Everything was filled in a pitch-black darkness. As if nothing was anymore! That was at least what Jon felt for a few seconds after Earth-Prime-Clark suddenly showed up right behind him. Jon looked on the other Clark for a few seconds…
Different suit, different cape that looked much heavier than the ones of his doppelgangers, and those shoulder pads that he couldn't stop glaring on. Thicker and higher boots that actually looked a lot comfier than those of the others. The suit was made of a different fabric and looked a lot comfier, too.
This was not his father, or eighter one of the doppelgangers he met today. It also couldn't be the father of his Earth-AU doppelganger. For that he was too young. This was a Clark/ Superman from a whole different Earth. The man looked on him in worry and with an empathy, he always admired Superman for and which he was famous for.
Earth-Prime-Clark raised his hands to show that he surrenders and that he comes in peace and without bad intentions. And it was true…
After the terrible events regarding the Antimatter-Crisis, several years ago, everyone was determined to never let it happen again. Their world had changed a lot. Suddenly being mixed with another Earth and having two seven-year-old sons instead of one baby.
He and his allies localized the origin of the latest interdimensional disruptions and found this Earth. And this boy. An anomaly in time! A boy who was supposed to be death by now but was alive because he was taken away from his family (their own doppelgangers). Clark couldn't stop looking on Jon, who was looking exactly like his Jonathan. Just older. And with this black Kryptonian garment, like the holographic image of his father wears in his fortress. The House-of-El-crest throning on the boy's crest, matching perfectly to him. Not only because of his appearance and his heritage, but also because it looked so incredibly good on him.
"Jonathan, or Jon-El?" Earth-Prime-Clark asked. "I only want to talk to you!"
"Leave me alone!" Jon moaned and turned back to the tombstone to mourn his real parents.
"Jon, I know you are mad. And a lot of other things, I guess. Shocked, embarrassed, disappointed…I am not here to offend you or to hurt you. I only want to talk."
"From whose world are you?"
"From another one! I am not from any of the other worlds you learned about today. I am not adult Connor's abusive dad if you believe that."
That though let Clark shiver. He went closer slowly. Jon was still sitting on the ground in front of his own grave. Clark sat down next to him. Using his cape as a pillow to sit on. Jon looked on his father's doppelganger carefully and reserved.
"Today must have been awful for you?"
"You have no idea!"
"Jon, I know, telling you that I feel with you would sound pathetic. Or ridiculous. Because nobody knows how it is to feel what you feel! What my doppelgangers did to you and your doppelgangers is awful. And believe me, it will have consequences, for me, too! I am so sorry what happened with you! Would you like to talk about it?"
Jon looked on his father's doppelganger and thought about it.
"I have the feeling that this is no good idea! As if I shouldn't do that, because I would get disappointed."
"After hearing the stories of your doppelgangers, I understand that! I wouldn't trust myself, too after that!" Clark said.
"A lie! My whole life is a lie!" Jon wailed.
"That's not true! You had two wonderful parents, who loved you unconditionally. You have a family in Argo waiting for you! And a lot of people who are so happy to have you back…" Clark said.
"Back after what? After they didn't want me? After I got powers? If powers are the only way to get someone's love, what else are they good for?"
"For a lot!" Clark reassured him. "I know it is a lot! To suddenly figure out such awful things. Or to know that… you know…"
"What? That I am supposed to be dead? That I am an anomaly! Causing this… this… whatever is going on here?!"
Jon raised his arms to point on everything around him. The pinkish light that covered the sky, and absolutely everything. Or the fact that everything was frozen in place. Clark noticed that. But he would explain everything later. First Jon needs to calm down a bit.
"I have two sons, too!" Clark finally said. "You and a Jordan, too! They are just 11 now! And both still don't know that I am Superman! But we plan to tell them today as soon as we are back home!"
Jon looked on his father's doppelganger with big eyes. Now being curious about it.
"I am shocked about what I heard today from your doppelgangers. That is a warning for me and for my whole family to never let it happen in my world, too. But it is in the past. Not only that, but you also never experienced it! You are an intelligent, brave young man Jon! With a lot of potential. Make the best of it! After what I heard, it is you who keeps the family together in every world." Clark said and took Jon's hand while looking into the boy's eyes. "We find a solution for everything. Let's go back to the fortress…"
Clark lifts off the ground and reached out his hand for the boy to help him up. Carefully, Jon took his father's doppelganger's hand to lift off the ground, too. Clark put a hand around Jon and departed with him into the air again…
Clark knew that this boy was very fragile. It also showed him how dangerous it could be if one son has powers, and one doesn't. When he and his allies watched the ongoing crisis, after his son Jonathan had visions, too, they were all shocked about how terrible all those Jonathan's got treated. And that just for being powerless. But he would explain everything detailed back at the fortress.
There they both arrived just a few minutes later…
Earth-AU-Connor and Earth-TUD25-Jonathan were sitting outside on the terrace and talking about their lives. The Jonathan-A.I. took care of Earth-Krypton-Clark and kept sure that he keeps distance.
"I mean it seriously! As soon as you notice powers, don't ask your father for advice. That will only cause pity." Earth-AU-Connor told.
"I really start to believe; my dad is happy about Jordan having powers long ago. I think he faked his shame!" Jonathan said. "And your Jordan really lost his powers?"
"Lara take them from him when she figured out how much I suffered under his and my fathers! And stay away from Sam. He will hurt you, too…"
"After hearing him today, I know now that I shouldn't have tried it ever…"
They were shocked when they suddenly saw Jon and Earth-Prime-Clark arriving.
"Who are you?" Earth-TUD25-Jonathan asked.
"A friend!" Clark answered while he and Jon approached them. "Let's go inside! I'll explain you everything!"
Together they went inside again, where the Jonathan A.I., Earth-Krypton-Clark and all the other frozen people were shocked about the appearance of this new Clark in the different suit…
And so, Clark began to explain them everything…
That he experienced a severe antimatter-crisis, that once erased the whole multiverse a couple of years ago. About how the seven paragons created a new multiverse, almost identical to the previous one. With the difference that his Earth was merged with another Earth, creating Earth-Prime, as they call it! About the other Superheroes and how they found them.
About the wave of antimatter, that was slowly building up around them and that they found a way to stop it and prevent it from spreading. By containing them and Earth-359 (where they all got sucked into) in this void… out of time and safely isolated from the whole multiverse…
"That means we are all in his world now?" Earth-AU-Connor asked pointing on Earth-359-Jon.
"Yes!" Earth-Prime-Clark said.
"And how we all get back to our worlds?" Earth-TUD25-Jonathan asked.
"Soon! We are working on it! I think we can manage to reverse all the effects and set everything back to normal as soon as we destroyed the origin." Clark said and turned to Earth-Krypton-Clark. "You! How could you? Your journeys to the other Earth's created chaos!"
Earth-Krypton-Clark lowered his head in shame and start to cry again. His Earth-Prime doppelganger knelt to him to look into his eyes.
"I understand it! You made a mistake! A big one! And you try to make amends for it! I don't know what I would do if my Jonathan vanished and that just because of my mistakes. You try to prevent others from repeating your mistakes, but at which cost…"
"I… I just don't endure it… I… I did everything wrong after my public exposure. With the boys, with my family… especially with Jonathan…" Earth-Krypton-Clark looked over to the A.I. of his son. "…what you had to endure was not okay. I should had seen that the burden you must feel to be the powerless one is bigger than anything someone can imagine. And I just focused on your brother. But I should had focused on you, too."
"What happened is in the past! And the past can not be changed! Instead, we have to reverse the effects of the antimatter-wave you created!" the Jonathan-A.I. explained, while investigating some data that were floating over his hand. "Your doppelganger is right! This dimension is struck in the middle of an antimatter-wave and if the time wouldn't have stopped, this entire world would be vanished within seconds."
"Vanished?" Earth-359-Jon asked. "That means… everything?"
"This planet, this galaxy, and this entire universe! Followed by ours and every other universe he visited. And when they are gone, it will spread to the others and the entire multiverse is gone." The Jonathan-A.I. explained. "For now everything is contained in this void."
"How do we stop it?" Earth-359-Jon asked. "Not only Earth is in danger! What about Argo?"
"Everything will be fine!" Earth-Prime-Clark said before turning to the other Jonathan's. "Boys… I heard what you told about your lives. And I am so sorry to hear that! If there is anything I can do for you, let me know!"
Earth-AU-Connor crossed his arms and just looked on him angrily. "I reject that offer! I don't trust anyone with that crest!"
"It is your crest, too! Sorry, that you had to endure all those bad things!" Clark said and turned to Earth-TUD25-Jonathan. "And you?"
"I don't know what to say now!" Earth-TUD25-Jonathan said shocked and looked around again. "This is all too much for me… I am a holograph, a superpowered clone of myself… This was always my dad's and Jordan's business. Everything Kryptonian is not my problem. For usual! And if it is, my parents usually tell me to stay out of it because they will deal it with Jordan's powers!"
"Awww… Understand… If it's making you feel better: My Lois, already told me that she is going to divorce me if I ever ditch you for flying- or power-lessons."
"Pah… My mom wouldn't even divorce my dad if he beats me dead!"
Hearing that, Lois wanted to yell up that it is not true. And Clark would regret everything. Even if it is months too late but he will regret it. And Clark felt bad, too. Realizing that the damage he did is bigger than expected.
"You are a good boy! You work hard and proved that you don't need powers to be special!" Earth-Prime-Clark said encouragingly. "Your family does not deserve your support and your love if they don't appreciate it. If he was stupid enough to exclude you from your own heritage, he does not deserve to call himself an El! Or even an Kent!"
These words hurt Clark, Lois and Sam even more. Their Lara was just more furious about her son's behavior.
"And you…" Earth-Prime-Clark turned to Earth-AU-Connor. "…what you had to endure was terrible. But I see that you are a strong person, Connor! You have a big heart! You are selfless and you have done a lot to help others. It's sad that you put down the name Kent. Or that you had to fake your death to be free! But I heard what you reached in your life and I can tell you, that I am proud. And Martha would be even prouder! You might have powers, but you are the living prove that you don't actually need them to be special and extraordinary!"
"Thank you! It means a lot to me!" Earth-AU-Connor said.
"Seriously! Your family was stupid to not to see that. That they fell apart and got disgraced is only their fault!"
"At least he apologized after revealing that I am still alive. For everything. Especially for ruining the trial against the people of Smallville. Everyone who took X-K, tried to kill me or hurt me, was never charged because of his stupidness."
"And that's why the Smallville of your world is most hated town of America!" Earth-Prime-Clark said encouragingly. "After everything you told me, I think I will stay with my sons in Metropolis after telling them the truth! At least until we are sure that our Smallville is not as bad as yours!"
There was approving murmuring after that.
Suddenly they all noticed the pinkish light all over fading away. Slowly… but there was progress…
"It's working!" Earth-Prime-Clark said with a bright smile before he walked over to his Earth-Krypton-doppelganger again. "Where is it?"
"What?" Earth-Krypton-Clark asked worried.
"The device you used to travel to other Earth's? We have to destroy it!"
"NO! Please… THEY NEED HELP!"
"Look at you! You need help!" Clark tried to reassure his doppelganger that he was slowly losing his mind. "This will not solve anything! So… where is it…"
"He keeps it in his fortress!" the Jonathan-A.I. explained. "In the Arctic!"
"Okay…" Clark said. "Connor, Jonathan, Jon… go to your respective families and prepare for the return. In a few minutes everything is over…"
"Will really everything be alright again?" Earth-AU-Connor asked worried while he looked after his wife.
"Everyone will be back on his own Earth, soon." Earth-Prime-Clark said before he speed away to get the device that his doppelganger used…
"Will we remember everything?" Earth-TUD25-Jonathan asked. But Earth-Prime-Clark was already gone.
Jon used his last seconds at this place to turn to his 'family' again. Looking on them.
"I came to Earth with countless of questions! Mostly if you have abandoned me because I am too human for you. I know now you didn't do that! But I also know now that you wouldn't have loved me without powers. At least not as much as my adoptive parents. And that you just changed after you lost me! I think it will be better in that case… if I return home as soon as possible. To my real home..."
While Jon was talking, the area around them was dissolving. Jon saw his doppelgangers and their families vanishing again, while they got transported back to their respective Earths and respective times… Jon could feel that he was falling… He is the anomaly… He is supposed to be death now… as soon as the balance is restored, he doesn't fit in this universe anymore. He leaves! No matter where, but at least he got answers…
A bright light… That's all what everyone could see…
…thumb…
…thump…
…screech…
…screaming…
Earth-AU…
Connor and his pregnant wife, found themselves back in Ketchikan. The groceries they bought for the dinner-party in the shopping-bag and on the way to the babysitter to pick up Joel.
"WOW… Connor, what time is it?" Janet asked.
Connor looked at his watch and realized that it was the moment he had the first flashback. Just that he didn't have it. Everything was back to normal.
Happily the couple start to cheer, catching the attention of other people before they walked away happily.
"Tomorrow you go to Juneau and show them what great work you do."
"Thank you, Janet. For everything! Without you I wouldn't be where I am today!"
"This is your work! I am so proud on you! Screw those doppelgangers of your so called dad. You are the one and only hero!" she said.
They kissed passionately. Ignoring that other people were watching. But that's okay, tomorrow he will take the plane to Juneau, to launch his new foundation officially there…
Earth-Krypton…
Clark was back in his fortress as if nothing had happened. But he remembered every single moment. A short glimpse on the clock revealed that every moment, Connor would storm in to beat him up for causing those flashbacks… but it was silent.
Clark wondered if everyone else forgot what happened. The missing device, was a prove that they were all indeed in another world for some time. But who else remembers it? Clark was about to take the phone to call Lois when he suddenly felt someone arriving at high speed… it was Connor (formerly Jonathan)…
He was dressed as usual. Tight black Superman-t-shirt with a red crest on his chest. Dark blue cargo-pants and black steel-toed safety-boots. He looked on him not with his usual anger. But in worry and concern.
"Where is the device?" he asked.
"Gone!" Clark respond and start to cry. "It's gone!"
"Good!"
"I never meant to hurt anyone… I swear…"
Clark burst out in tears again and fell on his knees. To his surprise, his son's clone caught him to embrace him in a tight hug.
"I think you need help!"
"I… I… Aghh… I am so so sorry… After… Aft… er… you… and… everything…"
Connor carried his crying father to the fortress' main chamber and inserted his crystal to let the Jonathan A.I. appear.
"I think it's time for a talk…"
A smile appeared on Clark's face. He won't be able to help other Jonathan's again, but at least his own Jonathan was willing to talk to him. And that was all he ever wanted.
Earth-TUD25…
Jonathan, Clark, Lois and Sam were all back at were they were when Jonathan had his first flashback. Jonathan standing next to his truck, on the way to the firehouse, Clark working in the barn, Lois at the Gazette and Sam in his office at the DOD, trying to limit the damage of Jordan's public reveal.
For everyone it felt more like a weird dream. But Jonathan knew it was not a dream. It happened, but he decided to ignore it. He was not in mood for any wrong pity from his family or lame apologies…
His grandfather just called him useless and he was sure that his parents will be more concerned about Jordan's public reveal now.
Jonathan got in his truck and took his phone to check his supposed future hometown in Alaska when suddenly his father appeared next to him in a blur and knocked on the window. Jon pushed the button to open the window to talk to him.
"What?"
"Jonathan, are you okay?" Clark asked worried. Not sure if he was the only one who remembered or if Jonathan did, too.
"I am fine!" Jonathan said, and put his phone away, so his father doesn't see that he googled Ketchikan. He pretends that everything is fine and that nothing happened. This way he prevents any more weirdness. "I have to go now. Mr. Cushing is waiting for me!"
Clark was upset. He remembered every single moment and every single word Jonathan and his doppelgangers told about how much they got hurt and it was bothering him to think about Jon feeling left out and unloved by his own family. And he knew that he made some serious mistakes over the past years. Some of them might be responsible for Jonathan's problems, Jordan's latest troublemaking and other things. Thinking about Jonathan's doppelgangers made Clark pensive. And it was obvious that Jonathan rather spent time with John-Henry and Kyle Cushing, than him.
"I mean… ehm… I had a weird feeling. Is really everything all right?"
"It is! Why?" Jonathan decided to act like it never happened. But Clark knew that Jonathan was lying. But he also doesn't want to be too pushy.
"I was just thinking…" Clark tried to sound not intrusive. "… the past few y… ehm… weeks had been very stressful. And I thought we could… I don't know… let's do something together."
Jonathan looked on his father and could hear in his father's voice that he was worried. Wondering if he might have heard how he described their family to his doppelgangers. But he wouldn't give his father the victory. Not after what happened today!
"I am busy! And don't you have more important things to do?"
"No! It's just… I… ehm… I was thinking… and… we didn't have the chance to spend some time together, lately. I thought we could do something. Just we two! We could go to town? Or to the fortress? I wanted to show you the technology there long before…"
Jonathan felt the urge to scream that there were millions of chances to spend time together and that he promised to show him the Kryptonian technology months before but still exclusively reserved it for Jordan because he had powers. Knowing that the fortress was only for those who can fly.
Jonathan didn't speak out these words loudly, but Clark could see it in his son's face that he was thinking right that. Having the same offended and disappointed expression in his face, like back on the day he left with Jordan to teach him flying. Knowing that his son wasn't running after him anymore and that he was keeping distance to not get hurt anymore. And Clark could beat himself for giving Jonathan the feeling that he is not allowed to know anything about Krypton, his heritage, or about the superhero business just because he has no powers.
Or yet? Maybe he was a late bloomer? He knew Lara will grill him as soon as he shows up in the fortress again and demand to see Jonathan immediately, if she remembers everything, too. He could have at least let him scanned, but even that he didn't do. Lara will insist on it! This was his son! And he let him believe that he could be replaced by his super powered inverse doppelganger. Or that he doesn't love him. That he will always come last place for him and that nobody wants to give him a chance to prove himself.
"Sorry, dad! But I need to go! Another time maybe?" Jonathan said while he closed the window, started the motor and drove away.
Clark was left behind in a cloud of dust and looked after his son's leaving truck. Knowing that it won't be easy for him and the others to make up and that it will take more than just words to prove Jonathan that they are fully on his side…
Earth-Prime…
"Did it work?"
"Yes, everything is back to normal. The antimatter dissolved and everyone is back on his own Earth."
"Yes, we can see them. Looks like your doppelgangers try to make amends for everything to their Jonathans."
"But that won't be easy. Too much has happened."
"Clark, seriously… if you ever do that to our son, I divorce you!"
"Of course, Lois. As soon as we are home, we take the boys to the farm and tell them everything. We will not make these mistakes, too."
"And what do we do with this thing, now?"
"You should destroy it! It is too dangerous."
"Yes, ma! As interesting as it is, it is too dangerous… wait… where is Jon-El?"
"Which one? Aren't they all Jon-El, technically?"
"The one who was living in Argo? Where is he?"
Panic spread… Jon-El was gone!