---
The ship's interior was dark. Ancient metal. Cold air that had not moved in thousands of years.
Aaron stepped forward.
A sound. Metallic. Slithering.
From the ceiling, a shape dropped. Robot. Sleek. Kryptonian design. Six tentacles extended from a central core. Red optic sensors scanned.
It locked onto Aaron.
"Intruder detected."
The tentacles shot forward.
Clark moved. His hand grabbed the first tentacle. Crushed it. Sparks flew.
But the robot was fast. Two more tentacles whipped toward Aaron. He ducked under one. The second caught his shoulder. Threw him against the wall.
Aaron hit the metal hard. Regeneration began. Already healing.
"Clark!"
Clark stepped between Aaron and the robot.
The red optic scanned him.
And stopped.
"Kryptonian DNA detected. House of El. Identity verification in progress."
The tentacles retracted. The robot stilled.
A panel on the wall slid open. A compartment. Inside, a slot. Small. Triangular. Glowing faint blue.
"A container," Aaron said. "A key holder."
Clark stared at it. "I have a key."
---
He reached into his pocket. Pulled out a small object.
The key from the baby pod. Jonathan had given it to him before they left. "This was in your ship. You should have it."
Clark inserted the key into the slot.
The ship woke up.
---
Lights blazed. Walls hummed. Gravity shifted and stabilized under their feet.
Holographic interfaces flickered to life throughout the room. Star charts. Ship diagnostics. Kryptonian text scrolled in silver light.
The floor reshaped itself. Seats rose from the metal. A command console materialized before them.
Atmosphere stabilized. Warm air. Breathable. Perfect.
"Kryptonian Command Key accepted," a voice announced. Synthetic. Calm. "Dormant scout ship now active. Systems online."
The robot that had attacked retreated to a charging station. Its optics dimmed. Passive now. Waiting.
"It recognized you," Aaron said.
Clark stood at the center of the room. The holograms swirled around him. The ship responded to his presence. His DNA. His bloodline.
---
A new hologram formed.
Not text. Not diagrams.
A man.
Tall. Regal. Dark hair streaked with gray at the temples. Eyes blue. Like Clark's.
He wore Kryptonian robes. Formal. The crest of the House of El on his chest.
The hologram stabilized. Solid. Almost real.
He looked at Clark.
And smiled.
"To see you standing there. Having grown into an adult. If only Lara could have witnessed this."
---
Clark could not move.
"Who are you?"
The hologram stepped closer. His eyes were warm. Sad. Full of something Clark had never seen before.
"I am your father, Kal. Or rather, a projection of him. His consciousness. Preserved in this ship's memory."
"Kal?"
"Your birth name. Kal-El. Son of Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van. Last son of Krypton."
Clark's legs nearly gave way.
---
Aaron watched from the side. Silent.
Jor-El's projection continued. "This ship was one of ancestor hero kryptonian, injured in battle , body beyond repair, he took last breathe on this earth, he was on mission, and died on this land "
---
The holograms shifted. Images of Krypton. Red sun. Towering crystal cities. A woman's face. Blonde. Beautiful.
"Your mother," Jor-El said. "Lara. She held you until the last moment. She did not cry. She was strong. Stronger than me."
Clark touched the hologram. His hand passed through it.
"
" The ship contains the archives of Krypton. Our history. Our science. Our knowledge. All of it is yours now."
" What happened on that planet, i am one of the last descendant of krypton"
"Because you are the last. The Codex of all Kryptonian bloodlines is imprinted within your cells. You carry our entire race within you."
Clark turned to Aaron. His eyes were wet.
"Aaron."
"I heard."
"I have a father. A real father. And a mother."
"Yes."
"They died. They sent me away. They saved me."
"Yes."
Clark looked back at Jor-El. The hologram was fading. Energy reserves low.
"The ship can teach you," Jor-El said. "All that I was. All that I knew. Return here when you are ready. The Fortress will grow. It will become your sanctuary."
"Fortress?"
"This ship is a seed. When activated fully, it will construct a stronghold. A place of learning. A place of power. Your inheritance."
The hologram flickered.
"My son. My Kal-El. Live. Protect. And remember Krypton."
It vanished.
---
Silence.
The ship hummed quietly. The star charts still glowed. The command console waited.
Clark stood motionless.
Aaron walked to him. Put a hand on his shoulder. Said nothing.
"I have a father but i love my earth parents more Johnathan and Martha," Clark said again. His voice was hollow. Full. Both.
"I know."
Clark wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
Clark looked at the empty space where Jor-El had stood. "I have a name. A real name."
"Do you want me to call you Kal?"
Clark thought for a moment. Then shook his head.
"Clark. My name is Clark. But... Kal-El is who I am too."
Aaron nodded. " I thought you would forget about your parents that took care of you, from birth to this age, then i would be sad that my friend is ungrateful son.. "
---