Everyone was stunned about the sudden appearance of this 'ghost' in the barn. Right over the leftover of Clark's ship, his parents found in the crater that was left behind when his ship emerged from the ground and start to attack the planet.
Long hair, friendly smile and the similar white clothing with the same crest on her chest.
"Lara?" Jonathan said astonished. Of course she was different, too. But according to Clark's story about the ship and how it attacked the planet, Jonathan feared his presence would offend her and cause another disaster.
The barn was surrounded by a force field. It was so bright inside, as if there were multiple super troupers installed. Everyone noticed a slim red laser beam circling around to scan the area. The lights changed and Lara turned to Clark with a bright smile.
"Kal-El, no toe qka! Nys es reav wix!"
"What? I don't understand you!" Clark said. It was the same with the man. He spoke this weird undetectable language, too. Clark turned to Jonathan. "Do you understand her?"
"Hello?! I told you I don't know anything about Krypton! And in my world, she spoke always English with us!"
This cached Lara's attention and Jonathan noticed the red beam scanning him now, too…
"Ke quesv to?"
"I don't speak Kryptonese!" Jonathan said upset.
"Speak… Hello… world… English…" Lara repeated the words before flickering shortly and to everyone's surprise continued in English. "Detecting Earth language English. Please confirm with Yes or No!"
"YES!" Clark yelled loudly.
"Setting changed to Earth language English! Kal-El… my son!" Lara began to smile and looked at Clark.
"You… I saw you in that vision the man gave me in my grown ship." Clark remembered.
He thought back to the day, he entered the ship for the first time and got this 'play' shown. The destroyed place, the pod and the man again who placed him in thus pod.
"I am Lara! I am your mother. I am glad to see you." The hologram said. "I see you have become a grown up man. But this place is not a suited place for me to keep open properly…"
Lara began to flicker and got weaker.
"Wait… You are my mother? Why did you sent me here to conquer this world? Why did you give me away? Are you real or "
"Our planet was doomed! It was the only way you could survive! We don't… want… conquer…" suddenly the flickering got stronger. "…running out of energy… need fortress…"
And suddenly she vanished and the lights turned off. The device closed again and remained silent.
"What? No! Please…" Clark begged and sped to the device to knock on it and to try to turn it on again. "…please. I need answers. You speak English not like the other one! JONATHAN… turn it on again!"
"Me? I don't know how!" Jonathan said shocked.
"It turned on when you came in!" Clark said.
"It zapped me! I didn't want to turn anything on." Jonathan wailed and looked at his hand that was unhurt. He suddenly realized that he was still extremely tired and exhausted as if he never went to bed. He yawned loudly. "Yaw… awww… my head hurts so much. How long did I sleep?"
"About 5 minutes!" Martha said.
"What?" Jonathan moaned. "Gosh…"
"Jonathan, what was she meaning with 'need fortress'?" Clark asked.
"You know I don't know anything about… wait… she is the A.I. My Lara is only able to be in the fortress! I guess… she needs a fortress to be able to stay awake."
"A fortress? Okay… where I can get one?" Clark asked.
"Don't ask me! I don't know how to build a fortress. Here in your world everything is different. Even your pod!"
"Calm down! Both of you! Please!" Martha interfered. "Clark we are so sorry we didn't tell you about it. And Jonathan, we know this matter is making you feel uncomfortable but we didn't want to hurt you or pull you into this."
"This could be a chance for both of you to learn more about that planet. Jonathan, you know at least some basics. You could be able to help…" suddenly Jonathan Sr. saw how pale and weak Jonathan was. "…but you should sleep at least a few hours before we think about building a fortress."
With that words, Jonathan Sr. and Martha threw the tarpaulin back over the device to hide it again. Clark and Jonathan hold each other while tottering back to the house to get some rest after this shock.
"Congratulations, Clark! You found your Lara!" Jon said with a smile.
But Clark didn't smile. He was worried!
200 miles away in Metropolis, Lois entered the restaurant, her father invited her to and was led by the waiter to an empty table. Wondering how much delay he will have today…
It was full in the restaurant, as it was at one of the most popular districts of Metropolis and it was Friday afternoon. The weekend begins and many people wanted to go out. The waiter came back and filled some water into the glass in front of her while handing her the menu. Lois thanked him and said she is waiting for someone.
After the waiter was gone, Lois used her phone below the table to text Clark and Jimmy for updates. Clark didn't respond. Lois guessed he was busy. Jimmy answered back that he goes a bit shopping to get Jonathan some clothes and then drives to Smallville to see if there is anything he can do for him. Lois texted him back that she will join them as soon as possible.
Lois closed the messenger app and opened an internet search for 'breast cancer early detection' when she suddenly noticed her father.
"Good evening, Lois!" the general said in his usual grumpy tone.
"You are here?" it blurted out of Lois before she hastily closed the App and let her phone drop into her purse. "At this time?"
"6 p.m. as arranged. On time!" he said.
"Yes! On time! Not like the other times?" Lois murmured.
"The last time it was just half an hour! And I had a reason!" Sam said and sat down in front of her. "How are you, Lois?"
"Fine! Can't complain!" Lois said.
"When you say it!" the general said, seeing that Lois cried lately.
The waiter came back to hand a menu to Sam, too. A thousand thoughts ran through Lois' head. Thinking about Jonathan's story, she knew that she would keep sure that her father never ever figures out about Clark's secret and never gets in touch with their kids… gosh, she really thinks about getting kids with Clark? Is this Clark even able to have kids with her? Is she able to be a mother? She is young! Too young to be a mom! She is at the beginning of a career!
"I read your latest article! Very interesting!" Sam said.
"Thank you!" Lois said lethargic.
"Are you okay?"
"Why do you think something is wrong? It's not like you have bothered about that before!"
"Because since last thanksgiving, I have the feeling you are lost! Then let me ask you this directly: Why did you cry?"
"What? That's silly!" Lois blushed and avoided eye contact.
"Your eyes are red; your face was pale, and you avoid eye contact! What happened? Did you and Clark break up?"
"What? No! I love Clark!" Lois said. She avoids saying loudly: I know that you don't like him, so stop trying to scare him off!
"So, what happened? I know I haven't been the best father! And I know you think I am not able to feel empathy. But I try to be better! You are my daughter. And if there is something that is scaring you, or if you are in danger, I want to help you! Everything I did in the past 23 years and all the secrets were only meant to keep you safe. So… what happened!"
"Well… If you really insist on it…" Lois moaned and decided to tell him 'the truth'. "…I interviewed a young firefighter today. He mentioned that his mother just recently had breast cancer…"
The word let Sam's grumpy face turn worried and let him show some real emotions as the memory was still as strong as the events of Zero-Day.
"…she is fine by now! Being in remission! But I had to think about Mom a lot since he told me about her! It put a high toll on him and his family was not very supportive to him. Another thing that lets keep me thinking about how we dealt with it."
For the first time in years, Lois saw some true sorrow in her father's face. Real emotions, she didn't even know her father was capable of!
"Your mother and I tried to protect you! And at first it looked like your mother would make it! When her condition worsened, we both decided to spare you from the worst news. I know afterwards we should have told you the truth earlier. I am really sorry for that! And you? How are you!"
"My last screening was good! My blood-tests are all okay! And I don't feel sick and keep sure to eat healthy, don't smoke and don't drink too much alcohol!" Lois said. Sam nodded at that respond. A few seconds later, the waiter brought their ordered dishes.
Both start to eat, and it became silent for a few minutes again. Letting it out, let Lois relax and the tension left her face.
"So… how is work?" Sam asked to break the awkward silence.
"Good!"
"I heard your colleague Cat Grant is one of the chosen journalists for the big Superman Interview on Friday?"
"Yes, but don't ask me who she bribed to get the invitation." Lois said with an raised eyebrow. Of course he starts to ask for Superman. "Why? You want to capture him on air this time?"
"No! I'm just asking!" Sam became defensive. "I mean, you were the first one he actually gave an interview. If those half hearted answers he gave you can count as an actual Interview. And I didn't miss the fact that you and Superman have this… 'connection' to each other!"
"Connection? Do you want to accuse me of something?" Lois asked with an raised eyebrow.
"I just saying that Superman seems to trust you more than others. Despite my previous… encounters with him!"
"He saved my life! Multiple times! With his powers he has done nothing to harm others! On the contrary: He did everything to help! He came here as a baby and only knows this world as his home! But I am sure he will give more proper answers during the interview!" Lois explained, thinking about Jonathan and the answers the boy could give. "So, did you invite me for dinner to ask me things about Superman? I thought you sent those men-in-black to spy me, Clark, and Jimmy out?"
"Men-in-black? I don't know what you mean, Lois?"
"Don't try to fool me, Dad!" Lois said. She almost got louder, but this was not the right place to make a scene. "Today, two scary thugs in black business-suits came to the Planet to spy out me and the firefighter I interviewed. And thirty minutes later, they show up at Clark's place to ask him out about Superman? Do you have an explanation for it?"
"I don't know anything about men-in-black! I didn't send someone to spy out your boyfriend or your interview-partners! And about Superman I am not in charge anymore!" Sam insisted. Lois looked at him with big eyes while Sam's face turned frustrated. "I am not longer in the team that hunting down Superman! Indeed… the government is currently planning on giving Superman a permission to be on Earth permanently. But that depends on what he tells in the interview!"
"Oh…"
"Lois, you don't know that from me!" Sam insisted.
"Sure!" Lois said. She didn't believe Sam, that he doesn't know anything about the men-in-black. "So… do you want to continue talking about matters I don't want to discuss with you, or may we change the topic?"
"How is your boyfriend?" Sam responded by 'changing the topic'. Lois tried to sound not upset.
"He is fine! He had to drive to his parents today. His cousin is in trouble and needs help. Looks like he moves in with them or with Clark in near future!"
"Did you know that your boyfriend has no birth-certificate?" Sam asked.
"I know!" Lois said. She expected her father to make a background check on Clark, like he did with her previous boyfriends. Unlike Clark, her previous boyfriends were mainly just to tease her father. But Clark was someone, he better not peek his nose in. "Clark was a house birth! His mother didn't know she was pregnant, and they were in a lockdown…"
200 miles away in Smallville, Clark and Jonathan tottered upstairs to get Jonathan back to the guest room. On the way there, Clark told Jonathan how his parents explained his sudden appearance to the people of Smallville…
"And the people believed it?"
"Yes! My mom was always a bit… overweight! And because of this lockdown after the first invasion in the area and my arrival, it was easy for my parents to claim that I was a house birth and that my mom didn't know she was pregnant. It was common knowledge that she is 'infertile' and so I became a 'medical wonder'." Clark said. "They told me the truth after my first powers kicked in at age 11!"
"If my parents had told me the truth at age 11, I am sure I wouldn't had been that mad at them and Jordan would have never gotten his social anxiety." Jonathan murmured when he sat down back on the bed and looked around again. "And you? How are you, now that you know that your mom is out there in the barn?"
"I don't know!" Clark murmured. "After all these months of thinking that I was sent here to conquer this planet, I was glad to hear from you the truth. But it doesn't explain the robots and the weapons that came with me to Earth! How did you manage to let her talk English?"
"I don't know! The Lara of my Earth always only spoke English! I think this is a Kryptonian thing! If I would be a Russian, she would speak Russian with me? If I would speak Japanese, she would speak Japanese with me!"
"Makes sense!"
"Sorry, for what happened in the barn!"
"Don't apologize, Jonathan! Please! This was not your fault! The technology reacted on me! You only let her talk English!" Clark said and sat down next to Jonathan. "Jonathan, you are a good boy. Honest, earnest, responsible, brave! You stand up for others, you selflessly help others! My mother said it: You are the much better suited Superboy! And your parents have no clue how much luck they have with you!"
Jonathan smiled after hearing this. He was flattered. "That's nice! Thank you!"
"I say the truth! Jonathan… you have done so much for others! Allow me and my parents to give you something in return!" Clark said and lift from the bed to pull away the blankets to allow Jonathan to lay down again. "You should sleep! Five minutes of Sleep are not enough for anyone!"
Clark turned around and saw that Jonathan was already laying. Eyes closed and with a careful smile on his face. Obviously, he was calmed down by Clark's words and by the knowledge that there was a Lara on this Earth. But also, so exhausted that he couldn't stay awake anymore. Clark pulled the blanket over the sleeping teenager and smiled.
For some reason, he suddenly imagined a little boy laying in there and Lois by his side. A father and a mother taking care of their sleeping little boy. Clark smiled much more after covering Jonathan with the blanket and keeping sure he is safe. Then he checked if the lights were off, the windows closed and everything else was fine before he left. When Clark left the room, he suddenly saw a little boy again. And he had to think about the name Jonathan again. Deciding to call his own son (if he ever gets one) will be called Jonathan… after his father, and after this boy…
Clark walked downstairs and heard his phone beeping in the living-room. He received a message from Jimmy, who was now on the way to Smallville and would arrive in a few hours. Jonathan Sr. and Martha entered the house to comfort Clark.
"How is our new grandson?" Martha asked.
"Finally sleeping! But we should give him some rest before we continue!" Clark said before he looked at his father and remembered how Jonathan told him about his own Pa Kent and that he never met him because of his heart. "Pa… did you take your heart drops?"
"Son, you know me…" Jonathan Sr. defended himself. But Clark just crossed his arms, showing him that he doesn't believe it. "…aww… please, son! My heart is okay! And these drops taste awful…"
"Jonathan!" Martha hissed and turned around to walk to the kitchen, where she got the heart drops out of the fridge and a spoon to fill her husband's dose on it. And come back. "Jonathan, open your mouth…"
"Martha, please…"
"No objection! Open your mouth and stay alive for our grandchild! Lois will sooner or later get pregnant, and I want both of us to be there when Clark Jr. or the little Johnny is born!" Martha said. Ignoring Clark's blushing face and his shocked expression.
"Ma…" Clark was embarrassed.
"Clark, you would be a great father!" Martha said with a bright smile and turned back to her husband. "Jonathan, medicine! Now!"
Jonathan Sr. hold his nose close with his hand and opened his mouth. Allowing his wife reluctantly to give him the medicine, the doctor prescribed…
In Metropolis, Lois was still in the restaurant. She and her father reached the dessert in the meantime…
Lois tried to avoid any further conversations about Superman and his upcoming interview. Sam knew that and tried to talk to her about her relationship with Clark and if she doesn't want to give the lieutenant, he introduced to her a year ago a chance. Lois remembered 'Lieutenant Anderson' very well. A gruff and grumpy guy like her father. And after Jonathan's story about their own Lieutenant Anderson, she had one more person on her list to avoid for life.
At the same time, a cold shiver ran down Lois' back and she held her tummy. She had no clue that right in this moment, Martha was gushing about 'Johnny' or 'Clark Jr.' and Lois could feel it. Over the past few months, Lois developed such a warm relationship with Ma and Pa Kent. She could feel her talking about her. So, she instinctively held her tummy like she would if she was pregnant.
"What's wrong?" Sam asked.
"Nothing! So, what do you want to tell me about Clark? That you don't trust him! Clark is not Patrick O'Brian!"
"I know that Patrick 'Eel' O'Brian was only to tease me! Like that Hawaiian communist, the Moldavian exchange student, and the other guy… the one who let you get arrested!" Sam murmured.
"We demonstrated together against pollution! There is nothing bad about it!"
"Breaking in on an airport and throwing paint on private jets is a crime!"
"I had nothing to do with it!" Lois protested. "The judge confirmed it!"
"But just for knowing him you got in trouble!" Sam moaned. "Lois… I just want you to be safe! And to know… that you are okay! And not permanently in danger?"
"I am safe! I am okay! And what danger could Clark pull me into?" Lois said. There were a lot of possible dangers she could get pulled into. But ever since she met Clark, it was mainly her who caused the trouble, only Superman could get them out of.
Lois woke up from her thoughts when her father's phone, that was laying on the table, start to vibrate.
"Sorry, I have to make a call!" Sam said after looking on the message he received.
"Let me guess, you have an important appointment, you can't miss?" Lois guessed.
"No! I cancelled all appointments, so we can spend the whole evening together! I just have to call someone back! I'll be back in five minutes!" Sam explained and left the table.
Lois curiously watched her father when he left the table and went to the quiet corridor that led to the restaurant's restrooms. Through a mirror she could see him looking around to keep sure that nobody was close before he called someone. Lois wished that Clark was with them. He would be able to hear what he says. Even if she was glad about every opportunity to avoid a meeting between her father and Clark.
If Sam would figure out that Clark is Superman, they will be more than doomed…
Sam meanwhile was not very happy about the call. Lois could see it through the mirror until her father turned away and walked further into the corridor and out of the mirror's view…
"…I already told you that our cooperation is over!" Sam said angrily.
"I put a lot of work, effort and money into this project, General Lane! I can't accept this!"
"I don't accept this, too! Believe me, Alex!" Sam hissed and stopped shortly when a man left the restroom and passed him. As soon as he was alone, Sam continued again. "Listen, the government has stopped it! I am not in charge anymore and I have no authority anymore! Don't worry about your payment! Everything is arranged! You get the material costs and your work paid!"
"I am not worried about the money! I am more worried about the fact that the government wants to give Superman a Green Card! After all the damage he has done to me, my boss, and the company!"
"Listen, Alex… If I could, I would send Superman back to his god-dammed home planet on my own and then blow up that thing! But I have to follow orders from my superiors. Which means you have to follow them, too if you want to keep this job. For now, we are forced to wait till after this interview. No matter if we like it or not. I will call you when your check is ready! Goodbye!"
After Sam hang off, Alex angrily smashed the phone horn back on the receiver and looked down on his documents…
When the General contacted him, he saw a change to start all over again and to get his revenge on Superman at the same time. Seeing Superman gaining more and more popularity over the past six months was not okay for him. After all, Superman not only ruined his boss, but he also bankrupted Amazo Tech, and put him and thousands of others out of work. And now his new-self-found company will go bankrupt if they stop the hunt for Superman.
Alex stopped brooding when the door opened and two men in black suits entered the dark and dirty lab.
"What did you two figure out?"
"He is gone! The last trace we had was Clark Kent, but he lost him!" one of the men said.
"Go and find him!" Alex ordered. "Search every square inch of this city. We can't afford to miss this opportunity!"
Both men bowed in synchrony and turned around to leave the room again. Alex turned back to the lab-table and looked at Jon's hair, his henchmen found.
"So… Superman created a half-alien brat on another Earth? Let's see if we can figure out how your powers work…" Alex said before he looked at a wall with various photos. Including a photo of Clark, Lois and Jimmy from the gala at Ivo-Tower. "…hmm… for some reason every time these three Daily-Planet-reportes are involved…"