Millions of viewers across the world gawked on their screens with big eyes. Yelling on the cameraman to lower the camera, so they can see Jonathan Kent, too. In the fortress, Connor's family gasped in shock when they realized that Stacey could see Connor and was now aware of the secret, too.
After the fortress was created, Jonathan arranged its access for TV signals. And so, they could all watch TV on a huge holographic screen.
If the camera moves down, soon millions of viewers will know, too. And since this will be published on YouTube, too and on the website of the channel, it was only a matter of minutes before the whole world will know that Connor Johnson from Ketchikan, Alaska is the new identity of the infamous Jonathan Kent…
Connor's face paled when he realized that Stacey could see his face. And she had a cameraman with her and was live on air. Suddenly he had to think about all the lies, he and Janet told her over the past few years to protect not only their secret but also her. She was a friend! But she was also someone who had access to TV cameras and screentime. And now he pulled her into this mess!
The damaged camera didn't move. The cameraman just gasped in shock, too when he recognized that face.
"OH MY GOD! CONNOR, GET AWAY FROM THERE!" Janet yelled in shock while holding her son Joel closely.
"Oh my gosh…" suddenly Stacey's voice came out of the loudspeaker in the fortress.
Connor was still wearing that headband so everyone could still hear over that loudspeaker what Connor heard. Including Stacey's gasp and that of her cameraman. All eyes now fixed on the big holographic screen Lara used to show them the live transmission of Stacey's channel.
Millions of thoughts shot through Stacey's mind when she saw the husband of her best-friend laying next to her, only seconds after he literally caught a missile in midair and blew it up with heat vision. And after his crash on the ground, that would have killed every human, he didn't even have a single scratch on him. Sure, he was a bit dirty, but he seemed okay.
"I…" Stacey began, but the words were struck in her throat. She wanted to yell 'I knew it!' because Connor fit perfectly into the profile. Every human on Earth knew from Wikipedia, from Jonathan Kent's diary, the movie and the countless of documentaries, how Jonathan Kent can be identified. And Connor fit into the profile: He arrived here 6 weeks after Jonathan Kent's supposed death, was homeless, he had scars, bright-blue eyes (Kryptonian-blue), dirty-blonde hair, showed signs of abuse, had scars on his body from the abuse and the examinations and had a hero-complex. "…oh… I… ehm…"
"Stacey, can you hear us?" the anchorman in the studio yelled.
On all screens the anchorman was shown again. Stacey was visible on the big screen next to him in the studio. Or at least her back. Stacey could hear him over her earplug, but she was frozen in shock.
Connor is a friend. Sure, she could grab the microphone and tell everyone and try to convince him to give a statement. Getting as famous as Lois Lane? But she wouldn't get famous! She could fall as much Lois Lane! And she would destroy Connor's life, the life of her best-friend Janet and that of little Joel and the not even yet born little Martha…
"Stacey, can you hear us?"
Nobody responded. Gaines, who saw all on his own screen, too, got mad!
"What? Now is even that reporter on his side?" the man yelled angrily and pulled another lever to shoot the next missile.
Hearing the loud bang and the sound of the approaching missile, Connor knew that there was no time to brood. Before the cameraman was able to grab his camera, Connor already shot up into the sky again to stop that missile as well. But since he was weakened and knew that there was Kryptonite in those missiles, he used his heat vision directly to let the missile explode over the water.
The shockwave of the explosion and burning debris of the missile set various boats in the Boat Harbor on fire. Explosions of burning fuel tanks echoed through the air while suddenly a third missile got fired…
In all the noise of explosions, car alarms and screaming people that were (despite the lockdown order) still outside, Stacey grabbed her microphone and start to run. Realizing that it would be better to find shelter somewhere.
"Stacey, what is going on there?" the anchorman demanded again.
"We are on fire! Co… Come get away from here!" Stacey yelled on the cameraman to seek shelter. She bit on her lip for almost blurting out 'Connor is stopping the missiles'.
The cameraman began to film with his damaged camera how Connor was floating over the boat harbor, shooting with his heat vision on the third missile that exploded far away from the shore now. Luckily there was no ship and ferry-traffic right now, or the damages would be bigger.
All viewers at their screens could clearly see that Jonathan had no experience and no good aim! But considering that he never got trained like his brother and only used his powers to burn off excessive energy (mostly), he needed several attempts to hit the missile before he could use his ice-breath to extinguish the flames and creating a thick layer of ice that trapped multiple other boats in the harbor. He checked everything with his x-ray-vision. Luckily there was nobody on the affected boats. A witness from a nearby boat start to run away as soon as they could hear a fourth missile.
Connor turned around and shot now directly on the missile that he hit this time at the second attempt and that exploded close enough to Gaines' submarine, that the man got tossed around in the vessel and needed to hold on to not to smash with his head against the control-panel. All while Connor realized that he hit with the first beam of heat-vision an antenna on Gravina Island, that was part of the airport's instrumental-landing-system.
"Oups!" Connor blushed when he saw the exploding antenna that tipped over and damaged more antennas. "My aim has never been good!"
"AGHH… So, you want to play superhero now…" Gaines voice echoed out through a loudspeaker on the top of the submarine.
Hearing Gaines' voice, let Connor turn furious again. This man has turned him into a scapegoat, he endangered everyone he cared about in Smallville, he spread lies about him and now he tries to do the same again here in Alaska. With his supervision he localized the small submarine in the water. Right below the edge of the airport runway and shot towards it to punch a big hole into the vessel…
Gaines got tossed around and hit with his head against the control-panel when the vessel got suddenly tipped over and icy seawater start to spray in through a fist-sized hole. Connor, who actually planned to lift the whole vessel out of the water to throw it away like a football, suddenly felt the intense pain of the Kryptonite inside the vessel. All he could do was push it as strong as he could towards the shore to let it go aground and damage it more, to prevent Gaines from shooting more missiles before he flew away.
Gaines roared in pain and fury when the control-panel fell apart and the cold water stopped flooding the vessel. Rendering everything useless.
"You are going to pay for this, QB2! I know now you are living in this area! And soon enough everyone will be so mad on you, that they will never accept you as one of them!"
Connor could hear Gaines' rant, despite his effort to not to listen to him and the bigger problem that Stacey saw his face and knew his secret, too now! Full of fear he flew in a high angle over the mountain to get back to his fortress.
Stacey was still live on air while they filmed from save distance how the mini submarine got pushed out of the water and was laying now on the shore of Gravina Island. Unable to move and to continue shooting. All while Jonathan Kent was seen flying up into the sky and vanishing in the deep clouds and out of sight…
"Stacey, what is happening now? Can you hear us?" the anchorman yelled now. "Answer!"
"Huh… we…" Stacey turned back to the camera that was now focused on her again and she held the microphone back in front of her face. "We… we just witnessed… Jonathan Kent, risking his life to safe us and this hospital again…"
"Stacey, we're live! Were you able to see his face?" the anchorman asked.
"What?" Stacey was shocked but tried to not to show it openly. The picture was flickering, due to the damaged camera. She decided to improvise: "The connection is really bad, can you repeat, please?"
"He landed in front of you, were you able to see his face? The camera didn't show it…"
At the same time, Connor appeared in a blur in the fortress again and sank on his knees. Immediately surrounded by his family. All while he and they could watch everything on the big holographic screen what was aired right now across the half globe. Clark, Lois, and Sam could only watch from their cell and were not able to interfere. Realizing that this is it now!
This is it! This is the moment; Connor's dark secret gets busted. This is the moment he ruins another town and thousands of more lives. Connor burst out in tears, while Janet hugged him, Tim put his hand on his shoulder, his father-in-law his one on the other shoulder and his mother-in-law took him by his hand. Even the cat and the dog got closer. All while Joel got distracted again by Lara's lightshow to spare him from any traumatic moments.
Stacey meanwhile realized that this was the moment, she could become the world's next Lois Lane or protect her friends. And considering what happened to the first Lois Lane, she knew exactly what she must do now…
"His face… he had a big scar on his forehead…" Stacey began to lie. "…and a really big one on his left cheek. Probably leftovers from his third suicide attempt when his face got disfigured…"
In the fortress, everyone realized that Stacey was lying to protect them. Suddenly everyone looked on the screen again and realized that Stacey was not about to tell everyone that she saw her friend's husband.
"She's lying!" Janet exclaimed happily.
"…he was also wearing a medical facemask! Like those everyone wore during Covid! And his face was full of dust…" Stacey continued lying.
Her cameraman looked at her with big eyes before realizing that it was for the best and just gave her a thumb up. Connor realized that Stacey was on his side, too. She could expose him to get promoted for this nationwide show. But she lies for him! She really protects them…
"I know many people here and I couldn't clearly see his face, but I can openly say that I have never ever seen this face before here in town…"
"Oh… my gosh…" Connor exclaimed relieved.
Stacey covered for him. She lied for him…
"JON!" suddenly Jordan's voice sounded up through the loudspeaker. Along with a weird high frequency sound that was obviously a dog whistle. "Jon, can you hear me?"
Connor felt his head and realized that he still wore the headband and everything he heard came out of the loudspeaker…
"Jon, in case you can hear me, please listen!" Jordan begged. "The governor of Alaska is here with me! He wants to tell you something."
Connor turned his head into the direction of the voice, while everyone else looked on the loudspeaker. The dog whistle sound up again. Since Jordan had no ELT anymore it seemed an improvisation to catch his attention. Connor was not a dog, but he didn't see it as an offense. Knowing that he would have tried to use the same tool in that situation.
"Mr. Kent, you saved my live twice today." the governor's voice said before he used the whistle again. "We all here are very grateful for your act."
He whistled again.
"Mr. Kent, or should I say Alaskaman, or whatever, I assure you that the government of Alaska, as well as the federal government are fully on your side. You are free to live on. We only need to keep sure that the terrorists have been handled…" the governor continued before using the whistle again. "… and we… awww… Mr. Kent, are you sure your brother hears us now?"
"He should! My brother can hear this whistle… I used to hear these, too when I had powers." Jordan's voice explained.
The governor blew into the whistle again before he continued.
"You have our fullest support and our approval if you really live here! The people and the government are on your side."
A tear ran down Connor's face when he heard that. Everyone was happy for him, too.
"I am just glad we won at least this round!" Connor murmured.
Everyone glared now on the prisoners in the cell. Clark could feel the accusing glares of everyone, while Lois lifts her hastily written notes.
"We could try to…"
"You have done enough!" Connor ranted. Keeping sure that Joel was distracted and does not see him so angry. "What do you think you can do to get out of this bullsh…"
Connor bit on his tongue when he realized that Joel looked over and listened.
"…mess?" Connor finished abashed.
"I wrote a cover story!" Lois told, raising her notes.
Connor turned away ashamed to focus on his son instead to play with him a bit with the holographs. The rest of his family either joined him or talked with each other to discuss the situation. Lois began to cry again.
The only one who seemed to be interested in Lois' idea was Connor's father-in-law, who carefully got closer to read what Lois was holding.
"Bob?!" his wife yelled shocked. The man turned away again to join his wife again.
Lois was frustrated again. After everything what happened, it was no surprise that nobody trusted her anymore. She wouldn't trust herself either.
But suddenly the forefield around them seemed to get weaker and more tangible again before Lara appeared between her and Clark.
"I demand to know why you are here!" Lara ordered.
Lara Lor-Van, the whole world knew as the biological mother of Superman and his half-brother Tal-Rho (alias Morgan Edge). The first woman on Krypton to give birth naturally for over 200 years. Famous geneticist and on Krypton one of the most renowned scientists there.
Everyone remembered her rant when she learned the truth about Jonathan and the reason why his father had never taken him to any fortress or taught him about his family history. As a proud Kryptonian woman, who knew the planet and its people very well, she was devastated when she heard that Jonathan was unable to accept his Kryptonian heritage and embrace it, only because his lack of powers. But she knew that her son and the rest of his family were the ones to blame for it…
"You had no right to come here! Not after all the unforgivable things you did to your son!" Lara said harshly. "But I believe you that you truly regret what happened and that you have no bad intensions today. You are right now standing in the same truth-light, that the copy of my crystal used during your trial! Therefor I know that you speak the truth now." Lara explained.
Clark, Lois and Sam looked on each other and realized that it was indeed the same orange light. They suddenly felt like back in that courtroom at the Metropolis courthouse. When this light forced them to face their own mistakes and admit that everything bad that happened to Jonathan was only because they left him out of everything due to his lack of powers. No surprise that even Lara believes that they would have taken Jonathan only to her if he gets powers. And now that he has powers, nobody is ever going to believe them outside these orange lights.
"Excluding him from his Kryptonian heritage only because of powers nobody on Krypton ever had, is a huge shame for our name and for our people. Never forget that!" Lara told. "Your doppelgangers from the other Earths that came here during the interdimensional event saw it, too! Your doppelganger who saved your son and brought to me, said that his Jordan gave up his powers voluntarily after the loss of their Jonathan."
"Our Jordan said later that he would have done that, too, if he had known the diary!" Clark confessed, remembering how he tried to fix everything with Jordan after Jonathan's suicide, but Jordan dismissed him just like Jonathan did.
"And your doppelganger from Earth-Prime who fixed the balance between the dimensions immediately decided to tell both his sons about his heritage immediately and to take both his sons to his fortress. Saying openly that he would never allow that his sons believe that they could be a shame for the house of El only for being powerless."
Lara's words made sense. If Krypton would still exist, Clark knew he would be the shame of the house of El. A huge disgrace. No surprise Lara was mad on him and will never forgive him for not teaching Jonathan about his heritage the same way as Jordan.
"What is your plan to help your son?" Lara asked.
Lois presented her former mother-in-law her notes. Lara, who was able to read and understand the English written notes…
Connor in the meantime focused on his son. Doing his best to distract him and to keep sure the boy believes that all this is not more than a trip to an event location…
"This is fun!" the boy cheered when he saw the holographs floating around him.
"Yes! Yes, it is fun!" Connor cried. Hiding his tears from his son.
At the same time, the man who wanted to get him and his family sat in a special modified jet that was equipped with the technology developed by John-Henry Irons and flew at Mach 2.5 from Metropolis to Ketchikan in record time. But now that they were on final approach, there was a problem…
"What do you mean with, we can't land in Ketchikan?" Anderson asked angrily.
"The tower in Ketchikan said that we can't land there, because their ILS failed!" one of the pilots told them. "And it looks like someone shot with rockets near the airport again!"
"Give me that…" Anderson ranted and grabbed a headset with microphone to demand the landing permission by himself. "Ketchikan Tower, this is General Mitch Anderson from the Department of Kryptonians. We request urgent landing at Ketchikan!"
"Delta-Oscar-Kilo-One, this is Ketchikan Tower! No permission to land! Our ILS system got damaged by Alaskaman's heat-vision! And Smallvillains are shooting rockets in the area." the air-traffic-controller told. "Ketchikan is closed! The next available airfield suitable for jets is Wrangell…"
"We land in Ketchikan! We have a governmental order!" Anderson yelled.
"Negative Delta-Oskar-Kilo-One! It is not save to land here! All incoming flights have been diverted! And near the airport shots have been reported!" the air-traffic controller told. "Delta-Oskar-Kilo-One, please confirm?!"
No response…
Not far away, at the shore, right below the edge of the runway…
Gaines was soaking wet, full of mud, and had terrible headache when he managed to open the hatch of the mini submarine to get out of the destroyed vessel that was full of icy seawater and looked around. He was directly at the airport. In the distance he could see the smoking leftovers of the ILS-system, which was why Anderson's plane was not able to land. And beyond the Tongass he saw the burned boats in the boat-harbor that were covered in ice. The hospital was undamaged.
Full of fury, Gaines climbed out of the vessel to fall into the muddy ground with a loud roar. Ruining his expensive white clothes in the progress before he looked up on the town again. Walking closer to the shore he raised his arms in fury to let out a tantrum again…
"Don't think that this is over, QB2! You obviously care about this island a lot! I am going to get you! You… your whore… your offspring… and all your fucking friends…" Gaines ranted before suddenly a siren sound up and a police-boat approached him.
After raiding their hideout on Pennock Island, it didn't take long for the local police to identify everyone. Including Gaines who (if he had listened to his superior's orders) could have escaped if he wouldn't be so obsessed with Jonathan Kent. And this weakness was what the police could use for their advantage…
"Harold Gaines, you are surrounded! Surrender, or we will open the fire!" the unit-leader yelled into a megaphone.
A young officer, who trained in the army to be a sniper and who was very skilled, aimed with his gun on Gaines. Gaines was an easy target. Even from the shaking boat. How he stood there, letting out his rant and pulling out an inhaler with X-K.
"Fuck off you idiots! I am the one who gives orders here!" Gaines ranted being convinced that he was the ruler of Ketchikan, even if he never put a step into that town ever before and start to move the inhaler towards his mouth.
But before Gaines got a chance to inhale something of the dangerous mineral, the sniper shot… hitting Gaines right leg with an arrow…
"AGHHH… What the…" Gaines yelled when he looked down and saw a small arrow with a cylinder sticking in his leg.
Angrilly he pulled it out while he was suddenly not able to feel that leg anymore. And soon he realized that the arrow was filled with a sedative or anything similar to take him down.
"Don't think… this… aghh…" Gaines wailed before everything turned dark for him.
"Gotcha!" the sniper said satisfied and the boats start to race to the wreckage of the mini submarine with howling sirens to arrest Gaines.
Connor, who could hear that, and transferred everything he heard over to the loudspeaker, realized that Gaines was taken care off and no threat for the town anymore. At least for now… but it gave them some time to deal with the other problems.
"Oh… one problem less!" Connor wailed before he looked around.
There was still his father… there was still the DOK… there was still the public who gossiped about him being here… there were all these unwelcomed visitors and there was Jordan, who was in the local hospital and caused more rumors and speculations…
"Jonathan, my dear grandson. We should accept the offer of your mother to help in this situation." Lara said.
Since Lara was the only one who was allowed to call Connor by his original name, everyone was surprised to see Connor nodding silently. Clark could see that Lara and he were very close and realized once again, that if he had taken Jonathan to the fortress, too, that his family wouldn't had fallen apart…
Everyone watched the digitalized notes of Lois appearing in front of Connor who start to read it. His wife, who was rubbing her baby bump stood next to him and read them, too. Clark and Lois could see everyone talking about them and making suggestions. A careful smile appeared on their son's new face.
Suddenly the forcefield got stronger again and Clark could feel his body getting weaker again. Connor got closer, holding now the handwritten notes in his hands, and looking on them harshly.
"I like it!" Connor said. "This cover story has everything we need to get out of this mess unharmed! My family is in danger, and I will never forgive me if they suffer under who I am like I did!"
"I didn't do enough for you in the past! This is the least I can do now!" Lois cried hopefully that there could be a chance of peace between them. "After we are done, we will leave, and you will never see us again. Only if you want!"
"Where is the catch?" Connor suddenly asked, his face a lot darker. "I know there must be a 'but' a 'or' or another thing I won't like!"
"The catch is…" Lois began and lowered her head in shame. She knew exactly that her son is not going to like it. "…is… Jonathan Kent needs to give a statement by himself! Live!"
Connor turned pale…