Chapter 11 - Revelations

Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be the miracle.
Phillips Brooks US Episcopal bishop (1835 – 1893

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"You think you're pregnant?" Richard, Martha and General Lane exclaimed in complete surprise and almost in unison.

"Don't look at me like that. I just took one of those first response tests the morning all of this mess started happening. Jason asked Santa for a little brother and I think he may have gotten his wish. It's as simple as that! Clark doesn't have any idea, which is probably for the best considering what's been happening."

Richard and General Lane eyed each other. "Maybe we should head back to the city. Did you make a doctors appointment yet?" Richard asked concerned.

"Yes, but that has come and gone, it was…that day…the day they arrived. I though about telling Clark that last night he was here but with everything happening so fast I didn't want to add to his worries. Besides I still don't know for sure."

General Lane came to her side, "You really haven't been yourself lately, hormonal changes would account for that. We need to get you examined by your doctor to make sure, either that or see the doctor here. With all the stress you've been under it's especially important to find out. I'm sure you know you'll need to take better care of yourself if you are indeed pregnant."

"Right, but right now I'm more concerned about that android and what about Clark?"

"Wait, Clark's laptop! Remember he left it here. Maybe we can find out where they are by the program he had tracking the aliens' arrival!" Chloe ran to retrieve the forgotten laptop from the other room. Returning she fired it up and opened the correct program. Luckily Clark had given her the logon information for the back door he had created when she helped him that first night at the UN Security Council meeting.

After the page came up they stared at it for several minutes not really understanding what they were seeing. The bulls eye was there blinking as before but it held no real meaning for them.

General Lane squinted at the screen. "Chloe what if you pull the view out to a wider picture maybe it will make more sense?"

Chloe studied the screen for a minute and then hit a few keys which pulled the view out 50. "Wait a minute we're on SETI's site. Maybe they would know what all of this means."

Chloe hit the icon on the screen and the SETI logo and graphics appeared in the window. She then made a second window and went to the SETI home page. Scrolling down she found the California Site and found a contact phone number. After talking to several people they finally got a hold of the director Dr. Kragan who at first seemed hesitant to give any information especially to the press. With the phone on a speaker they all listened as Richard spoke with her.

"Dr. Kragan, we're not calling as members of the press. We are all friends of Superman and have his personal laptop with the same screen you're seeing. He left it for us perhaps for this very reason. We have reason to believe he may have been taken alive by the Trprians before the final blasts in North Kamdar and replaced with a double, possibly an android but with his memories. We need to know what this screen means! Please it could be very important." Richard implored.

"An android?"

"Yes, but please you mustn't say anything to anyone. The double has warned us he will seek revenge if we disclose his deception."

"I understand and that explains a lot. I just could not see the man I know acting as that, whatever it is, has been acting. We've been viewing the screen since Superman enhanced it for us. It currently appears to show the ship at a point approximately 1 light year away heading back the way it came. I'm assuming it's heading back to Sirius if Superman was correct about the origin point. If that's the case it won't reach it's destination for approximately 5 to 6 days at the current speed."

"Dr Kragan would it be an imposition for you to keep us informed. It really is very important. Again we are not asking as reporters but as friends of Superman."

"Yes, if you send me you email address I can see to it you are kept informed on a daily basis or of any material changes. I pray you're right and Superman is alive, but how will he ever get back if they 'took' him as you believe?"

"That's what we're trying to figure out ourselves. He has always been very resourceful, therefore we can only hope and pray he does come back. Thank you, we'll be in contact." Richard hung up watching Chloe send off an email to Dr Kragan with contact addresses for each of them. "What now?"

"I can't think of anything else we can do for Clark except find out how to control or destroy that dmn double before he tries anything else with Lois." General Lane sat down next to his daughter once again taking her hands in his.

"As I said before that thing showed up I think we need to contact Batman. He's had a lot more experience with this sort of thing than any of us, besides he would want to help. In fact I'm sure of it." Lois pulled one of her hands free from her father and wrapped her arm around Kala who had been quietly listening to everything.

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For about the umpteen time Kal-El, as he was now thinking of himself tried the door. It still refused to open. He sighed, annoyed that they were still as good as prisoners.

Jason looked up from his game, "Daddy, why don't you just break the door down with your super strength?"

Sighing again, Kal-El was forced to explain, "since we're far away from Earth's yellow sun and inside this shielded ship I have no superpowers. These people did provide an artificial Earth environment for a short time to help me heal, but it was marginal and barely strong enough to even help. That's why I'm taking so long to heal. I guess we will just have to stay put for now till I can figure out something."

Jason stopped what he was doing his chin quivering as he held back tears. "Daddy how are we going to get home to Mommy and Kala?"

Kal-El went to Jason kneeling down in front of him to be at his eye level. "We'll get home the same way we left, in a starship. You have to have faith Jason. We won't let these people get the better of us. We will make it back home but it may take a little while. I need you to believe in me and be as brave as you can possibly be. Will you do that for me, for us?"

Jason nodded his head trying to still his quivering chin, "But I miss Mommy and Kala. Do you think they miss us?"

Holding back his own tears he answered as he pulled Jason into an embrace. "Yes, I'm sure they miss us every bit as much as we miss them."

Releasing Jason, Kal-El went to the table and pushed the button to call Der Motin. He was tired of waiting for something to happen and needed something more pro-active to do.

Mer Kaper answered the page knocking she entered. "My Lord Kal-El you are in need of something?"

"Yes, but I was hoping Der Motin would answer. I wish to speak to him if he's available."

"Yes, my Lord." She bowed as she left.

Just a short time later Der Motin knocked and entered. "You requested my presence?"

"Yes, you told me yesterday that I would be given access to the computer system. I'm bored and would like to start learning more about the Trprian and what is to be expected of me. Or am I to be kept in the dark as little more than a prisoner?"

"I will see to it immediately My Lord. Is there anything else?"

"Exactly what is this training I'm to take once we reach Trpria?"

"My lord, it is what will make you truly Lord Arnken's successor."

"That doesn't exactly answer my question. What does it entail?"

Looking around obviously uncomfortable Der Motin hesitated.

"Is this room bugged, am I under surveillance?"

"No, My Lord, since you moved to this section you have not been watched as before. It would not be proper to 'watch' one in your new station. In answer to your question the training is similar to the memory transfer you underwent only you will be receiving Lord Arnken's memories. His memories will overtake, overshadow your own and you will become as one mind. This is the way of our people. Lord Arnken is the fifth of the line, you will be the sixth."

Kal-El was speechless as he considered the ramifications of this revelation. He sat down in the chair as Der Motin excused himself saying he would see to the computer access.

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Batman was called and informed of everything that had happened and promised to do what he could. He informed them that it sounded like the android or whatever was left here to create havoc and destroy Superman's reputation which actually bode well. Why would they do that if Superman was dead or not expected to return. He reminded them that the Trpria had said they would return. Surely Superman and Jason would be with them when they did return. The only questions were, would he be the same and how long would it be?

In the meantime he wanted time to study the impostor before deciding how to proceed. He promised to stay in contact.

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The chief lesson I have learned in a long life is that the only way to make a man trustworthy is to trust him; and the surest way to make him untrustworthy is to distrust him and show your distrust.
Henry L. Stimson US politician (1867 - 1950)

Kal-El had finally gotten access to the computer data banks and spent much of his days learning as much as he could about his Trprian captors. He continued to think of them that way since he and Jason were still confined to their quarters most of the time. It had now been a full four earth days since he had been taken and three since Jason had been taken to join him.

Each day he queried Der Motin for more pieces to the puzzle careful to not overstep his bounds. After reading an accounting of Lord Arnken's son Kal-El felt it was lacking in real specifics therefore he invited Der Motin to join him for dinner so he could once again ply him for information.

Kal-El made sure Jason ate early and asked him to stay in his room and play quietly. As they ate Kal-El asked, "Why did Lord Arnken's son not succeed him as had been expected. The records are not clear as to what actually happened?"

Der Motin's face grew clouded and he spoke hesitantly. "Lord Arnken's son, Srnken was unwilling to accept his place. When time came for the transfer he refused. The training was forced upon him and he fought it. Unfortunately by doing so, it drove him mad. It is believed he is somewhere in the underground of Trpria with the undesirables and misfits totally insane. That is why Lord Arnken once again sought you out. He has long been enamored of your potential. There were times when he thought of nothing else. When you disappeared from Earth he was annoyed with you for a time. Then when you were nearly killed by the earthlings recently he was horrified."

"How did he know of all the happenings on Earth, did he really watch that closely?"

"Yes, he did watch closely. He has been obsessed with you since your return. The attempt on your life by SHADO was the final straw. He prepared to act as soon as he heard of it, that and the fact that his time is near. He has only been holding on to make you his replacement. He is incensed you are the 'Chosen One'."

"What do you mean exactly 'Chosen One', this is not the first time I've heard that."

"The 'Chosen One' was foretold to bring our enlightenment. Lord Arnken has grown increasingly unstable during his unnaturally long lifetime waiting for you. It was not always as it is now. It had long been the Trprian calling to aid civilizations to the next level. It was not until Lord Arnken's great-grandfather that the intercessions began. Lord Arnken's grandfather declared himself Lord. It seems with each succession the greed for power grows. It may be a function of the memory transfer. Be aware not all Trprians blindly agree with the direction our Lords have taken us."

"You do not agree do you Der Motin?"

"No, I do not. That is why I am telling you all this even at my peril. I think you may not only be Earth's salvation but ours as well. I do not know how you can succeed. I can only pray you do. If I can be of any assistance I am at your service as is my daughter. Be aware many billions of lives are now in your hands. In just a few short days you will either defeat Lord Arnken or you will become him."

That night's sleep cycle, as he now thought of it, Kal-El lay awake unable to sleep.
Hearing a scream from the other room he jumped up and ran to Jason who was just waking from a nightmare. "I'm sorry Daddy, I'm trying to be brave but I miss Mommy and I keep dreaming of that bad man that looks just like you. Is he going to hurt Mommy while we're away?"

"Jason there's nothing we can do right now for Mommy. I did try to place some commands in that bad man's memory to do no harm when they gave him my memories but I have no way of knowing if it worked. We have to focus on what we can do if we are to ever make it back home. I don't believe they will be hurt. Do you know why you were brought here?"

"No, but I think that bad man that looked like you knew I didn't believe him. He looked at me real mean. He scared me."

"Jason, they brought you here to force me to do something I didn't want to do. They won't hurt Mommy and Kala or Earth for the same reason. They know that if they hurt any of you I won't do want they want. Do you understand that?"

Still looking a little puzzled he nodded his head. "I think so Daddy. But what do they want you to do?"

Kal-El was trying to be honest with Jason, but he was not willing to answer that question so he evaded. "I don't know for sure, they won't tell me till we get where we're going in a few days. Why don't you try and go back to sleep now?"

"Can I sleep with you? My hearing isn't as good as it was and sometimes when I can't sleep it helps if I count your heartbeats but I have to be close to you now to hear."

"Yes, I like counting your heartbeats too. Perhaps we can both sleep better if we stay close by."

Jason soon fell asleep but Kal-El still remained troubled with everything he had read and discussed with Der Motin going through his head. Just how could he hope to defeat such a powerful enemy without the super powers he was so used to having?

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The mean android is still threatening to find each and every one of you and to twist your arms if you don't review! Plus he has been taking it out on me personally. BTW, If I turn evil it's because the mean android made me so by taking your lack of reviews out on me! My arm is already sore where he twisted it yesterday so hard I could hardly type. Please save me from his wrath and review! (wink)