Chapter 6:
Clark arrived at the barn in almost no time. He looked around trying to see where she was, when he heard a sound coming from the back of the barn. As he walked closer to the door he saw a figure emerge from the frame.
"Raya?" he asks.
Emerging from the shadows the beautiful blonde responds with a smile, "Hello Kal-El it's good to see you."
Clark leads Raya out of the barn and around the farm, conversing as they do.
"I was afraid I'd never see you again… Sorry I didn't want to leave you in the phantom zone –"
"You had no choice; it's OK Kal-El. And if it wasn't for you I would have never escaped! I would never have seen all this!" spreading her hands, gesturing their surroundings. "It's more beautiful than the world your father described."
"How'd you find me?"
"Your father told me about the family he had chosen for you, about Smallville. It must have been hard growing up here by yourself!"
"I – had my parents, had my friends."
"But no one who really understood you."
"You mean what was it like to grow up with such a big secret?"
"And the amazing rush of racing trains, knowing nothing can hurt you."
"I used to try and pretend not to notice. But sometime I catch my dad watching me when I'd pick up something that was impossible for him to even move. He wants so much to know what that feels like."
"But he never will."
"No matter how I think I fit in, everyday I'm reminded I'm not one of them."
"You're not alone anymore, I'm here." Raya said with a smile.
"CLARK? Honey, come on in your dad's almost home, you need to wash up before dinner."
"Coming mom. That's my mom," Clark began, seeing Raya's confused look. "You're going to love her, she's great, come on." He added, tugging on Raya's arm.
"Mom!" he calls grabbing her attention as he and Raya walk through the door. "Mom, I'd like you to meet Raya; Raya this is my mother Martha Kent." Clark stated proudly.
"Hi sweetie, I'm honored to meet you, Clark has told me so much, and thank you for helping him escape the Phantom Zone." Martha said as she shook hands with the young woman.
"It's my pleasure Martha Kent, and please no need to thank me, after all it was Kal-El who helped me escape as well."
"Well OK then, I assume that you will be staying for dinner as well, it's really the least I can do." Martha said graciously.
"Yes I will I hope you don't mind me imposing, haven't had a meal in a very long time."
"Well then tonight's your lucky night" Jonathan quipped as he walked in through the door. "Martha's making her specialty, pot roast with a side of potatoes and salad" he said as he planted a quick hello kiss on his wife's cheek.
"Raya this is my dad, Jonathan Kent; dad this is Raya."
"Hello Jonathan Kent."
"So you're Raya. Clark has nothing but good things about you, and might I add it's finally good to see something other than devastation and heartache come out of the Phantom Zone." He stated with a smile.
Raya chuckled, "I am most grateful for your hospitality Jonathan and Martha, Kal-El has informed me of how wonderful you were in his upbringing. Jor-El would be most pleased to see the man that Kal-El is because of you two."
"Speaking of Jor-El" Jonathan began, "Clark have you told her of that person you say you've been um, well, feeling?"
"Um, well uh – n-no, not really." He replied weakly.
"Feeling?" Raya asked, looking confused.
"Clark apparently has been feeling the presence of someone, but he doesn't know who it is. We were wondering if maybe you knew who he was, another phantom or something?" Jonathon explained.
"No. If Kal-El can as you say sense his presence then he is not one of the phantom's."
"So do you know who is?" Clark asked. His tone one of hope and desperation.
"On Krypton, Kryptonian families shared a special bond with their members. They can sense their presence when one is near. That is why family is of great importance on Krypton."
"So you're saying that was some sort of long lost relative."
"That is exactly what I am telling you Kal-El."
"Great! So do you know who he is?"
"Kal-El are you sure it's not Jor-El?"
"I'm positive. Why didn't I have any relatives. No you did, but you only had female cousins, no males. Come to think of it Kal-El, the only other male relative was… no it is a ridiculous idea. It is not possible."
"Well who is? Do you know?" Clark pleaded.
"Kor-El, my husband, and your brother." Raya stated smoothly and calmly.
"Wait a minute, wait a minute, are you saying that Clark has a…" Jonathan started.
"Brother!" Clark finished excitedly. "And he's your husband?" Clark asked to make sure.
Raya nodded in agreement.
"So what that would make you my sister-in-law."
Again, Raya nodded.
"Clark, before you get really excited, may I remind you that he could be just like Jor-El. He could be nothing but trouble."
"Dad, with three Kryptonians, it will make putting the Phantoms back in the Phantom Zone a whole lot easier, and I now have a family."
"Clark," Martha spoke for the first time in the conversation. "I thought we were your family?" she finished trying to hold back the tears.
"Of course you are Mom. You and dad are my parents, nothing is going to change that. But now I have some people who know what it's like to have my powers, to know what it's like to be me, and who I don't have to hide my real self from."
"One!" Raya spoke.
"What?" all three Kents exclaimed at once.
"Only one Kryptonian will be needed. Kal-El you said that it will be easy to trap the phantoms with three Kryptonians. I am telling you that only one of us will be needed. Assuming that it was your brother you were sensing."
"Why?" Clark, asked confused.
"Whilst Jor-El, was responsible for trapping the Phantoms into the Phantom Zone, it was Kor-El who actually captured them to be placed on trial in the first place. He is the only good warrior that was on Krypton. The rest were all in allegiance to Zod. Krypton was a peaceful planet, violence in any form was punishable by exile to the Phantom Zone since we did not believe in the death sentence. Kor-El found out about an attack that Zod was planning to overthrow Jor-El from his throne, so that he could be the ruler of Krypton and anyone who opposed him would be destroyed. Fortunately Kor-El went out and studied various forms of fighting techniques from across the universe and was able to bring Zod and his men before Jor-El for trial. Unfortunately since Kor-El used violence he was also exiled."
"What? Hold on a sec. Throne? Are you saying that I'm from a royal blood-line, that I'm some sort of a prince."
"Indeed Kal-El."
"How can Jor-El exile his own son, doesn't he have a heart?" Jonathan asked, still convinced that Jor-El was a bad man.
"Jonathan Kent make no mistake, Jor-El wanted nothing more that to gather Kor-El in his arms and congratulate him on a job well done, but Kryptonian law states that any violence will be punishable by exile, since Kor-El was his son, Jor-El was even more pressured to uphold the law."
"So, um Kor-El, got banished to the Phantom Zone as well?" Clark asked.
"No, Jor-El was able to bring to the council's attention that the actions of Kor-El were undertaken in order to prevent the destruction of the planet. So Kor-El was banished forever from Krypton into the universe.