We're Not In Kansas Anymore

Epilogue 1

"Strange Little Visitor"

Clark was surprised when he came home from school and saw the familiar car used by Alfred when he came to visit the Kents. He had just talked to Bruce Wayne a couple of weeks ago and everything had seemed all right, so why was Alfred here now?

Clark entered and was greeted by his parents and Alfred, who were sitting at the kitchen table looking at some papers. With them was a man Clark had not met before; he was a rather athletic looking man with red hair and wearing dark glasses. It took Clark a moment to realize that the man was blind.

"Hello Clark," smiled Alfred as he stood up and shook Clark's hand. "Allow me to introduce Matt Murdock, he's an attorney retained by Mr. Wayne for a special purpose. He's…shall we say…"in the know" about the super hero community."

Clark was surprised at how quickly Matt stood up and took Clark's hand to shake it like he wasn't the least bit inhibited by his disability.

"Great to meet you Clark," said Matt with a lazy smile, "I understand you're the main reason I'm here today."

"Is something wrong?" asked Clark, "Did I do something that got us in trouble somehow?"

"No honey," smiled Martha, "as a matter of fact, this is going to prevent a lot of trouble from happening again."

Clark was totally confused, and then he felt something bump his leg. He looked down to see that an adorable toddler dressed in a pink jumper had moved her walker up to him and accidentally bumped into him. The baby looked up with a grin and reached up to him.

Without hesitation Clark reached down and scooped up the baby, smiling back until he realized he had seen this baby once before. He recognized the hair and eye color, and the particular dimples as she smiled. She was Sue Tenny.

"Don't worry," said Alfred, "we've already done a thorough examination of her. An old friend of Mr. Wayne's, a Professor Charles Xavier, has done a full mental scan of her. It seems the second exposure to the pacifier totally wiped away any and all memories and traces of her personality that she may have retained the first time. The person you are holding is exactly who she appears to be…a healthy one year old baby girl with the potential to develop super powers in the future."

"That's great," said Clark as he tickled the giggling infant, "but why is she here?"

"As her defense lawyer, Mr. Murdock was able to convince the court that she was a totally new individual who could not be charged with the crimes of her…previous lives. Mr. Wayne felt that…the baby…needed to be raised in a proper home, one where she could turn out much better than the last time. And, since your parents have proven what a wonderful job they've done raising a super powered being…"

"Say hello to your new baby sister," smiled Jonathan, "we were hoping to finish getting the adoption papers signed before you got home and surprise you."

"I'm still surprised," grinned Clark, his mind whirling with what was happening. What a wonderful opportunity this was…he would have a new sibling while the former Royal Pain would be raised in a loving family far from all the negative influences and bad situations that had turned her into a super villain.

"That's why I'm here," said Matt, "though family law isn't exactly my forte, I know enough to make sure things go smoothly and, like Alfred said, I'm "on the inside" when it comes to super heroes."

"And with Mr. Wayne's backing, there won't be any shady strings attached as there were with Lionel Luthor helping with Clark's adoption," said Alfred, "speaking of whom, it may interest everyone in knowing that he will not be getting out of his little room in the federal prison for quite some time."

Alfred then paused a moment before he continued. "It turns out that our young friend Warren's father has come forward with some evidence of his own dealings with Mr. Luthor. But there has been something that Baron Battle has asked for in return for his testimony."

"What's that?"

"He wants to meet with you, Clark."

"Warren's dad wants to meet with me? What for?"

"He hasn't said," answered Matt, "but don't worry. The entire situation will be under close monitoring, and he'll be in a power neutralizing environment."

"I'm sorry," said Jonathan, "but while I'd love nothing more than to see another nail get driven into Lionel's coffin I can't risk my son being within arm's reach of someone like Baron Battle. I know he's Warren's father and Warren's proven he's a good kid, but that whole incident with California makes me say no to this."

"Dad," said Clark, "let me talk to Warren first, maybe he knows why his dad wants to see me. I'll ask him at school tomorrow, then we can talk about it when I get home."

"I don't think there's anything to talk about," said Jonathan, "but we'll wait and see. Besides, I think we've got more pressing concerns right now."

"What do you…" was as far as Clark got before he felt strange warmth on his stomach and looked down to see that the baby's diaper had leaked and she was grinning at him as she left a nice big wet spot on his shirt.

"Well, obviously someone doesn't know how to put a diaper on a baby," chided Martha as she took the baby from Clark, "that's something you two will get down right away."

Clark could only continue grinning. It was going to be quite a change having a baby sister around, but he was going to enjoy every minute of it. Then a thought occurred to him.

"What's her name? I mean we can't just call her…"

"Oh," said Martha, "I totally forgot. Clark, meet your little sister…Kara."

"Kara Kent," said Clark as he looked into his new little sister's eyes, seeing only the joy and love all infants have, "I like that."

To be Continued