Chapter 4 - Threat Revealed Part 1
What children take from us, they give…We become people who feel more deeply, question more deeply, hurt more deeply, and love more deeply.
Sonia Taitz, O Magazine, May 2003
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When Lois got home from work shortly after 6:30 she found the house empty with a wonderful aroma coming from the kitchen. Jason had a habit recently of meeting her at the door or at least very soon thereafter. He was starting to hear her coming as soon as she entered the cul-de-sac so she was surprised by his not coming to greet her. As she entered the kitchen removing her coat she heard laughter coming from the back yard. Looking out the door she saw Clark playing Frisbee with Einstein and the two kids. It was fairly dark in the yard even with the light but it only seemed to have an impact on Kala who was basically acting as cheerleader. Jason was mostly chasing after Einstein as he jumped and caught the Frisbee but as she watched she saw that Jason was at times racing ahead and jumping high into the air in attempts to beat the dog to the prize. Clark seemed to be purposefully throwing the disk high into the air angled to drop down to a targeted area.
Lois checked the oven and noticed it was turned down on low just keeping the lasagna hot. She noticed Clark's laptop open on the counter. Curious as to what was going on she peered into the screen seeing a star field. There was an area circled like a target with a blinking bull's eye, the circles going from yellow to red at the center of the target. Noticing a second window open she switched to the other window where she saw some meaningless notes and calculations.
Deciding to go check on the 'kids' she put her coat back on and stepped outside to hear Clark yell, "Catch" as she stepped down from the porch. Jason and Einstein were upon her almost before she could react but somehow she managed to catch the Frisbee which appeared seemingly out of nowhere right next to her. Clark came running up grabbing her spinning her around arms length up in the air before she knew what was happening. Jason jumped around wildly laughing and vying along with Einstein for attention with Kala soon joining in the mix. As he stopped spinning he lowered her down into an embrace as he kissed her.
"Oh, Daddy, is the game over? I was just getting so I could beat Einstein to the Frisbee."
"Sorry Jason, I'm afraid that's all for tonight. Besides it's getting too cold out here for Kala and your mom. Maybe tomorrow we can play again."
Releasing Lois from his embrace he took her by the hand as he stepped up on the porch and entered the kitchen with the two kids following close behind. "Dinner is almost ready we just need to make the salad."
The kids both ran down to the basement which had become their favorite area in the house with lots of room to play.
"Yes. I could smell it as soon as I walked in the door. I didn't know I was marrying such a good cook! Wonder what the people would think if they knew that Superman was such a fantastic cook? Not that the women wouldn't be beating down our door if they knew you lived here anyway!"
"But Lois, I'm married." He said with an innocent yet shocked look on his face.
"Hmmpht. Like that would stop them. Actually it would probably make you even more attractive to them since women would know you, ahem, were interested and able to have a relationship. Heck there are all sorts of gutter wenches out there hot for you!"
"What! I don't even I want to go there. Sheesh!"
Smiling, happy to have made her point she nodded towards the laptop, "What does all this mean? Are you really going to make me wait till everyone gets here?"
"Yes, I would rather just explain it one time. If you want to run upstairs and change I can finish in here. Kala has already set the table. Everything is ready except the salad. Did you get hold of you Dad?"
"Yes, he should be here any time now. I think I will go up and change, my shoes are killing me."
"Why do you insist on wearing shoes that hurt so much?"
"Because I like the way the shoes look and the way I feel in them, except the hurting my feet part. Don't you think they make my legs look sexy?"
Grabbing her once again in an embrace before she could leave Clark nibbled her neck before answering "Personally, I think your legs look sexy even when you're wearing sneakers. But even better when you are wearing nothing at all."
"Hmmm, can we pick this up later, we have company coming now?" Breaking away she smiled back coyly as she left the room.
Clark looked over at the laptop his eyes going dark momentarily before opening the refrigerator and in seconds making a large bowl of salad with fresh vegetables cut up garnishing the top. Just as he was finishing he heard a news flash interrupt the regular programming on the TV that was on with the volume turned down low in the family room. Dropping everything he raced upstairs. As he opened the window he called back to Lois, "Sorry Superman is needed. I'll be back as soon as I can. Everything's ready, go ahead and start without me." With that he was gone disappeared out the window in a flash before Lois could even turn around and acknowledge him.
General Lane was the first to arrive. Lois let him in and immediately asked if he had any idea what this was about. As he was filling her in on what had happened that morning Richard and Chloe arrived.
"Lois, we brought this pie for Clark. Someone delivered it to the office this afternoon for Superman. 10-1 it's Boysenberry." Richard handed Lois an unopened box with a pie inside.
"I'm sure he'll be more than pleased if it is. He has the kids loving Boysenberry pie now too so it certainly won't go to waste, that is if we don't finish it off for desert."
Jason came bounding upstairs. "Daddy, did you know I can catch a Frisbee? I can even beat Einstein to it! Lois smiled nodding her head in agreement.
"That's great we'll have to play Frisbee next weekend. Kala why don't you join us too, the four of us could make a day of it maybe go to a park or something. That is if it's ok with your Mom and Dad."
"But, Daddy you are my Dad, my Daddy Richard!"
"He's right you know and you need to have some time with him and if Kala wants to go too, all the better. I'm sure Clark and I can find something to do. That is if he doesn't get called away first."
As if on cue they all turned hearing the mention of Superman on the TV. Lois had turned up the sound hoping to hear where he had gone to help gage when he might be expected back.
"Superman has just rescued nine of the known fifteen people trapped
in their cars by a wall of show completely burying seven cars in
Mountain View, Colorado. It's believed heavy winds caused the
avalanche trapping the people going to a ski area nearby. We'll
keep you informed as more develops in this continuing story."
"Clark said to start without him. Why don't I go ahead and have the kids eat and the rest of us can wait a little longer for him. Perhaps he won't be too long."
"Sounds find with me, although that aroma is making me very hungry. It doesn't smell like take out, when did you have the time or know how to cook, what is it lasagna?" Richard said with a knowing smirk on his face.
"I didn't and I don't. Clark made dinner."
Richard and Ben both looked at each other surprised. Chloe laughed at them. "I could have told you Clark cooks…" everyone looked at Chloe wide eyed, "FOOD you guys….FOOD. We grew up together remember. He was always helping out at home. Martha may live on a farm but she taught Clark well. I bet he even helps out around the house, right?"
"Oh yes, my husband has all kinds of hidden talents, cooking, cleaning, he plays the piano, drums, he can probably juggle a dozen eggs without breaking a single one, he's wonderful with the kids and did I mention he is a fantastic cook! All of this between rescuing the world on a daily basis. Of course he can do all of this because he only really needs to sleep a couple hours a night usually." She said this half laughing her world was just too good to be true and she hadn't even mentioned the bedroom part.
The kids were both starving so Lois didn't have any trouble convincing them to go ahead and eat while the adults continued visiting in the family area nearby. They were all four anxious to hear what Clark had called them together for. The kids finished and went back down to the basement to play. The karaoke machine Santa had brought Kala had become a favorite pastime along with several board games. Clark was glad since it meant they were spending less time watching cartoons or videos.
An announcement was made at 7:20 that Superman had rescued the final victim in the avalanche so they were expecting him home any minute and were therefore surprised when he still hadn't shown up at 7:35. Just as they decided to go ahead and sit down to dinner Clark appeared.
Greeting him with a quick kiss Lois told him they had waited but had finally decided to start when he didn't arrive directly from the avalanche.
"Sorry, there was a 5 car pile up on the way back. People were trapped in the wreckage. I had to help. I really didn't mean for all of you to wait on me though."
"Clark, this is delicious. We were rather surprised to hear Superman cooks."
"Thanks, but he doesn't, Clark does! he answered, "Superman is good at heating things up though. Mighty handy that heat vision." Everyone laughed and went back to eating.
After they finished eating they headed to the family area and took seats. Clark brought the laptop into the room and plugged it in since the battery was just about spent.
"This is a direct feed from the SETI main frame computer. I enhanced their programming with their consent and at the same time without their knowledge inserted a back door for me to gain access at will. I didn't like doing that but I wasn't ready to tell them why I need to have access. The AI and computer at the fortress are not compatible with earth technology therefore I would have had to travel there to access it.
"The target area you see on the screen is pinpointing the trail of a spaceship as it moves in space. Since I first became aware of it this morning it's traveled almost .7 light years heading in a line directly to Earth from the direction of Sirius. At the current rate of speed it will be here in about 44 hours. I have reason to believe the ship is manned by a race that is a major threat to Earth's civilizations."
"How do you know this? Just from the sighting and location I mean." General Lane seemed skeptical.
"I consulted the AI my Father programmed for my training when the location made me remember something. The AI confirmed my recalled memory and expanded on it. The Trpria are a self appointed judge, jury and executioner roaming the universe deciding when they think a civilization is not worthy to exist. I did additional research and found that evidently they identified Earth in the mid 70's but for some unrecorded reason delayed action."
"According to what I've learned they use a civilization's own greatly magnified defenses against it, thus in their minds proving the righteousness of their actions."
"What can we do, what can you do?" Richard came out of his shock to ask.
"I've been trying to decide my next course of action. I wanted…I need a sounding board. This is just too important for me to decide entirely on my own." He looked around the room not focusing on anything, deep in thought…then looked back at them.
"I've debating going to the United Nations, I would need to place some calls tonight and notify the leaders that I need to speak tomorrow. Batman agrees with this option but he didn't hear the other options."
"I could take my ship out to meet them, confront them directly before they arrive here. The problem is I would be an easy target if they wished to simply destroy the ship with me inside. That would leave Earth completely open to them."
"I could wait here for them and prepare to confront them trying to dissuade them from their actions. I'm not sure what the chances are."
"There is one other option I've been considering. The sun gives me power. I can feel the difference in power after I go up in the stratosphere to recharge. What if I went even closer to the sun in my ship absorbing as much energy and power as I could manage? I can't help but wonder just how powerful I might become. Perhaps it would be enough."
They had all been listening quietly at this point Lois jumped up. "NO! That sounds much too dangerous. You don't know what could happen to you."
"Wait. You were just telling me you were worried about Jason possibly having too much power, that you were glad you had weaknesses. Now you want more power yourself?" General Lane was concerned Clark was worried enough to go against his prior expressed feelings.
"I don't want it per se. I'm just very afraid I may need it to protect the Earth from this threat. Do any of you have a better idea? That's why I asked you all here. We don't have much time!"
They all looked around at each other speechless. "I had almost all day to think about this. I'll leave you to think and discuss it while I go get the kids ready for bed. I have a feeling this is going to be a long night."
Clark went down to the basement smiling at the innocence of the kids. They had been so warn out that they had both fallen asleep with a game of Shoots and Ladders lain out before them. He gathered Kala up in his arms and took her upstairs. She woke up on the way asking for a bedtime story. Clark left her in her room to get ready for bed promising to return momentarily. Going back downstairs he picked Jason up and managed to get the sleeping boy in his pajamas and in bed without his ever waking. He gazed fondly for several seconds and then kissed him goodnight before leaving the room with the door slightly ajar.
Going back to Kala's room he knocked gently, "It's OK Daddy, come on in I'm already in bed. Will you read me this story tonight?" She held up a book called Julie and the Unicorn about a little girl who moves with her family to Texas. Her classmates treat her differently and she's very lonely. One day, crying in her room after school, Julie hears a tap on the window. She opens it and in flies a unicorn named Sparkles. Sparkles asks Julie to keep a secret friendship because no human is supposed to talk or see a unicorn.
Clark entered the room smiling at her selection. They had read the story before. Normally the two kids would snuggle in together in one of their beds while Clark or Lois read them a story. After they fell asleep or the story was finished the visiting child would be moved to the proper room and placed in his or her own bed for the night.
"I like this story, but I think you should read it to me this time." Clark smiled stroking her hair back in place away from her eyes.
"Is Jason coming in to join us?"
"Jason is already asleep so it's just you and me." Kala giggled and started reading.
Just as Kala was finishing the story Richard and Lois entered the room. The three kissed Kala goodnight then Lois and Richard entered Jason's room kissing him good night as well before the three headed back downstairs together.
As they sat down General Lane started to speak up, Clark raised his hands. "Before you begin with your ideas I wanted to add this. I believe the only answer to defeating the Trpria is by diplomacy. If Earth does not attack them they will have no excuse to attack Earth. The problem is going to be keeping everyone on Earth at abeyance. I didn't mention this before because I wanted you to have an open discussion before considering this solution. I also wanted to see if this solution was one you had though possible without my bringing it up. I tend to look for the simplest solution whenever possible. As often as not they work. But…" shaking his head and looking up the stairs at the sleeping kids, "There is just too much at stake here to take any chances. Can we really make the governments here on Earth understand the ramifications if they react aggressively?"
The room was deathly quiet.
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Interlude… between chapters
As they continued into the night discussing what action to take Clark gave them a little history of Sirius.
"Sirius, spotlights the approximate position of the Solar Antapex… that is the direction from which the Sun is traveling. Looking at Vega, we're peering through the windshield of our solar system; and gazing at Sirius, we're looking out our rear window."
"It should be noted that Sirius is a close binary star system composed of a main-sequence star and a white dwarf stellar remnant. Alpha Canis Majoris A and B, are separated "on average" by only about 20 times the distance from the Earth to the Sun -- 19.8 astronomical units of an orbital semi-major axis -- which is about the same as the distance between Uranus and our Sun ("Sol")."
"The companion star, is so dim that it can't even be seen with the naked eye. Alpha Canis Majoris A, also know as the Dog Star, is the brightest star in the night sky. Unlike Sol, it's a slightly bluish, white main sequence dwarf star. It's a relatively large star 2.02 to 2.14 times Sol's mass and about 1.68 to 1.71 times its diameter. The mass is estimated at 2.0 Solar based on luminosity."
"Compared to Sol, Sirius A is hotter and more than 21 times brighter. It may be only about 225 to 250 million years old but being so much bigger and hotter than Sol, the star will exhaust its core hydrogen within only a billion years and turn into a red giant or Cepheid variable before blowing away its outer layers revealing a remnant white dwarf core."
"Due to the conditions on Sirius it is highly unlikely the Trpria originated there. Even if it was possible for an Earth-type planet to orbit the relatively youthful Sirius A and develop life, it's likely to be primitive single-cell bacteria under constant bombardment by meteorites and comets as Earth was for the first billion years. Free oxygen in the atmosphere is highly unlikely as well and there is probably no ozone layer even though Sirius A puts out a lot more radiation than Sol. That in of itself would reduce the possibility of life forming anywhere on the surface of any planet in what would be considered the habitable zone around the star system."
"You're probably wondering why I'm giving you all this information. I want you realize what a mystery these people really are. From what I've been able to discern they must have transplanted from elsewhere and most likely live underground on the planet of their choosing. Why would anyone want to choose to live underground with the doors of the Universe open to them?"
"I think it's time to decide. What are you feelings. Remember they could be here in 41 hours! Gen...Dad, do you know General Rowell?"
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Please note: some of the tech stuff is taken from a noted Astronomy site with my changes made to fit the story.
End of Chapter Four
Next chapter - Meeting of the Minds
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