It's been four years since I woke up from my coma. If you'd asked me five years before that where'd be right now, I would have told you: I'll be dead. Instead I was in grade 12. I was sixteen years old, physically at least, and happy. Sarah was nine, Martha was four. Edna and Heather were still happy and healthy. Henry had some lingering heart problems. Emma had left federal prosecutor's office and had gone into private law practice for a large law firm. Likely this was due to our attendance at several high society events on behalf of Bruce Wayne, who has retreated from public life due to age. In other words, he's using his children to put in appearances, so he doesn't have to be bothered. It's been good. I still talk to Diana on video chat at least once a month. Bruce a little more often, only because I think he's worried I'm going to snap and blow up the world.

My birthday had been selected as November 26th. In 2226 that happened to fall on Thanksgiving. So, I was home for a long weekend, and I was able to celebrate it with my family. I would also be able to upgrade from my farm license to a real one, well mostly real I still can't drive before 5 am, or after 9 pm unless it's for school or work. I had a job lined up for weekends starting on this one, I would be doing tire and oil changes at a local dealership. They had to wait until I was sixteen. I was actually thinking of being a mechanic for a job. It would pay well, and it was honest work and people wouldn't randomly shoot at me because I was doing my job.

I was excited because I was having a party with my friends. Angela, Drew, April, Jacob, and Glen. Yes, Glen Luthor and I were dating. Imagine me, dating a boy. Kal-El is probably rolling in his grave. I get that Lex Luthor was a bad guy, but Alexander has made great strides in repairing Luthorcorp's reputation. Caitlin and Glen are decent people. I had a real difficult time justifying my relationship with Glen after I happened to see the Justice League records on Lex Luthor. I wasn't trying to see them; I'd just asked permission to read up on Kal-El. I managed to come to terms with it, but Bruce still hasn't let it go even now. At least I knew why he was being so angry about it.

You'd think considering the circle of friends and school I went to; The party would be some formal affair. It wasn't, it was a pizza party at my parents' house. We did it the night before Thanksgiving. We had a great time. I woke up at my usual time and went for my run. Spent the rest the solitary part of my morning cleaning the house up. I know I could have done it at superspeed, but I hadn't really used my powers or abilities since the situation in Gotham with Voidmonger. The fact that they brought out this other personality in me I just couldn't risk becoming that person. I have done my best to fit in and be a normal girl. There were some situations that I was prepared for, heat vision, x-ray vision. So, when I started developing them, I didn't panic I just worked with the Fortress to ensure I was able to contain the damage.

There were some other issues that came up that were embarrassing and unique to a female Kryptonian going through puberty. My last hair cut happened when I was fourteen years old. It was just past the middle of my back; It hasn't grown since. Thankfully, the Fortress had prepared me for all of this. It was like the Kryptonian parent I never had. I had never seen it in person, but it was always there ready to answer any questions I had about Krypton, or Kryptonians.

As I was thinking of it my tablet, yes, the same old one from when I was twelve. Started beeping. I picked up and looked at it. It was the Fortress App Mother had provided me. I opened it and logged in with my Kryptonian password.

"Hello Fortress."

"Amber Kal-El you are commanded to travel to the Fortress at Once."

"I can't its thanksgiving. And my birthday."

"Amber Kal-El you must obey."

"You're literally like four thousand miles away, with an ocean between us I can't exactly charter a plane."

"Amber Kal-El you in danger. We have detected a rapid increase in the production of a drug like substance in your blood that could lead to permanent damage to your memories. You must come to the fortress so it can be purged from your blood stream."

"How the hell can you tell that?"

"System Designated - Mother monitors your vital signs and general health. She detected an unknown compound in your bloodstream and connected to this system. We have determined you are in danger and the only facility capable of prevent this damage is the Fortress."

"Okay you have me worried, but it does not solve the problem of how I get there."

"Amber Kal-El you will need to fly here."

"I can't. You know what happens when she comes out. People get hurt and I have no guarantee she will listen to you."

"Amber Kal-El you must use your Kryptonian flight."

"I have no Kryptonian flight."

I grabbed my coat and boots and started walking to the barn in case someone woke up.

"Amber Kal-El. I will interface with System Designated – Mother to enlist the assistance of Kal-El's former allies."

I sat on the couch. And waited and waited. I could feel something reaching tendrils into my mind. It was insidious and I didn't notice at first. Then I realized I was going completely crazy. I heard my voice, in my head.

You pathetic human, your time is almost up. You thought you could keep me caged, but now you will become what you were meant to be: Kryptonian. Then I will rebuild Krypton and subjugate these pathetic creatures you care about so much. I will let you watch as I crush everything you have ever loved under my boot heel.

"No!"

I had dropped the tablet by now and was looking for the source of the voice.

Can you feel it? You're slowly losing control of your body. Soon it will spread though you and you will fall to the ground. Unable to breath. Then when you have suffered enough you will beg me to save you, save this perfect body you don't appreciate. Then I will find the Ark and this body will birth the next generation of Kryptonians who will live like gods.

She…her..I? I wasn't lying to myself I was feeling sluggish. I reached for the tablet and sent Edna a message. I didn't know if she would even be up yet.

"Fortress, its already happening help!"

"Amber Kal-El. You must use the key in Kal-El's ship."

It flashed a picture of the crystal I had found in the couch. I fell to my knees tablet forgotten desperately trying to dig the key out of the secret compartment under the floor. I found it and I stumbled down the stairs to the barn proper.

Look at you scrambling to survive. Pathetic. If you had embraced me, we would be one. We would be great. I helped you all these years. Giving you the drive to crush your enemies. Whispering in the back of your mind. Every opportunity you had to be great you let slip through your fingers because of your ridiculous compassion for these monkeys.

I could feel it getting worse. I stumbled at the bottom of the stairs and fell on my face. I clawed my way across the barn floor and smashed my way through the metal door and fell down. There was a car sized object there. The sides were rigid but the orb in the middle of it opened when I approached it. I pulled myself up on the flat winglike surfaces and hoped the first hole I saw was right. I slammed the crystal into, and the ship started powering up. It started hovering. A foot off the ground.

Too late poor little human.

That was it, she had control and she immediately turned on the flaming hair and eyes. My clothes were shredded and replaced with could only be described as battle armor. The symbol on the front was for the House of Zod. She unleashed blasts of plasma at the ship, but they came up against some sort of barrier. The ship began speaking.

"Release control of Amber Kal-El there will be consequences."

She laughed.

"You dare speak to the last daughter of the House of Zod like you matter?"

There was a blast of energy from the ship it blew the doors to the storm cellar open and embedded my body in the wall.

"I am Jor-El."

"So, a ghost thinks it can order me around."

A green beam shot out from the ship and Amber Zod got her first taste of Kryptonite. She surprised me because she was still able to blast it with plasma and the first bit hit the ship charring it before the field showed up and blocked the bulk of the blast. She stood up and cracked her neck.

"I will deal with you later. Once I release my true father and his lieutenants from the phantom zone you will be of no consequence then we will conquer this planet and remake it in our image."

She jumped upwards and smack into Edna who she grabbed by the neck and pressed her against the wall.

"You love this one, don't you? Look how weak it is. Just a little squeeze and snap, do you want to see?"

No!

I forced everything I had into resisting her. She couldn't close her hand, my hand. I wouldn't let her. Edna got free because of my interference and ran out of the barn. Hopefully to get the kryptonite.

"You are stronger than I gave you credit for; I will not underestimate you again."

I'm going to fight you every second of your existence. You will never be free of me.

"Don't mistake luck for strength. Once the body is fully mine you will be nothing but a voice, and then eventually not eve- "

She was mid-sentence when Henry punched her in the face so hard, I flew through the rear barn wall and skidded several hundred feet through the field. He was on top of us before she could react and punched her again a couple of times. She put on her plasma field and it burnt some of his clothes off. But he held her down and slammed her into the ground several times until the field went out.

"What are you?"

"Amber's father you are leaving."

I honestly had no idea what to make of Henry showing up and beating the living crap out of my body. She struggled against him, but he was stronger. Not being in control of the body meant I really couldn't feel any of the pain. She sure did though. She was spiraling but I still couldn't reassert full control. I heard my body scream and all of a sudden was staring at myself. She was like a dark mirror of me. She had turned my organic costume into a suit of armor, and she had flaming eyes and hair. I was wearing Superman's costume full on color, which was cool, except my duplicate looked like she wanted to murder me. Of course, she started talking.

"I guess we get to finish this once and for all. You will die and then I will release General Zod and your pathetic world will kneel."

I didn't really feel like listening to her drone on so I hit her with my heat vision. She didn't see it coming and I incinerated half her chest armor and seared her flesh. I followed up but a knee to crotch. Not as effective against girls, and also dirty fighting but I wasn't about to fight fair. When she was down I kneeled on her spine and wrapped my hands around her throat and started yanking with all my strength. She struggled against me, it wasn't that I was stronger, I just wasn't letting up. If she'd decided to fight me instead of grandstanding it might have been a different outcome. Her ego killed her. She stopped breathing then I snapped her neck. The body vanished from underneath me and I woke up. I was struggling to breath and I realized there was kryptonite sitting on my chest. I tried to move my arm to get rid of it, but I was too weak.

Henry was unconscious and Edna was over top of me with a shotgun. I could barely speak.

"It's me Grandma."

"How do I know that?"

"Let's start with the fact I'm not monologuing like a bad cartoon villain and go from there. Is dad alright?"

She lifted the kryptonite off my chest and put it back in the led box. She checked Henry's neck.

"He's alive. Go get clothes on. I wish he hadn't thrown you through the barn."

"He threw her through the barn. I would never hurt you Grandma."

"Semantics get cloths on before he wakes up and do what you can to hide that blasted ship."

I walked through the hole in the barn and closed up the storm cellar and scratched my head looking at the hole I'd punched through it. I grabbed a tarp and put it over top. That was going to be a pain to fix. Heather was on the porch by the time I'd finished. She had her slippers on and her winter coat and was trying to see what happened.

"What on earth was all that racket about?"

"Uh…a horse. Umm."

Enda was helping Henry to the house.

"Sydney got spooked and kicked through the wall of the barn and Henry got knocked down when she hit him. It's under control, everyone's fine, if a bit cold."

Henry nodded along with everything and I started patching up the barn. At least it was only one hole and it could be repaired in the spring. I felt more myself than ever, like I had a weight lifted off of me. I went upstairs and retrieved my tablet. It was still in one piece. I opened and opened a link to the Fortress.

"Login – Amber Kal-El"

"Greetings Amber Kal-El, we are pleased to see you have survived."

"Am I clear of whatever that was?"

"System Designated – Mother confirms you showing only trace amounts of the chemical."

"Do you know what happened? She said her name was Zod, or well she was the daughter of Zod, I recognized the symbol as house."

"Your genetic material comes primarily from House of El and House of Zod. Supposition: There was genetic memory included with the retrovirus that was intended to have you recreate Krypton."

"Please continue to monitor me for any signs of that happening again. I'd rather not let her get another shot at my family."

"Request confirmed and logged Amber Kal-El"

"Goodbye Fortress."

I locked the tablet and went down to the barn I could see light flickering from under the tarp. That was gonna get realize obvious come nightfall. So, I went down to see what was going on. The ship was glowing. I reached for the key and I couldn't pull it out.

"Okay ship, we need to get the key out, so you aren't glowing. It is making it kind of obvious. You're down here."

I wasn't sure if the ship was like the Fortress computer or not. If not, I was looking really silly talking to the equivalent of an alien car. Its voice sound less synthetic when it spoke. He sounded like a very dignified man, but the voice had a silky quality.

"I am Jor-El. We need to talk."

I sighed. His we need to talk sound a lot like Bruce's. It usually meant he was mad or was going to ask me to do something that I was going to say no to. I dusted off the old railway tie bench that Jonathon had built down here and sat down.

"Sure, whatever. I'm listening."

"Your lack of decorum aside. I have been impressed with your progress in Kryptonian studies. The fact that you took them on without prompting was an excellent show of initiative. I am also impressed with your ability to resist the temptation to use your abilities for self-gain. You show incredible restraint for a human adolescent. You have handled your developing abilities with a level of responsibility that not even my son could claim. You have also overcome your worst self in a contest of wills. You are ready to begin your real training in the Kryptonian ways. You will fulfill the destiny that was laid out before Kal-El before his failure."

"I'm sorry sir, I don't understand, what have I been doing up until now?"

"If I were to translate it into your school system, you have completed grade 1."

I coughed, mostly from the dust, and also because I got stuck doing that swallowing thing and it ended up in the wrong spot because I gasped, it took me a few minutes to be able to talk clearly.

"Grade 1? What? You have to be kidding me, the math I've been doing doesn't even exist on this planet."

"The human understanding of science and mathematics is primitive at best. Erroneous at worst. The sooner we begin your true lessons the better, there will be less fallacies to rid you of."

"So, like quit school and study your stuff all day, every day? That is going to be a really hard sell to my parents."

"You will transport yourself to the Fortress of Solitude and will enter the training matrix. We will be able to do a deep scan with proper tools determine any other undetected anomalies such as the one you suffered from today. It has been modified to stabilize your DNA. Your cells are currently unstable."

"My cells are currently unstable because I haven't finished developing. It's called puberty."

"The genetic modifications used to create your Kryptonian DNA were reckless and ill-conceived. You also had another retro-virus present that we have not ascertained the source, or what it was meant to do."

"I know what it was for. Before I was this. I was a human with a genetic disorder that prevented proper cell replication and failed to produce several organic molecules a human body requires to develop correctly. I was a genetic disaster. I had several gene therapy treatments. They probably used retro viruses on me. I'm sure it would be no trouble for Mother to gain access to my medical records my name was Kristen Laurance I was born May 20th, 2009. I'm not sure which Hospital but it was probably in Metropolis."

"That information will prove helpful in ensuring your treatment is successful."

"So, what are we talking about, a couple of months?"

"No, between two and five years, depending on your brains ability to absorb information and how efficient the system is at repairing your genetic abnormalities."

"That is a hard no. Absolutely not, no way on Earth are you taking five years away from me."

"You are a daughter of Krypton you do not have a choice."

"I'm sixteen, I am not even finished high school yet. How about we let me finish growing up first, like can we do it in five maybe ten years?"

Jor-El was silent for a time.

"This is not a negotiation Amber Kal-El"

"I have this feeling you can't make me do it. So, lets negotiate."

"What are your terms?"

"You give me enough time to finish college."

"You could extend that indefinitely."

"Let's set a five-year time limit. If by my legal twenty-first birthday, I will come to the Fortress to undergo treatment and training. If I finish sooner, I come sooner. Lastly if I start exhibit further symptoms I will come immediately. If Bruce, Diana, J'onn, Mother, my father or Edna are concerned about my stability I will come immediately. That will ensure that if I need medical attention, I get it, and it will also give my mind and body a chance to mature."

"Your request is not unreasonable; You may regret the delay but if this is your wish then will need to deal with the consequences. You must acquiesce to one other stipulation."

While I was listening all, I could think is this computer guy is ridiculously wordy. I missed the part where he said consequences. It was probably one of the biggest mistakes of my life. More on that later.

"What do I have to agree to?"

"You will come to the Fortress for a deep scan within the next solar year."

"Agreed, how do I get there?"

"You fly."

"Do you know how long it would take me to get there are 100 miles per hour?"

"This is why you need training. You use your metahuman abilities as a crutch. You are capable of so much more. You lack confidence."

"You just finished praising me for my restraint in using my abilities and now I suck because I don't use them to their full potential? Make up my mind."

"I will clarify, the fact you refuse to use your abilities to make your human life easier is commendable. Your inability to use the powers your yellow sun grants you when required is a failing."

I caught myself making a typical teenage face, you know that one that pisses adults off everywhere, so I tried to keep a neutral expression. Better to not antagonize the weird alien ghost.

"I'll come on spring break. Not like my parents were going to let me to Florida with everyone else. I'm sure Bruce or Diana can help. Not that they came and helped when I was about to go all dark side."

"I stopped the Fortress from completing that request."

"Why would you do that?"

"It was already too late, and you might have come to harm. It would have complicated the situation. You were near the ship and had the key it was more efficient to power the ship and use your human father to intervene."

"How did that work?"

"I reached out to him telepathically and advised him you were in danger, and that your grandmother was in danger and offered him the power to save you."

"Wait, what you can turn humans into Kryptonians?"

"It is temporary. And has a toll on their physiology."

"My dad has a heart condition. You didn't make it worse, did you?"

"In that case he likely shortened his lifespan substantially."

"You…can't do that to people!"

"I offered him a choice, advised him of the consequences of his actions, he chose to save you."

"Why not my mother?"

"Your mother was not present in the vicinity. And your grandmothers are too old they would have died, and your sisters too young to be effective. He was the only choice."

"If he dies my mom will be destroyed."

"How long does he have?"

"I cannot say."

"Cannot or will not?"

"I will never lie to you my daughter."

"What you mean 'my daughter'?"

"With Kal-El gone it is left to me to be your father."

"I have a father, he's across the road and could die at any moment because of you."

"He is human. You are Kryptonian. He is not capable of being your true father. It was your choice to ignore my warning. So, you are at fault for his condition. I was merely the instrument you damaged him with. Accept your mistakes and learn from them Daughter. It is part of growing up. You have great power and that great power impacts those around you. I can advise you and warn you but if you ignore my advice you cannot hold me responsible for the consequences."

That was a low blow. I wiped my hands on my leggings and then wiped the tears from my face.

"This isn't over Jor-El. And if I don't leave soon, I'm going to break this ship into a million pieces."

"Remember our agreement. Failure to comply will have consequences."

"I think you made the kind of consequences I can expect quite clear. I will not break our agreement."

"You are starting to understand daughter."

I fought the urge to stick up my middle finger at him. He probably wouldn't know what it means but I decided against risking it.

"Can I take the key out now?"

"I would not recommend it. My consciousness can monitor you more closely from the ship."

"Well tone down the light show, it's not exactly subtle."

"I will do so."

The craft went dark except for a dull glow from the console. Once I got up the ladder, I could see that it was not discernable with the doors closed and the tarp over it. I tied the tarp down and picked up my tablet from the tool bench.

I walked home slowly. Henry was feeding my sister's breakfast. Cereal of course. Martha bounced on her seat when she saw me.

"Amber's home I want French toast!"

I glanced at Sarah.

"What about you kiddo?"

"French toast!"

"Okay I guess I'm making French toast."

Henry kept stealing glances at me. I could tell he wanted to talk, but knew it had to wait. I put my tablet on the counter. Cleaned myself up a bit, tied back my hair and started making French toast grandma style. I sat down with them and ate.

"You make the best food Amber!"

"Thank you, Martha."

"So, what are we doing today?"

"Birthday cake!"

"Besides that?"

"We're going to watch the Santa Clause parade!"

"Yes!"

I smiled, to Sarah and Martha.

"The Grandmas are coming, and Uncle Dean and Aunt Clare, and your cousin Tommy. What does that mean?"

Sarah frowned.

"I need to put my toys away, so he doesn't break them by throwing them down the stairs."

"Okay well there is that but it also means you both need to find your good dresses and put them out for tonight so you can get baths or showers and get dressed right away so you look nice for Grandma Heather. You have twenty minutes before the parade starts. Go quick, wash your hands and faces, brush your teeth and get your dresses out on your beds."

I clapped my hands.

"Go! Go! Go! First one who is done and meets my standards gets the first piece of cake tonight."

The ran off giggling. Henry looked at me from the kitchen.

"They love you; You know. You are their favorite person in the world."

"I think you are their favorite; Mom is second favorite and I'm just the mean big sister."

He shook his head. I stood up and walked to the breakfast counter and looked at him.

"Dad, I'm sorry you had to…"

"Look, I don't understand what is going on, or what was happening, but you were in trouble and now you're not. That's what matters."

"Dad, you, you made your heart condition worse."

"I know. But you're my daughter. I can't let anything happen to you."

"I'm adopted, you have real daughters to worry about. You shouldn't have risked yourself for me."

"You are my real daughter. I hope feel like your real dad."

"You do, but… I have brought so many problems into this house."

"You can be a handful sometimes, but you're a teenage girl. I expect no less from the two monsters upstairs. When they are your age."

"If I wasn't here wouldn't have a heart condition at all."

He shook his head.

"No if you were not here, none of us would be. I know why the girls and your mom survived now. It was you, you shielded them. I watched the bullets hit you while I was on the ground. I know it was your blood that saved me. I know it was you that went after those men."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"Nothing needed to be said. You have never been anything but loving to any of us, what did it matter?"

"You knew all along?"

"I didn't know, I suspected, until the men attacked us."

"How did I give myself away?"

"It was about three weeks after you arrived. You were cutting a potato and you rammed the knife down hard on your finger and the blade bent and chipped near the cutting edge. You put it in the garbage and buried it."

I opened my mouth and closed it. I was in absolute shock.

"Then I saw bullets bounce off you and into the couch and table and floor. After I was able, I tracked down the nurse who helped you inject me with your blood. She told me everything she could. Then I saw the photos of what you did to the men who shot at us. Then someone shooting fire from their hands shows up in Metropolis and fights off a Metahuman attack. Someone your height and build. That same someone shows up in photographs, wanted for an assault on five federal officers and attempted murder of the same metahuman. In Gotham the weekend you're visiting there. And of course, there is the rescue of Caitlin Luthor. You tore that door open and pushed the dashboard away from her. Alexander let me look at the car."

"How did you notice all this?"

"I went to school for forensics and worked for the police before I became a writer."

"So, you went from being a certified crime scene investigator to writing smutty romance novels under a female pen name?"

He shrugged.

"It pays the bills doesn't it?"

"It does. I haven't read any dad, I'm sorry it just seems weird to read sex scenes written by your parent."

"I'm glad, because yes that is weird."

"My dorm mother loves them by the way."

"Does she?"

I ran my finger along the bar and blinked innocently.

"You could probably get me some special treatment if you were to say, give me a signed copy."

He pursed his lips and sighed.

"I will, but tonight we are going for a drive and you are going to explain what exactly happened today, and why, because now that you know, that I know, I can help."

"Okay. And about that, I need to go to the Arctic on spring break, you think you can help me deal with mom?"

"You have to tell me why, but we'll talk tonight."

I nodded. The girls came rushing down the stairs. I walked over and looked them both up and down with my hands behind my back. I winked at Sarah who smiled.

"The hair is sloppy, but you both pass inspection, Morris, your shirt is wrinkled. I guess that means Martha gets first piece of cake tonight."

Martha bounced up and down.

"Go get ready for the parade, I'll make some hot chocolate."

I will not bore you with every single detail of my birthday party-thanksgiving dinner. Suffice it to say it was fun, and Tommy was a little shit, as he always was, so no surprise there. After supper Edna pulled me outside to give me the present from her and Heather. The black challenger we had been working on was sitting in our driveway and she offered me the key.

"I can't take that."

"You can. You helped rebuild it from a rusted-out hulk. It's all yours. Dad would love me giving it to you. You know how to respect a car."

I hugged her and had to make sure I did not crush her in my excitement.

"I put winter tires on her, signed the ownership and Heather has paid for your first year of insurance. She's all ready to go when you drive back to school Sunday night. And while you were away at school this week, I upgraded the stereo it is now hands free and blue tooth with steering wheel controls."

"But you said we should keep it as true to its factory condition as possible."

She shrugged.

"Your mother demanded it have hands free so you wouldn't be driving and looking at your phone."

I hugged her again.

"You guys totally surprised me. I was not expecting a car. I mean I'm only sixteen."

"Considering what you can do without a car, I think we can trust you behind the wheel of one."

She could…I mean, at least where it comes to hurting people, legally speaking, well. You'll see soon. I got in with a bad crowd. Not like a bad, bad crowd, but a crowd that inspired me to break several traffic laws, and probably some state and federal statutes. Like I said we will get to that.