Destiny
Part Two

By Hordak Alpha

              Rubble was strewn about everywhere.      The building had all but been decimated from the work of the suicide bomber who had stood within the lobby of the crowded U.N. embassy just a few short moments ago.           Several people had been killed by the initial blast or by the shrapnel unleashed by the explosion.          All that could be heard were the cries of a little girl who was trapped under a pile of debris.    The little girl was struggling to get out.          Creaking and cracking could be heard as the walls of the embassy began to weaken.        The little Arabian girl struggled ever so harder to free herself but it was no use.     Her leg was stuck fast under the piles of concrete and had all but been crushed.           She cried out for help as loudly as she could but no one heard here.    At least it seemed that no one had heard.             

	 Suddenly a soft, kind voice spoke to her in her native tongue.    “Don’t worry.” said the soft male voice in Arabic,   “You’re going to be just fine.”               

	The little girl could hear loud thumps on the ground, the sounds of concrete shattering, and within a short amount of time the concrete slab that pined her leg was lifted high into the air.         The girl couldn’t believe her eyes.         Looming above her a young man, of American descent to her belief, held the slab over his head with relative ease.      The young man had dark hair and kind blue eyes.         He tossed the slab aside and picked up the little girl.              

	“My mother.” sobbed the little girl in Arabic, “Where is my mother?”             

	 “I don’t know.” said the young man, “We have to get out of here.   The building is about to collapse.”          In a burst of blurring speed the young man carried the injured little girl out of the building.               Within a few seconds the building collapsed.

                  
           A few hours later Clark Kent sat on the floor of the Fortress of Solitude with thoughts of failure plaguing him.    

	 “What troubles you, Kal-El?” asked the Jor-El A.I.                 

	“I couldn’t save all of those people.” said Clark,   “I heard the bomb blast from here and I still couldn’t get there fast enough.”                 

	 “Even with your powers you cannot be everywhere at once.” said Jor-El,   “Although you did say you saved a young girl from the destruction.”               

	 “Yeah,” said Clark, “It looked like she was the only survivor.”              

	 “Then all was not lost.” said Jor-El, “You saved a life.  It counts for something.”       

	 “I guess.” said Clark with a sigh, “But I should have been able to get there in time.     Running just doesn’t get me around the world very fast.”               

	  “Have you attempted to fly yet?” asked Jor-El.    

	 “No.” said Clark, “I don’t exactly see how I would be able to fly.    It is physically impossible.”           

	  “Yet you know that you can fly.” said Jor-El, “You did it before.”             

	 “I wasn’t exactly myself when I did that.” said Clark, “If I remember right a certain someone tried to take it upon themselves to program the knowledge into my head.”               

	“It was what I thought was the right judgment at the time.” said Jor-El,  “However I find it to be better that you choose to do such things of your own free will instead of being forced into it.”                

	  Clark smirked.   “You’ve learned something in the last few weeks then.” he said.                 

	  “We never stop learning, Kal-El.” said Jor-El,   “Life is always full of lessons.”               

	  Clark stood up.    “Well if I want to be able to help people in trouble around the globe I have to find a faster way to get to them in time.” he said. 

                 Clark went outside into the frigid air of the Arctic.    Snow covered landscape stretched out as far as the eye could see around the Fortress of Solitude providing enough room for Clark to begin to practice his flight ability.      Clark decided on the most logical method in order to fly.     Planes used speed, velocity and lift to get into the air and Clark figured that was the best approach.               Clark cleared away from the Fortress quite a bit until all that lay around him was flat, snow covered landscape.    

	  ‘My own personal runway.’ thought Clark.           Clark closed his eyes and focused.    He took in a deep breath and opened his eyes.    He burst forward in a great burst of super speed.          When he thought the time was just right Clark took a flying leap high into the air.        ‘I’m doing it.’ thought Clark as he glided through the air from the momentum of his speed and agility, ‘This is easier than I thought.’             Suddenly gravity took a hold and Clark began to plummet back towards earth.           All he could do was close his eyes as the ground came rushing up towards him.        He landed face first in the snow.             Clark got to his feet and dusted the snow off of him.   He sighed and decided to try again.           His second attempt yielded the same result.             

               Weeks passed and each and every day Clark took time to practice.     He eventually learned how to glide through the air for a few feet before he fell back to earth.       His landings got better as the weeks progressed where he could anticipate the fall early on and land feet first instead of face first.   Clark wasn’t really sure how it was really possible for him to fly but he knew in order to do it it would take a form of concentration.             He had been able to learn how to glide and could even make himself levitate above the ground a few inches.        During this time he had discovered an ability he didn’t know he had.     One day Clark got frustrated with an attempt at flight that he took in a deep breath and let out a heavy sigh.       However Clark unknowingly unleashed a powerful burst of wind from his lungs when he did that.     ‘Strange.’ thought Clark.                   Clark began to practice this ability as well and soon learned to control it to the point where he could consciously turn it on and off like his heat vision.                Flight was still a ways away from Clark Kent though.

                 Whenever he could Clark would take some time off from training and would use his super speed to take him to various parts of the world, where, he just so happened to run into trouble whether it be thrust knee deep into a conflict situation within Iraq, where, insurgent terrorist forces would see him as an American infidel and open fire upon him only to learn that bullets would bounce off this certain American.       Clark would also run into places where natural disasters took place and he would help people out of danger the best way he knew how.             As the weeks passed Clark found out that he was getting physically stronger from the deeds he was doing and working his muscles past a normal human level.           Flight, however, kept escaping him.                 Clark learned to stay in the air for longer periods of time and gliding further and further breaking his personal records.    

             One day after another attempt at flying Clark took a break inside the Fortress of Solitude.      The technology within the Fortress was incredible to the point that food and clothing needs were met through a computer replication system.          “How is it that, every country I have visited, I am able to learn their native language and speak it fluently within a short amount of time?” Clark said out loud one day.         

	 “The kryptonian mind is far more advanced than a human one.” said Jor-El, “A kryptonian mind can learn things far faster in a short amount of time.”               

	“Then why is it taking me so long learning how to fly then?” asked Clark.           

	“Patience is needed.” said Jor-El,    “Learning this power at a natural pace may take some time, Kal-El, although you have come further than I expected within these past weeks.”      

	 “Yeah.” said Clark, “And I haven’t even been back to Smallville in all of this time.”         

	“If you wish to learn to perfect your powers and learn all you need to fulfill your destiny you mustn’t have any distractions.” said Jor-El.          

	 “I know.” said Clark, “You have said that before.   I did leave my spaceship key back home with my mother if she wanted to come and visit me.  So far she hasn’t.”          

	 “Perhaps she knows that you need your privacy to fully concentrate on your studies.” said Jor-El, “This training you are undergoing shall take much concentration.”          

	Clark nodded.   “Especially when it comes to the battle training you keep putting me under.” he said, “It would be refreshing if the battle drones didn’t resemble Zod all of the time.”                    

	 “You must know the enemy you will face one day essentially well.” said Jor-El, “It is fitting that each drone you face is a duplicate of Zod.”              

         All was interrupted when Clark saw someone he hadn’t seen for quite a long time emerge into the chamber.    “Hi Clark.” said Chloe as she walked slowly towards Clark.    Chloe’s beautiful blonde hair was longer than it had been when Clark had last saw her.

	          “Chloe.” said Clark,   “It has been a long time.”   “Your mom let me borrow your key so I could come here to see you.” said Chloe,   “Smallville hasn’t been quite the same since you left.”          

	 “How so?” asked Clark.           

	“It is just so quiet.” said Chloe,   “When I said I needed a break from you I didn’t say a few months.”         

	 Clark smiled and hugged Chloe.    “I’m glad you are here.      It is nice to see a friendly face from home.”            

	 Chloe hugged back and then pulled away gently.     “So, what have you been doing all of this time?” she asked.            

	 “Just training myself as best as I can.” said Clark,   “I’m mostly learning all about my abilities. That and I’ve been doing some traveling.”           

	“Traveling?” asked Chloe, “Where to exactly?”         

	 “To different countries.” said Clark, “You know, Africa, Iraq, Argentina, anywhere where I’m needed.”             

	 “What do you mean where you are needed?” asked Chloe.                   

	 “I’ve been using my abilities to help out people in other countries.”  said Clark, “That is what I want to do the most.”    

	     “What about the people who care about you back in Smallville?” asked Chloe, “We might need your help too.”         

	     “What do you mean?” asked Clark with concern,  “Is my mom okay?  Is something wrong with her?”        

	 “No” said Chloe,  “Your mom is doing just fine the last time I saw her.   She has enough hired hands on the farm to help her with all of the chores.”            

	“Then what did you mean when you said the people back home need my help?”   asked Clark.              

	 “Clark, we all miss you.” said Chloe,  “Your mom, Lois and myself of course.”                

	“Lois?” asked Clark,   “She and I never have actually been friends.   Why would she miss me?”              

	 “She asks about you from time to time.” said Chloe,  “She is curious about where you got to.”     

	 “What do you tell her?” asked Clark,  “I’m assuming you didn’t tell her where I really am.”             

	“No.” said Chloe,  “Your secret is safe.   Your mom actually came up with a clever excuse.”             

	“What would that be?” asked Clark.           

	 “Your mom came up with the excuse that you went away to college out of state.   I don’t exactly remember where she said.” said Chloe.               

	 “How is everyone back home?’ asked Clark.         

	 “Well, I already said your mom is doing fine with the farm and stuff.” said Chloe,  “I’m still working at the Planet and so is Lois.    Her internship is just about over and she is actually thinking of pursuing a career there.”        

	 “That is good to hear.” said Clark,  “So journalism really interests her, huh?”          

	 “Yeah,” said Chloe,  “That and the new guy that came to work over there.”      

	“Well,” said Clark,  “I don’t really need to know about the latest office romance.”                  

	  “I figured you wouldn’t want to hear about that but…” said Chloe as she paused for a moment,   “There is something that I think you should know.”               

	“What, Chloe?” asked Clark,   “Is it something serious?”           

	“Well, to you it might be.” said Chloe,   “It is about Lana.”    

	“What about Lana?” asked Clark with some interest.         

	 “Clark,” said Chloe,   “Lana and Lex…..they got engaged a month ago.”              Chloe could see a little bit of hurt in Clark’s eyes.       

	“Lana and Lex are going to get married?” asked Clark.              

	 “Yes.” said Chloe,  “They’ve really hit it off these last few months.   So much so that, from Lana’s account,   Lex popped the question just a little over a week since they first hooked up.     It took Lana awhile to say yes because she was waiting to hear from you again.”                

	 Clark looked away from Chloe.           “Lana and I are through.” he said,  “She was the one who decided that for us.”             Before Chloe could say anymore Clark’s super sensitive hearing picked up cries of help from several hundred miles away.      “Chloe, wait here.” said Clark,  “Some one is in trouble and I might be able to help.”        In a blur of speed Clark shot out of the Fortress and disappeared over the horizon.       Chloe sighed.

           Somewhere in Metropolis, within an old abandoned warehouse near Hobb’s Bay  Milton Fine was fumbling with some machinery.      Fine had built a crude looking construct with a crude looking view screen.       The machine was a communication device that Fine had built with some old personal computer parts he had been able to acquire and nanotechnology  from his own body.          The screen flickered to life with a distorted image of a man in shadow.      “General Zod.” said Fine,  “Is that you?”  

	   “Yes.” came a calm voice,  “It is Zod, what do you have to report?”          

	 “Something that will please you very much, my general.” said Fine.        

	   “What is it?” asked Zod.            

	 “The barriers of the Phantom Zone have begun to deteriorate even further within the last few months.”  said Fine.       

	      “Meaning?” asked Zod who sounded impatient.          

	 “That instead of just communication frequencies being able to penetrate to and fro between the barriers of the Phantom Zone I predict that it will be soon possible to open a doorway from Earth to the Phantom Zone.”          

	“That is most glorious news.” said Zod,   “When will you be able to construct such a doorway?”     

	“It is hard to say.” said Fine,   “The technology on this primitive world doesn’t provide ready resources.   It took me months just to construct this communication device.”                        

	“Just answer me, Brainiac.” shouted Zod,   “I am growing tired of your babbling.”             

	 “If all goes well and I am able to acquire the right power source I may be able to build a gateway device within ten years if I am lucky.” said Fine.             

	“Ten years!!” shouted Zod,   “Why must it take so long??”             

	 “I have never built such a device.” said Fine,  “The technology I require to build a gateway within a shorter amount of time exists within Jor-El’s Fortress here on this world but I cannot get inside.   I don’t even know the exact location.   I only saw the interior when I was last there.”                 

	“I do not wish to wait ten years until my freedom.” said Zod,  “But if it is to take that long I urge you to get started on the gateway as soon as possible, Brainiac.”            

	 “Of course, my general, it shall be done.” said Fine.               The shadowy image of Zod disappeared from view on the screen and Milton Fine was once again alone with his thoughts.  

                  Clark ran at super velocity across the continent, following the cries for help his super sensitive hearing picked up so easily.             He followed the cries into Gotham City where he came upon an apartment complex engulfed in an inferno.             The city’s fire department was already on the scene and were evacuating people as quickly as possible.      Clark hung in the shadows and watched the evacuation take place.          

	 “That seems to be everyone.” said a fire fighter.           

	 “No,” cried out a woman dressed in a bathrobe,  “My daughter!   Where is my daughter??”        The woman was in hysterics.

	      “Calm down, Miss.” said the fire fighter,  “Where did you see your daughter last?”         

	 The woman pointed up towards a window on the third floor.   “Up there.   That is my daughter’s window.    She was sleeping in there the last time I saw her.”        

	The fire fighter looked up and saw that the windows surrounding that area were engulfed in flames.    “I’m sorry, but we can’t risk any of more of our men and women up there.  It is too dangerous.”  he said.           

	 “But my baby is up there.” cried out the woman,  “I was in so much of a panic that I hurried out before I realized my little girl was still in bed.”                

	 “I’m sorry but I can’t do anything about it.” said the fire fighter.            Clark overheard this and shot out of the shadows.      He ran past the fire fighter and the woman in a blur.              All the woman and the fire fighter felt was a massive gust of wind rush past them.       

               Clark ran into the blazing building and up the stairs up to where he believed the woman had pointed.    Clark stopped for an instant and reached out with his hearing.          He picked up crying from somewhere close by.   Clark followed the sounds and entered an apartment that had just begun to go up in flames.         Clark heard the cries get fainter and fainter.     The heat was growing intense and Clark knew that if the little girl was going to survive he had to find her quickly.             He scanned the apartment with his x-ray vision and found the little girl huddled over in the bathroom.        With a dash of speed Clark rushed into the bathroom and scooped the little girl up into his arms.       The little girl lay limp in his arms, unconscious.      Clark dashed out of the apartment and was about to come to the stairwell when burning debris came crashing down in front of him.     With it a wall of fire ignited.          Clark took in a deep breath and blew out a concentrated gust of freezing wind.        The wall of fire was snuffed out and the way was clear for Clark to continue.        In a blur of speed Clark cleared out of the building.        He put the little girl down close to a fire engine and sped away.        Fire fighters spotted the little girl and rushed over to give her help.         Knowing that his work was done Clark sped away in a blur of motion.  

          When Clark returned to the Fortress of Solitude Chloe was gone.   “Jor-El” said Clark,  “Where is Chloe?”            

	  “She left a short time after you left.” said Jor-El.         

	 Clark sighed.   “I guess I have left her waiting once too often.” he said.          

	 “You must have no more distractions, Kal-El” said Jor-El,   “You must resume your training in combat.”      

	 Clark rolled his eyes.    “Okay.  I hope it isn’t too much work this time.”  he said.      

	“I am trying to teach you  so you can effectively integrate your abilities into your combat style.” said Jor-El,  “It is the only way to successfully defeat Zod.”    

	 Clark nodded.   “Let’s just get started.”  he said.                 Out of the shadows a drone robot hovered into view.    In a flicker of light a hard light hologram swirled around the drone into the image of Zod.      Clark took a loose stance as yet another training match was about to begin.

                                  End of Part Two