Chapter 16 - Terror on Earth - The Aliens Return

The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen.
Frank Lloyd Wright US architect (1869 - 1959)

Lord Kal-El stood admiring himself in his new suit. It was similar to the black tight fitting suits worn by other Trprian men except it had scarlet red piping around the shoulders and matching scarlet red enhancing the tapered waist. The boots were also matching scarlet going up to the mid shins. A large crest was attached to the chest area. LK for Lord Kal-El. He smiled admiring how the design resembled the S shield the body had worn for its prior occupant. Yes he had chosen well, this vessel was befitting his greatness. His eyes flashed white sparks as he smiled at himself.

Turning from his image he headed for the door. Der Motin met him as it swished open. "Have we arrived? I grow tired of waiting."

"Yes My Lord Kal-El we have arrived. How do you wish to proceed?"

"I have decided to make Earth our home base. This planet is preferable to Trpria. Instead of annihilating the populous we will conquer it. They will serve as slaves as we build our population back up. Our numbers have grown too thin in Trpria's harsh environment. Here I will have better control of this vessel. Here I will be viewed not just as Lord Kal-El but as a god among men! Separate the ships to cover the major world headquarters. I wish to inform the people of their fate myself. Make arrangements to broadcast my voice from each ship."

Der Motin bowed as his heart skipped a beat. "Yes My Lord Kal-El. I will alert the crews immediately. Might I command the number two ship since your second-in-command has been found to be not trust worthy leaving us short of commanders?"

"Yes, yes be gone with you." Der Motin smiled as he left the Lord. Finally things were going as they planned. If only other things would fall into place as well.

The ships separated with the command ship slowly heading for nearby Washington D.C. The other ships headed in opposite directions for their assigned positions or at least it appeared as so. Two of the ships veered from their assigned paths, one hovering unseen high in the air just a few hundred miles from the command ship. The second wayward ship moved quickly to its destination and was soon hovering unseen high above the Kent farm house in Smallville, Kansas.

Lois was holding her breath watching the events unfold on the TV as Shelby and Einstein began barking insistently in the yard. Lois, not knowing what to expect but praying for the safe return of her missing child jumped up and ran to the door. Looking out the screen door she saw a bright beam of light hitting the ground midway between the house and barn. She stepped out onto the porch without hesitation as her father, Martha and Ben joined her with Kala close behind.

Two beings suddenly appeared in the beam, a young woman and a child who looked just slightly older than Jason. The young boy seeing Lois on the porch began to run towards her. At first the dogs continued to bark then slowly started wagging their tails as they greeted the child as he raced to the porch.

"Mommy, mommy it's me Jason." As he jumped into her arms crying she hesitantly caught him but held him back so she could look into his eyes not understanding. As she looked he coalesced into the child she had been missing so desperately. Truly seeing her son she embraced him fully as tears of relief fell from her eyes. Martha and Kala eagerly joined in the hug as Lois turned to look at the woman who had appeared with Jason.

Jason noticed and said. "It's OK Mommy, Mer Kaper took care of me. Daddy and I were sep-rated and she and Srnken hid me to keep me safe just like they promised Daddy."

Mer Kaper came forward. "I mean you no harm. We promised Kal-El that we would return the child to you. It is done. I will take my leave as I am needed elsewhere. Be aware we are attempting to prevent your world from being conquered by our new Lord who now inhabits Kal-El's body. If he appears here, you must be wary. He is not the man you know. It is unknown if Kal-El has survived as Lord Arnken ascended into Lord Kal-El. If we find he has not survived we will be forced to destroy the vessel. I am truly sorry, but know that this was his wish as well."

Lois sat Jason down telling him and Kala to go in the house with their grandmother. Walking towards the woman she demanded clarification as her father and Ben joined her. "I don't understand. What do you mean Lord Arnken ascended into Lord Kal-El. Destroy the vessel, are you calling Kal-El's body a vessel?"

"Yes, Lord Arnken's mind has been transferred to Kal-El's body and currently it is unknown if Kal-El survived the process. We will be forced to destroy Lord Kal-El if Kal-El does not resurface soon and take back control. Otherwise he is too dangerous and unstable to allow continued life. Kal-El was in agreement on this if it became necessary. His last request was that the child be kept safe and returned to you. Again I am sorry, but I must depart. We very much respect Kal-El and tried to prevent this from happening but alas it may be inevitable now."

The woman vanished into the beam as it reappeared. "This can't be happening. Jason, I have to talk to Jason." Lois screamed as she ran back into the house gathering him back into her arms. She brushed his hair out of his eyes examining his face to make sure he was really alright then hugged him close sitting down with him in her lap. "Jason, tell us what happened. How did you appear to look different when you arrived?"

"Where's Daddy, is he coming home now too?" Jason asked looking around from face to face ignoring the questions posed to him.

"We don't know Munchkin. Tell us what happened, what do you remember?"

"Daddy was there and this old man took me to him, but Daddy was hurt and cold. He hurt here," Jason pointed to his chest with his lips in a pout. "Daddy was in a little room and he made the old man let me stay with him and we were locked in the room. Then they moved us to a bigger place with our own bedrooms but I couldn't sleep so Daddy let me stay with him. We counted heartbeats together so we could sleep. Daddy didn't like it caused the doors wouldn't open for him and he couldn't break the door down cause he didn't have any supper powers and he said we might be sep-rated and I had to be brave and I was scared but I tried to be brave. Daddy said the mean old man was trying to make him do something he didn't want to do and that's why they took me, so they could make Daddy do something. Mer Kaper was nice and played with me but I missed Daddy. I was afraid that old man was hurting him some more." He sniffled as he finished and then wrapped his arms around Lois' neck and hugged her tightly not wanting to let go.

"Uh…Jason", Lois managed to get out, "you're hugging me too tight I can hardly breathe."

"I'm sorry Mommy. I don't mean to hurt you, I didn't mean to hurt Daddy either when his chest hurt and he had bandages on it."

"It's alright Munchkin. You just need to remember how strong you are. You didn't explain how they made you look different when you got here."

He pulled a small device out of his ear. "Mer Kaper and Srnken gave me this and showed me how to make it work. They said it will only work for me. I can make everybody think I look like anything I want. Cool huh?" He managed a smile as he handed the device to his mom.

"Yes, that is really cool." Lois looked at the little device and passed it on to her father who looked it over shaking his head in bewilderment.

"Daddy didn't get one and he doesn't know I have one either. That's how they hid me. They said something about hiding in plane sight but what does a plane have to do with hiding? Do you think maybe Daddy Richard would know since he knows a lot about planes?" He sighed as his mind once again went to his father. "Is Daddy coming home soon? I don't want that mean old man to hurt Daddy any more."

Lois didn't know what to say so she just hugged Jason close again and answered, "We want him back safe too." She looked up at Martha and then pulled Kala into the embrace along with Jason as she sighed deeply.

Just then Lois' cell phone rang with the personalized ringer telling her it was Richard calling. She grabbed the phone out of her pocket answering on the second ring speaking excitedly before he could say a word, "Richard, Jason's back, he's safe and well."

"Ahhh, I'm so glad to hear that!" Tell him his Daddy Richard..." he had to stop to compose himself before continuing. …Tell him I love him and I'll see him very soon. Man, I'm so happy he's home. What about Clark? You didn't mention Clark."

Lois asked Martha to take Jason and Kala to the other room while she told Richard about how Jason had been returned, what the woman had told her and finally everything Jason had said.

"Are you watching the news, one of the ships has just approached the white house it looks like something may be about to happen. Perry, Jimmy and several of the others are here with Chloe and me at the office. We wanted to make sure all of you were safe there at the farm. I thought we would all feel better if you were on the line while whatever is going to happen, happens.

At the Planet bullpen and inside the farmhouse all eyes were clued to the TV as it showed the command ship settling above the white house. A bright beam of light shot out of the ship with a being suddenly appearing within in the light. As the beam disappeared the being glowed brightly with eyes sparking as it began to speak with a booming voice, "We are back as promised. It is time to choose, submit to Lord Kal-El or face utter eradication. You have one Earth day. Use the time wisely. This same message is being transmitted to all parts of your world. There will be no second chances this time. Your champion is no longer here to protect you or dissuade my mind. Choose to live under my dominion or chose to die. There will be no escape from my wrath if you do not choose to serve me."

A bright beam was sent from his eyes utterly destroying several trees near the front of the white house. Lord Kal-El thought to himself, dmn aim, I'll master these powers or be dmned trying.

"That was just a very small sample of my power, beware the wrath of Lord Kal-El!"

Lois caught her breath as she heard the name Kal-El. She dropped the cell phone without even realizing it bringing her hand up to cover her mouth. Although the being was not recognizable to the general public due to the glare from the glowing apparition Lois immediately recognized the form as Clark and the name only confirmed it in her mind.

As she watched in shock acknowledging to herself her husband may indeed be lost to her the being disappeared from the screen. The camera seemed to pan around trying in vain to find the image but it was no where to be found. The camera panned the street showing the few people brave enough to be out running away in fear then panned back up to the ship which simply stayed in place.

Suddenly the dogs began barking again. A loud thump was heard as something hit the ground hard and then a similar booming voice came from the yard. "I have come for the woman Lois Lane. Come forth or I will seek you out myself. Come and join with the all powerful Lord Kal-El and you will be spared the fate of this world."

Lois ran to the screen door once again looking out into the yard. She saw the being now without the glare. The LK on the chest shield was clearly visible so similar but different to the familiar stylized S shield she was so used to seeing. As she looked out at him he looked back with a menacing glare as his eyes flared dancing with white sparks. Her father and Ben held her back trying to pull her from the doorway.

Unexpectedly a green beam hit the being transmitted from the ship that hovered unseen high in the clouds above the farm house. Lord Kal-El spun around in pain. The occupants of the farm looked on in terror, not knowing weather to root for the being or whatever was tormenting him.

Lord Kal-El dug a circle in the dirt as he continued to spin. AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!! He raised his hands to cradle his head as a new pain seemed to take hold as the green beam continued to envelope him. He tried without success to move out of its path. AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHH!!! The beam suddenly faded and disappeared. Lord Kal-El stretched his fisted arm into the air and took off at a high speed continuing to cradle his head with one hand still in obvious pain and anguish.

As her father and Ben continued to hold Lois back Jason escaped from Martha's grasp and raced out the door faster than their eyes could follow. He jumped high into the air and grabbed hold of one of Lord Kal-El's feet as they broke the sound barrier and both disappeared from sight.

TBC… but not right now Hee hee hee