New Earth: Superman and Lois

Chapter 6

Clark knew that while the past few weeks with his parents, first in Smallville, then back in Metropolis had been great, soon their trip to Earth was going to be coming to an end, since they needed to return to New Krypton, along with Kara's parents, to help with the integration of the surviving Argonians and Daxamites into New Krypton's society. However, he had enjoyed the past few weeks he'd spent with them.

However, before they left, there was one place he wanted to take them before they left.

That was why he was flying towards the Arctic, with his parents in tow.

"Where are you taking us Kal-El?" Jor-El asked.

"You'll see in a moment. It's easier to show you." Clark said as they landed in what appeared to be the middle of nowhere.

"What are we doing up here in this frozen tundra?" Jor-El asked.

"Because of this." Clark said as he uncovered the key to the Fortress.

"What is that?" Lara asked her son.

"This is a thousand tons of condensed dwarf star, the densest mineral on the planet. But more importantly, this is the key." Clark said as he placed the key into the lock.

"To what?" Jor-El asked as some of the ice slid away to reveal a doorway.

"To the Fortress of Solitude." Clark said as he showed his parents into the fortress.

"This place is wonderful. It actually feels like home." Lara said as she and her husband walked around the Fortress.

"Kara likes to call it a little Krypton on Earth. She's not wrong. This is the only place on Earth that isn't actually made of Earth." Clark said.

"It's wonderful." Lara said as she and Jor-El noticed the statues.

"Not a bad likeness." Jor-El said and Clark chuckled.

"Yeah, I created those sculptures after the fortress was created. I wanted to give you both a memorial, along with the rest of our planet. Though I may have to take them down now." Clark said.

"Don't. They're beautiful and it's a reminder that even when we're not here, we'll always be with you." Lara said.

"Does Kara ever come here?" Jor-El asked.

"I invited her several times after she arrived on Earth, but she always made excuses not to come, though I understand why. Unlike me, this place, it would remind her of what she'd lost. It would've made her homesick." Clark said.

"It sounds like she had a rough time adjusting." Jor-El said and Clark nodded.

"I tried my best to help her, but honestly, in the end, I think that spending time around me just reminded her that she hadn't been able to do what she'd been sent here to do. I'm not sure which one of us started pushing away first, but we did for a while, though her foster parents would keep me updated. They always seemed to mention how frustrated she got with what she considered to be the primitive technology of earth." Clark said, chuckling at the memories.

"I can't say I blame her. She was used to having access to far more advanced technology on Krypton than anything here on Earth." Lara said.

"She eventually adapted. But anyways, since we both became active as heroes, we also use this place to store dangerous artifacts we've encountered. I have a whole section of the Fortress's armory dedicated to storing weapons created by my greatest enemy, Lex Luthor." Clark said.

"What happens if this Luthor gets in here?" Jor-El asked.

"He won't. Only a handful of people know about this place and even fewer know it's exact location. And should Lex ever find his way here, well, I've set up special security protocols specifically for him." Clark said.

"Has Lois ever been here before?" Lara asked and Clark nodded.

"This is where I asked her to marry me. She's one of the only people who have full access to the fortress, the only others being myself, Kara, Aunt Alura and Uncle Zor-El and now you two I'm sure. Everyone else who's come here only has guest access." Clark said.

"Even your cousin's husband?" Jor-El asked.

"Kara might have given him full access, but as far as I know, he still only has guest status." Clark said.

"It's nice to know that you still had a piece of your heritage, even while you were growing up on this planet." Lara said.

"Yeah, I wanted to make sure I showed it to you both before you left. I still wish you didn't have to. I just got you back." Clark said.

"I know Kal, but we need to be there. Your father and I are both very influential figures on New Krypton. We need to be there to help oversee the transition of the surviving citizens of Argo arriving, not to mention helping to handle things with the Daxamites, since there's no guarantee that they'll be welcome on New Krypton." Lara said and Clark nodded.

"I know, but that doesn't make it any easier." Clark said.

"Duty must come before our personal feelings Kal. Especially at this time. But we will return and we expect you to visit now that you know we're alive." Jor-El said and Clark smiled.

"Count on it." Clark assured them.

Eventually though, the time had come to say goodbye. For now anyways. Alura and Zor-El were currently onboard the ship, since they'd already said goodbye to Kara.

"Are you sure you don't want to come back with us?" Lara asked her son for the 10th time.

"I wish I could mom, but I have responsibilities here on Earth, just like you have responsibilities back on New Krypton. And not just as Superman, but also as Clark Kent. I have a job that I need to commit to, not to mention a wedding to help Lois plan." Clark said, deeply regretful, since he did wish he could go back to New Krypton with his parents, but he also knew that he couldn't abandon his responsibilities. At least not yet. While he knew that Kara was more than capable of protecting Earth in his absence, especially when she had the aid of other heroes like Barry and Oliver, he didn't want to put that burden on her quite yet. He knew that he would be when he and Lois left for their honeymoon after their wedding next month, but he still had things he wanted to accomplish before he left. Most importantly, dealing with Lex, since he felt bad that he'd left Kara to deal with him the first time around. Lex was his problem to deal with, not hers and this time, he was going to make sure that she didn't have to face him alone, not because he didn't have faith in her ability to deal with him, but because after everything he and Lex had been through, he felt it was only right that he'd be the one to deal with him.

"We know. And we are so proud of you Kal-El. We'll be back for your wedding and you will be coming back with us then, since I believe that Lois wanted to spend your honeymoon on New Krypton." Jor-El said.

"And I look forward to it." Clark said.

"You're sure you're not nervous about leaving Earth without Superman?" Lara asked.

"Kara is more than capable of protecting Earth in my absence." Clark said immediately.

"I'm sure she is. We'll be back soon." Lara said as she hugged her boy one more time before walking towards the ship.

"Take care of Lois son." Jor-El said.

"I will. You take care of mom as well." Clark said and Jor-El smiled as he hugged his son before following his wife onto the ship before it took off, leaving Clark standing there as he sighed, missing them already before flying home.