Chapter Three: Ker-Ok's Mistake!

Ten seconds of complete and utter silence.
That was how long it took for everyone to gather their surroundings again.

Ker-Ok was the first person to jump into action. It only took that split second to reach the new player in the game to realise what a Mistake he'd made, acting first.

As soon as he was in reach, he was being held by the throat and lifted off his feet. He could feel the strangers hand tightening, and his airways blocking.

"If you promise to leave now, and never come back; you shall escape with your life, Ker-Ok." The man's strong voice boomed out clearly so everybody could hear.

Ker-Ok's eyes grew wide as the stranger somehow knew his name; which also meant he knew where they came from. He drummed up what little strength remained from being choked; and spat in the man's face.

"The Ok Family are Loyal to General Dru-Zod; not some unknown vigilante!" He spluttered, using his remaining oxygen.

As Ker-Ok was staring at the stranger, he noticed that the man's eyes darkened at the mention of their Leader, his grip tightening even more. And then nothing.

The newcomer chucked the lifeless body of Ker-Ok back to its comrades. He then walked towards the speechless Kryptonian crowd and began talking;

"I am Kal-El of Krypton; and you owe me your Allegiance!" His loud, clear voice swept over the grounds. "Whoever remains Loyal to the House of Zod shall either perish or be sent into the Phantom Zone; where traitors belong!"

It only took the name 'El' to convince six of them to change allegiances. They instantly joined Kal-El on the concrete platform.

Kal-El nodded slightly. "So be it. The card's have been dealt, Brainiac. We'll give you 168 Hours to leave...after that; we'll make you!"

Milton Fine laughed, shaking his head. "168 Hours until this World turns into a Battleground, then; Clark Kent!" He shouted back, but his voice wavered slightly. He was uneasy about how Kent had been able to defeat Ker-Ok so easily.

"On me!" He added to his remaining followers, looking over his shoulder. He then shot up into the sky, straight through the blanket of cloud; the others following his lead.

Kal-El silently watched Brainiac and the nine Kryptonian Out-Law's leave, before turning his back on the lawn. Ignoring his new allies, he went straight past them, walking to the steps; coming face to face with the President.

Martha Kent hadn't comprehended anything that had gone on in the last five minutes, because she was only paying attention to one thing; Clark. Her Clark. She rushed to him, wrapping her arms around his bulky frame.

"Oh, Clark!"

Clark returned the embrace, smiling lightly. "Hi, Mom." He whispered into her ear.

Martha backed away slightly to take in his appearance again. "What are you wearing?" She asked, "You've cut your hair...Is that Gel?!" She added as an afterthought; eyebrows raised.

He let out a small chuckle. "Yes, It's Gel, yes I've cut my hair, and I'm wearing a Kryptonian Suit." He responded in reverse order.

"Oh, my. You look so...huge!"

"I'll take that as a compliment." He quipped, glancing around them.

"Why are you wearing a Cape?" Martha asked, running her hand down it while he'd turned around briefly.

"My idea. I thought it would look...swishy. And it does!" He beamed.

"I can't believe your back, Clark. So much has changed since you left..."

"Does that include the attention the Secret Service pay to the President?" He asked, looking at her.

"Looks like it. It's never been a problem until now; there hasn't been any threats against me, before."

Clark nodded, "Ok, stay put." He told her, before turning his attention to the Kryptonian's.

"Da-Te, Shor-Te, Loth-Van, Vor-Eee, Tres-Zor, Cren-Bur." He addressed each of them in turn. "On behalf of my Father, and the House of El; I thank you for taking up arms against General Dru-Zod."

Loth-Van came forward and brought his right fist up to his heart in a Kryptonian Salute. "The Army may have been Loyal to the House of Zod, but the People have always been Loyal to the House of El; Commander."

Clark slipped into Kal-El mode again and signalled off the Salute with one of his own. "As it should be." He stated. "Fly over Northern Greenland. You'll come across The Fortress of Knowledge; My Father and Raya shall meet you there." He finished, addressing all of them again with a curt nod.

"Yes, Commander." Came six, synchronised responses, before they all took off into the sky.