that had happened. Just as they were arriving at the Talon, he mentioned Lois.
Jerry got startled at the mention of her name. "Lois...Lane? You've met her already?"
"Yeah, so what. We met in well, unusual circumstances."
"Well," Jerry wasn't sure how to proceed. Should he tell Clark the truth? "I didn't meet her until I was in my late twenties and got my job at the Planet."
"Really? Wait, you mentioned the planet before. You don't mean the Daily Planet do you?"
"Yep. Biggest newspaper in Metropolis! Lois had already been there a few years when I got there."
"Wow, maybe we should keep that fact quiet. One of my best friends, Chloe Sullivan, just started there. Speaking of which. If anyone asks, you're a freelance reporter who's spent most of his time overseas. That should avoid most of the questions."
"That shouldn't be a problem. I spent a few years travelling the world, so I can use that to my advantage. So, shall we go in. I have to admit, I'm interested to see what other similarities and differences we've got!" Jerry grinned.
"You're enjoying this aren't you!" Clark almost looked amazed.
"Clark, when you've been through the craziness that I have, you learn to make the most of the situations your in. It's not everyday I get to live a science fiction novel. Let's go!"