Potential politicking aside, the group had a different issue to deal with.
Kandor was restored to its normal size and placed on an Earth-like planet with a red sun.
Now it was time to restore the potential residents from the orb.
"Kal." Virgil said solemnly as he passed over a five-sided object.
It was the key to the orb. It was left in Virgil's care whilst Lionel Luthor had the orb itself. Virgil had been shocked to find Edward Teague, of all people, guarding it.
The man had been thrilled to hear his son was serving the Traveller.
Unfortunately Edward was slightly unhinged and, as a favour to Jason, he was shipped back through the portal to try and get better.
And so, the heroes and the family assembled on the red sun orbiting planet that had been named 'New Krypton' (Clark was forbidden from naming anything ever again). They were in the restored city of Kandor. Behind them were quite a few Sekirei and Amazons, intent on defending their family.
Superman was in his battle armour, Kara and Lara on either side in Kryptonian clothing. He inserted the key and waited.
Large flashes of flame began etching Kryptonian symbols on to the ground.
"Raya, is this normal?" Superman called back to his birth-father's lab assistant.
The blonde haired woman moved forward and examined the scene. "I believe so. The symbols are those of the houses of the DNA stored in the orb."
"Kal… they are naked." Lara pointed worriedly at the various figures appearing on the symbols.
No words were spoken as several men and women from the observers stepped out and began conjuring simple beige trousers and tops for the reborn Kryptonians.
There were hundreds of them. Confused and scared as they awoke naked and in fire in the middle of their home city.
Superman rose into the air and addressed them. "Men and women of Krypton, each of you was chosen by the former ruling council of Krypton to take part in an experimental effort to ensure Krypton would survive in the event of a disaster.
"Disaster did occur. The ruling council ignored the warnings of Krypton's top scientists and Krypton was destroyed.
"It is only chance and happenstance that saw the city of Kandor preserved and transplanted to this new planet. It has been more than twenty years since Krypton exploded and only recently did we find the orb that contained you.
"A government has been put in place and will ensure you are provided for until such time as you can once again govern yourselves."
Numerous identical beings seemed to flow up out of the floor, over a thousand.
"These are constructs of the AI known as 'Brainiac'. His constructs will be available to answer any questions you have and to guide you through the first few weeks.
"This city is empty, no food, shops, doctors… but we will provide them until you can provide for yourselves.
"Good luck."
Kal floated down as murmurs started to rise up through the crowd.
"They do not sound happy." Lara observed as she worried her fingers.
"Think about how you felt when we extracted you from the blue crystal. Kara probably understands better, considering how she greeted me." He smirked at his blushing cousin.
"Kal, there is someone you should meet." One of Brainiac's clones said hesitantly. "And… in the interests of first impressions… you might want to restrain…everyone?"
"Jor-El?" Lara was staring wide-eyed at the thin man being led towards them by another clone. She immediately ran to him, hugging him.
"That's the bastard? Let me at him!"
"Danielle." Brunhilde said warningly. "If anyone has the right to confront Jor-El it is, Superman, Laura and myself."
"Just make sure Harry keeps him alive so we all get shots." The mutant grumbled.
"I want to do a full memory download of him first." Harry said seriously. "I need to know how he managed to play with souls."
"Working on it." Came the chorus from the Cuckoos who grabbed each other's hands and glowed.
"Harry… I'm leaving." Superman informed his brother. "I wasn't expecting this and I'm not ready for it."
Harry nodded solemnly and patted his shoulder. "Go take Ku to Asgard and spend some time with Thor."
Superman vanished on the spot.
"Lara, who was that? Why was he wearing the Crest of the House of El?" Jor-El demanded.
"That was our son; Kal-El." She informed him. "When Krypton fell we sent him to Earth so he would survive.
"He has become a great man, despite the terrible things that have happened to him."
"But… how are you alive then? Is there another version of me alive?"
Lara shook her head. "You and I both died on Krypton. Your brother stole my DNA and put it in a similar device like your orb. He put his in there too. Then he sent the device to Earth with Kara."
"Why?"
"So he could be resurrected and rule the humans. He was obsessed with me." She shuddered. "He frequently wiped our memories."
"Harry, we've got Zod." One of the Brainiac clones said nearby, catching the reunited family's attention.
"Dru made it?" Jor-El asked with hope. "Please, let me speak to him."
"No." Harry said firmly. "You and Dru-Zod are both being taken into custody for interrogation. You both played parts in the destruction of Krypton."
"I would never-"
Harry didn't have the patience for the coming argument so he just waved a hand sending the scientist away.
"Can we go back to Earth?" Kara asked uncomfortably. "I feel so weak after living under a yellow sun for weeks."
"Clark was always looking for a way to get rid of his powers." Harry chuckled. "And he never really knew a life without them."
"At least he still has his magic so he can fly and teleport." She grumbled.
%
Interrogations were performed in Loki's universe. They didn't want to involve beings from Clark's universe due to the nature of the questioning. Especially Jor-El's.
"The man not only made stable clones with stable souls, he also managed to make it so that the original souls are trying to reconnect with them." Harry was pretty angry about this whole mess.
"It's true. I've had several souls from Krypton begging me to let them back into the mortal realm." Luna confirmed as she floated in a seated position next to Neville. "I'd appreciate it if you could deal with them as soon as possible, Harry."
"We can do it after this." Harry nodded as he indicated the informal meeting in the castle common room.
"Harry, I'm not sure I'm understanding the full scope of your concerns here." Martha spoke up. "I understand that meddling with souls is something that no one should do and that even you ensure you interfere on a minimal scale… but you seem more annoyed then when you've encountered other similar events."
"There have been similar events?" Lorna scoffed in amusement.
"Laura, the triplets and possibly Amara all would fall under the category of having their souls maligned. Then there is Lana. Musubi and Yume were sharing a body.
"The biggest event was when Minaka trapped Harry. But even then, Harry wasn't nearly as angry."
Lorna frowned and returned her attention to Harry. "Yeah, what gives?" She demanded in a manner that showed everyone she was often Dani's partner in crime.
"The problem is that Jor-El has created an issue where there are two beings that are supposed to be one." Harry said as he sat in an arm chair.
"Let's take Zod as the main example. Lara, you said Zod used to be a good man."
"Dru-Zod was my husband's best friend. It was only after the bombing of Kandor, that killed his wife and son, that he cut ties with Jor-El.
"Jor-El never told me why that happened though."
"Well, the Zod we just released from the orb is a decent enough fellow." Harry explained. "He is leaning a little dark, but that is probably due to grief and loss.
"Brainiac, you told us how Zod became a monster."
The primary construct of the AI nodded. "One to rival my previous self. Easily comparable to the likes of Earth's Hitlers, Pots and others."
"Right, so I've got all these souls that are healthy enough as they are but still needing to reunite with each other. How do I possibly subject the reasonable soul of… Major Zod with the cess pit known as General Zod?"
"Memory wipe?" Chloe offered uncertainly.
"The corruption in the General's soul will remain." Neville answered. "It can be overcome, but Harry's dilemma is whether he should put a clean soul through that."
"What about excising the corruption?" Lana asked. "Like when you removed Isobel from me? Then you could recombine the souls. They could be their own soul mates."
Harry looked at her for a moment before pointing an accusing finger at her. "You are coming with me after this. I need more of your brain."
"What about Phoenixes and magic?" Xander asked from where he was perched on the window seat, looking out over the fields. "There are plenty of cleansing rituals. Phoenixes are beings of light and good, there must be some way they can help."
"Dad, you take Neville and Lorna and work on that. Lorna is a whizz at things like runes and stuff."
%
"Steven Howard Trevor. Former Colonel in the United States Air Force and now a member of ARGUS. Advanced Research Group Uniting Superhumans."
Superman was sitting at a long table with Batman, The Flash, the Green Lantern John Stewart, Wonder Woman, Cyborg and Aquaman. Opposite them was a well-built white male in his thirties with blonde hair wearing a suit.
His super-hearing let him know he wasn't the only one at the table trying not to laugh at the definition of the acronym Batman had just given.
"According to the letter from the President of the United States, you have been assigned as a liaison to the group often referred to as 'Shield'. In layman's terms: Us."
"How come the Alliance doesn't send us liaisons?" The Flash whispered loudly to Superman.
"Because they are intelligent enough to wait for our reports." Superman sighed.
Agent Trevor remained impassive.
"Agent Trevor, what is it you expect to be doing as a 'liaison'?" Green Lantern asked.
"Aside from passing information between yourselves and relevant US Government agencies, I will also oversee coordination between yourselves and said agencies."
"We don't work with governments and agencies." Batman stated flatly.
"You worked closely with the Japanese government during the last major earthquake. You also worked with the police force of Central City during the Mass Blackout."
"We worked with people. Not agencies. We offered aid and assistance where needed as any good person should."
"Superman had to ferry supplies in from North Korea." Trevor stated. "My job will be to ensure that next time he won't have to leave the country and can complete the task quicker and more efficiently."
Superman smiled slightly at that. "Was that your idea or something you were told to use as an example?"
"It is my assessment of how I can best fulfil my duly appointed role, Sir."
He sat there somewhat unnerved as the heroes all stared at him.
They were actually all discussing this telepathically.
"Very well, Agent Trevor." Aquaman spoke for the group. "You will leave us your contact details."
"Your contact details." Batman interrupted. "Not some number that will put us through to a switch board or a lackey."
Aquaman let out a huff of frustration, but continued. "We will provide you with a contact number to our logistics system. If you manage to prove yourself useful… then so be it. But if you turn out to be a hindrance we will ignore you.
"It is as simple as that."
"I have been instructed to ask for a full briefing on your individual abilities."
"No." Superman said flatly.
"It would-"
"Ask again and we are done."
Agent Trevor knew better than to push his luck. The President had told him that it was a long shot.
"Will I be allowed to review your reports of previous events?"
"Your government has already been provided with reports on relevant events." Batman responded.
"Analysis of all events will improve our ability to work with you." Trevor reasoned.
"We have been analysing these events for years." Aquaman retorted. "Experts from around the galaxy have viewed the reports and offered insight."
"It never hurts to have another set of eyes."
"Not all reports are available to everyone." Batman was beginning to glare. "Many are classified and will remain so forever. Others involve a third-party who may also request the reports be classified."
"Will the United States be afforded the same consideration?"
"As long as the events in question are not of great significance to the rest of the universe."
It was at this point that Steve Trevor realised he was not trained for this. They were now deep into politics and he had no love for it.
"I will need to talk to my superiors."
"Any future discussions will be done via written correspondence." Batman stated. "We are busy people who have lives of our own when we aren't helping others."
Superman sighed as Batman stood aggressively and exited with his cape billowing around him. He wrote a note on a piece of paper, floated over the desk and handed it to Agent Trevor.
"This is a temporary contact email. Send your contact details to it and we will send you a more permanent method." The rest of the team stood and they walked out, Superman behind them.
Agent Trevor sat there with a massive headache. This was not how this was supposed to go.
"You do realise just how much they risk, just by talking to you?"
Steve jumped to his feet at the voice just behind him. "Doctor Potter."
"Here, let me ease that a bit." Harry said as he waved a hand at the man's head.
Steve instantly felt the headache vanish.
"Make sure you get some rest and drink plenty of water." Harry instructed. "Otherwise you'll have plenty more headaches to come."
"Was that your 'ability'?" Steve asked curiously.
"First of all, the polite thing to do is say: 'Thank you Doctor, I feel so much better.'" Harry said sarcastically.
"Secondly, you could call it an 'ability'. I like to think of it as a 'gift'."
"What is the limit on your… gift? Can you fix bones? Disease?"
"Steven, I have no limitations." Harry smirked. "But why don't you answer my question? The one I asked first."
Steve quickly thought back over the past few seconds. "Risk? You mean to their privacy?"
"Privacy, freedom, loved ones. Take Clark, Superman. The world now knows he wears the cape. In the past year or two his mother has been the victim of two assassinations.
"One of those was simply because he was the Head of MBI.
"There are several government teams around the town now, each one from a different agency and each one trying to spy on me and my family."
"I wasn't informed of any government agents in town other than myself." Steve frowned.
"Someone knows. Someone ordered them there. Someone had to sign out the vehicles and equipment.
"If Shield can't trust the US Government to know what its own agencies are doing, how can they trust them with their lives and work?"
Steve shook his head. "There are always rogue elements. You can't blame the government for that."
"No, but I can hold them accountable if they fail to deal with those rogue elements.
"So, why don't you consider this a test? You go back to the President and tell him about these rogue elements. If you can get rid of them you might find yourself earning a bit more respect from Clark and the others."
%
"Ryan, what brings you in here?" Brett asked in surprise as Ryan walked in and closed the door to the Guidance Counsellor's office. It was largely unused as Dani spent most of her time in the Doctor's office.
"I want to study at home for my diploma and drop out of Smallville High." Ryan said somewhat nervously as he sat in the chair opposite the desk.
"Is your telepathy making it harder to be around people?" Brett asked with concern.
Ryan blushed. "No. I have reasonable control. I can't really remember what you are thinking. I am getting good at forgetting as I hear."
"Ok, so what is the reason?"
Ryan ducked his head. "All my friends are gone. It's hard to make new friends when your brother is Superman and your dad is the Senator."
"Not to mention your girlfriend is now living on a different time zone, sort of."
Ryan glanced up and was surprised that Brett was smirking.
"I'll need to talk to Dani about this." Brett said seriously. "Don't worry, her role will be purely paperwork and authorisation. She won't bring this up or acknowledge it in anyway with you or others, but I am still just a student. I've got a few more years before I can do this job properly."
Ryan nodded silently, but reluctantly.
"Ryan, you realise that we will have to discuss this with your parents? You aren't close enough to being an adult to make these decisions on your own, legally."
Ryan winced.
Brett sighed. "Look, we all know you. For the short time you were here with Chiho and Kyla you were a definitive part of their group. We know you can be responsible.
"I mean, sure, most adults will look at your request and dismiss it as the demands of a lovesick teenager, but the adults you know are not 'most people'."
"But it might affect Dad's reputation." Ryan said guiltily.
"There are ways around that." Brett promised. "The simplest solution is a transfer to Lorna Dane's school. It is exclusive and private and a typical action for the rich and politicians to send their kids to private schools."
%
"Sure, not a problem. We'll talk to Emma and get the papers."
Ryan felt like he had been punched in the gut. "You don't need to be sarcastic." He said before storming out of the kitchen leaving a bewildered Martha, Jonathan and Amara.
"Did I come across as sarcastic?" Jonathan asked in consternation.
Amara laughed. "I believe it is due to the bluntness of your declaration combined with your acceptance without discussion. Ryan appears to have been building himself up for a… confrontation, if you will."
"She's right dear." Martha said sympathetically. "It probably doesn't help that he is still trying to learn to read people without using his telepathy."
"Well, I've sent Clark to go and sort it out." Jonathan shrugged. "I'll get my secretary to make an official appointment with Emma."
"Let me handle that." Martha insisted. "My calendar isn't booked with meetings with high-ranking politicians."
"No." Jonathan said firmly. "I want and need to do this. He's my son and I refuse to let politics get in the way of my family. When I beat Lex in the election he gave me a very important piece of advice.
"He said: 'If you want to be good at this job and still be a good family man, remember everything my dad did… and do the opposite.'"
%
"Don't move."
Ryan froze. He knew it was Clark but he also knew that this was either a test or real danger. Clark would often test him with combat or situational awareness. It was an unspoken rule amongst the extended family that only Clark and Xander would do this to him.
"Think back to that conversation you walked out of." Clark said as he remained behind his little brother. "You stated your desires. You received a response. And then you just left.
"Why didn't you argue your case?"
Ryan relaxed his stance but didn't move. "I would never argue with Mom and Dad."
"Dad would not be pleased with that." Clark's voice firmly stated. "I've argued with him, Mom has argued with him, Dani, Kyla, Lois… hell, even Ku argues.
"Why didn't you?"
Clark grimaced as he saw Ryan's stance cave in on itself slightly. Shoulders hunched, head ducked.
Defensive.
"You are family, Little Brother." Clark said softly. "It will take far more than an argument to change that. Even as Odin stood aside and watched his eldest son killed and essentially destroyed, he still loved his son and considered him family.
"Dad wasn't being sarcastic. He was just being blunt. He is already arranging for a meeting with Emma to sign the papers."
"Only one person was anything close to disappointed with you."
Ryan jumped at the sound of Jonathan's voice.
The man he called 'Dad' walked up with a small smile. "Amara was looking forward to hearing your case. She is hoping you are going to stay on course for a career as a lawyer and both she and Loki have been preparing duties for you as an intern this summer."
Jonathan placed an arm around Ryan's shoulder and led him off along the dirt path. "Now, let me tell you about some of the boneheaded arguments Clark had with your mother and me and his abysmal attempts at making his case."
Clark glared at the back of his father's head as the man started talking about the football team and a wood-chipper.
%
Outside one of the interrogation rooms in the castle, Martha, Lois, Kyla and Lara stood, watching through the two-way mirror as Kal-El emotionlessly stared at Jor-El.
Kal-El was a warrior, a leader.
Jor-El was a scientist.
"They tell me you have become something of a leader amongst the humans." Jor-El nervously tried to engage his estranged son in conversation.
"I am part of a team." Clark said neutrally
"Oh… I was told you led the team."
"You must have misheard."
There was an uncomfortable pause.
"You hate me."
"I don't know you."
"You hate what you've heard about me."
"I am… far from impressed by what I have heard and experienced of your work… but, even your worst enemy assures me that not all of those issues were your fault.
"Zod?"
"Brainiac."
Jor-El's eyebrows hit his hair line. "He's here? Has he been defeated?"
"In a manner of speaking. He is no threat to the universe anymore."
They fell back into silence, Kal just sitting there watching his biological father squirm.
"What was the worst thing you think I did?" Jor-El eventually asked.
"Entrusted an AI with my entire existence when you knew the Kents would love me regardless."
He grimaced. "I have been 'informed' of the issues you experienced."
'Informed' was the polite way of saying several women had been by and screamed at him till his head hurt.
"Did no one have anything good to say about me?"
"Your wife, niece, Brainiac and Raya."
"Are we ever going to reconcile our differences?" Jor-El asked somewhat mournfully.
"Given time, anything is possible. But you do need to remember, that I've had decades of suffering due to your mistakes whilst for you, I have yet to be conceived."
They were interrupted by the door opening and, of all the people to walk in, it was Ryan and Baldur.
"Come Jor-El." Baldur instructed. "Earth is not for you at this time. Our father has requested to meet you."
"He has?" Clark looked dubiously at Ryan.
Baldur smiled softly and laid a hand on the boy's shoulder. "When I heard our youngest brother praying for my attention, how could I not attend?
"He has rightly pointed out that your birth father has no concept of what has befallen you since his essence was recorded in the orb.
"It is unfair to both of you to try and force reconciliation. The All-Father will impart the knowledge he requires with the aid of others."
"Others?"
Clark hated that smirk.
"Mother Martha is collecting your portraits already."
Clark glared at the unrepentant yet just as exasperated Ryan.
%
Superman was flying patrol over Metropolis when he heard a large fight. He was on the scene in seconds and surprised to see a woman holding her own against ten gang members.
She was neither Amazon nor Sekirei.
But then he recognised her as Andrea Rojas.
Seeing two of the gunmen moving for their guns, he zipped in and ended the fight.
Andrea turned in surprise, but when she saw who it was she just scowled. "You."
"Good to see you too." Superman sighed.
"I had this handled."
"Never turn down help." He said sternly. "You are not bulletproof and you almost died just now."
Superman saw her pale slightly, even if she tried to cover it.
"I've had plenty of guns pointed at me."
"How many have been fired or hit you?"
"Plenty." She repeated. "But never been hit." She amended quickly.
Superman picked up one of the weapons from the floor. "How many bullets can you survive?"
"What?"
"You are strong and quick, but you are not invulnerable. All it takes is one bullet to take you down. One mistake."
"I can live with that." She said slowly.
"No, you can't." Superman scoffed. "But that brings us back to the question of why you do this."
"To make sure no one else suffers."
"That is something that we totally support." He assured her. "But if you die, you won't be able to do that."
"At least I'll have done my part." She said stubbornly.
Superman rested his forehead in his hand and sighed. "Come on, I want you to shadow me tonight. See how I help people."
He didn't give her a chance to respond as he vanished, taking Andrea with him.
The next thing Andrea knew she was several hundred feet in the air.
She screamed.
Superman just stood there grimacing, floating in mid-air.
Eventually she stopped screaming as it became apparent she wasn't about to die horribly.
"Why are we up here?" She managed to come across as more petulant than terrified… it was a tough job though.
"So you can see the world as I do."
"High and mighty." She said snidely.
Superman ignored her. "I'm sure you know by now that everything about me is 'super'. Strength, speed, lung capacity. But so are my senses.
"Whereas all you can see from up here are dark shapes and lots of dots of lights, I can see each person walking on the sidewalks."
"Peeping Tom?"
He raised an eyebrow at her smirk. He was actually pleased as she wasn't being confrontational.
"There's a blonde woman near the Daily Planet. She's wearing a short skirt and a very low cut top. Her bust is… impressive."
Now Andrea's eyebrows rose.
"Don't worry. She's one of my wives. Tsukuimi." Superman chuckled.
"What would she say if she knew you were staring at her breasts?" Andrea challenged.
"You've never actually met the Sekirei, have you? As long as it is their Ashikabi they don't care… well, they do, they really appreciate compliments and attention. But only from their Ashikabi or other women."
"The Japanese aliens?"
"Those are the ones." Superman nodded. "But they don't all look Japanese."
Andrea realised she had been side-tracked again. "I've seen what you see-"
"I actually meant 'see' in a more… liberal usage of the word. I don't just see everything, I hear it too."
"So you can hear everyone screwing each other's brains out. Is this just an excuse to brag?"
"I can hear every animal and child that is crying. Every cry for help. Every hit that someone takes. Every gunshot. Every car accident.
"But I can't turn it off."
"This is going to be a sob story, isn't it?"
"It could simply be a lesson in understanding… keep up that attitude and I'll make it a lesson in respect." Superman glared at her. "I could make it so you suffer like I do. Do you think you could handle that, Andrea?"
"Sorry." She forced herself to say. She was sincere, but she didn't want to say it.
Superman relaxed slightly. "The crime rate in the city hasn't really dropped much in the past few years. But the success of those crimes has.
"I can't save everyone. I can't answer every call for help. Instead, the Amazons work with others and answer them for me.
"And they still can't help everyone."
They floated there for a few moments.
"Fine, I get it. You are suffering because you hear everyone and you do everything you can to help. Why did you bring me up here?"
"To show you the difference between hurting the bad guys and saving the helpless."
%
"Do you think this will help her? Or is she a lost cause?" Chloe asked the Cuckoos as they sat in the Great Hall, handling coordination for the Amazons in Metropolis.
They had just been monitoring the conversation with Superman and Andrea.
"Clark knows how to handle people." Mindee assured her. "But he can't force her to think a specific way. In the end it will be up to Andrea."
"Slap him."
The four blondes turned to where a scowling Kyla was glaring at a monitor.
"Kyla? Another one?" Chloe smirked.
"Hey, either the girls handle it themselves with a simple slap or Tsukiumi gets involved."
The Amazons were beautiful women who looked to be in their twenties. They often encountered situations involving men or women who were less than respectful.
The Smallville Amazons didn't patrol the city with their island sisters, they manned the command centre so that they could be on hand to provide cultural advice.
"Do you think we can ask Clark to take us up to Asgard tonight?" An exhausted Jodi asked from across the table. "I need to get more sleep."
"Harry or Aphrodite can help give you a boost." Chloe suggested.
"No… I need actual sleep. A bed, warm covers, REM… the good stuff."
"Go on, tag out early." Celeste insisted. "Back when we first met Harry he explained that even he needed proper sleep. It's good for your mental health."
%
"Hey, sleepy-head. You're gonna be late for work."
Andrea sat up abruptly, her heart racing as she was woken from her sleep. "Chloe?" She asked as she peered blearily at the blonde figure at the end of her bed.
"Clark asked me to make sure you were good for work. He said he ran you pretty hard last night and wanted me to give you a health check."
"Yeah… yeah, he said something about that." She nodded as she started to slide out of bed. "Oh! Oh." The surprise quickly shifted to happiness at the foreign body in her bed.
"Aw, what's its name?" Chloe cooed as she moved around the bed to pet the sleeping little puppy.
"I haven't decided on one yet." Andrea admitted as she ran the back of her fingers over the soft downy fur. "Clark suggested 'Smokey'." She said wryly.
"You rescued him from a burning building?"
"Him, his siblings, his mother, his human family." She smiled. "They insisted I keep Smokey. He was curled up in my shirt, sleeping as my hands were full with his mom."
"What is he? Black lab?"
"Yep. Just old enough to leave his mom, too."
"Well, don't be afraid to accept little guys like him as gifts when you rescue people. Some of them won't have the means to care for them after they lose their homes.
"We can also provide temporary housing for the animals. The Kents have sectioned part of their lands for a petting zoo.
"Speaking of, we should probably drop this one off with Martha and Aphrodite for the day. He might need more hands-on supervision whilst we are at work."
Chloe had to turn her back to hide her smile at the look of utter sadness from Andrea.
%
"I think I am developing a real conscience."
Aphrodite was sitting in a small lounge at the castle. The only other occupant was Brainiac who had just made his unusual declaration.
"In what way?" She asked calmly.
She had been intrigued when the AI had approached her earlier and asked to speak with her privately.
"I have… misgivings about posing as the governor of Kandor. It feels wrong."
"It was Kal-El who suggested it. Both his mother and cousin gave their approval."
Lara had approved. Kara just hadn't been able to come up with an argument.
"It is the deception that troubles me. I do not use this form when engaging the citizens as the governor."
"Your feelings are, for wont of a better word; correct, in this matter. You are right to disagree with how things are being done. Harry and Kal both know this. They would welcome better ideas."
"And I have been working on several options." Brainiac assured her. "But…" He paused and frowned, thoughtful yet troubled. "I have not been clear." He shook his head. "It is not the 'feelings' that trouble me but the mystery of their origins.
"My code does not contain any algorithms or routines that would lead to the development of these new 'features'. I approached you as the Goddess of Love and not The Vision as a superior AI. I do not believe the answer lies within my code."
Aphrodite sat forward with interest. "I do not sense 'life' in you in the traditional meaning." She said as she looked him up and down. "But we both know that Kal and Harry are often changing the very basis of how we view the universe."
Brainiac snorted. "To say nothing of Xander."
Aphrodite smiled. "Quite. I believe you will now experience this in the way common lifeforms do. Day-by-day."
Brainiac shuddered. "That sounds torturous."
%
Chloe was busy at the Daily Planet working on a potential new article. In short, she was writing about Andrea's alter-ego. She had been fairly visible last night as she worked side-by-side with Superman and the public would want to know more.
She was interrupted by a knock on her door.
"Pauline, hi." Chloe greeted her boss.
Pauline Khan entered and took the seat opposite Chloe's desk. "Chloe… did something happen last night with Miss Rojas?"
"She spent the night patrolling with Superman." Chloe shrugged. "She did a fair bit of work."
"She didn't run afoul of someone more powerful? Like the mob?"
This had Chloe's full attention. "She wasn't with Clark all night, but certainly for most of it. I believe they met up around eleven. After that he escorted her home about three. Clark didn't note anything off about her."
Pauline shot a cautious look over her shoulder at the busy bullpen outside Chloe's closed door before turning back to Chloe. "Andrea has been constantly on her phone. I know she puts on that clumsy persona as a disguise still… but she has been genuinely absent-minded today."
"Do you think this is about her night time activities?" Chloe asked.
"I think it is a good possibility. Not one I would be willing to overlook."
"Our rules are pretty blunt when it comes to these situations. We confront the situation head on." Chloe said as she stood and moved to the door and opened it. "Andrea, need you in here." She called before closing it again and returning to her desk.
"And if we trigger the actions of a third-party?" Pauline asked.
"Then Clark is listening in right now and ready to respond." She tapped her temple.
"Chloe, what's- Oh, Miss Khan." Andrea faltered, 'nervously' pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose.
"Take a seat, Miss Rojas. Chloe, a little privacy if you will." Pauline addressed the Amazon.
"Already taken care of."
"Miss Rojas- Andrea, are you in some form of trouble?" Pauline asked without pre-amble.
Andrea looked genuinely confused. "I don't understand."
"Are you being threatened, blackmailed, coerced… you have been distracted today and glued to your phone."
Andrea turned slightly red and glanced down at the aforementioned phone in her hand.
Chloe just smirked. "What did you do?"
"Chloe?"
"Andrea looks like she's been caught red-handed doing something she probably shouldn't, but at the same time, it isn't really an issue.
"Does it involve a handsome man, Andrea?" Chloe asked teasingly.
Andrea ducked her head and muttered something that Chloe missed.
"Smoking?" But Pauline didn't.
"Ah… Smokey." Chloe giggled.
Andrea reluctantly turned her phone so Pauline could see it.
There on the screen was a live-stream of a group of puppies milling around. "I got a new puppy last night. I was using the Kents' service to look after it." She admitted.
Pauline let out a weary sigh. "I feel as though I should admonish you for this, but…" She pulled out her own phone. "I'm just as guilty."
On the screen was clearly a live-stream from her own home of a large sleeping Alsatian.
"Do the Kents provide services for larger animals?" She asked Chloe.
Chloe nodded before resuming her smug look at Andrea. "I knew it involved a guy."
