A cold shiver ran down Connor's back at the thought of stepping in front of a camera and give his mother's prepared statement live. It was a perfect cover story, but Jonathan Kent never made a statement after getting revealed to the public as Superman's powerless son.
Connor knew that Stacey was still on air. And since she knew his secret now and was on his side, they could make this quick. Or will it worse everything?
Aboard of Anderson's jet, the situation was very tense, too…
"Delta-Oscar-Kilo-One, head right on course three-six-zero and fly to Wrangell Airport! Our runway is currently unusable due to the damages…" the air-traffic-controller said, becoming desperate.
"And I say: We land!" Anderson said and turned off the radio before turning back to the pilots. "Whatever happens, you land in Ketchikan!"
"Sir, without ILS it is impossible!" the captain said, while putting down some thrust to get even slower. Flying the plane as slow as possible without causing it to stall. "It is too foggy and too…"
"This is an order!" Anderson ranted and left the cockpit again to sit down back in the cabin and fasten his seatbelt. "This jet is able to land in every condition!"
The two men in the cockpit looked on each other worried, wondering why they even do this? They risk their freedom when they help Anderson to hunt down Jonathan Kent. And their pilot licenses when they land without permission. If they do not crash into terrain due to the bad sight and the missing ILS…
In the fortress…
Connor walked up and down for a few seconds. Thinking about what his mother said. Indeed, the plan could only work if Jonathan Kent openly shows himself and confirms it.
"How do you imagine this?" Connor asked his mother now. "I try to protect my family and my friends. If Jonathan Kent gives a statement live in TV, they will all see that it is me!"
"Not if you wear a mask!" Lois shrugged. "Or if you wear a hoodie and don't look into the camera!"
"And what about my clothes?"
"You can wear a Kryptonian garment!" Lara suggested.
Full of worry, Connor turned back to his family and the Ironses who looked on him in a way to cheer him up and to give him hope. Then his eyes wandered to Joel who was sitting in that corner and played. Seeing the boy so many thoughts shot back into his mind. He was too young for this secret. Too young to get pulled into all this mess. But he got. For him, Connor would do everything. Joel shouldn't have to live with this secret that early.
Once again, Connor had to think about how Lara once told him that it is possible that Joel and Martha will get powers, too one day. He wasn't sure but he could imagine that they one day would like to become superheroes. But thinking about Joel and his sister flying around in supersuits, getting seen by the people reminded him that everyone will see it immediately: They are the kids of Jonathan Kent! They shouldn't exist, since latter wanted to kill himself…
"Connor? What are you thinking?" Janet asked.
Connor looked on his wife before using his x-ray-vision to check their baby.
Baby Martha was fully developed and looked so peaceful. She almost looked like as if she was ready to come out every moment. She moved and it almost looked like as if she was deeper. As if she was preparing to come out any second.
"Jan, is everything okay?"
"Yes!" Janet lied. In truth she had two birth-pangs already. But now it seemed fine. Giving birth now, was the last they needed. Martha could come later, after they got rid of the army that besieged the island. Janet looked over to the holographic 'TV' where everyone could see pictures of the police-boats that surrounded the mini-submarine. "Where is Stacey?"
As if on cue, Janet's phone began to ring. She had already countless of unread Whatsapp-messages from her and Janet knew that, after what happened, she had to accept the call before Stacey goes on air again…
"Hi, Stacey!"
"Jan, where are you? You won't believe what just happened?" the reporter said upset.
"I saw it in TV… Stacey… I know this is much. But thank you for lying!"
"Wait, you know it?"
"Of course I know it! I am married to him!" Janet said now louder before looking on Connor. "Stacey, he would like to talk to you!"
Janet reached out the phone to Connor, who took it to talk to Stacey…
"Stacey… I know I owe you an explanation! You are not the only one by the way! But I am grateful that you lied for me! You saved my family… Stacey, I need your help! I need you, your cameraman and your screentime!"
"For what?"
"For the biggest scam in the history of television, that will probably save thousands of lives!"
"Ehm… okay?!" Stacey said before Connor explained the plan quickly before she had to go on air again.
In the meantime…
The air-traffic-controller's rants and his orders were useless. Due to the damages at the ILS-system of Ketchikan Airport, the bad weather and the fact that a damaged mini submarine with multiple live bombs was extremely close to the runway, it was impossible to land. But the DOK jet was equipped with John-Henry's technology and therefore the pilots were able to land it safely, thanks to its own systems…
The present police-officers were surprised when the jet flew deeply over them while they dragged the handcuffed and sedated former Smallville football-coach aboard their boat. Wondering why the tower allowed them to land at all.
Anderson smiled satisfied after they landed and the jet taxied to a remote parking stand, as far away as possible from the passenger terminal. He and the other passengers grabbed their stuff and left the plane immediately after the door opened and the engines were shut off.
Of course, it didn't take long for the airport security to arrive with two cars. Along with several curious airport employees who came out of their hideout to check why someone lands here, only minutes after a literal air raid.
"You had no permission to land!" the security-officer yelled. "What is this meaning!"
"This is a national security matter! We come first!" Anderson demanded back and passed the man to walk away as if he owns the airport.
"Wait, you can't just…"
"Are there any flights departing soon?" Anderson asked.
"No! All air-traffic has been suspended due to the attacks."
"Good! Nobody leaves! All people need to be controlled and checked before they can leave!" Anderson ordered and turned away.
"Hey, you can't just take everyone hosta…" the airport-employee yelled before suddenly two other soldiers grabbed him from behind to hold him back and shoe everyone present away.
Anderson looked over to watch the town at the other island. They would need a boat to get there. In his suitcase he had everything he needed to force Jonathan Kent to come with him. And if not, he could still reveal the secret and force him that way…
Connor of course could hear Anderson's voice and since he still wore that headband, everyone in the fortress could hear it, too…
This was not good! It meant they run out of time! And Clark knew that Anderson would only come all this way to Alaska if he has some hard evidence. Considering that he was here before his tracker got destroyed and all the other stuff that happened, Anderson must have counted two and two together. It meant they had to do this interview quickly before Anderson arrives in town and does something that fools everything…
Connor was nervous. But it was the only way to protect the secret and his family. And the only way to give Joel and Martha a normal childhood. As long as Stacey and her cameraman play along, everything should go on smoothly.
A weird feeling overcame him when he watched himself in the mirror now, in this narrow, secluded chamber where he could change into other clothes. The black Kryptonian garment had a shocking similarity with that one that Tal-Rho preferred to wear. The house of El crest on his chest felt so odd. So wrong! Lara always insisted that it is his symbol, too. That even without powers, this crest has always been a part of him.
Thinking about it, this was the very first time ever that he was wearing this suit and the crest since becoming Connor! When he was little, he urgently wanted a Superman-t-shirt. Jordan, too! According to his parents they always avoided it to prevent the people to get suspicious. But in truth it was too awkward for his father to see him in them. And then, after Jordan's powers kicked in, Jonathan knew that the symbol only meant superpowers. A fact Lara was very ashamed of and always demanded him to wear their crest. Even if he wouldn't have powers. He had always been a full legit member of the house of El… but even after all these years of learning from Lara, it still felt so wrong!
"Connor, are you ready?" Tim asked when he peaked his head in to check for his brother-in-law.
"This is so not me!" Connor wailed about that suit and this symbol that woke up so many bad memories on his family, Tal-Rho, Smallville and a lot of other things, that forced Connor to make a therapy. "Is Joel watching?"
Tim turned around to check everything. The boy was taken by his grandparents to another room to watch a cartoon. Joel shouldn't see his father in this outfit, or he could recognize him if he watches TV, or sees the clip later on YouTube. The boy is very smart for his age and not easy to fool. Tim gave a thumb up to show that the area was clean, and Connor took a deep breath before he came out and presented himself to everyone.
Everyone looked at him with big eyes. He was looking so great in this suit. And Clark realized how good that crest, Lara prohibited him to wear after learning the truth and for bringing shame over the family, looked at his son. He imagined him with his old face, and that looked even better. As if the crest was made for him. Clark wanted to say how great he looks, but the forcefield muted him, Lois and Sam. Making it unable for them to interfere.
"Wow… you look much better in that than Tal-Rho!" Janet said.
Connor just shrugged and turned to Natalie and John-Henry who looked on him with even bigger eyes.
"Please be honest! This wakes up bad memories, doesn't it?" Connor asked.
"Well…" John-Henry began abashed. "…I know you are not Tal-Rho!"
"And I know you are not the evil Superman from our world!" Natalie added. Seeing the black suit with the black house-of-El crest reminded her on the evil Superman from her old Earth. "I know you are better!"
"Thanks for trying!" Connor moaned and turned back to Janet who gave him a tight hug.
"You will rock this!" she said confidently.
"I'll try!" Connor said before he turned to the locked filing cabinet. "I can't believe it… it's time!"
Connor decided to add something to Lois' cover-story…
Connor opened the cabinet and took out a big glass test tube with a purple liquid, that was resting in a foam rubber holding. Connor put on some latex gloves before taking a smaller test tube made of hard plastic and used a syringe to fill some of the purple liquid into the smaller one.
"What is that?" Natalie asked.
"This… is a matter of the heart for me!" Connor explained while closing the test tubes again and putting the big one back into the cabinet where he took out a blue folder with the house of El crest on it.
From the cell, Clark, Lois, and Sam couldn't hear anything, but they recognized that blue folder…
Whenever 'Jonathan Kent' published a new world-changing invention and placed it in the letter boxes of the world's biggest Universities, there was this trademark blue folder with the Superman-symbol with it. It always contained information about the invention, blueprints, technical-data, conditions for the use and detailed plans for human scientists how to reproduce it.
Clark watched his son handing the folder to Natalie so she and her father could read the basics. And the Ironses were astonished.
"You really made it?" Natalie asked with big eyes.
"I never had a chance to test it on the living object! But the tests here said that it should work! This little vial here, should be enough for a whole town… An overdose could cause serious health problems." Connor explained before he took another syringe to fill it with a tiny drop of the purple liquid before he filled the rest of it with a harmless, medical saline solution. The now pinky liquid looked almost cute. Connor put the protective cover back on the nail and secured the syringe.
"Coach Gaines will be my test-subject!" Connor said now a lot darker. "This is the punishment for his attempt to destroy this town and for kidnapping Jordan!"
Clark, who could read the last two sentences from Connor's lips was shocked about his ruthlessness. Otherwise, Gaines deserved it! But what was in this syringe.
Connor told everyone to keep sure that Joel remains distracted before he turned back to his former family and opened the forcefield slightly to let them listen again.
"I hope for you that this will work." Connor said with a threatening tone.
"I will take the full responsibility if not!" Lois cried.
"What is this liquid?" Clark asked scared.
Connor held up the syringe to show it to them.
"This… is what I expected you guys to do after the X-K. After I stopped taking it by myself, I had the idea. You had the technology! But before I got a chance to tell you it, I was suddenly a greater criminal than Lex Luthor for you! I know that giving the world a new invention was not part of the cover story, but now that Gaines is here, and it can't get worse except the exposure… it is time to do what Lex Luthor would do!"
"You're not going to kill anyone, don't you?" Clark asked shocked.
"No! On the contrary… I am going to save countless of Smallviller's lives!" Connor said before he speeded out of the fortress in a blur and was gone.
Lara let the TV screen appear again so everyone could see the live footage…
The anchorman in the studio in Seattle was on air again. In the background was live footage from Metropolis shown…
"…hundreds of protestors gathered on the Siegel Plaza in front of the Daily Planet building to protest against the Smallvillain-terror in Alaska. In Washington D.C., protestors have come together in front of the Capitol to demand a harsher tone against Smallville. In Rice County in Kansas, people from towns around Smallville people have begun erecting barricades to prevent people from Smallville leaving the area…
Clark's heart broke again when he saw in TV how people start to use barbed wire to build fences over the roads and placed warning signs for drivers. Again! Years ago, after the publishing of Jonathan's diary it was the same. And it took years for the situation in that area to calm down. A woman polished the famous sign that was illegally erected by a private organization…
"Beware, this is SMALLVILLE! The town that turned Superman evil!" was written on the sign that looked like a real road-sign, but was made by private people and was a famous landmark, part of multiple memes, and much more. A constant reminder of how the move destroyed them. Jonathan should be a world-famous scientist now instead of a social worker.
"…in the meantime, many famous people all around the world have shown solidarity with Jonathan Kent and the people of Ketchikan online. The NFL-team of the Metropolis Meteors, Jonathan Kent is proven to be a fan of since his childhood, has proclaimed open interest in visiting Ketchikan for a friendly match…"
"Oh, that he will like!" Lois and Janet murmured at once before looking on each other shocked.
"What? I know he was a fan! I'm glad to see that he might look different and name himself different, but inside he is still the same!" Lois cried.
"I know that!" Janet said before she suddenly felt another strong pain in her abdomen that let her flinch and forced her to sit down.
"Sis, what's wrong?" Tim asked.
"I fear Martha wants to join the fight…" Janet cried while looking on the screen again, where the anchorman turned to the background-screen to look at Stacey who was on air again.
"…we go now back to our colleague on location in Ketchikan! Stacey, where are you know? Can you tell us anything new?" the anchorman asked.
Stacey was shown again. Her face pale, her hair a mess, looking as if she just ran a marathon. She was wearing now a black bulletproof vest with the word PRESS written in big white letters on it. She looked like as if she was reporting from a warzone.
"We… we were ordered to evacuate to a safe place. The bombardment has stopped after… Jonathan Kent has attacked the vessel of the Smallvillains. When we move with the camera over there…" the camera moved to the left to show that they were a bit further away from the shore. "…I don't know if you can see it through the fog, but the vessel is surrounded by multiple police-boats and seems to be too damaged to move anymore."
The camera moved back to Stacey, right when suddenly a hooded figure in black Kryptonian clothes came floating down from the grey sky. The cameraman gasped in shock and moved with the camera upwards while his hand was visible to point on the floating man.
Stacey, who already knew that Connor was Jonathan Kent, turned around surprised and looked up to see the hooded figure slowly gliding down and landing only 10 feet away softly. Face and hair hidden under a hood. And now wearing this black Kryptonian clothes, the whole world only knew as the 'Morgan-Edge-suit'. His face and his hair covered by the hood. His forehead covered with the headband. When he spotted the camera, he turned away immediately.
Millions of people across the world glared on their screens in shock for this 'world-premiere'! Jonathan Kent live on screen! For the first time ever since his escape from the DOD and Smallville! But nobody could see his face!
"Oh my god…" Stacey said while the camera zoomed closer. "Co… Could you… give us a statement?"
Stacey internally cursed on herself again for almost blurting out 'Connor' again. Connor just remained silent and pointed on the microphone.
"I want to give a statement! Would you…?"
"What? Oh…" Stacey realized that he meant the microphone and handed it over.
Connor took the microphone without turning his face too close to the camera. But the people could clearly see the house of El crest on the Morgan-Edge-outfit…
Connor always knew that this day would come one day. That he would be forced to give a statement. And now, that the whole world looked on this town, he had to act. And so, he held the microphone in front of his face, took a deep breath and carefully thought about his words before speaking them out loudly…
"I want to apologize… to the people of Ketchikan and to all others who have been negatively affected by my presence and the acts of the Smallvillains. There are no words that can describe how sorry I am that this nice town got pulled into this conflict. I once made a terrible mistake, that not only ruined my life, but also caused multiple other people's lives to get difficult. I apologized for it, but there are still people out there who made it clear that they will never forgive me. No matter what I do. But I can't accept, that innocent people, who have nothing to do with me, with Smallville, or the conflict between us, get pulled into this."
Connor took a deep breath again before he continued with the cover-story…
"Several weeks ago, I got in touch with my mother and my brother again. I planned to meet them yesterday in different states to talk some things out. I also planned to reveal my latest invention to them. My mother arrived here in Ketchikan on a cruise-ship, and I was waiting nearby when I suddenly heard the explosion aboard the Alaskan Airways jet. I interfered because I knew that my father would not get let out of his cell on time before the jet would have crashed into that ship. I know there are rumors and that my appearance has created a lot of turmoil and discussions. But my presence here was only coincidental. I know this town has many day tourists, that's why I hoped that my visit here would remain a secret."
In the fortress, everyone smiled. If they wouldn't know the truth, they would believe it.
"After the explosion aboard the plane and the following turmoil I began investigating a bit. Unfortunately, I was not able to figure out why the Smallvillains are here, or for how long they have been here. Or what their intentions were? The only thing I figured out… was that obviously an unknown woman has blackmailed an airport employee to smuggle geological samples aboard planes. I don't know if these geological samples have caused the explosion, or if they have anything to do with the Smallvillains."
'Jeff, please forgive me!' Connor thought. He would help him through this as soon as everything has calmed down.
"I appeal on the unknown woman to contact the authorities and clarify this, before more innocent people get hurt. I also appeal on the Smallvillains out there to stop this fuss. I am the one you want, but pulling innocent outsiders into this goes too far. You only hurt the good Smallvillers who only want to live on and like me want to get over the mess. I feel bad for the Smallvillers who suffer under xenophobia and hate even if they had nothing to do with what happened to me there."
Indeed, hundreds of normal Smallvillers had tears in their eyes. They were scared because the events in Alaska only led the people to hate them more. And since many of them got to feel this hate, many of them understood Jonathan Kent. But since the Smallvillains ruled the town, many were scared. But Jonathan Kent's live statement gave them hope.
"Now that Gaines and the other present Smallvillains are under arrest I hope that this town gets peace again. I am totally heartbroken that so many people got hurt by this mass hysteria and I promise that I will find those who are responsible and take care that they get their deserved punishment. As for this town, I hope you accept my apology. I have something that might help you to get over this."
Connor now hold up the folder to open it, placed it before his head to be able to turn into the camera fully without that his face is visible and show the viewers what he has been working on.
"Would the cameraman please focus on this page. I want everyone out there on the screens to see it." the man ordered.
The cameraman zoomed in closer to show the formula that was now photographed by countless of scientists, chemists, civilian doctors and other people.
"For years I have been working on this formula. It has been my dream, ever since I withdraw from X-Kryptonite by myself, to help others to get off it. This… is a vaccination I developed! It is not fully developed, and I had no chance to test it. But it is able to prevent humans from feeling the physical effect of X-Kryptonite. Vaccinating everyone who has been consuming it, should reverse all negative physical and psychological damages. I hope the people will also give the Smallvillers a chance to live on and let the past in the past after it…"
In Smallville the Smallvillers start to cheer. Since this was a great opportunity to get the Smallvillains out of action and find acceptance in the society again. In the fortress, Clark, Lois, and Sam were astonished. They read in Jon's diary about this idea. He had it before he got caught. If they had given Jon access to the fortress and to the whole superhero-business, too, he would have come up with that idea and they could had prevented the whole 'Smallville-is-naturally-evil-mess' in the first place. Clark was really proud on his son now for having this great idea.
"I will publish my work the usual way as soon as my work is fully developed. Until then, I hope the people stop spreading rumors about my whereabouts or my motives. Once again, I am very sorry that the people here in this town got pulled into this conflict." Connor finished, turned his head away again and closed the folder to hide it again. "A very nice town that you have here. Keep going!"
After this, Connor handed the microphone back to the still stunned Stacey before pulling out the syringe to show it to the camera before he vanished in a blur. The camera turned back to the Tongass to follow the blur that was heading towards the police boats…
On the boat, Gaines yelled and ranted endlessly while his hands were handcuffed behind his back, and he was even forced to wear bonds around his feet. Complaining loudly that they arrest the wrong guy.
"You tried to kill everyone in the hospital! And not to forget the countless of other crimes you commit in the past 20 years!" the officer who held him by his left shoulder said annoyed.
"Jonathan Kent is fault for this! Arrest him!" Gaines yelled, while trying to tear himself out of the officer's grip.
"My wife works in that hospital! Why should I arrest the man who just saved her life?" the officer who held Gaines by his right shoulder moaned even angrier.
"You have no clue what I am capable of…" Gaines ranted before he suddenly felt that stich in his arm… followed by a burning sensation "…AGHHH…"
Everyone present was shocked to see suddenly that hooded figure in the Kryptonian garment that appeared in a blur on the boat, tore away the sleeve of Gaines jacket and the shirt he was wearing below to expose is naked arm and use a syringe to inject him something.
Everyone gasped. Out of reflex, the officers who held Gaines arms let off. All while Gaines shrieked in surprise and turned around to see the hooded and disguised figure holding the syringe in his hand.
"Congratulations, Coach!" Connor said with his Jonathan-voice. "You are now the very first human to be fully immune to X-K!"
And in a blur, the Kryptonian vanished again under the loud applause of all present police-officers and Gaines loud wailing.
On another boat, Anderson watched everything with some field glasses while he and his men crossed over from the airport to town.
"Unbelievable!" Anderson ranted and took his ELT out of his pocket.
Connor meanwhile was able to use the deep clouds and the foggy weather to vanish out of sight and get back to his fortress unseen. There Janet, who was now convinced that she was in labor now, hugged him happily.
"You rocked it, I knew it!" she said happily.
"Wow… that was crazy!" Connor confessed. "You think it worked?"
Connor looked up to look at John-Henry and Natalie…
"Well… If I wouldn't know you, I would have believed it!" John-Henry said with an encouraging smile.
"Me, too!" Natalie added.
"Thank you! I can't tell you how relieved I am that this mess is over…"
Connor couldn't finish his sentence, since suddenly he heard the sound of the ELT. And since he still wore the headband, the sound of the ELT echoed through the fortress, too. Audible for everyone, who turned in shock to the loudspeaker on the table…
"Jonathan Kent…" Anderson's voice was echoing through the fortress now. "…or do you prefer Connor now?"
Suddenly Connor's face paled again…