Smallville Medical Center.
Jonathan Kent stood outside the hospital room, arms crossed tightly as he stared through the observation window.
Inside, Martha lay motionless under the soft fluorescent light.
Adrian sat on the bench in the corridor, silent and thoughtful. He'd replayed his mother's collapse in his mind over and over, searching for any clue as to why it had happened.
Illness? No.
He would've sensed any change in her vitals long before that.
Emotional stress? That didn't fit either. His mother had always been calm and composed — she wasn't someone who broke under pressure.
Behind Jonathan, Clark stood quietly, worry etched across his face.
"Mom seemed fine," Clark murmured. "I don't understand how this could've happened."
Jonathan sighed, eyes never leaving his wife. "Neither do I, son."
"Mom will be okay," Clark said with quiet determination.
"I know." Jonathan nodded, though the strain in his voice betrayed his doubt. "But she wouldn't want all of us standing here staring at her. Clark, you and Adrian should go home. I'll stay."
"I'm not leaving," Clark insisted. "I'll stay with you, Dad."
"Clark," Jonathan said softly, "your mother worked hard on the fundraiser for the food bank. It's tomorrow night, remember? She'd want you to see it through."
Clark hesitated. His father's expression left no room for argument, so he finally gave a reluctant nod.
Just then, a familiar voice called from the end of the corridor.
"Clark!"
Lex Luthor approached, dressed sharply even in the sterile light of the hospital.
"Mr. Kent," Lex said politely, "I've already called in a few of the best doctors from Metropolis. They'll be here soon. Or if you'd prefer, we can transfer Mrs. Kent to Metropolis General immediately."
"Thank you," Jonathan said. Despite his usual distrust of Lex, he couldn't deny that the man's timing was impeccable.
Lex turned toward him. "What have the doctors said so far?"
Before Jonathan could answer, a woman in a white coat stepped out of the ward. Her tone was brisk and professional.
"We ran several tests," she began. "Mrs. Kent's blood results show signs of acute toxicity — likely exposure to a rare type of radiation or biomagnetic field."
Lex's expression hardened slightly. "Dr. Bryce," he said, recognizing her. "You'll send the samples to Metropolis Research Center, right?"
The doctor nodded. "Yes. But we'll need authorization for immediate transport."
"Of course," Lex replied, glancing at Jonathan. "The Kents are friends of mine."
Dr. Bryce gave a brief nod, but before she left, she said something that froze everyone in place.
"I'm also concerned about Mrs. Kent's pregnancy."
Jonathan blinked. "I'm sorry — her what?"
The doctor looked puzzled. "You didn't know? She's expecting."
"That's impossible," Jonathan said firmly. "Her doctor told us years ago she couldn't have children."
"I contacted your family physician," Dr. Bryce said gently. "There's nothing unusual in the recent files, but something must've changed biologically."
Jonathan stood there speechless.
Adrian, sitting nearby, felt his mind racing. He hadn't used his x-ray vision on his family — out of respect. But hearing that news, a flicker of disbelief crossed his face.
He slowly rose from the bench and stepped closer to the window, staring in at his mother. His mind went back to that day — when she had entered the old barn, where the Kryptonian ship was hidden.
Could that exposure… have done this?
The ship had been dormant since its arrival years ago, but if its radiation or energy field had leaked, it might explain both her sudden illness and this impossible pregnancy.
His fingers pressed lightly against the cold glass. "If that's the cause," he whispered under his breath, "then maybe the ship can fix it too."
---
Night had fallen over Smallville. The farm was quiet, the cornfields swaying softly under the moonlight.
Adrian returned to the hospital and found his father sitting alone in the visitor's lounge, face buried in his hands.
"I think I know what caused it," Adrian said.
Jonathan looked up, weary eyes searching his son's face.
"What do you mean?"
"I think it's connected to the ship," Adrian replied. "Mom went to the barn that night. If the radiation or whatever power it holds affected her… that could be the reason."
Jonathan let out a heavy breath and gave a defeated smile. "I should've stopped her," he muttered. "I knew it was dangerous."
"It's not your fault, Dad," Adrian said, kneeling beside him. "You couldn't have known."
Jonathan's eyes glistened. "Maybe not. But if there's even a chance that ship can help her, we need to try."
Adrian nodded. "Leave it to me."
He thought of the octagonal metal key he'd retrieved from Dr. Hamilton — the one piece that seemed made for the ship.
When he got back to the farm, Clark was still out delivering supplies for the fundraiser. The place was silent, save for the soft hum of the wind outside.
Adrian pulled open the heavy barn doors and stepped inside. Dust floated in the faint light as he lifted the latch on the old cellar. The wooden stairs creaked beneath his boots as he descended into the cool darkness below.
The familiar metallic scent of earth and old machinery filled the air.
Pulling off the plastic cover, Adrian revealed the black, gleaming hull of the Kryptonian vessel. It looked both ancient and alien, like something alive that had simply gone dormant.
He ran a hand along its cold surface, then took the octagonal key from his pocket.
There — an indentation at the ship's core matched its shape exactly.
He hesitated. If this thing really held the same energy that had made his mother sick, he had no idea what activating it might do.
Before he could decide, a voice echoed from above.
"Hey, Adrian! You down there?"
Clark.
Adrian turned toward the stairs, but before he could respond, Clark had already lifted the cellar door and peered down.
"What are you doing in this old place?" Clark called.
His eyes fell on the ship.
For a moment, Clark just stared, speechless.
Then he stepped down the stairs, his voice low and uncertain. "What… what is that?"
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
Clark took another step closer, awe and confusion mixing on his face. "There's a spaceship under our farm — and you knew?"
Adrian met his brother's gaze.
"Yes," he said quietly. "And it's time you knew too."
____
Daily updates will return to twice a day.
I'm still working on exams, but if I use that as an excuse, at this pace, uploading even one fanfic could take months, and I don't want that.
Send some Powerstones my way!
If you want to read in advance, check out my Patreon:
Search for "Zphyr" or use this link: Patreon.com/Zphyr