Now that they had decided to stay, the two spaceships also needed to be packed and hidden away.
Kara hadn't initially planned to ask about the ships. If she had wanted to take Kal (or Clark, as he was now called) away, traveling around in the spaceship would have been far too risky—it would inevitably be detected and shot down.
Although Earth's current technological level was significantly lower than Krypton's, staying inside the spaceship indefinitely without eating or drinking wasn't a viable option. Once discovered, they would be in grave danger.
Being adopted by the Kent family turned out to be the best possible outcome for them. Kara was relieved that there was someone to take care of baby Clark, leaving her less to worry about. After all, even in her previous life, she had only been a high school student and didn't have any experience raising children. Moreover, Clark was her sibling, not her son.
While securing her spaceship, Kara discovered a few small objects in her craft and one unique item in Clark's. They were two small, pure black triangular devices, each about the size of a finger and engraved with the unmistakable "S" emblem.
This wasn't the "S" commonly known on Earth, but rather the crest of the House of El on Krypton, a symbol of hope. Both Kara and Clark possessed these mechanisms, inheriting their respective family's authority. They could activate not only their spaceships but also other Kryptonian technologies they might encounter.
Krypton's civilization had begun exploring and colonizing the universe over 100,000 years ago. However, for reasons still unclear—possibly the restrictions imposed by their Code of Life—they had abandoned their colonization plans. Instead, they remained tethered to their homeworld, a choice that eventually led to their downfall.
Otherwise, the universe's balance of power would have been drastically different. Apocalypse, the New Gods, or even the Seven Lantern Corps might never have emerged. A Kryptonian army, after all, was a force that could overpower nearly anything. Even a single Kryptonian, like Superman, was enough to change the course of worlds. Imagine the devastation tens of thousands—or millions—could bring.
After securing the triangular devices, Kara also found a set of clothing in her spaceship. It consisted of a dark blue upper body suit, a red skirt, red boots, and a bright red cape emblazoned with the "S" emblem on both the chest and back.
Kara scratched her cheek. A female Superman outfit? The thought amused her.
In the past, she hadn't been interested in romance films or dramas, preferring martial arts movies and science fiction. Superhero films, especially those from the Premier League of blockbusters, had been a personal favorite. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine she'd have the chance to become a superhero herself. It was exhilarating, to say the least.
At least the outfit had a skirt—Kara couldn't imagine wearing "underwear outside" like Superman's classic design. She happily packed the battle suit away. Made with advanced Kryptonian technology, it was practically indestructible. Combined with her emerging abilities, it would offer unparalleled protection.
Even the material of the outfit absorbed sunlight efficiently, enhancing her strength by amplifying the effects of Earth's yellow sun. The sun's golden rays were a primary source of power for Kryptonians, further amplifying their abilities.
While Kara had her suit, Clark didn't have his yet—he was far too young. "Sorry, little brother," she thought with a smirk as she stored her battle suit away.
Jonathan Kent looked at the two spaceships with a puzzled expression. "Where are we supposed to hide these? We can't exactly call for help, and they're too large to lift into the attic alone."
Kara walked over confidently. "Let me handle it," she said, approaching the ship. She grabbed the edge of the craft and, with a sudden burst of strength, leapt into the air—soaring over ten meters high with ease.
The act surprised even Kara. She had thought the spaceship wasn't particularly heavy, but she hadn't anticipated being able to lift it so easily. She also realized something else—the Earth's lighter gravity significantly reduced the effort required.
As she descended, her landing was soft and feather-light, almost as though she were drifting like a feather.
Both Jonathan and Martha Kent exchanged shocked glances. They knew these children were extraordinary—aliens from a doomed planet—but for a ten-year-old girl to exhibit such incredible strength? It was almost incomprehensible.
Kara's feet finally touched the ground, but her expression changed suddenly. She dropped the spaceship and covered her ears with her hands. "It's so loud!" she exclaimed.
Martha, still holding baby Clark, and Jonathan rushed toward her. "What's wrong, Kara?" they asked in alarm.
Kara shook her head, overwhelmed by a sudden barrage of noise. Her super senses were awakening.
Every sound within a hundred-meter radius crashed into her ears. She could hear the wind rustling through crops, insects buzzing, mice scurrying underground, and even the faint movement of ants. It was as though someone had amplified the world's soundscape to unbearable levels.
On top of that, her vision began to change. When she looked up at Jonathan and Martha, her eyes betrayed new abilities. She saw through their bodies, noting the flow of their blood, the structure of their bones, and even the smallest details, like the cellular makeup of their fingerprints.
And then, her eyes began to burn. Kara turned her head sharply to avoid them and, in the next instant, twin beams of searing blue heat burst from her eyes.
It was heat vision—one of Superman's most iconic abilities—manifesting for the first time.
Kara's arrival on Earth had triggered the awakening of her Kryptonian powers.
Many people find it hard to imagine, but in fact, it is terrifying and uncomfortable when the senses are infinitely magnified.
It was also because Kara hadn't adapted yet, and she couldn't control it freely at first. Unable to manage her senses, she heard every sound within a radius of 100 meters, which overwhelmed her.
It caused her so much pain that she could even hear the fights between insects—a few ants tearing at a caterpillar, a mouse gnawing on crops, and another mouse catching a butterfly for its meal.
For ordinary people, these sounds might seem insignificant, but for Kara, they were unnervingly vivid and constant.
Her vision was another challenge. Kara often saw through objects or perceived microscopic details without meaning to. Fortunately, she realized she could control her heat vision; otherwise, she would have been a dangerously unstable laser gun.
Though Kara understood the nature of her emerging powers and refrained from panicking, learning to control them was still a daunting task.
But she couldn't stay like this forever, could she?
"Hey, Kara," Jonathan and Martha hadn't left her side. They were startled by Kara's accidental burst of heat vision, evidenced by the still-smoking pit nearby, but their concern outweighed their fear.
Jonathan squatted down beside Kara, who was crouched on the ground, and gently patted her back. He didn't ask her what was wrong but instead worked to calm her emotions. "I don't know what's happening to you, but try focusing on the things you want to see and hear. Concentrate your mind," he encouraged.
The Kent couple might seem like simple farmers, but their wisdom had guided Superman through his greatest struggles.
Kara looked up at Jonathan's reassuring face and nodded. "I'll try," she said, though her voice was much louder than intended due to her heightened hearing.
Jonathan winced at the volume but remained patient.
Following his suggestion, Kara closed her eyes and focused on calming her racing thoughts and emotions.
Surprisingly, Jonathan's advice worked. Kara slowly reduced the reach of her super hearing—first to tens of meters, then to just her immediate surroundings, until she could selectively decide what to hear.
When Kara opened her eyes again, she discovered she could now control her super vision. No longer did she involuntarily see through her adoptive parents' physical forms, their skeletons or organs laid bare.
Kara sighed in relief and leaned back, inadvertently falling into Martha's arms. Martha caught her gently, offering a comforting embrace.
Jonathan stood up, smiling in relief as he watched Kara regain her composure.
Due to Kara's sudden awakening of her powers, the spaceships weren't moved to the barn that morning as planned. The day passed quickly, and Martha decided to postpone the task until after lunch.
Meanwhile, baby Clark's cries filled the air once again; he was hungry. As a newborn, he couldn't eat much in one sitting and needed frequent feedings.
Lunch was simple—a farm-style soup and vegetables. To Kara's surprise, there was rice on the table. While rice wasn't a staple food in Smallville, it occasionally appeared as a side dish.
Kara enjoyed the meal, savoring the food with gratitude.
"I'll drive into town this afternoon to pick up some groceries," Martha announced, her voice warm and kind. "I'll make something special for dinner."
It was clear the Kents lived modestly, rarely indulging in luxurious meals, but Martha seemed eager to treat Kara.
At the same time, she glanced at Kara's clothes and said, "I should also get you some new clothes."
Kara looked down at her attire—her Kryptonian clothing, distinctly alien in design. It was far too conspicuous.
Reluctantly, Kara agreed. Her heart warmed at Martha's kindness, realizing she'd been fortunate to land in such a loving home.
The rest of the day continued smoothly. Kara helped Jonathan move the spaceships into the barn. With her newfound strength, she lifted the heavy crafts effortlessly, surprising her adoptive parents once again.
The Kents marveled at her power, watching in awe as she carried loads that far exceeded the weight of a car.
Once the spaceships were safely hidden under tarps, Martha handed Kara a spare dress. Though old-fashioned in style, it was clean and well-kept. Martha also tied Kara's hair into a neat ponytail, keeping it out of her face.
"You don't have to buy me anything," Kara said softly, feeling awkward. She didn't want to take advantage of the Kents' generosity.
But Martha placed a gentle hand on Kara's shoulder. "You're a blessing to us, Kara," she said. "From now on, this is your home. We might not be your biological parents, but we'll do our best to care for you. So, don't feel like you're imposing."
Kara's heart swelled with emotion, and she realized how lucky she was to have found such a kind family.
In some versions of Superman's story, his spaceship landed in Metropolis instead of Smallville, and he grew up imprisoned and deprived of sunlight. Those versions ended tragically.
Kara silently thanked the stars that her fate was different.
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