"Thud!"
A heavy bale of straw hit the back of the pickup truck, shaking the old wooden panels.
Clark dusted his hands and exhaled. "You're up early today, Clark. Feeling better?" Jonathan asked as he stepped out of the barn, surprised to see his son working with so much energy.
"I'm recovering well, Dad," Clark replied, lifting another bale into the truck bed with ease. "I was weak at first, but now I'm back to full strength. If I were still sick, I couldn't be doing this."
Jonathan smiled and hefted another bale beside him. "That's good to hear. It's finally over, and luckily, things turned out fine."
"Yeah," Clark said, wiping the sweat from his brow. "How's Mom feeling?"
"Not bad," Jonathan answered, securing the last of the bales. "She's pregnant. I still can't believe it."
Clark's face lit up. "Then… when can we share the good news?"
"Soon," Jonathan said, closing the truck bed. "Let's keep it between us a little longer. Some secrets are worth savoring."
Clark nodded. "This baby's going to be lucky."
As Jonathan went to check the truck, he paused, turning back with a thoughtful look. "Clark, don't misunderstand. This new baby won't change anything between us. Martha and I love you and Adrian equally."
Clark smiled softly. "I know, Dad."
"That's all I needed to hear," Jonathan said with relief before climbing into the driver's seat. "Feels good to see things back to normal."
Martha's voice called from the house. "Jonathan! We're going to be late!"
Adrian appeared behind her, following their mother out to the porch. After saying goodbye, both brothers watched the truck drive off down the dirt road.
"Aren't you heading to school?" Clark asked as he hauled another bale toward the barn.
Adrian smirked. "If I didn't have powers, I'd probably chase down the school bus. But since I can bend space, I'll take a shortcut."
Clark rolled his eyes. "Still quoting Chloe's 'black hole' joke, huh?"
"She's funnier than you give her credit for," Adrian said, walking toward the house.
Clark chuckled, tossing the last straw pile aside. "She's been calling me a wormhole traveler for years."
Adrian paused at the door and looked back. "Clark… do you remember what you did last night?"
Clark blinked, confused. "After dinner? I went back to my room."
"You didn't go anywhere else?"
"Of course not," Clark said, frowning slightly. "Why?"
Adrian's tone turned dismissive. "Nothing. Forget it."
He walked inside, but his expression darkened. He had seen Clark wandering out the night before—barefoot, half-awake, drifting through the fields like a ghost. He hadn't stopped him, curious to see how far his brother would go. And when Clark returned without memory of it, Adrian decided to wait and watch again.
That night, storm clouds gathered over Smallville, swallowing the stars. Inside his room, Clark drifted into a deep sleep almost instantly.
In his dream, he was flying—over the farm, across rivers and roads—until he reached a cave hidden deep within the forest. Faint green light glowed from phosphorescent moss along the walls, and at the end of the tunnel, strange symbols pulsed with energy. They resembled the markings on the spaceship hidden in their cellar.
At the center of the carvings was an octagonal slot. Suddenly, an object appeared in his hand—a metallic, octagonal key. Adrian had found it once, believing it connected to their ship.
Clark hesitated, then pressed the key into the slot. It clicked into place—and the wall erupted in light.
"Ah—!" Clark shielded his face, feeling a searing burn from the beam.
When he opened his eyes, the cave was gone.
He was lying on cold asphalt beneath a flickering streetlamp, barefoot, still in his pajamas. The faint hum of passing cars echoed nearby.
"The ground isn't that comfortable, is it?" came a familiar voice.
Clark turned. Adrian stood a few feet away, arms crossed, smirking.
"What… happened to me?" Clark groaned, rubbing his head.
"You tell me," Adrian said. "You just had a full-blown sleepwalking episode. And one that brought you twenty-two miles from home. This is Highway 8."
Before Clark could reply, headlights flared from the hill above. A car sped straight toward them.
In the blink of an eye, Adrian grabbed Clark by the collar and pulled him off the road. A heartbeat later, they stood deep in the woods, the roar of the car fading behind them.
"I was… sleepwalking?" Clark asked uncertainly.
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Unless you think I dragged you out here for fun, yeah."
Clark frowned, remembering the glowing cave. "But I saw it. The walls, the key—it felt real."
"Maybe it was just a dream," Adrian said. "Now get home before Mom and Dad notice you're gone."
As Adrian turned to leave, Clark called out. "Wait! The cave—it might have answers. About where we came from. Don't you want to know the truth?"
"The truth?" Adrian scoffed. "I don't care. You can chase ghosts all you want, but don't drag me into it."
Clark stepped forward, voice rising. "You're afraid of it, aren't you?"
Adrian face calm, though it reflected memories of his past life. "No. I just know some truths aren't worth the trouble."
And before Clark could respond, Adrian vanished into the night, leaving a rush of air and a lingering sting of regret.
The next evening, Clark was still out at a school event with Chloe. Adrian returned home early and decided to tell his parents what had happened.
"Clark's been acting strange ever since he found that ship," Jonathan said, worried. "He's distracted, restless… I thought he was just tired."
"He's obsessed with finding answers," Adrian replied calmly, sipping orange juice. "It's like the ship is calling to him."
Martha glanced at her husband, then back at Adrian. "And you? Haven't you felt anything from it?"
"Me?" Adrian shrugged. "Maybe. But I don't care. I'm from Smallville. This is my home. Whatever that thing is, it's not my concern."
Jonathan and Martha exchanged surprised looks. Beneath their relief, they felt pride. Unlike Clark, who was drawn to the mystery of his origin, Adrian valued what was real.
Just then, a knock came at the door.
"I'll get it," Jonathan said, setting down his mug.
"Wait," Adrian interrupted, narrowing his eyes. He could sense someone unfamiliar outside. "Let me."
He opened the door—and froze.
Standing on the porch was a young woman with blonde hair and flawless features. She was completely unclothed, though utterly unbothered.
"Hello, Adrian Kent," she said with a calm smile. "I'm Kara Zor-El."
Adrian's gaze shifted from her face to the symbol faintly glowing on her arm.
Kara Zor-El.
Supergirl.
____
Milestones
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