Destiny
Disclaimer: The characters of Smallville belong to WB network. This story is written for entertainment purposes only. No money is being made from this story. I promise to put the characters back when I’m done with them.
SPOILER WARNING: This story is based loosely on the episode “Rosetta” guest starring Christopher Reeve as Kurt Swain. I use the events of “Rosetta” in Chapter 1 to set up the story and then I continue where I think “Rosetta” would have continued to in my Chapter 2. I want to comment that the events in this story is NOT the story canon of “Rosetta”. This is my interpretation of that excellent episode that made Smallville #4 in the overall ratings. This story takes place after my story “Superfriends” where Pete Ross finds out Clark’s secret. This story can be read without reading Superfriends and without watching Rosetta.
CHAPTER 1
Chloe slapped Pete on the shoulder as she booted up her computer and asked “How’s your family roots project coming along?”
Pete slung his backpack over his shoulder and gave Chloe, the intrepid school reporter a crooked smile as he reassured her “It was a breeze..the Ross Family has been in Smallville since the Jurassic Age”
“You know Pete, not everyone has a nuclear family like you do. I just have my Dad since my Mom left me so I have no idea what my Mom’s side of the family is like” Chloe insisted as her computer booted and she started checking her email.
Clark waltzes into the computer and remarks “Yeah Pete you are lucky to have a nuclear family..I mean I’m adopted..God knows what my biological parents are like!”
Pete leaves the computer room as Clark notices the frown on Chloe’s face.
“Chloe, what’s the matter?”
“Clark..look at all these emails?”
“So, you’ve got email before..just open them.”
“No Clark, that’s not the point all of these emails are for you!”
“For me? What are my emails doing in your inbox?”
“How would I know Clark, and what’s so strange is there are hundreds of these emails all from the same guy!”
Chloe frowns as she opens one of the emails and there is a strange symbol on the front, a symbol in Kryptonian, the symbol for hope. Clark quickly closes the email hoping Chloe hasn’t read the contents.
“You know what’s even stranger is that this guy’s name is Swann and according to the search engine..his name is Kurt Swann a multibillionaire in satellite technology! Billionaire by the age of 19. Graduate of MIT and Harvard. They say he’s a genius. It seems, Clark that you are being stalked by a billionaire!”
Clark gives Chloe a puzzled stare “What would a billionaire want with me, an average farmboy?”
Clark looks at the mysterious symbol on the email which is Krpytonian for the word hope. Clark furrowed his brow and wondered and how did this billionaire know how to read and write Kryptonian?
Who is this billionaire? What did he want with him? What if this is a trap? What if he wants to trap me in his lab and as my father puts it dissect me like a frog? Should I go to New York or not? I’ve go to talk to my folks about this. If anybody can make sense out of all of this, it would be my folks.
“Dad, I think I should go to New York to see this Curt Swann to see what he wants! I’m dying to know how he knows how to read Kryptonian!”
Frightened for his son’s safety and the safety of his secret, Jonathan looks his son in the eye and declares “Son, I think your Mom and I should come with you to New York to meet this Swann fellow to see exactly what he wants..”
“Please Clark..” pleads Martha “Listen to your father..we just want to protect you..we don’t know who this Swann fellow is..we don’t know what he wants..he could be dangerous”
“Mom..Dad..I love you both..but you can’t protect me all my life..I need to go alone to find out what he wants..you can’t protect me forever”
“No Clark, I forbid it..we either go as a family to New York or we don’t go at all..I am not willing to let you go alone..”
“Dad, I can protect myself..”
“Son, you don’t know what these people can do to you..dissect you like a frog in a lab..I won’t have that..I intend to protect you..”
“But Dad.. don’t you understand I have to do this myself..I have to know who I am.”
Martha’s eyes mists over as she contemplates losing her son. She knew that as soon as her son found the key to the spaceship that he would unlock the secrets to his past and leave her and Jonathan. She was losing her only son. Clark wanted to find his “biological “parents” and forget about her. Tears start to fall down Martha’s face as she contemplates a future without Clark.
Clark hears his mother’s sobs and holds her in his arms and says in a husky voice “Mom, I love you and no matter what happens or what I find out..you will always be my Mom. He takes his mother’s quivering body into his powerful arms and rocks her to comfort her whispering words “I love you Mom..Don’t cry..I will always love you.”
Unable to contain his emotions any longer, Jonathan Kent joins in this emotional family embrace trying to protect his family from danger by holding Martha and Clark close to his heart. He knew there would come a day when Clark would leave the nest, he just didn’t know it would be so soon. Fear clenches his gut as he worries about the dangers Clark will face, not just in New York but from people like Swann who might want to take advantage of Clark’s unique abilities. Hugging his family tighter, he was able to maintain the illusion for just a few minutes longer that he could still protect his family from danger. Tears fall down the gruff bearded face of the tough old farmer, Jonathan Kent as he quietly says “Son, I can’t stop you from going to New York..just be careful son..we love you” Jonathan chokes on the last words as the three Kents hold onto each other for dear life.
With the grudging permission of his parents, Clark sets off to New York to meet this mysterious Curt Swain. Clark enters the junk-filled planetarium warily. The planetarium is filled with all kinds of computers, pictures of outer space, masks of aliens and many computer screens. Dust fills the air as if the office has been unused for a long time. The office has an abandoned air to it. Clark squints his eyes through the dust to see if anyone is there.
“Mr. Swain..hello is anybody here?”
There sits a distinguished middle aged man with grey rimmed glasses and crystal blue eyes, slick backed brown hair sitting in a wheelchair behind a big oak desk. Clark walks forward to the sound of the voice.
“Welcome, Clark I’ve been expecting you” says the mild mannered Swain in a soft voice.
“Are you Mr. Swain?”
Clark sees the distinguished man in the wheelchair and is astounded by his appearance. Intelligence glimmers from those steel blue eyes behind grey rimmed glasses. Clark is nervous and wary of this man who has called him from Smallville and who might know of his alien origins. Clark decides to be cautious and not give this man too much information about himself.
“Mr. Swain, who are you?”
“Oh I am an eccentric billionaire who explores the stars with his satellite network and who practically lives in the New York planetarium. I own the building you know. “ He gives Clark a wink as he continues his explanation..I built my empire out of satellite technology. Every satellite that is currently in orbit around Earth has been built by my company. I own every piece of space junk floating around Earth and I’m damn proud of it. Sit down Clark. I have a lot to tell you,
In a commanding voice, Swain speaks to his computer console and barks out
“Screen One”
On the screen is a message written entirely in Kryptonian. Clark watches in awe as the message from his long dead biological parents flashes to life in front of his eyes.
Swain turns around and faces Clark and asks “Clark, do you recognize this message?”
Clark still in awe simply nods his head.
“Can you read this message?”
Clark starts to read the message out loud without answering Swain:
“Kal-El, last son of Jorel and Lara. You are the last son of a planet called Krypton. We have sent you to Earth and we hope that you are delivered from evil. Remember, Kal-El you are with us in our hearts for all time.”
Swain continues to explain “I received this transmission from one of my deep space satellites 12 years ago when a strange meteorite storm showered a Midwestern town.
Clark interrupts as he adds “The Smallville meteorite shower..my space ship..I was a baby on that space ship..Look Mr. Swain I’ve been waiting all my life to know about where I come from..”
“You, Clark Kent are from a planet called Krypton. I traced the signal of the satellite as far back as I could and all I found was debris. I believe that your home planet exploded killing everyone on the planet.”
In a sad disconsolate voice Clark says “You mean I’m the only one?”
“Yes, Kal-El you are alone.”
“Mr. Swain.. You’re not with the government are you? You’re not going to tell anybody are you?
“No, Clark. Your secret is safe with me. I was simply curious that’s all. I do not intend to tell anyone any of this. Your secret will not leave this room.”
“Did the messages say anything about my destiny? What am I supposed to be? What am I supposed to become? Why did they send me here?”
Mr. Swain gives the young confused man a compassionate look with his blue eyes as he continues in his soft voice “Clark, your destiny is what you make of it. You take what is the best inside of you and you write your own destiny.”
Clark shakes his head at this. What does Swain mean that he has to “write his own destiny”? Is there more to the messages that Swain is not sharing with him? Clark’s head swirls with confusion as he digests the amazing fact that he is an alien named Kal El from a now dead planet called Krypton.
Clark puts his hand through his hair in frustration. I still can’t believe it. I’m an alien. My home planet is dead. I still don’t know why I am here on Earth or why I was sent here. What am I supposed to do with all my abilities? Did my biological parents know that I would have special abilities here on Earth? Why did Krpyton explode? What happened to that entire planet? And the most important question remain unanswered: Why am I here?
As Mr. Swain watches Clark leave his lab, he can only shake his head as he ponders. I wish I could have told him about the other messages his biological parents sent but I don’t think he can handle it right now. No I will bide my time and wait until the kid is older before I tell him the rest. Right now Clark has got all he can handle. Thank goodness he seems to be a decent kid because he’s going to need every ounce of decency when he finds out what destiny has in store for him.
Clark Kent leaves Dr. Swain in a daze. He is an alien. He knows now that his birth name is Kal El. And that his parents name is Jor El and Lara and that he comes from a dead planet called Krypton. What do I do with this information? What is my destiny? What does Dr. Swann mean when he says that my destiny is what I make of it? More questions than answers. Clark tries to shake the confusion out of his head but his emotions and his thoughts continue to whirl faster and faster in ever widening circles. Clark decides to talk to the one person who could always turn chaos into sane reality: his father Jonathan Kent.
“Anyway Dad, that’s what Dr. Swain told me.” As Clark fills his Dad in on his trip to NY and his conversation with Dr. Swain.
“He says I’m all alone.”
Jonathan gives his son a stern look and takes his son by the shoulders as if to gently shake some sense into the confused teenager “No, son you are NOT alone. You have people who love you..me, your Mom, your friends.”
Clark looks at his father with eyes full of love “Oh Dad..thanks”
Jonathan Kent gives his son a well needed hug. Martha Kent who just came into the barn also gives her son a loving hug as all three Kents participate in a family huddle hug.
Jonathan Kent speaks in a husky voice “We are a family and nothing anybody else says or does will break that apart..do you understand that, SON?”
Clark looks down at the barn floor strewn with hay and he answers abashedly “Yes, Dad.” And then he looks at his mother and gives her another hug.
Jonathan takes an object out of his pocket and shows Clark.
“This, Clark is the heart of the ship. When your Mom and I found you, this was the only part of the ship that survived the crash. Now that you can read Kryptonian well your mother and I figure that it’s about time that you find out what it says.”
Clark touches the unfamiliar object and instantly the object glows and many Kryptonian letters flow into Clark’s head downloading a long message into his brain.
“If you are hearing this message then this must mean that your mother Lara and I Jorel are dead. We were killed when our planet, Krypton exploded. You are the only survivor of Krypton. When you get to Earth, you will have extraordinary powers. You will be stronger than any humans on Earth and you can then use your powers to take your rightful place as the leader of the humans for you are to use your powers to become their leader and lead the humans…”
Clark stopped listening to the message midway. His head is in a whirl and he recoils from touching the heart of the ship and hastily let it drop as if the very metal burned his hands. Clark steps away from both his parents and cringes in horror, his eyes opened as wide as saucers as he murmurs incoherently stepping away from the space capsule “No, no,..that can’t be my destiny..I will not enslave others …no..no..this can’t be true..my father can’t want me to do that..no..tell me..is that what I’m to become a tyrant? No…I..” Clark looks as if he wants to bolt out of the barn altogether but his father holds him tight and tries to break the hysterical tantrum Clark had gotten himself into.
Clark continues to murmur “no..I..that’s can be my destiny..i am not a slavedriver..no..I don’t want to be..”
Jonathan Kent shakes his hysterical son and asks “Clark, what’s the matter? What did you see in that globe? What did it say? Son, tell us..”
Clark looks at his father with horror filled eyes “The cylinder..it had a message..I’m sure I read the message wrong..it can’t be true?”
Jonathan furrows his brows as he asks “What was the message son?”
“Dad, I’m sure I read the message wrong..I mean my biological father can’t want me to..ah..no..that can’t be my destiny!” as Clark grows more and more hysterical with each passing moment.
Once again, Jonathan Kent has to shake Clark to get his full attention. “Clark..tell me word per word what was in that message.”
Clark murmurs shamefully “My father wants me to use my powers to enslave Earth..Dad..is that my destiny? Is that what I end up doing? What kind of people am I from? How can this be? Am I supposed to grow up to be a conqueror?” as horror tinges Clark’s hysteria filled voice. Clark’s body begins to tremble as he goes back into shock. “All these years I’ve wondered where I came from. I’ve spent hours staring at my space ship wondering who my birth parents are..wondering why I was sent here to Earth..then I learn from Curt Swann that I’m an alien from a planet named Krypton..that my name is Kal-El..that Krypton blew up..and that I am the only survivor..I always figured I was sent to Earth for a purpose..but now I find out that my destiny is to be a conqueror..Dad..tell me that’s not so..” Tears fall down Clark’s face.
“Dad, how can that be? “ Clark starts to hug his father finding comfort in his father’s tall frame and strong arms. And in a small voice Clark continues his rant “No, I..tell me it’s not so..Dad..”Clark looks at the compassionate face of his mother who is making soft cooing noises akin to “It’s okay Clark..everything is going to be alright!”
Clark continues his hysterical rant heedless of both his mother and father “No, it can’t be..tell me it’s not so” Clark wraps his arms around his body and starts rocking it back and forth, still staring at the cylinder his eyes wide with shock and disbelief..
Jonathan looks at Martha and despite Martha’s cooing noises and Jonathan’s hug, Clark still seems to be in a state of shock. Jonathan decides that drastic action is needed to break up Clark’s tantrum. Martha whispers “Jonathan, do something..I can’t stand to see Clark like this..he looks catatonic”
Jonathan gives his hysterical son a loud slap on the face and shakes his ranting son until his teeth rattles. Finally Clark snaps out of his shock but his eyes are still wide as saucers and still wide with disbelief, horror and shock at the message his biological parent sent him. “Dad..I just can’t believe I’m going to be a monster someday..”
In a loud authoritative voice Jonathan Kent enunciates carefully to the now hysterical teenager “CLARK JEROME KENT you are MY SON. I AM THE ONE who raised you and you are NOT going to listen to that..that..I don’t care if he is your biological father..you WILL NOT become a conqueror..a monster”
Clark looks at his father with wild unfocused eyes “How can you be sure that I’m..that I don’t become..I mean..with these abilities..what if I..hurt people..is my destiny is to hurt people to become their leader? Fear laces every word in the frightened teenager’s voice. It is this fear and confusion that cuts through both Clark and Martha’s heart as they seek to soothe the fear in Clark’s heart about his destiny.
Jonathan shakes the frightened teen and says “Son, I know you better than anyone. Martha and I have raised you since you were a baby and believe me..you are NO tyrant..you are our son..and we love you very much..”
Martha takes her turn holding Clark “I raised you from a babe..and I know that you will never do anything to hurt anyone..you have too kind a heart to hurt anyone..if anything your destiny is to help people with your powers..not hurt them..” Martha’s kind grey eyes implores understanding and acceptance from Clark’s.
Clark, still shaking from shock, still cannot believe the unconditional love his parents are giving him. He is horrified by the fact that his biological father had sent him to Earth to enslave Earth people. Clark wonders if he is descended from slave owners; Clark just can’t wrap his mind around that concept as he seeks to escape from this nightmare.
Clark gives his parents one last look as he bolts out of the barn running blindly into the soft afternoon rain with the voices of his fathers echoing in his head. One father’s voice thunders “You will enslave the people of Earth with your powers and become their leader” and the other more gentler yet just as firm father’s voice says “I am the one who raised you as a loving son..you will NOT become a tyrant..” These voices play over and over again in Clark’s tired head like a broken record giving Clark no reprieve and adding to his misery and discomfort. He runs to the one friend who would listen to him. Clark Kent runs to Pete Ross’ house for solace, comfort and friendship. Pete Ross is the only other person who knows Clark’s secret and Clark’s remarkable abilities. Clark was tired of talking to adults who gave him contradictory and confusing forecasts about his future, he needed someone his age to relate to and to identify with. All his life whenever something went wrong in his life, Pete always knew the right thing to say to make it all better. Everything had gotten too serious lately and he needed Pete’s wry humor to lighten everything up.
Clark decides to get a grip on his whirling emotions after all he didn’t want his best friend to see him in tears. He wanted a rational man to man talk with Pete and he just needed to know that he was still Clark Kent, son of Martha and Jonathan Kent. Pete always reminded Clark of his human side. Clark took a deep breath as he supersped to Pete’s house as if the hounds of Hades were after him.
Pete looks up and sees a trail of dust and he knows instantly that it’s Clark. Only Clark can run and stir up a whirlwind of dust as he travels along the road. Clark is like a mini tornado. Pete shakes his head and he can’t imagine what it must be like to be able to run so fast, or to move so fast that if it weren’t for the dust whirlwind, Clark would be moving too fast to be discernable to the human eye.
Pete still feels honored and privileged to be the only person on Earth outside of Clark’s adoptive parents, the Kents, to know about his extraordinary secret. It’s hard to believe that your best friend arrived in the world in a spaceship—a spaceship from another planet. Pete still feels remorseful for beating Clark up with Kryptonite and telling everyone in town that Clark was an alien when he was under the influence of the alien parasite that had taken over his mind.
Pete shakes his head in regret as he doesn’t remember a thing about any of the events that took place while the parasite had control of his mind. One minute he remembered being at the rave and watching a fellow student jump to his death and then the next minute Pete remembers waking up in a hospital bed and the doctor telling him that they had just removed a giant slug from his body. Pete was shocked to learn that he revealed Clark’s secret, beaten Clark up with green Kryptonite, turned Clark evil with red Kryptonite and endangered his and Chloe’s life just for the “thrills” of it by driving off a cliff and standing in front of an oncoming bus.
Pete’s just glad that Clark did not get permanently mad at him and still talked to him after all this happened. He couldn’t believe his luck when Clark and his parents forgave him and still considers him to be a part of the Kent family. Luckily the Luthors didn’t get wind of this escapade or else Clark’s secret would have been exposed.
Pete watches as Clark runs towards him with a worried almost frantic look on his face. Ever since Clark discovered his abilities, Pete noticed that Clark wears an almost permanent confused look on his face. But now Clark’s face is expressing more than the usual confusion..Clark looks absolutely terrified. Of what is Clark terrified? Why is Clark so frightened? What happened in New York with Dr. Swain? What did Clark find out about his alien origins? About his destiny?
CHAPTER 2
Pete pretends that nothing is wrong although he knows that something has upset Clark for Clark to be running that fast for Clark was running even faster than usual and the faster Clark runs, usually the more upset he is. Pete scratches his head in bewilderment as he wonders once again what it must be like to be Clark. Pete shakes his head and laughs to himself that he is glad to be just simply Pete Ross. Being a human teenager is tough enough, but being an alien teenager with super powers is even more tough.
Pete stops what he’s doing waiting for Clark to stop running thus ending the dust whirlwind he has created. Pete rests his back against his father’s truck as he hauls one last bale of hay into the truck before Clark arrives to visit. Rivulets of sweat is running down Pete’s face as he takes out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his face. He puts his hand to his face as he squints in the sun to see Clark now walking at human speed to Pete. He’s dying to find out what Clark has discovered about his origins in his trip to New York.
Clark tries to give Pete a lopsided smile as he tries to bury his turbulent emotions so that Pete will not see just how upset he really is.
Pete sees the fake smile plastered on Clark’s face and knows instantly that something is VERY wrong. And now he REALLY wants to know what happened in New York. First, he must act nonchalant and not scare off Clark who looks like he’s about bolt like a scared rabbit. Pete plasters his own fake smile on his face as he walks up to greet his best friend.
“So Clark how was your trip to New York?”
“Oh I found out a lot about my family heritage. The most interesting part is I found out my birth name”
“What is it?”
“My birth name is Kal-El and get this I’m from a planet called Krypton. And the planet Krypton exploded and I’m the only survivor.”
“Wow! So at least you know where you come from!”
“Well yeah..I guess so” answers Clark reluctantly.
Changing the topic abruptly Clark asks “So how’s your family roots project coming along?”
Taking note of Clark’s sour tone, Pete knows instantly that Clark is holding back on him but he plays along anyway knowing that Clark would tell him sooner or later what was bugging him. After all they had been best friends since kindergarten. Pete couldn’t hide his amazement that his best friend is an alien!
To play along with Clark’s game, Pete nonchalantly answers “oh..the family roots project..for me the most interesting part I found out about my family is about that whole slavery thing..you know a bunch of foreigners came to Africa and kidnapped a bunch of my ancestors, chained them to a boat and dragged them to America. My uncle told me the exact tribe and exact location where the kidnapping took place and the name of that ancestor..I can’t remember the name..all the details about how horribly they were treated as slaves.”
“I found out that the slavers captured the Africans natives. They then starved the slaves so that they wouldn’t try to escape. Then the slavers put the slaves into the lower decks of the ship and chained them up. The slaves had to stay in the lower desks for months. They were never allowed to leave which means that they had to defecate on themselves throughout their whole journey to America..many slaves died because of..” Pete hears Clark gasp and looks up to notice that Clark has turned an interesting shade of green. Clark puts his hand to his mouth to stop the ever increasing waves of nausea now attacking his stomach as he tries not to lose his lunch. Just hearing about the cruelty of slavery makes Clark sick. Pete notices the greenish tint of Clark’s face and asks how he is.
“Clark..are you alright? Do you need a vomit bag? You look sick. What’s wrong?”
Clark covers his mouth and settles his frazzled nerves as he says “No, Pete huh..nothing’s wrong..”
Pete gives Clark an incredulous look as he rolls his eyes and says “Okay Clark spill it.. what is the matter with you?”
Clark looks down at the ground and can’t meet Pete’s eyes as he is so ashamed of what he had learned about his destiny “It’s nothing, Pete. I’m just so horrified that your ancestors were slaves..that’s all..I can’t believe anyone could be so cruel that..”
“Well yeah…it was all about power..the kidnappers took my ancestors because my ancestors had no way to defend themselves against guns when all they had were bows and arrows..”
Clark finally meets Pete in the eye and says quietly “You have to know Pete that I would never do anything to hurt you. I would never ever use my powers to to..ah..to..ah…you know like what they did to your ancestors..I would never do that to anyone..I can’t..I mean ..I won’t..”
“Clark, the word you wanted to say was “enslave” right?”
Once again, Clark becomes shy and keeps his eyes on the ground and replies softly “Right..I would NEVER EVER do that..”
“Clark, I know that..besides where is all of this coming from? What gives you the silly idea that you will “enslave” people with your powers?” Suddenly the recognition dawns across Pete’s face as he puts two and two together.
“This doesn’t have anything to do with your roots project does it? Did someone tell you that you will “enslave” people with your powers”
Clark gives Pete an amazed look because he can’t believe that Pete figured the whole thing out and he can’t believe that he’s so transparent that he wears his emotions on his sleeve. That look of surprise told Pete volumes as he digested what Clark’s trip to NY might have told him about his family tree.
“Clark, what happened?”
“Pete, I’m so ashamed. I don’t know where to start. I wish I never found out about my biological parents. I just wish I could really be the son of Jonathan and Martha Kent and just lead a normal, uncomplicated life. I hate all of this. I really do.”
Clark looks as if he is going to bolt so Pete puts a reassuring hand on Clark’s shoulder. Clark starts to tremble and tears fall down Clark’s face as he continues his hysterical tirade.
“How can you stand being friends with me? Especially if my future includes enslaving people with my powers? You must hate me! You must think I’m some kind of monster!”
“Clark, look at me”
Clark still is too ashamed to meet Pete’s eyes directly. But something in Pete’s voice made Clark look up. Unshed tears glisten in Clark’s grey eyes.
“Clark, I do not hate you. You are not a monster. You are my best friend..hell..my brother from another planet..and no matter what we will work it out together..back to back..you watch my back and I watch your back..remember we promised when we were kids..heck we even exchanged a blood oath..”
“Pete, when you find out what I’m about to tell you..you won’t want to be friends with me anymore. In fact, nobody will want to have anything to do with me anymore.”
“Look Clark why don’t you let me decide what I want or don’t want to do? Tell me everything from the beginning. If our friendship means anything to you, you cannot keep secrets from me. Trust me. I will never hate you and you will never lose me as a friend. Tell me everything.”
“It’s just so hard..at first the whole roots thing was great. I stuck that octagonal rock into the cave wall and it downloaded the whole Kryptonian language into my head. Suddenly all the inscriptions on the cave wall made sense..that was great! When I went to visit Dr. Swain, I was able to read the message my parents left for me. I was thrilled to find out my birth name and my home planet..I came home feeling great.” Clark stops midway and finds it difficult to continue as he gulps a big swallow “Now comes the part that I’m ashamed of Pete..the part I’m afraid of..the part I can’t face..not to you..not to myself..I”
“Clark, how many times do I have to tell you that no matter what we’ll work this out together! Now spill it!”
“Alright..but don’t say I didn’t warn you. So I went into the barn with my father. My father showed me another part of the ship..it had hieroglypics on it..it was a message from Jor-El, my biological father. At first when I saw the hieroglyphics I was thrilled to find out more about my birth parents..I was swept up in the excitement of the moment..then I read the Kryptonian. It said “"On this third planet from this star, SOL, you'll be a god among men. They are a flawed race. Rule them with strength my son. That is where your strength lies".
With fear and horror in his eyes, Clark looked into the eyes of his best friend as he exclaimed “Is that what my future holds? Is that what I become? A slave-driving monster? Am I destined to enslave Earth with my powers? What kind of people were the Kryptonians? Do I have the blood of ruthless conquerors in my veins?..I..”
“Clark, the answer to all of that is NO. You will not become a conqueror. I am sure of it. You will never be like the monsters who enslaved my ancestors..no way..you’ve got a pure heart..you really care about helping people..you would never hurt a fly..Clark, this Jor-El and these Krpytonians are all dead..you don’t have to listen to these dead people..you must follow your heart..nobody’s destiny is carved in stone..we all create our own destinies..as long as you do not have the desire to conquer..you will not conquer and enslave..it’s as simple as that..You have to believe in yourself..believe in the goodness of your heart..I know I do.”
“Pete, how do you know that these powers won’t change me?”
“Clark, your power is part of your physical self..part of your body..it doesn’t matter whether you are alien or not, it is your heart that matters and I know that you have a compassionate caring heart..you can create a new future..forget about the past..Your destiny is what you make of it..besides you’re too much of a big boy scout to do anything dishonest or cruel..you just don’t have the killer instinct in you, Clark.”
“You sound like my father. He said more or less the same thing. Told me to forget what my dead father says and to listen to my heart and that that heart was raised by Jonathan Kent and that heart holds the values and morals of the Kent family..the only family I’ve known until now..I just feel so afraid..I am afraid that I might hurt someone with these powers..I can’t escape the feeling that I might..”
“Clark, just the fact that you are afraid of how your power will hurt others shows how much you care about people and how much you care about the welfare of others means you could never develop into a cruel dictator or slaver like Jorel wants you to be. You can escape your destiny, Clark..you just have to believe in yourself as much as we all do. Now a person like Lex Luther is the type of person with the “killer” instinct. Now there’s a guy that could enslave the world to bend it to his needs. He’s the one that we all should be worried about. I trust you, Clark with my life but Lex Luther I wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole. Lex is the snake in the grass. I would worry if it were Lex Luther who had super powers but thank goodness for us, it’s only good ole Clark kent who will SAVE the world..not enslave it..from conquerors like the Luthers that’s what I see your destiny to be shaping up to be! I swear to you Clark, I never worried that you would ever hurt me..or would hurt the world..it’s the Lex Luthers of the world that I worry about..”
“Aw Pete..Lex can’t be all that bad?”
“That’s what I like about you. You see the good in everyone even the Luthors. Lex Luthor carries this darkness inside of him and in the end it’s that darkness that will destroy him..Lex Luthor just doesn’t have the boy scout syndrome that you have Clark..that’s why I know that the world will be safe in your hands..I think it’s the Luthors and the Jorels who might want to rule the Earth, but Clark with your kind compassionate nature, it is the Clark Kents and Pete Rosses who will inherit the Earth. You and I together just like we promised when we were kids!”
“ Pete it can’t be that simple..Lex..the darkness and You and I the light..I have these powers and who knows what will happen?”
“Clark have you been listening to me? Boy you do have a thick head! Look I’m friends with you..not with Lex..that should speak volumes about your character..I don’t hang with future monsters like Lex okay buddy?”
Clark feels as if a heavy weight has been lifted off his chest. He gives Pete a big bear hug as he thoroughly thanks Pete. “Thank you, Pete..for believing in me more than I do myself..You honestly think Lex is dangerous?”
“Boy Clark you are really naïve..trust me conquerors are NOT naïve like you. Yeah, I think someday Lex’s dark ambition to rule the world will be his ultimate downfall..And I think you, Clark will be the one to bring him down and make this world a safer place for all of us. I think you are really super man!”
“You know Pete..the strange thing about all of this is that right before I left Curt Swain..he said more or less the same thing..I quote “You must find your own destiny...Kal-El. Call me."
“ I guess if a really smart dude like Curt Swain, can believe in me and my father can believe in me and you most of all can still believe in me despite my being an alien..maybe I can be a super man someday!”
Clark looks up in gratitude at his best friend. He just can’t believe that so many people believes in him. It was Kurt Swann the renowned scientist who told Clark “You must make your own destiny..by making a journey within himself and taking the best of what’s inside himself..or something like that. You know I’m not going to let some dead guy tell me what to do. I am going to use my powers to help people and I will dedicate my life to helping people weaker than myself..I will fight against any injustice like slavery.
I don’t have to look into the past to discover my destiny. I will save Earth from itself and someday create a Utopia, a place of peace and happiness where everyone can live a life free from crime and hunger. With all these powers I have, I want to make Earth a better place to live. Pete’s right, I am a big boy scout but hey there’s nothing wrong with being a boy scout. After all boy scouts take oaths like doctors don’t they to help people so I am proud to be a boy scout even if everyone teases me about it.
“You know, Pete I’ve just decided my destiny..I want to use my powers to help mankind..save lives..rescue people from natural disasters like Earthquakes and you know help out..just like what I’ve been doing here in Smallville when I rescued Lana from that tornado..” Clark’s eyes light up as he thinks of the possibilities.
“When I was in that tornado saving Lana, I felt the tornado lift me up..and I could feel myself flying..I willed myself towards Lana as she was stuck inside the truck in the middle of a whirling tornado..instantly I put my arms around her to shield her from danger..Pete..the moment I put my arms around her to protect her..I felt that I was doing the right thing..my gut tells me that that’s what I want to do with my life..save and protect people from danger..use my powers as a shield to protect people from harm..I would love to do that..”
“As for the Luthors, I don’t know about that part..but I would like to protect people from freaks and murderers..you remember that kid who could suck the life force out of anyone?”
Pete nodded.
“That’s what I want to do..protect people from being harmed by psychopaths and killers..and when that girl was being assaulted..I want to be the one to use my powers to keep her safe..make sure the bastard goes to jail..use my powers to throw the bastard into the jail if I have to”
Pete stopped Clark for a moment “ Just remember Clark..not to get too angry when you throw that bastard into jail..always remember to be cool man…”
“Yeah, I know Pete. I’ll always remember to be cool..I can’t afford to hurt people..I know that because I am strong..I can never afford to lose my temper..I just want to help Pete..not hurt..I am NOT going to follow what my biological father says..he’s dead..and I’m not.. I was raised by Jonathan and Martha Kent and not by him..I will always be cool..because my real Mom and Dad, the Kents, taught me right from wrong..not some dead Kryptonian..”
“That’s the spirit, Clark! Come on let’s go inside my mother has baked this killer apple pie that you just can’t miss!”
Clark replies “Last one there is a rotten egg!”
“Hey no fair! You’ve got powers!”
“Well for your mother’s pies I’ve got to use whatever edge I can get!”
THE END
Or the beginning?
Of course we all know gentle reader that Clark Kent grows up to become Superman, marries Lois Lane and establishes Utopia.