Chapter 9 Android Superman

"If you have made mistakes, there is always another chance for you. You may have a fresh start at any moment you choose, for this thing we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down."
Mary Pickford

"Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit."
Unknown

(Authors note, the Trprian passages in this and succeeding chapters have been translated into English for your reading pleasure.)

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"How is our 'guest' doing? Lord Arnken inquired of his council as he watched a screen showing a small human child appear in the ships transporter room. He laughed as the child began screaming and fighting the Trprian men immediately as they tried to restrain him. He was incredibly strong for such a small child and had caught them all off guard. Lord Arnken smiled to himself thinking, Imbeciles, do they not know who the father is?

"As you can see, Lord, he …."

"I don't mean the child idiot, I mean the father, Kal-El."

"Uh, er…Lord. As far as I know he has not awaken. He was already very weak from his injuries. Added to that, the brain scan and memory transfer can be very difficult on some species particularly when they fight it as he did. We have kept him in a Kryptonian environment to make sure he is kept in our control therefore his healing is slowed. We thought that preferable to using Kryptonite as a means of restraint.

"I want him healed. The sooner the better, he has a choice to make. With us holding the child as collateral he will be forced to reconsider. Besides very soon the world he so loves will grow to hate and despise the very sight of him. How bad were his injuries?"

"He had several broken ribs, a punctured lung which had collapsed and severe burns in the chest area. We treated all the injuries but have given nothing for the pain. He appears to control pain by staying in a deep trance like sleep."

"Der Motin, I command you to see to it he is placed in an Earth like environment so he can at least partially heal. I want the man healed and bring the child to me now!"

"Yes, my Lord." Der Motin bowed and exited quickly scowling as he looked back at the ancient man that he so hated and feared.

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Kala ran into the house trying to get Richards attention. Everyone was crowded around the android Superman. The front of his suit was badly burned and the crest was unrecognizable but he appeared completely unhurt. Everyone kept asking if he was really ok.

"I'm fine. I was injured but I'm healed now. That's why it took me so long to get back here. I was unable to fly at first and I had no way of contacting you as my phone was destroyed."

Kala pulled on Richard's shirt trying to get his attention.

As General Lane looked closely at Superman's exposed chest where the suit had been burned away he asked. "Are you sure you alright. Why don't you let me examine…"

"I TOLD YOU, I'M FINE! CAN'T YOU EARTHLINGS HEAR?" Superman glared at him as he almost shouted the words.

General Lane backed away as everyone caught their breath at the outburst.

Kala again pulled on Richard's shirt this time with more urgency. "Daddy Richard, can you come with me a minute."

As the android Superman left the house he chided. "I have more important things to do than explain everything to all of you." They all silently watched Superman leave and seconds later heard the sonic boom as he flew away.

Lois had gone pale not believing what she had just witnessed with her own eyes. Richard finally consciously acknowledged Kala.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ignore you, I was just so distracted by…by…what just happened here. What did you want honey?" Seeing Kala had tears running down her face Richard bent down, "Honey, what is it?"

"Outside in the yard Jason said that wasn't Daddy, he said that he could hear everybody's heart but his. He was scared and ran to the barn crying when we came in here. I think he's right, that wasn't Daddy."

With all the excitement no one had noticed Jason hadn't followed them into the house. Looking around quickly they realized suddenly that he was missing. Richard and General Lane ran out to the barn with Lois and Chloe close behind. The others stayed and tried to comfort Kala.

As they searched and called out for Jason in the barn they became more frantic when they found no sign of him. They ran back into the house and asked Kala where she had last seen him. She came out to the porch and indicated he was halfway to the barn as she pointed to a spot.

Richard started searching the dirt for any unusual footprints and just a few feet from the barn he saw some unusual marks like perhaps a small sized shoe had made a scuffing mark as if trying to get away. It was hard to be sure of anything because there were a multitude of footprints in the soft dirt many of them from the kids.

Lois became hysterical, "What do we do, what do we do. If that wasn't Clark, then whatever or whoever he was may have been involved with Jason's disappearance. What if the Trprians took Jason since Clark wouldn't join them. What do we tell the authorities, my son was taken by the aliens? Oh, oh, no."

"Lois, we have to try and stay calm. Let's go inside, we have to think this through rationally." After they were all inside sitting at the table Richard spoke up again. "Is there any way we can determine for sure if that was or wasn't Clark?"

"Lets look at it another way" General Lane took over, "Here are the facts we do know. 1. He did not act at all like the man we know. Martha have you ever heard him refer to us as Earthlings?"

"No, never. My son would never have said that."

"That is what I think as well. 2. I couldn't believe after we were all so worried that he would just leave as he did."

Everyone shook their head in agreement. "Then there's 3. why was he unable to contact us, it has been over 24 hours? 4. Jason told Kala that he had no heart and was scared of him. Then Jason simply disappeared. Anything else? Oh yes! 5. The Trpria wanted Superman to join them, not just that, the warlord wanted him as a replacement son! Might he also want a grandson? If you ask me, I'd have to say that is some pretty compelling evidence. But why the impostor?"

"Dad, what if Clark is still alive, what if they took him before the final blasts. Then replaced him for some reason and took Jason because he knew? Oh Dad, I have to believe that. I just can't even think of my baby in their hands all alone. Please, oh please at least let them be together wherever they are!."

They all looked at each other agreeing it seemed reasonable. Richard spoke up. "But what can we do if that is what happened? Do we confront him when he returns, if he returns."

"We need to make sure it's really not Clark." Chloe added. "But how?" they all looked at Lois.

"Well, what do you expect me to do? Sleep with him to find out? He is not getting anywhere near my bed till I know it's really him." Pulling Kala close for both their comfort, "Right now I'm with Kala, I don't think that was really Clark and I doubt he'll tell us anything the way he just acted. I pray Jason is with the real Clark wherever they've taken him."

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Two Trprian guards brought Jason into Lord Arnken's chamber.

He struggled against them pulling away as he entered, "My Daddy will be mad when he finds out you took me away. I wanta go home."

"Your Daddy is here would you like us to take you to him?" Lord Arnken said rather softly.

Jason just stared in response not knowing what to say. Instead he thought to himself, do they know my Daddy is Superman? I have to be careful maybe they sent the man with no heart to grandma's house. Why would they do that? Maybe they want to try and trick me too, like everybody else was tricked.

"You have no need to fear me Jason. I won't hurt you. Your Daddy was hurt though. We are treating him now and then I will take you to him."

"How will I know it's really my Daddy?"

"You will know. Your Daddy is a very special and brave man. I'm sure you will grow up to be much like him."

"I want to be just like him. I love my Daddy. I wanta see him now." He said trying to sound brave and strong like his dad.

"Soon, very soon."

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Superman was still unconscious floating in his mind …he was in Cordes Sur Ciel sitting on top of the medieval church above the mists marveling at the most spectacular sunrise with Lois leaning up against him. He could hear far off voices in a strange language he seemed to recognize calling him to wake up. He ignored the voices preferring to stay in his mind. He sensed they were moving him, clothing him but he didn't care. Better to stay with Lois, they were getting their picture taken by a friendly French artist, Noux it was. They were at the Sugar and Chocolate museum the hilarity of seeing his likeness in pure sugar, the ribbing Lois had given him later about that…

He started to become aware of a warm healing sensation as the pain started to lessen. He didn't care as he continued floating in his mind …he was sunning with Jason high in the sky…he was playing in the snow with Jason and Kala…once again playing Frisbee with Jason jumping higher with each attempted catch…Jason screaming in delight Daddy, Daddy, did you see me, I beat Einstein…I caught the Frisbee…Daddy, Daddy…

"Daddy, Daddy wake up, Daddy are you alright, Daddy please wake up. Daddy, I'm scared I need you." Jason couldn't help himself as he continued calling to his dad he began crying. As he cried he climbed up onto the bed where his father lay in strange clothes that looked just like what all the other people in the ship were wearing. He draped himself across his Daddy's chest with his arms around his neck sobbing.

Pulling himself to consciousness as on some level realizing what he was hearing was more than a dream. He began to be more aware of his surroundings of a weight pressing on his still very tender chest. "Uh" cough, "Jason…Jason No! That can't really be you." He said weakly as he forced his eyes open sighing deeply from the pain.

"Daddy, Daddy, it is me. Wake up, please wake up."

Ignoring the pain in his chest Superman wrapped his arms around Jason comforting him. As he fully awakened he saw Lord Arnken standing right next to the bed. "How dare you use my son in this manner." He was having some difficulty speaking due to the continued pain in his chest and Jason moving around didn't help.

"You gave me no options. As you can see, he is unharmed and will stay that way as long as you cooperate. Do I now have your full attention?"

Superman was torn, his mind raced, how can I let them hurt Jason, but how can I possibly join in their murderous campaign? I need to stall for time. I need time to figure out something, anything. God help me, I can't let them hurt Jason. "I will do as you bid, but first I need to recover." He said wincing as he tried to quiet Jason's movements by holding him tighter.

"Granted, but do not try my patience again. We are headed for Trpria once there you will be expected to begin your training. Jason, we will leave your father to rest and heal."

"No, he stays here with me. I won't rest easy otherwise."

"You truly test me Kal-El. Very well. He may stay."

After they were alone Superman asked Jason to be still and told him his chest was hurting. He then somehow managed to pick Jason up and move him over to a position next to him on the bed.

"I'm sorry Daddy, I didn't know you were still hurt."

"I know Jason, I'll be OK in a little while but I may try to make these people think I'm still hurt do you understand?" He spoke very softly barely making a sound not knowing if the walls were listening but not wanting to take the chance.

Jason picked up on the cue and spoke just as softly, "Are we going to go home soon. I think Mommy may need us. There's a bad man with no heart that looks just like you and he was kissing mommy. I didn't like him. I told Kala it wasn't you but I don't think she believed me. Then I was here. Where are we Daddy?"

Signing deeply as he listened, "I don't know for sure except it's a long way from home. We'll find a way back somehow."

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The android Superman hovered in the air just above a building on fire. One of the firemen noticed. "Look its Superman, He survived. Thank God!" Then looking puzzled at the fire chief he asked. "Why isn't he coming to our aid?"

The chief looked up at Superman and after a minute answered, "Maybe, he's hurt, maybe he can't help for some reason."

"Maybe I just don't want to help you primitives anymore. What good does it do when you don't bother to help yourself?" Superman said loud enough for several firemen and policemen to hear. They all appeared dumbstruck as Superman just flew away laughing.

He continued to fly over Metropolis and then other cities ignoring calls for help and outright emergencies he came upon. He made several snide remarks that were caught on camera as he continued traveling around the world. Finally he ended up at the United Nations where he entered and without even bothering to ask for permission, made a statement.

"I'm sick of putting my life on the line for the likes of you. The Trprian Lord was right you are all primitives and a waste of my time. Dmn, you can't even 'do nothing right' and you dmn near got me killed yet again! I'm retired from the savior business. From now on I'm taking care of nobody but myself."

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Please review

The android Supes says if you don't review he is going to twist your arm till you do! He enjoys twisting arms. Mine are so twisted now I can barely type. eek!!! Thank YOU