I Am American

Authors Note-

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...

Clark stared at the TV, the news report flashing the same images over and over. Stunned, his face went pale, and it took him a moment to react. He ripped off the watch on his left wrist and slammed it on the table.

"Joe AI," he demanded, "is that him?"

The watch projected a beam of light that transformed into a holographic image of a middle-aged man. Jor-El, anyone familiar with Krypton, would recognize him instantly. This was the former chief scientist of Krypton. It wasn't the real Jor-El, Clark's biological father, who was long dead.

"Yes, that's him, General Zod," EI confirmed.

"Once Krypton's most ruthless military leader, your father's enemy. He wouldn't show mercy. He's a fierce, iron-fisted general who lives for war. Whether you seek revenge or protect your adoptive home, Earth, you must stop him."

Clark's expression flickered with a mix of emotions. He knew this man was the enemy who killed his biological father, but he didn't feel much hatred. He'd never met his birth parents. Ivan and Tina had filled that role. General Zod was just another survivor of Krypton, and Clark was hesitant to fight.

EI, named after Clark's biological father, has always been honest about Clark's past and Kryptonian heritage. It has even explored information from across the universe. Clark understands Zod's motives, which is what makes this so tricky.

"Joe," Clark said, using the name he'd grown accustomed to, "what should I do?"

As Clark's constant companion and artificial intelligence, EI acted like an older brother. It looked after him and wanted what was best for him.

"If the Kryptonian gene bank was still active," EI began, "I might advise cooperating with Zod. You could carry on the legacy and rebuild Krypton's glory. But unfortunately, that's not possible. There are fewer than twenty Kryptonians left, including your cousin Kara. And creating a whole new race isn't exactly on the table. Forget about that so-called responsibility. Just be yourself and live a happy life."

Clark felt a wave of gratitude for EI. It was comforting to have someone who truly cared about him in this moment.

"Back then," EI continued, "your father's knowledge of Earth came from a Kryptonian scout ship. He thought it was a barren wasteland. He had no idea about Earth's vast oceans, which ultimately disrupted his plans."

"What was his plan exactly?" Clark asked.

"Kryptonians reproduce using genetic engineering. It was like a factory producing people based on specific needs. The key was the stored genetic material. They could bring back any Kryptonian as long as they had their genes! But your father discovered something else in Kryptonian DNA – a hidden power linked to an ancient creature. He wanted to unlock it but failed. So, he took a different approach and decided to have your mother give birth to you naturally. He wasn't sure if it would work, but he. Unfortunately, time wasn't on their side. Krypton was dying, and they had to send you to Earth to keep you safe."

"Your father's ultimate plan was for you to unlock this ancient power and become a supreme ruler, a god-king who could dominate the universe! He envisioned you conquering Earth, then using your Kryptonian genes to create an army of Kryptonians and rebuild Krypton's glory.

Unfortunately, Earth was far more mysterious than he anticipated. Its unique magnetic field triggered the ancient power within you. Permanently wiping out the Krypton gene bank and merging the genes with your body, fixing all weaknesses. This destroyed any hope of reviving Krypton's civilization—perhaps a twist of fate."

"Joe, thank you for being by my side all these years. You helped me have a normal, happy life. I know what I need to do. The villain is gone, and I don't want to put Earth at risk like that. But I also can't operate in the shadows here. Butler Morgan and Abigail will be in danger. Henry might be okay with his immortality, but Abigail was vulnerable. He couldn't bear to put them at risk. I need to take care of them first. Thanks for listening."

"You're right," EI agreed. "Contact your father first. Let him handle this."

Clark nodded and tried to reach Ivan, but he was busy absorbing energy and unavailable. Left with no choice, Clark turned to Red Queen.

Red Queen readily agreed. Within an hour, she'd infiltrated the government database, erased all records of Henry and Abigail's past identities, and created new ones. Tina, personally overseeing the operation, also wiped the memories of anyone near the farm who knew them.

Once Clark was confident everything was secure, he took action. He dialed a number and, after it connected, spoke directly: "I'm the target the aliens are after. I need your help. The safety of the entire planet depends on it."

The person on the other end was SHIELD, then stammered, "Sir, please don't be ridiculous. This is a critical moment for Earth's safety. If..."

Clark didn't wait for the other person to finish. "The message you received came from General Zod, who destroyed Krypton. Tell him I'm Kal-El, Jor-El's son. You'll figure out if I'm telling the truth. I'm waiting for your call."

He hung up, confident they'd contact him soon. Sure enough, the phone rang within ten minutes.

"Hello, this is Clark Shaw. They call me Kal-El, I am the alien you're looking for."

"Nick Fury here. I'm in charge of everything related to the Kryptonian threat. You said your name was Kal-El, but also Clark Shaw? Why the two names?"

A gruff voice came from the other end, from a black man with a shaved head and one eye.

"Kal-El is my Kryptonian name, from my birth parents. But I was raised on Earth after being sent here. Clark Shaw is my Earth name. No offense intended. Just like you, Director Fury. I could call you 'Chief Nick,' 'Mr. One-Eyed,' or 'Cyclops.' Look, let's not get hung up on this. You're the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., a powerful organization. Don't sweat the small stuff. Let's talk about the real issue."

Nick Fury scowled, not just at the string of nicknames but at Clark's words. S.H.I.E.L.D. operated in the shadows. Few knew of its existence, yet Clark revealed it. This meant he knew about S.H.I.E.L.D., and there were no records of Kal-El anywhere. If Clark hadn't mentioned it, Nick wouldn't have known he existed, and how long he'd been on Earth. The implications were frightening. Nick didn't know Clark's intentions or if he meant harm.

After a tense silence, Nick spoke. "Mr. Shaw, you seem well-informed. Why contact us now?"

Clark recognized the name switch, a tactic to distance themselves. "I have information about the Kryptonians you contacted. Their leader, General Zod, was Krypton's supreme military commander. He rebelled against the ruler and was imprisoned..."

Clark explained everything he knew about Zod.

"...Zod's a ruthless conqueror. He sees Earth as a potential New Krypton, but Earth's gravity is ten times weaker so they will be stronger here. We and Zod are destined for conflict. It's a fight for survival. You need to prepare for war."

Nick Fury, a master spy, was naturally skeptical. He considered the possibility of a personal grudge between Clark and Zod, but not necessarily malice towards Earth. Some things needed verification, but he also increased his vigilance towards Zod's group. If Clark was right, Earth was in grave danger.

"Mr. Shaw, while I'm open to believing you, some things need confirmation. We don't know you well. A face-to-face meeting would be ideal."

"I'm open to a meeting, but I don't want any surprises. If you plan to attack me, forget it. I'm a legal US citizen with all the rights that come with it. No funny business, Director Fury. Don't make a decision you'll regret." Clark's tone was evasive, almost dismissive of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Nick Fury was frustrated, but he kept his emotions in check as a seasoned agent. "Mr. Shaw, need I remind you? You're an alien. American citizen rights might not apply to you."

Clark's expression hardened. He feigned anger. "What's wrong with being an alien? I've lived here since i was a baby, I have a passport, I even belong to a union! Are you discriminating? That's illegal in the free land of the US. I will sue you."

Nick Fury felt a sudden headache. He hated dealing with unconventional people. Tony Stark was the same – a real pain.