20: The Endurance

Lois's small amount of patience had run dry. The heroes were scattered around in the area, waiting for Jor-El to show up. Kara and Jimmy were huddled close on the loveseat in Chloe's apartment, their hands intertwined. Kara's head was resting against Jimmy's shoulder while the young reporter stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. Chloe was sitting in a chair drumming her fingers against its arms, occupied with her own thoughts. Krypto sat by the balcony window, his eyes focused straight ahead, his ears perked forward. Lois, meanwhile, had paced back and forth so much she was surprised she hadn't built a trench into the floor.

"Ugh! That's it!" Lois snapped, throwing up her hands. "I can't do this anymore."

She walked towards the door. "Where are you going?" Chloe called.

"Out!" Lois answered testily over her shoulder. "Perry wanted me on a story and I'd rather be doing something than nothing at all!"

I'm going with you, Krypto said, running to her side.

Lois looked down at him. "What, you're going to come with me?"

Krypto nodded. It is what Kal would want.

Lois frowned. "Fine but you have to wear a leash."

Krypto wrinkled his nose. If I must.

"It's either that or you're staying here," Lois said in response to his disgusted look.

This would be a lot easier if you could understand me, Krypto grumbled as he wandered over to where his leash lay on the floor. Picking it up with his teeth, he walked back over to Lois.

Lois raised her eyebrows. "Alright then," she murmured, bending down to hook the leash to Krypto's collar. "We'll be back."

"I don't think it's wise for you to leave," Kara hedged.

Lois whipped around. "Kara, I wasn't made to put my life on pause. The world is still turning, life keeps on going, and I'll be hanged if I have to stand still and watch the grass grow when I have the capability to be moving forward just like everybody else. As a reporter I'm going to contribute to this world and I'm going to do it my way."

Kara opened her mouth to retort but Jimmy squeezed her hand and shook his head. He knew when Lois wouldn't be dissuaded. Kara scowled at him but gave in. "Fine. Go if you want but at least tell us where you're specifically going."

"Fort Berk," Lois answered.

"Hey, that's where I was last night," Jimmy muttered. "Some missiles were stolen there. I went to take some pictures."

"Well, it looks like Perry wants me to get a story to go with those pictures. We'll be back in a while."

"Be careful," Chloe called.

"If my uncle appears, tell him he has to come and get me before he takes Krypto away," Kara instructed.

"Will do," Lois replied. "Come on, Krypto. Let's go."

o0o0o

Clark breathed heavily as his eyes closed, Lois's image burned into his retinas. He'd almost lost her. He opened his eyes and looked at his mother who at that moment was the epitome of guilt. Unable to look at him, her chin was down, her focus on her hands which were clasped together. Tears leaked down her cheeks and her shoulders shook from silent sobs.

Clark immediately wrapped his arms around her. Lara gasped but didn't pull away. In fact, she relaxed in the embrace of her son. "It's okay mother," Clark whispered.

"Kal… I am so sorry," she cried, hugging him back.

Clark smiled sadly. "I understand why it happened."

"You must think we're the worst parents in the world."

Clark shook his head, pulling her away so he could look into her eyes. "You're anything but. You and father have always wanted what is best for me. You have done what you thought is right."

Lara disagreed. "No we haven't. We knew it wasn't right to confine your childhood but we were so afraid, Kal. We'd lost you once."

"Which is why you took my memories," Clark muttered, "because you feared I was going to leave you again."

"Weren't you?" Lara asked desperately. Clark didn't answer. Lara let out a sob. "I knew it!"

Clark bowed his head. "Mother… specific things happened to me on Earth. If I had to choose between you and these extraordinary abilities, I would have picked you in a heartbeat."

Lara's brow furrowed but this was only because her suspicions were about to be confirmed. "What happened on Earth, Kal?"

Clark bit his lip before a small sheepish smile involuntarily lit up his face. "I met someone."

Lara wiped her cheeks, controlling her tears. "Oh?" she prompted.

Clark nodded. "Her name is Lois. She's…" Lara waited on bated breath but her son left the sentence incomplete. Instead, he grew concerned. "I don't know if I should say."

"Kal, you don't have to tell me," Lara said gently, "if you're not ready to."

"It's not that," Clark said. "I want to tell you I'm just afraid you will try to dissuade me from her."

"Why don't you start at the beginning," Lara suggested. "That way I can withhold judgment until the end."

Clark smiled. His mother was so understanding. "Alright," he agreed. "It all started after I maneuvered the Endurance out of the asteroid field."

"That was you?" Lara cried, surprised as well as proud.

"I guess father really didn't tell you," Clark muttered. "He said he wouldn't."

"Kal," she began consolingly.

Clark shook his head. "It doesn't matter now. Anyway, what neither of you know is that I went to the Astronomy room after the incident."

"Ahhh, yes, your fortress of solitude," Lara teased gently.

Clark rewarded the tease with a soft smile. "While I was there… I fell asleep. Mother, I had a dream, one more vivid than I've ever had before. I was in a different place, one I'd never visited. It was some kind of living quarters. I now know it's what humans call an apartment. I was sitting on a couch when my attention was drawn to a woman stepping out of the back bedroom."

He paused, his face suddenly turning red. He now understood that what Lois had been wearing in the dream wasn't a dress but lingerie. How could he possibly describe such a piece of clothing to his mother without painting Lois in a bad image? Clark didn't think Lois would ever wear such a thing regularly so why had she been wearing it in the dream? They had been so intimate too… had they only been dating in the dream? For some reason Clark had a hard time imagining him accepting such intimacy without marriage being involved. Perhaps… would it be crazy enough to think they had been married in that scene?

"Kal? You are blushing my son," Lara said, disrupting Clark's thoughts.

Clark started, his eyes darting to his mother's face and away again, his blush deepening. "My apologies," he mumbled.

Lara chuckled. "My, she must be quite beautiful to distract you so. Was she wearing something alluring to you?"

"Mother!" Clark cried, surprised.

Lara raised an amused eyebrow. "Don't appear so scandalized, Kal. I am a married woman after all. I merely guessed that because you said she emerged from the back bedroom and the blush on your face appeared after you uttered the words. Or was she not wearing anything?"

Clark wanted to slip through the floor. "Mother," he cried, exasperated. Never before had she spoken so openly about these things with him.

Lara, in good humor, chuckled. "Kal, I may be your mother but I'm not dead to pleasures."

"I think I've heard enough," Clark interrupted, unwilling to hear anything to do with his parents' love life. He could live without the details.

Lara smiled. "Fair enough. But tell me, what was she wearing to distract your tale so much?"

Clark's face turned even redder. Swallowing and unable to meet her eyes, he answered, "Humans call it lingerie. It is…"

"Material that I assume arouses the opposite gender into desiring to make love?" Lara finished.

Clark closed his eyes and rubbed them a few times with his fingers. "That is a good way to describe it."

"I see; then there must not be much material involved," Lara mused.

"There's not," Clark muttered.

"And what the woman was wearing appealed to you. So, what happened next?"

Thankful that his mother had finally decided to leave the topic of lingerie behind, Clark continued. "She came into the room, slid into my lap, and we wrapped our arms around each other."

"Were you wearing anything?" Lara asked unexpectedly.

Clark's face reddened. "I wasn't paying attention," he admitted both embarrassed and honest. "Why do you ask?"

Lara shook her head. "I'll reveal my thoughts in a moment. What happened after you embraced?"

"We leaned towards each other to kiss and then I woke."

"You didn't get to kiss?" Lara asked, disappointed.

Clark, surprised by his mother's discontent, shook his head. "No, we did not."

"Too bad," Lara muttered.

"What?"

Lara smiled. "You obviously wanted to, did you not?"

"Of course I did," Clark admitted.

"It is one of the greatest feelings in the world," Lara opined, leaning back slightly.

Clark smiled knowingly. "It is."

Lara's triumphant smile was lost on her son for he was too busy thinking of all the times he and Lois had shared a kiss. Lara peeked over at the content glee on her son's face and smiled. Though she wouldn't admit it to anyone, she secretly had hoped that she would one day be able to see this side of her son, to see him in love. She had been afraid it would never happen but it finally had. Now she was definitely glad she had restored his memories. She would have missed out on this if she hadn't.

"So, what happened after you woke?" she prompted, desiring to know about the woman who had captured her son's heart.

Clark sighed. "Well, it is kind of difficult to describe. I had this intense rush of emotion come over me, almost as if I were possessed. I do not understand how but I knew the woman in the red dress was from Earth and that I needed to do everything in my power to get to her."

"Which is why you stormed into the living quarters and tried to pack a travel bag," Lara surmised.

"You knew what I was doing?" Clark asked, surprised.

Lara smiled. "Kal, nothing goes on in this home without me knowing about it. For example, I've known of the collection of intergalactic romance novels you keep under your bed for years."

Clark's jaw dropped. "You know of those?"

Lara laughed openly. "Of course! Though I find them to be a little too descriptive in some areas, they are a pleasant read."

If Clark thought he was shocked before, he was completely floored now. "You've read them?" he gasped.

"I was curious," his mother shrugged. "Besides, you were gone all the time in that fortress of solitude of yours and your father was busy in his lab. I had to have something to occupy my attention."

"Why didn't Krypto tell me? He would have known you were reading them!"

"I bribed him to keep it a secret from you by feeding him double helpings of his favorite dish."

Clark couldn't believe it. Krypto had kept a secret from him for years! How in the world he'd managed that was both impressive and surprising. "I'm shocked," he admitted.

Lara grinned. "My bribery with Krypto aside, after your fight with your father, I pacified him enough to allow you to go to earth. We were afraid we were going to lose you in more ways than one if we didn't."

Clark sobered immediately. "I'm surprised he agreed with you."

"Kal, your father may do harsh things but you must see that his motivation is love. He desires what's best for you."

"No, he desires what he thinks is best for me," Clark corrected.

Lara frowned. "That may be true in some cases but you cannot overlook that he loves you, son."

Clark sighed. "Sometimes I wonder if he does. We disagree on so many things."

"You are both incredibly stubborn," Lara commented.

"That may be true," Clark agreed reluctantly, "but it still upsets me that sometimes he does things without consulting me – like taking away my memories for example."

Lara sighed. "Your father acted out of fear when he did that, Kal. He was terrified that he was going to lose you forever."

"Yeah," Clark muttered bitterly, "without me he wouldn't have claims to the birthright of our House."

"Kal! Your father does not care about such things!"

"He's always told me that I had to be the best because that was what was expected of our House. My entire childhood he has instilled it into my mind that I needed to be great because the House of El would one day be my sole responsibility. He never took into consideration what I wanted. He made me move two education levels forward. He took me away from my friends. Instead of allowing me to play and relax, he forced me to study with him in his lab for hours after I had been in education all day! He practically kept me under lock and key. He's been breeding me to become what he feels a worthy son of El should be. Though I have always done my utmost best to obey, I feel I have constantly failed to meet his expectations. He never has complimented me when I have achieved something. Is it not reasonable for me to contradict your words, mother?"

Lara looked upon her son with slight pity. "I can understand your bitterness, Kal, but you must step back and see the bigger picture. Your father has always been proud of you. He just isn't vocal about it. He never actually reprimanded or demeaned you after a task was performed, did he?"

"…No…"

Lara smiled encouragingly. "And as for forcing you in his lab after education hours, it was his only way to spend time with you. Your father is a scientist at heart, Kal. He loves learning new things. He wanted to share his passion with his son. He has always pushed you to be the best in all you can be because he can see that one day you will do great things. He doesn't believe that you must beat every one of your ancestors in every single skill they possessed. He believed that by pushing you, he would help you tap into the potential you already harbored. And you have grown into a man that both of us are very proud of."

"I wish I could hear all these things from him," Clark whispered sadly. "It would mean so much more."

"Perhaps you will be able to, one day," Lara sighed. "Now, to continue with your story…"

"Oh, right," Clark muttered. "Um, where was I?"

"Tell me what happened after you woke up on Earth," Lara suggested.

"Well," Clark said, sitting back to rest his palms behind him, "I woke on the Kent farm in their barn. Martha and Jonathan Kent's livelihood is to grow food and livestock for other humans to eat. They live in a remote location in Kansas, a town called Smallville. Father thought I would be safest there when coming to grips with my powers. Jonathan and Martha both helped me to control my abilities. They didn't see me as something to be feared but someone to be loved. Mother, they have always desired to have children but Martha Kent is barren."

Lara's stomach tightened. She knew exactly what Martha Kent must have felt. She had been told by every doctor she had visited in her youth that she would never produce children. Kal-El was her miracle. Poor Martha Kent did not receive one of those. Or perhaps she did…

"Is this why you addressed them with the titles of parenthood?" Lara asked her heart hurting from accepting the reality that her son acknowledged another as his mother but also in sympathy for the woman she could personally relate with.

"It was not just because of that," Clark said. "I decided to call them mom and dad because they called me their son. They gave me the name they would have given if they were ever able to have one of their own. They wanted me to know that they considered me part of their lives, part of their family. I have never felt so welcomed and loved by strangers in my entire life."

"What is the name they gave to you?" Lara asked sadly.

"Clark Joseph Kent."

"And you introduced yourself by this title to everyone? You answered to it?"

"Yes," Clark admitted.

Lara swallowed painfully. "I gave you the name of Kal. Do you no longer wish me to address you as such?"

"What? No! Mother, I love my Kryptonian name."

"But you prefer your Earth name."

"Mother, my real name is something sacred to me," Clark assured, trying to convey the feeling of his words to her with every fiber of his being. "It is my true name. How can I throw it away? Kal-El is who I really am."

"But you have also become Clark Kent," she pointed out. "You are different now, Kal." She searched his eyes. They seemed brighter than before. She smiled sadly. "You have become who you really desire to be."

"But I didn't throw away Kal-El to do that mother," Clark pointed out. "The things you and father taught me are part of me."

"And the relationships you created on Earth complete you," Lara finished. "I understand… it is simply difficult to share you."

Clark took his mother's hand. "Mother, I said it before and I'll say it again. You are never going to be replaced. You will always be my mother."

Lara smiled a little. "I know, my son. I'm thankful for your honesty."

"That is all I will ever give to you. Mother, though I wish to make you happy, I know that I must choose my own happiness. The Kents are amazing people but they are not the only reason I want to stay on Earth."

"The woman in your dream is the real reason, isn't she?"

Clark smiled fondly as he thought of Lois. "She's the biggest reason. I gained friendships with several humans when in Smallville and when I left for Metropolis, a major city on the eastern coast of the United States."

"Why did you leave Smallville to go there?" Lara asked.

"After the Kents helped me gain my abilities in Smallville, my friend from there, Chloe Sullivan, told me she was going to Metropolis to work for the Daily Planet, a newspaper. I decided to go with her because I had another dream involving the same woman from the first."

"Was there more lingerie involved?" Lara teased.

"Mother," Clark groaned.

Lara chuckled. "My apologies; I could not resist."

Clark sighed. "The second dream took place on the Daily Planet roof. I was wearing glasses – a human invention to improve eyesight – and the woman met me on the roof. She had been looking for me. I told her I was waiting to hear back from a source, signifying that I was a reporter like she was. I once again woke before we could kiss."

"Hmmm, but you have kissed this woman?"

"I'm getting to that part," he divulged sheepishly. "Anyway, after I told my friend Chloe about the dream she offered for me to come with her to Metropolis since the chances of finding my mystery girl were higher surrounded by a newspaper business than in a backwater farm in Smallville. I took her up on her offer and traveled to Metropolis. My first night there, I saved the woman of my dreams from being robbed of her purity in an alley."

"Oh my!" Lara gasped, appalled.

Clark grimly frowned. "It unfortunately occurs quite frequently on Earth. I'm grateful I was able to use my abilities to save her."

"As am I," Lara breathed.

"The man had drugged her so I took her back to the hotel or inn that Chloe and I were temporarily staying in. When I woke, she was gone but she left a note of thanks with her initials. With Chloe's help and I believe a hand of fate, I bumped into the woman at the Daily Planet. Her name is Lois Lane. She's the most beautiful creature I've ever seen, mother," he sighed, smiling happily as he thought of Lois.

Lara smiled. "Go on," she urged. "What happened next?"

Clark blushed from once again being caught daydreaming. "Well, she dragged me into an empty conference room and demanded to know if I was the man who rescued her the night before. I told her I was. At the end of that discussion, I walked away with a date for that night. I later took Lois to a restaurant and as we spoke I was enraptured by her. I wanted to know everything there was to know about her. And… when the date was over and we were standing in front of her apartment door… we kissed and then" – he took a deep breath – "we performed the Sealing Vow."

"I knew it!" Lara cried, her heart taking off.

"Y-You did?"

Lara's smile was as wide as it could be. "Kal, you dreamt of her before you even went to Earth! Seeing one's soul mate in a dream before you meet them in reality is rare but it has happened before. The way you speak of her; it's plain for anyone to see you are in love."

"We are," Clark confirmed, grinning.

"I am so glad!" Lara sighed, relieved.

Clark's eyebrows rose. "You are? But, mother, she is not Kryptonian."

"That doesn't matter to me," Lara said dismissively, waving the reality of mixing with another species aside. "I'm just thankful that you will not be alone anymore. Do you know how much I have worried concerning that? When you did not involve yourself with our beautiful young women your age, I was afraid you would never find love. I even had the thought that your soul mate had died when Krypton was destroyed! But now you have found her and I cannot be happier! Oh, Kal, this is wonderful!"

Clark's jaw dropped. "I did not expect this reaction," he confessed to her questioning glance. "I thought you would disapprove. I was afraid you would hate Lois."

"Hate the woman that has finally captured my son's heart?" Lara scoffed. "Not just any woman can be your soul mate, Kal. Lois is special. I don't even need to meet her to make that deduction. Do not misunderstand, I greatly desire to meet her, but that will not change how I feel towards her. If you love her and she loves you and will make you happy, that is good enough for me."

"She doesn't just make me happy, mother, she completes me."

Lara smiled while shaking her head ruefully. "And to think your father and I were going to keep your memories from you! If we had, we would have doomed you to eternal loneliness. If there is one thing worse than the death of a soul mate, it is finding them and being separated from them forever, knowing they are alive but beyond your reach. So, what happened after you performed the Sealing Vow?"

"Well, I had to confess who I really was to Lois. As a human, she didn't know anything about the Sealing Vow. The connection unnerved her but after I brought everything out in the open, she accepted me. I'm still shocked that she did. I am an alien to her after all."

"And she is an alien to you but you love her and she loves you," Lara pointed out, pleased by the outcome.

"True," Clark grinned. "After that, I started helping Lois in an investigation she's been working on. We've made some major progress and have actually discovered who's behind the whole crime organization she's been chasing after for months. In the process of helping her, I've been slowly evolving into a hero like the ones already on Earth, using my abilities to help people who can't help themselves. At one point, I expressed how I wanted to be a hero with the Kents and Martha ended up making me a superhero costume. It's skin tight because it's easier to fight in and it doesn't burn up when I fly really fast."

"Wait… fly?" Lara questioned.

"Oh, I suppose I should mention that," Clark said with glee. "We can fly, mother. Father doesn't know though. I don't think he ever figured it out. I only did because I saw Martian Manhunter fly away and I wanted to see if I could do it too. And I did! It's the best feeling in the world besides being with Lois of course."

Lara looked on, amused. "I see. So you have a uniform to wear. Have you been seen by the humans in it?"

"I have," Clark answered. "I saved Commissioner Henderson, a commander of officers who keep the peace, at a press conference. I also saved Lois from being shot by the crime organization's boss in the same location; he tried to have her killed in revenge for her figuring out and preventing Henderson from being murdered. It was after that father came looking for me. My debut as a hero alerted him to my actions. You know the rest."

Lara smiled. "You really have made a life for yourself, haven't you?"

Clark nodded happily. "I have."

o0o0o

Ching-Mi and the others had left Earth about two hours ago. They still had another two to go. Ching-Mi was leaning against the wall in the hall watching the bright blue and green planet shrink in the distance through one of the window panels. It really was beautiful. The swirling white clouds covered many of the landmasses to the right which were half shroud in darkness. Part of Ching-Mi was saddened that soon the special powers of the yellow sun would vanish from his body. He couldn't deny that it was thrilling to be so strong, so invulnerable. But he could understand why the powers were dangerous. Unlike the others who even at this moment were raging over how wondrous the abilities were, Ching-Mi knew they would be more destructive than helpful to the people.

"Ching, Lady Faora wants a word with you," Bal-Quin shouted down the hall towards him.

Ching-Mi sighed softly before turning around and heading to the control room. He passed the open living space occupied by Lord Nor and his cronies; the three of them were testing out their strength by bending metal chairs. Ching-Mi rolled his eyes but kept his thoughts silent. "You wanted to see me?" he asked once reaching Faora.

"Ching," Faora said fondly with a warm smile, "I want to thank you for carrying out your orders so well concerning Jor-El."

"It was my pleasure to carry them out."

"I must admit, due to your personal friendship with Kal-El, I was nervous assigning you the task of bringing Jor-El to us for questioning. I am glad I did not have to be disappointed in your performance. From your previous actions, I know I can trust you. I have an assignment for you."

Ching-Mi's eyebrow rose inquisitively. "And what might that be?"

"I do not approve of having the human weapons out in the open," Faora confessed. "I am unsure of how they work and I do not want to chance having them accidently exploding while we are in the ship. Though at the moment we are invulnerable, I am unsure of how long these effects will last."

"These thoughts are wise concerns," Ching-Mi agreed. "What do you feel should be done?"

"I want you to move the missiles into two of the escape pods in the back of the ship," Faora instructed. "That will place them as far away from the engines as possible and from us."

"But if something were to happen, the rest of the escape pods would be lost to us," Ching-Mi pointed out.

Faora looked on him, amused. "Ching, look around us. There is nothing here that is going to attack us. Besides the humans, we are the only ones in this solar system. I think we are safe from any outward threats."

Ching frowned. For some reason he had a terribly bad feeling about this request but who was he to turn down an order from his commanding officer? Going against his better judgment, he nodded. "Very well, I will take care of it."

Faora sent him a sweet, satisfied smile. "I'm glad. Thank you, Ching."

o0o0o

Clark thought over the words his father said earlier back on earth; something about a war? "Mother, tell me what's been going on while I've been away. Father mentioned something about a war."

Lara's face clouded with worry. "Your father was almost arrested."

"What?" Clark cried. "On what grounds?"

"For keeping the truth of the effects of a yellow sun a secret and lying to the Kryptonian community about a planet being uninhabitable," Lara answered. "General Zod was able to curb the people's desires for arresting your father but as a whole, they have shunned our House."

"Wait, everyone knows about our powers? How?" Clark wondered, terrified of what people would do with this knowledge.

Lara shook her head sadly, her caramel colored hair dancing around her shoulders. "We can't prove it but your father believes it was General Zod."

"Zod?" Clark questioned. "He's the kind of man who would harbor secrets such as this, not share them."

"Exactly," Lara said. "But he told Jor that he placed listening crystals in the Traveler. When your father confessed the abilities he possessed to Earth's heroes Zod overheard him. He's been planning something, Kal, but we haven't got a clue what it is."

Before Clark could respond, the boom of an explosion crashed through his ears as the entire Endurance shook violently back and forth. Lara screamed as the two of them trembled.

"What in the name of Rao?" Clark cried, looking around.

Leaping to their feet, Lara and Clark rushed out into the hallway. People were screaming and running all over the place as the ship shook again from another explosion.

"We're under attack!" a man shouted as he ran passed.

Clark grabbed someone's shoulder, the physical contact startling them to a stop. Clark recognized the face of Zara-Ra's mother, Lady Taf. "Lady Taf, what is going on?" Clark demanded, ignoring her indignation of being touched.

Slapping his hand away from her, she angrily replied, "I do not know, Kal-El."

She ran into the crowd before he could call her back. Another explosion caused Clark's teeth to rattle against each other. Lara grabbed onto Clark's shoulder to steady herself from another tremor. The ship was obviously under attack but by what?

"Mother, I need to go," Clark muttered, twisting around to look at her.

Lara shook her head. "No, Kal!"

"Mother, we're in danger! I have to help!"

"No!" Lara snapped as the Endurance groaned from another explosion. Pulling him towards her, she whispered urgently, "Kal, everyone believes you have been ill. We cannot risk them learning of your abilities!"

"But mother –"

"Attention!" a voice boomed overhead. "This is General Zod." – the people running through the halls immediately stopped to listen – "This is not a drill. We have been attacked. For your safety, everyone is to report to the main Assembly Hall at once."

There was a mad scramble as everyone started heading in that direction, spurred forward in the desire to be safe. Clark and Lara were swept away with the crowd. Even though Clark wanted nothing more than to leap into the air and fly over everyone's heads towards the source of the explosions, he couldn't do it. To the Kryptonians, he'd been ill for weeks. If he showed any of his powers, they'd know he'd really been on Earth and the last thing his family needed was another lie stacked against them. Frustrated, Clark allowed himself to be shepherded along with everyone else.

Once inside the Assembly Hall, Lara held up a hand for Clark to halt. He noticed that the moment people saw them, they averted their gaze. Clark felt a bout of anger. So his father had lied about the powers; he did it to protect them! Though nothing had been able to hurt Clark – besides those green meteor rocks in Smallville – he had high suspicions that if he faced off against another super powered Kryptonian the end result would be fatal. Even Clark could see how chaotic it would be for an entire nation to have these abilities. The wars alone would be the sure extinction of the race!

Lara wisely decided to hang around in the back, Clark supporting her decision only because he didn't want to have to face being shunned constantly by everyone around him. Alura and Zor-El appeared and Clark noted that they were being shunned too.

"Kal! It is good to see you!" Alura said, ignoring the disapproving looks in the faces of their peers.

"Hello Aunt Alura, Uncle Zor," Clark responded warmly. Though he hadn't realized it while on Earth, he really enjoyed being with his relatives. He missed them.

"We are glad your health has improved," Zor-El commented. "Things have been rather… trying… for our family as of late."

Someone snorted lightly as they walked passed while muttering, "Traitors."

Clark's fist clenched and it took a lot of energy not to shout out the stupidity of the individual as well as the vast majority around them. Did everyone believe they were traitors?

"Kal!" Clark turned as a delighted Zara-Ra rushed to his side, her eyes bright with relief and joy. "You are well!"

A welcome smile lit Clark's face. "Zara! It's good to see you!"

Zara-Ra tossed her long brown hair away from her shoulders, ignoring the shocked glares and mutters of the other Kryptonians filing passed. "I say the same for you! Where have you been?"

"I have been ill," Clark admitted.

Zara-Ra's brow furrowed. "Kara told us that she couldn't find you at home or in the infirmary."

"I might have been in my father's lab during the time she attempted to visit," Clark said easily. "He believed it best if I stay there for a short duration in fear of contamination. I returned to my own room after a couple of days."

"I didn't know of this," Zor-El said, slightly hurt he'd been kept out of the loop.

"We didn't want people to fear catching the virus Kal developed so we kept it to ourselves," Lara supplied, going along with her son's lie as if they had rehearsed it.

Clark felt bad for lying to his family but he didn't feel it appropriate to confess his true whereabouts in the current environment they'd found themselves in.

"Zara!" Lady Taf magically appeared at her daughter's side. "What do you think you are doing?"

"I was speaking with Kal," Zara-Ra replied without pause.

"You are not to speak to him!" Lady Taf snapped while eyeing Clark as if he were some piece of scum under her shoe.

Clark couldn't deny he was hurt. Lady Taf had never had reason to dislike him in the past. Could she have hid her displeasure for him and his House all these years?

Zara-Ra angrily turned on her mother. "Kal is my friend and despite the rumors and ridicule I still respect and honor the House of El. Though you may choose differently, I choose to stand by my friend."

Lady Taf's eyes flashed dangerously. "You would choose another House over your own mother."

"I have already chosen another House to call my own," Zara-Ra snapped recklessly.

Everyone in the vicinity paused to stare. The implication was clear. Lady Taf's jaw dropped and she wildly looked from Clark to Zara-Ra. Clark immediately put her fears to rest as he shook his head. "She has not chosen me," he said adamantly for more people besides Lady Taf were staring at him in disbelief.

Zara-Ra's face reddened as her mother demanded, "Who?"

Zara-Ra took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and faced her mother. Without batting an eyelash, she declared, "Ching."

Clark couldn't help it; he grinned. If anyone deserved to be together it was Ching-Mi and Zara-Ra. Everyone else, however, didn't share the same opinion. All of them gasped and several nobles shook their heads in disappointment. Clark's elation for his friends turned to anger. He opened his mouth to retort but the sudden appearance of General Zod at the head of the room silenced all further communication. The last minute stragglers rushed to sit down to hear the General's words.

Lady Taf looked at Zara-Ra angrily before twisting around and walking away from her without a backward glance, sitting down next to her husband. The other standing Kryptonians founds seats, leaving Clark, his mother, Zor-El, Alura, and Zara-Ra standing in the back. Zara-Ra tried to remain unemotional but her mother's rejection to her and her soul mate couldn't prevent her shoulders from shaking. Tears brimmed in her eyes and before Clark could call her back, she ran out of the Assembly Hall. Clark thought about going after her but he decided that Zara-Ra would be embarrassed to have an audience for her tears. Sighing, he turned his attention to General Zod.

o0o0o

Ching-Mi stood between Bal-Quin and Gyru-Inz, their hands grasping his arms in a vise-like grip. They were in a small, soundproof conference room adjacent to the Assembly Hall. A door belonging to a small passage led to the front of the Hall while another opened to the main hallway. Faora stood before Ching-Mi with her hands on her hips. Ching-Mi defiantly stared her down. "I refuse to do as you say," he said.

"This is a direct order," Faora snapped.

Ching-Mi shook his head. "It would be a lie!"

Faora wrinkled her nose. She hated when one of her soldiers defied an order. Ching-Mi had shown so much promise – he was one of her best – but he had an uncanny stubbornness to stick with his own morals and that lead to insubordination. "It is what must be done!" she said vigorously.

"No," Ching-Mi firmly replied. "And nothing you do can change my mind."

Faora's face filled with surprising glee. "Oh? Nothing?" Turning to the door, she called, "Kur-Nor!"

Ching-Mi's blood froze in his veins as Kur-Nor appeared with a sickening grin on his face, his arms holding a struggling Zara-Ra. A few tears were on her cheeks and the way she gasped in pain made Ching-Mi suspect that Kur-Nor's grip was even now bruising her flesh.

"Release her!" Ching-Mi cried, struggling in Bal-Quin and Gyru-Inz's grasp. He might as well have remained still; he couldn't move. But he couldn't just stand there and watch Kur-Nor tighten his grip on his soul mate!

"She will be released once you comply," Faora stated coldly, triumph in her eyes.

Zara-Ra looked at Ching-Mi, confusion and fear etched across her beautiful face. Ching-Mi swallowed. "And if I decide otherwise?" he asked apprehensively.

"I will give the order for Kur-Nor to kill her right before your eyes," Faora replied.

"It is against the law to kill!" Ching-Mi countered. "You would be sentenced to the Phantom Zone!"

Faora stepped closer to Ching-Mi, her black eyes glittering evilly. "A new age is about to begin, Ching. We have left Krypton behind. The old ways do not work. In order to survive, we must evolve."

"Murder is not evolution," Ching-Mi spat. "It is depredation!"

Faora raised her hand and Kur-Nor squeezed. Zara-Ra cried out in pain. Ching-Mi panicked. "Please, stop!"

"Will you obey the orders of your General?" Faora asked.

Ching-Mi looked at Zara-Ra. She didn't dare speak but he read her easily. She didn't want him to give in but she also wouldn't fault him if he did. It was his decision. Ching-Mi knew then and there that he wouldn't survive if he saw Zara-Ra killed before his eyes. She couldn't defend herself; right now she was just as frail as a human. He couldn't allow her to die. Perhaps, if they could get away, he could warn Jor-El.

Closing his eyes, praying silently that Jor-El would forgive him, Ching-Mi nodded. "I will but only if you vow to me that Zara will be unharmed from this time forward."

Faora scowled. Such a vow was heavy but Ching-Mi was the final piece to complete the picture her husband had paved to her years ago – a world where he would rule and she would be by his side. The temptation at having that dream so close to a reality broke her hesitancy and she submitted to the vow. "None of our people will harm her from this time forward," she stated. "Nor, release her."

Kur-Nor looked disappointed as he let go of Zara-Ra. She wanted to run to Ching-Mi but he was still being held by Bal-Quin and Gyru-Inz. Faora walked up to her, disgust written all over her face. "You are to remain in this room," she ordered. "Quin, Inz, escort Ching to the Assembly Hall."

Ching-Mi couldn't tear his eyes away from Zara-Ra who looked at him with such concern and love. Would she continue to love him after this? Could he accept himself? As he was hauled down the passage towards the Assembly Hall, Ching-Mi felt like he was walking to his death.

o0o0o

"My fellow Kryptonians," General Zod cried loudly to those assembled, "I have some grave news. I have just received a report that we have been attacked by missiles built by the people of Earth."

There was a gasp followed by angry mutterings at this news. Clark's jaw dropped. "What?" he muttered quietly. "That's not possible! The humans would never attack us!"

General Zod continued over the murmurings, "I fear the worst part of all of this is that the mastermind behind the attack was none other than Jor-El."

"That's a lie!" Clark shouted angrily before he could get a hold of himself.

Several people turned around to glare at him but Clark didn't care. Lara gently chided him, "Kal, please, now is not the time to act rashly."

"But what proof does General Zod have?" Clark questioned, his gaze never leaving Zod's face.

The people were angry that Clark would speak up against the General. "Of course he's going to defend Jor-El; he's his father!" someone hissed near the back.

Clark bristled. General Zod looked at him pityingly. "Jor-El had an accomplice." Turning to the door leading to a private, soundproof conference room that was used to determine private matters, Zod opened it and out stepped Bal-Quin and Gyru-Inz, their arms laden down with –

"Ching!" Clark gasped.

Ching-Mi had a look of guilt on his face that didn't go unnoticed by anyone. General Zod turned to Ching-Mi and muttered quietly, "If you deviate from anything I have commanded you to say, I will have Zara-Ra killed before you could super speed your way to her location."

Clark's eyes widened as his perfect hearing picked up the General's threat.

General Zod whipped around dramatically to face the crowd. "You desired proof, son of Jor-El? From his own lips, Ching-Mi has confessed Jor-El's plot. Ching, tell everyone what you told me."

Ching-Mi closed his eyes before shamefully staring at the ground. "In his last visit, I overheard Jor-El's plot concerning the missiles while speaking to the hero, Wonder Woman. His motive was to attack the Endurance, stranding us on the moon. Then he was going to take us to Earth where he would force us to do his and the humans bidding after teaching us how to control our abilities from the rays of a yellow sun. The gathering of iron has been a cover up for his deeper plans to conspire against us with the humans. I was going to alert General Zod of all of this when Jor-El caught me eavesdropping and forced me to become part of his plot. I released the missiles for Jor-El and attacked the Endurance."

"No," Lara whispered. "It's not true."

"Of course it's not," Zor-El muttered just as quietly, "Jor would never do such a thing."

Clark didn't dare voice that he knew for a fact that Ching-Mi's confession was false; if he did, it would alert Zod to his powers. Clark's heart went out to his friend. He had been blackmailed into this. His fists clenching in rage, it took every ounce of self control for Clark not to fly through the air and punch Zod with all the strength he possessed.

Tray-Ur angrily leapt to his feet. "What are we to do about this? What must be done?"

Several incomprehensive shouts were made and after a moment General Zod raised his hand. Immediately silence fell. Containing his pleasure of how easily he had gained the trust of these fools, Zod took charge. "Jor-El has asked for the humans to aid in his traitorous cause! He has had the Endurance attacked so that it is beyond repair. I suggest we show Jor-El and the humans that we are not going to stand for this! With the powers of the yellow sun we can stand and fight! The Earth has suffered from the humans' negligence and ill-will for too long. I say we dispel them from the planet and claim it for our own. We will prove that we are not weak-minded and insignificant!"

There was a roar of approval as the majority of the people agreed to General Zod's proposal, their frenzy clouding their judgment.

"This is outrageous!" Alura muttered amidst the cheers around them. "Do they not realize what Zod is suggesting?"

To his horror, Clark noticed Zod turn in their direction. Somehow he knew he'd heard them. Clark made a quick decision. Turning to his mother, he mouthed, trust me. Lara gave him a quizzical stare before nodding. Clark purposefully walked down the aisle, his presence immediately gaining the attention of everyone he passed. By the time he reached the front of the room, silence reigned.

"General Zod," he said in a loud steady voice, "I feel that my father has acted rashly. I support your cause."

That had been unexpected; General Zod's eyes widened in surprise just as much as everyone else's. Masking his shock, Zod nodded grimly. "It must be difficult for you but I feel you have made the right decision, Kal-El."

"This is the most difficult thing I've ever had to do," Clark admitted, which was true. Lying in front of the entire Kryptonian race was not something he'd ever imagine doing. Turning on his heel, he kept his head held high, his gaze straight ahead. Without a backward glance, he left the room, praying his relatives would follow him. To his relief, their heavy footfalls filled his ears. Reaching an empty study room, Clark swiped his crystal across the panel, opening the door. He stood by it until his confused relatives and worried mother came into view. Stepping inside, he waited for them to enter. Once all were inside, Clark skillfully soundproofed the room and locked it so none could enter; he silently thanked his father for all those years of training him on how to control the Endurance's mainframe.

"Kal, what in the name of Rao possessed you to lie like that?" his mother immediately demanded as soon as Clark turned around.

"How can we be sure it's a lie?" Zor-El asked angrily.

Offended, Clark scowled. "I would never betray my father, uncle. I said those things because we need to convince Zod that we're on his side when we're really not. Look, this is going to come as a shock to you and Aunt Alura but in order for what I'm about to reveal to make sense you have to know."

"Kal?" his mother questioned, confused. What was he going to say?

Clark sighed. "I personally apologize for the deceit but I haven't been ill."

"Kal–!"

"No, mother, this has to be said," Clark said forcefully.

"If you haven't been ill, where have you been?" Zor-El asked suspiciously.

"I have been on Earth," Clark admitted.

Alura and Zor-El stared.

"What?" Alura gasped. "But, Jor was the only one allowed on the planet."

"For personal reasons, he broke the rules and smuggled me to Earth," Clark revealed. "Look, I don't have a lot of time so please, pay attention and don't interrupt."

Zor-El looked slightly affronted but both he and Alura nodded in understanding. Quickly Clark told them of his fight with his father and his experiences on Earth. He mentioned Lois and told them how she was his soul mate. They had been completely floored and wanted to interrupt but Clark kept them at bay with a look. He debated on whether or not he should tell them about Kara and Jimmy. Having them know right now would only add to the stress already heaped upon them… making a decision, he skipped over Kara and Jimmy's relationship and finished with how he'd ended up back on the Endurance after his debut as Superman.

Zor-El was the first to break the uncomfortable silence that followed Clark's tale. "So… you want to live among an alien race and be their protector?"

"I do," Clark stated firmly, sensing his uncle's disapproval. "I've never felt so right about something in my entire life."

"And you have found your soul mate on an alien planet," Alura muttered, completely shocked that Lois wasn't Kryptonian.

"It doesn't matter to me that Lois and I are different in where we come from," Clark replied, his eyes softening as he thought of her. "What matters is that we complete each other."

It did not escape Zor-El's attention how his nephew's entire countenance changed when speaking of this Lois Lane. His eyes held a tenderness Zor-El had never seen and the warm smile he displayed lit up his very soul. Zor-El understood what his nephew was feeling; he had similar feelings towards his own wife. Who was he to stop something that was meant to be, even if it was strange? Zor-El sighed. "Very well, Kal. Though I find this all rather alarming, I know when I should not prevent something from occurring and the matter of soul mates is not something to trifle with."

"Then you support my desires?" Clark asked nervously. He really wanted his relatives' approval. Perhaps with their help he could persuade his father to see sense.

"I support it," Alura said without hesitancy. "I may not understand it fully but your particular circumstance feels right. I believe it is the right thing to do, allowing you to live on Earth. However, I have a concern. The terms were for our people not to set foot on their planet."

"Those terms went out the window the second Zod declared that my father has betrayed and attacked us with the humans' help," Clark pointed out. "However, with the help of super hearing I know that Ching's confession was false. Zod blackmailed him into saying those things by threatening to kill Zara."

"What?!" his mother, aunt, and uncle cried in unison.

"That's against the law!" Alura raged.

"He must be brought to justice!" Zor-El demanded.

"And he will be!" Clark assured.

"How?" Lara asked.

"We must work together to expose him," Clark said. "For now, we're going to have to go along with his schemes to go to Earth. The tricky part is going to be leaving the main party of the Kryptonians to warn Father and the humans what Zod plans to do once we arrive there."

"That is why you made such a display before the people," Zor-El gasped, suddenly understanding.

Clark nodded. "In order to expose Zod for the tyrant he is, we must keep him off our radar."

"You realize that many will side with Zod no matter what," Alura muttered sadly.

Clark frowned. "If it comes to a fight, we're going to have to make a stand. I will not support genocide. From this moment on I vow to protect the humans and the planet Earth with my life."

"Kal, what you speak of could result in your death!" Zor-El argued but because he loved his nephew. The last thing he wanted was for him to be killed. Lara and Jor-El would be broken if they lost him forever. He was their miracle. Zor-El still remembered how shaken his little brother had been after the incident on Jinogra. The cool, calm, and respectable scientist had become a nervous irrational wreck. He never wanted to see him like that again.

"Uncle, Earth is my home now," Clark replied with a sad smile. "If I lost it, I'd lose Lois and that would mean losing the meaning of life. I love her and I love Earth. I will gladly give my life in the cause of protecting everything I hold dear from the delusions of a hostile takeover by a madman."

Zor-El saw his nephew's determination and stubbornness and sighed. "You are definitely a member of the House of El. Once you set your mind to something, you won't be persuaded otherwise. Fine, Kal, we will support and help you in protecting the Earth."

"How are we going to convince anyone else to join us?" Alura asked.

"We need to speak with the heroes of Earth and with my father," Clark answered. "With their help we should know what to do."

"And how do you suggest we do that?" Lara asked. "It would be dangerous to try and contact them now."

"I'm going to leave for Earth right after I am done speaking with you," Clark answered.

"What?" Zor-El yelped. "If you do that, you might as well not have told Zod you were on his side at all!"

Clark grinned. "Uncle, I will return before anyone knows I'm missing."

Zor-El scoffed. "Impossible. Zod will notice if any ship leaves the docking bay."

"I'm not going to be traveling by ship," Clark answered. "There is an ability I refrained from mentioning when I told you what happened to me on Earth. It's my ace so please forgive me for not revealing it to you. I am confident that I will be able to leave and return without detection though I could use the help should a cover need to be made."

Lara smiled. "Don't worry, Kal. I'll tell anyone who comes around that you are brooding in your room on how to confront your father and wish to be left alone."

Clark gave her a grim smile. "It is unfortunate that people will believe that." He sighed. "I really need to fix things with him after all of this is over."

"We'll deal with that when it comes," Lara said comfortingly. "For now make haste, Kal. The sooner you leave and return the better."

Zor-El still remained skeptical but he decided to trust his nephew. "Be careful, Kal."

"I will be," Clark assured. And then, to Alura and Zor-El's surprise, he enveloped his mother in a hug. "I will return soon," he promised.

Lara smiled, surprised but happy from the embrace. "Go, my son."

Clark slipped out of the door and rushed down the hall without a backward glance.

o0o0o

Lois was standing outside of Fort Berk writhing in frustration. She'd arrived twenty minutes ago and still they were checking to see if she could be allowed inside. Krypto sat next to her, silently brooding over being on a leash. Lois sighed. "This is ridiculous." She walked forward again to the guard who sat inside the security booth. "Excuse me, have you heard anything yet?"

"I'm sorry miss but no," the guard said though he didn't sound sorry at all. In fact, he was annoyed she'd interrupted him reading his magazine. Lois noticed the inappropriate pictures and scowled. The guard flipped his magazine shut and stashed it under the desk away from her prying eyes. "When I hear something, I'll signal you over," he said pointedly.

Lois frowned. "Fine."

Well that was pointless, Krypto opined as he walked beside her away from the security guard. I say we just break the solid wall down and charge in.

Lois leaned against said stone wall and groaned. "This is useless, Krypto," she grumbled. "Use my connections! Ha! Perry's smoking something else besides those cigars of his. As far as my father is concerned, I could be out here for another five hours before he finds time to see me."

Then let's do as I suggested and bust our way in.

"I'm almost tempted to have you break the wall down," Lois grumbled.

That's what I've been suggesting all along! Krypto growled angrily.

Lois raised an eyebrow. "Why are you growling?"

Because this lack of communication is stupid! Where is Kal when you need him? Krypto sighed, frustrated.

Lois frowned. Krypto was obviously upset but she didn't know why. "Where is Clark when you need him?" she sighed.

Krypto nodded to her adamantly, his intelligent brown eyes mirroring her frustration. He was just about to hang the secret and slam his head through the wall when he heard an abnormal rush of wind heading in their direction. He turned only to stiffen in dread.

Lois, noticing Krypto's sudden change in body language, eyed him curiously. "Krypto?"

"Who are you?"

Lois leapt out of her skin as her head snapped up. Swearing while rubbing her neck, she took in the appearance of the man standing before her. The first thing she noticed about him was that he was tall. Very tall. Then she observed his facial features. A small bit of white had crept into his thick black hair by his ears, an unruly curl hung over his forehead and a pair of brown eyes holding a vast amount of knowledge studied her silently. The face she stared into was incredibly similar to that of her boyfriend but while Clark's nose was completely straight, this man's sloped up a little on the end. His lips were not as full as Clark's and his brown eyes, unlike Clark's beautiful unearthly blue ones, were devoid of compassion and kindness. Instead they were flickering with impatience and suspicion.

Ignoring the fact that this man's presence was quite alarming at the moment – for he appeared to be rather agitated – Lois squared her shoulders. "Who wants to know?" she asked.

"My name is Jor-El. Though I am surprised to find my son's dog chained in your possession, the fact he is with you does not entirely shock me."

Lois raised an eyebrow. "Then Clark told you about me?"

"My son's name is Kal," Jor-El corrected.

"Fine," Lois said testily, "Kal told you about me?"

"He did not." Jor-El noticed the hurt in the girl's uniquely colored eyes before she could mask it behind a steely gaze. Interesting reaction, he silently mused. It definitely confirmed the suspicions he'd been having since he'd left Kal-El with his mother. "Miss –"

"– Lane," Lois interjected. "Lois Lane."

"Miss Lane," Jor-El muttered, "This question may be a little forward but I must know, are you involved with my son?"

Lois wanted to say yes but she hesitated. Clark hadn't told his father about her at all. Why? Did he not want his father to know about them? Was he ashamed of their relationship? It hadn't all been a lie, right? He cared for her, didn't he?

Her silence and the hurt in her expression was rather easy for Jor-El to read. "Miss Lane, I did not give Kal the chance to tell me about you."

"Then why do you ask if we're involved?" Lois inquired, suddenly confused on where that had come from if Clark hadn't even mentioned her to him. Something didn't add up here.

"I removed Kal's memories of his experiences on Earth and noticed you appeared in most of them in rather intimate moments," Jor-El revealed. "I've had several hours to reflect on it all and the only conclusion – which I fear may be the truth – is that you and he have a relationship that is more than what you would consider friends."

"You removed Clark's memories?" Lois gasped, hardly comprehending the rest of what he'd said. "How dare you!" She began to panic. Clark wouldn't remember her. He would never come back to her! Jor-El had taken him away in such a way that made it impossible for her to get him back. Her heart slammed against her ribcage as her throat felt like it was sealing itself shut.

Krypto let out a snarl and took a step towards Jor-El, baring his teeth.

"I removed them because I was afraid of losing him!" Jor-El explained, completely unfazed by the fact that a giant dog was about to pounce on him. To him, Krypto was just an ordinary dog; he didn't realize that he possessed the same abilities as Kryptonians.

Lois, however, knew this. Desirous to avoid physical attacks, she put a hand on Krypto's head. "Easy boy," she muttered stroking his fur. Krypto continued to growl but he backed off.

Jor-El watched with silent fascination. He'd never seen anyone able to tame Krypto besides his son. "Miss Lane, please, answer my question."

Lois frowned. "Since you removed his memories I don't know if it matters anymore but yes we're involved. We're soul mates."

Jor-El felt like the wind had been knocked out of his lungs. Soul mates. His son had exchanged the Sealing Vow with a human being. He had connected with an alien! "How is this possible?" he whispered, stunned.

"Search me," Lois said with a shrug. "I didn't even know there was such a thing until it happened."

The magnitude of his actions crashing upon him, Jor-El put his hand against the wall to steady himself. In ignorance he'd removed his son from his soul mate. What kind of parent did such a thing? No wonder Kal-El had looked so distraught when he'd ordered him to leave Earth! Jor-El had mistaken those emotions for foolish delusions of grandeur but now he saw the whole picture. What floored him was that even though Kal-El knew that his soul mate was on Earth, he left anyway. He doomed himself to eternal misery for the sake of obeying Kryptonian law. Why did that infuriate Jor-El so much? Why hadn't Kal-El stood up for himself, for his love, for his new life?

Then Jor-El remembered that he hadn't really given his son a chance to. He'd invoked the law upon him out of impatience, anger, and fear. He had foolishly only thought of himself. He hadn't even considered the repercussions of his actions. His son, now without memories of his soul mate, would be doomed to a short life of misery. At this moment he might be experiencing a harrowing hole in his heart, an aching pain that he couldn't even explain, and it was all Jor-El's fault. And his soul mate, this young woman before him, was probably feeling the same way. In fact, as he looked into her eyes, he could see the sorrow, the pain. He'd caused this.

"What have I done?" he whispered, agonized.

"Hey, are you alright?" Lois asked, seeing the horror on Jor-El's face.

Jor-El looked up at her, amazed. "Do you not hate me for taking him away from you?"

Lois folded her arms. "I don't hate you but I'm infuriated that you did. If I had super strength I'd slap you as hard as I could but since I don't, I'll have to settle for making you feel guilty." And then the rampage started. When Lois was angry, when she was totally past her point, she was a hurricane that had to inflict as much damage as possible in its wake. "How dare you!" she seethed, stepping towards him.

"Who do you think you are, stripping happiness from everyone? Clark has done nothing wrong. In fact, he's tried to always do what you told him to do. His whole life he's been attempting to live up to your expectations, pushing himself to be the picture perfect son. I know how that feels. Though I'll always deny it, I try every day to make my dad proud. Why? Because I want him to love me." – a sob escaped Lois' throat but she plowed forward – "All Clark has ever wanted was your love. He told me about how much he tried to do everything you asked him to do growing up but it never seemed to satisfy you. He said you pushed him away, expecting more than what he'd given. Those were his best efforts and you practically spat on them. It's no wonder that the two of you are dissatisfied with the other. You don't talk things out! You're just like me and my dad. We've gotten to the point where we can hardly stand to be around each other. Why? Because we're both too stubborn to get things out in the open.

"And because you're like this, you took Clark away from here without even listening to his side of the story. You ripped his memories away from him and now he doesn't even remember me. You don't know what it feels like, do you? To be broken? To feel lost? I've tried to hide my feelings from everyone else but the truth is I'm barely keeping it together. I feel like I've lost my drive, my passions, and that I'm just going with the motions so I don't completely break down. I'm forcing myself to move forward but I can't see or feel things the way I did before. I'm falling apart and it's your fault."

Wiping the tears off her cheeks, Lois turned away from Jor-El. She hated feeling like this, wearing her emotions on her sleeve. Ever since Clark had entered her life, her carefully constructed outer shell had been completely obliterated. Now she was a nervous wreck. She was frustrated that one person could undo what had taken years to perfect. Lois Lane did not allow people to see her weak. She did not allow her emotions to get the best of her. She was the fearless reporter who marched into chaos and danger without showing the slightest ounce of inner fear swirling under her cold exterior. At least, that was what she was before Clark. But now, now she realized that the drive, the emotion, the passions, had amplified since he'd stepped into her life. Clark made her better, made her push her limits in a way she never had before. And now he was gone and so was her drive. She loved and hated that she was so dependent upon him. A part of her longed for things to go back to the way they were before, where she guarded her heart and protected her true vulnerability while chasing after things and attempting to live life the best she knew how. But a greater part longed for Clark, who made life, life. He had transformed her into something more and she longed for that to come back.

"If there is even an ounce of compassion in your heart, please," Lois begged, "bring him back to me. I can't live my life the way I want to without him in it."

Jor-El stared at the remarkable young woman before him in wonder. Tears fell down her face, her emotions freely displayed for him to see. Her soul was suffering. A strong desire to hug this woman nearly undid Jor-El. Forcing his arms to stay at his side, his hands formed into fists.

"Miss Lane," he began, trying to keep his emotions steady, "I am a selfish, unrelentingly stubborn father. I am imperfect and as such prone to make hasty decisions. Understand that I really only want what is best for my son and most of the time I make decisions for him concerning what I feel will make him happy. You would think that years of mistakes would make me change but I keep making more concerning his wellbeing. In my anger I have created so much chaos. I now see my error and I beg your forgiveness. I apologize for the pain you are feeling. You are meant to be with my son and I have come between the two of you. I'm sorry. I would bring him back immediately but there are things going on among my people that prevent me from doing so."

"What kind of things?" Lois asked.

Jor-El sighed, shaking his head. Was it wise to tell her? Though she wasn't a Kryptonian, she had somewhat of a right to know why he was withholding Kal-El from her. Besides, he had a feeling that she would pester him until he explained things to her anyway. It was better to just let her in on the current state of affairs with his people that to have her force it out of him. Sighing again, he muttered, "I fear someone is trying to orchestrate a coup. I have to get Kara, Krypto, and the rest of the iron I need and return to the Endurance as quickly as possible in order to stop what very well may lead to war."

"Let me come with you," Lois urged, her desire to see Clark overcoming common sense.

Jor-El shook his head. "I can't allow that. My people don't trust your kind. They are very skeptical and part of me fears they will treat you with hostility."

"I can't just stay here when Clark may be in trouble," Lois began to argue when someone cleared their throat behind her. Lois whirled around.

"Miss Lane, the General will see you now," the guard at the gate said before retreating back to his post.

Lois had completely forgotten about meeting with her father. Gathering her emotions, she hoped her face wasn't red. Forcing the cold exterior to dominate her features, she replied, "It's about time! We're going to have to continue this later. For now, you're coming with me," she said to Jor-El.

He shook his head. "I don't have time to waste, Miss Lane. Allow me to take Krypto from you."

Lois's hand tightened on Krypto's leash. He was the only guarantee she had that Clark would return. He wouldn't leave Krypto alone. "No."

I'm not going anywhere! Krypto growled, moving closer to Lois.

Jor-El was growing frustrated again. "Do you not see the magnitude of the situation we face, Krypto?" he asked, looking down at the dog in disapproval. "I need to remove all traces of Krypton from this planet. You must come with me!"

Krypto shook his head. No.

Lois silently started grasping at anything that would keep Jor-El from taking off. She needed to make him see that she needed to come with him. Maybe she could placate him for now. "How about you come with me and Krypto to meet my dad? It will only take a few minutes. Then we'll take you to where Kara is and the three of you can go."

Jor-El frowned, already shaking his head in disagreement. "Time, Miss Lane –"

"It won't take long," Lois urged. "We'll be in and out of here in less than ten minutes; I can almost guarantee you on that."

Jor-El sighed. He was wasting time arguing with her. "Fine," he snapped.

Cheered, Lois turned on her heel. "Good, now come on. We don't want to keep the General waiting."

Jor-El followed after her, grumbling the whole way. He really didn't have time to waste but there was an annoying part of him that wanted to know why his son had chosen this woman. Therefore, he somewhat corralled his impatience to follow after her and Krypto as the two of them marched into the military base without a backward glance.