Side story #3

"You? Kar-el? haha hahaha...." Zod laughed," You almost had me if I haven't seen the millions of broken remains of his space pod lying in a space fissure."

"I must applaud you for at least trying but there is no way he can survive that disaster which most likely spread his atoms over light-years," Zod smirked.

"People of earth, you have 24 hours to present Kal-el before me otherwise you will face the consequences."

"And Kal-el if you wish that no harm comes to this planet, surrender yourself." The connection ended after that.

The bulb in the hall shattered which scared Martha and Clark quickly hugged her to calm her down as his mind started to process what happened just now.

***Daily planet, An hour later.

( : I think it should be our topmost priority to find whoever this Kal-el is and frankly speaking return to his kind. What do you think?

: Yes. In fact, Lois Lane of the daily planet knows him and his whereabouts.)

"Are u seeing this crap?" Parry asked Lois on the phone as he looked at the interview broadcasted on the television.

"Yes, Perry," Lois replied from her apartment.

"I can't believe I'm saying this but for once I agree with this man on something. Where is he, Lois?" He asked her with worry in his tone thinking about the consequences that would follow because of this.

"I don't know and even if I knew, I wouldn't tell it. " Lois sighed.

"Lois, this is not the time for that. The fate of our planet depends on this. FBI has already got involved." He told her.

She looked through the window to find that the FBI was already on its way to her building. She quickly said her goodbye and cut the call before exiting her room and taking the stairs. The watch in hand shined a bit.

*** With Kal-el.

"Zod cannot be trusted..... but so do humanity," Kal-el told the priest before turning around and walking away.

"Wait... You must take a leap of faith first in your situation. Trust part comes after." The priest replied sincerely.

Kal-el looked at him and cannot find any deceit in his eyes so he nodded before exiting the church.

He looked at the sun before taking a deep breath and flying away. Once he was a few kilometers in the air, he turned towards the direction of the fortress of solitude and accelerated.

It was time to take a leap of faith.

****At the fortress.

"You must be careful, Kal. Zod is one of the greatest fighters ever lived on Krypton." Jor-el advised him as he finished wearing his suit.

Kal-el nodded to his parents," Do you think what he said about my uncle is true?"

Jor-el sighed before replying," I'm afraid so. Zod respects his opponents enough that he would not lie about their demise. Plus, I agree with him that if he was alive, Zod would not have entered this solar system in a millennium."

"Who was impersonating him then?" Kal-el asked as he exited the ship and turned around to look inside.

"I don't know yet. One possibility is that it's your cousin but why would not she have met you already if that's true?" Laura wondered aloud.

"Kal," Jor-el spoke with pride as he walked to the edge of the ship.

"While Zod and his soldiers are more experienced than you in terms of fighting but you must never forget that you are the son of House El. We think you are capable of doing extraordinary things and no Zod can defeat you if you put your mind to it. Good luck, son."

Kal-el nodded.

****A minute later, U.S Army headquarters somewhere.

"Quick, Quick. On your positions. He's here. " The commander shouted to the troops that quickly aimed at the alien named Kal-el. He was floating in the air with his cape fluttering peacefully behind him.

"You have our attention if that's what your aim was." Colonel hardy shouted at Kal-el.

"I wish to see Lois Lane, Colonel," Kal-el replied, "I know you have her here."

"Doesn't matter if you know or not. Miss Lane will not see you." Colonel shook his head.

"I will surrender, Colonel." Kal-el descended and presented his hands in a non-threatening way.

The colonel was silent was a few seconds before he nodded at the closest soldier. The soldier quickly handcuffed Kal-el and motioned him to move forward.

In a few minutes, Kal-el was sitting inside an interrogation room with Lois.

Lois was happy to see him and smiled at him across the table and Kal-el returned it.

"Why are you surrendering to Zod?" She asked him.

"I'm surrendering to humanity. There is a difference." Kal-el denied her Hypothesis.

"You let them handcuff you," Lois asked while her eyes trailed the handcuffs.

"Wouldn't be much of a surrender if I resisted and if it makes them feel secure then so be it," Kal-el replied while raising his hands a bit.

Lois nodded before leaning backward in her chair. Her eyes trailed away from the hands and focused on his costume.

"What's with the S then? What does it represent?" She giggled.

"That's not an S." Kal leaned a bit forward as he entertained her curiosity. " In my world, it represents hope." His voice was filled with a tiny bit of pride that it was also the symbol of his house, his family.

"Heh," Lois caught the subtle pride in his voice but didn't question the reason behind it.

"Well, here it's an S." She humors him.

She was about to continue asking a few more questions but a voice came from the glass wall.

"Sorry to interrupt. I'm doctor-"

"Emil. Yes. I know Doctor. I can see your ID in your breast pocket along with your half-eaten roll of wintergreen lifesavers. I can also see the squadrons in the next room preparing the tranquilizers. " Kal-el interrupted the doctor and made him a bit worried about his security.

He tilts his neck as he smiled, "You won't need it."

He was a bit spooked by Kal-el's abilities and turned defensive subconsciously as he put his hand in his pocket," Sir, You can't expect us to not take any precautions. You could be carrying some sort of alien pathogens."

Kal-el smiled, " Don't you think I would have already infected someone if there was something like that?"

The general interjected," Not that we know of. We have some legitimate security concerns here."

Kal-el sighed before casually standing up while breaking the handcuffs like a twig and walking to the glass.

"You can't control me, General. You never will." Kal-el asserted before taking a peaceful tone," But that doesn't necessarily make me your enemy."

"I hope so," General said before turning around.

"I think you had your talk with Ms. Lois. Now I expect you to peacefully surrender yourself to your kind." General remarked in an iron tone.

"I will, general but you have to keep your end of the bargain. No harm must come to Ms. Lane in connection to me." Kar-el said before walking toward the door.

***Few minutes later.

Kal-el looked at the entire delegation standing armed a few meters away from him guarding the military base before turning to Lois.

"Why are you giving yourself to Zod?" Lois asked in turmoil.

"To take a leap of faith." Kal-el deceptively replied.

He paused for a second before continuing," Thank you."

"For what?" Lois Lane while trying to laugh but failed halfway.

"For believing in me. You must go now." Kal replied before turning his head to look behind him. He narrowed his eyes as he remarked," They are here. Go now."

Lois hesitated for a moment but the sonic boom trailing over them forced her to make a decision and she quickly joined the armed delegation.

Before long, a small squadron size air capsule landed adjacent to Kal-el.

The delegation of soldiers tensed their bodies and aimed their weapons at it.

It opened and revealed a woman in a black spacesuit that walked with arrogance and pride toward them.

Her helmet became transparent as she reached Kal-el. She looked at his body armor before looking at him finally in the eyes.

"Hello, Kal-el." She put special emphasis on El.

"I'm Foara-Ul. A sub-commander of General Zod. I hope you are ready to meet the general." She introduced herself to which Kal-el merely nodded.

Once done, she walked behind him to the delegation.

"Are you the head in charge here?" She asked the general and he too merely nodded.

"General Zod wants that woman too." She pointed at Lois.

The colonel couldn't help but interject," You requested for the alien in your message, not for one of our own."

"General Zod would not be pleased." She turned to look at the General as she said that. She was so casual about the issue like it doesn't matter whether they agree with her or not.

"Okay, I will go with you," Lois remarked before the general could say anything.

All three boarded the ship before it seamlessly flew away just like it appeared.

The delegation was left wondering about the fate of Lois Lane.

Inside the ship.

Foara looked at them both before turning around to pick up one of the breathing helmets.

Kal-el passed the El master key into Lois's hand while she was busy picking it up.

"Here, you would not able to able to breathe once outside this ship as the atmosphere outside would only be suitable for the Kryptonians," Foara-Ul explained as she put a helmet on Lois.

They didn't have to wait for long as in a matter of seconds the spaceship carrying them landed on the main ship.

They both followed Foara as she navigated them toward the control room.

"General." Foara-UI respectfully said identifying the general for both of them once they entered the room.

Zod nodded at his loyal sub-commander before focusing on Kal-el.

"Welcome, Kal." He said with a smile.

"Zod." Kal-el similarly replied which angered Foara-UI as she emphasized," it's General Zod!!!"

Zod waved his hand smiling," Relax, Foara. Kal was raised on earth from his childhood. It will take some time for him to get familiar with our customs." He put his hand on Kal's shoulder.

Just then, the atmosphere on the ship finally started to take a toll on Kal-el.

"I can't see. What's happening?" Kal-el murmured as he fell face-first

Lois panicked and quickly got on her knees beside him and tried to lift or turn his upper body.

"What's happening to him? Help him." She requested Zod.

"He got used to earth's environment for years but he didn't get used to krypton's. His body is trying to process the change in environment." Zod hypothesized.

"Then help him." Lois again requested.

"We can't, he has to get used to it. Painful or not." Zod replied and that's when Kal-el finally lost his consciousness.

"Put her in one of the cells and take him to the medical room. I want him alive until we extract the genesis codex from him." Zod ruthlessly ordered before exiting.

***†******†*****†*****†*****†*****†**

I'm really excited for the next chapter. Kar-el would finally wear the house of El's coat of arms in it and greet the ancient one as her equal.

While the issue has been brought up, I can't think of a good superhero/villain name for Kar-el. Should I just go with superman or choose a new one?

If a new name, then in case you have any ideas, pls write in the comments as I'm not really good with naming.