Superwoman and Son

Chapter 5: A New Path

The sun hung low over the Kent farm, casting a warm, golden light across the sprawling fields. It had been a few months since Kara had first stepped onto Earth soil, and in that time, her life had begun to take a new shape. Her days were a careful balance of training, studying, and caring for Kal, and despite the seemingly endless challenges, she was beginning to feel a sense of stability.

Kara had finally chosen her major at the local college—chemical engineering. It wasn't much of a choice for her; the subject seemed logical, given her advanced understanding of Kryptonian science. To her surprise, the coursework was almost laughable. Her first few classes were filled with concepts and formulas that felt simplistic, like basic arithmetic compared to the sophisticated, multi-dimensional sciences she had studied as a child on Krypton.

During one of her first lectures, she found herself zoning out as the professor went over a basic chemical reaction on the board. She had to remind herself that Earth's education system wasn't as advanced as the one she had been exposed to. But still, she couldn't help but feel like she was coasting through the classes. It almost seemed unfair.

Sitting in the back of the room, Kara took notes out of habit, even though her mind was miles ahead of the professor's. Her thoughts drifted to Kal, wondering if he was doing okay with Martha while she was in class. She knew she needed to focus on her studies to secure a future for both of them, but it was hard not to worry.

Later, as she walked out of her class, a fellow student approached her, offering a friendly smile. "Hey, Kara, right? You were quiet in there. You seemed... well, like this was too easy for you."

Kara gave a polite smile, trying to blend in. "Yeah, I guess I've studied this stuff before. It's nothing new."

The student laughed. "Wow, I wish I could say the same. This class is kicking my butt. Anyway, if you ever feel like tutoring, I could sure use the help."

She nodded, though she knew it would be difficult to juggle tutoring on top of everything else. "I'll think about it. Thanks."

As Kara walked to her next class, she couldn't help but feel a bit disconnected. The people here were friendly, the environment peaceful, but she was living in a world that operated at a slower pace than she was used to. She couldn't decide if that was a blessing or a curse.

Back at the Kent farm, Kal had started becoming more active, giggling and babbling as Martha entertained him. He was a constant source of joy for Kara, but also a constant reminder of her responsibilities. Every night, once Kal was asleep, Kara would sit by his crib, watching him breathe softly. She had made a decision early on to adopt him as her son, and with that decision came an overwhelming sense of duty.

It was moments like these, when the world was quiet and Kal was safe, that she allowed herself to reflect. She knew she had made the right choice, but it wasn't without its challenges. How could she raise him here, on a planet so different from the one they were meant to call home?

Martha had been her rock in this time, constantly reassuring her that she was doing a great job as a mother. "You're doing more than fine, Kara," Martha said one night over a cup of tea. "You've got the brains to get through school, and the heart to raise Kal. You're gonna be just fine."

Still, Kara felt the weight of the future pressing on her. Kal would grow up here, and she had to be the one to prepare him. The balance between being his mother and a student was difficult, but she wouldn't trade it for anything. She knew in her heart that Kal was her son, and nothing would ever change that.

As weeks passed, Kara's training sessions grew more intense. On the Kent farm, she practiced everything from her heat vision to her freeze breath, though she often felt frustrated by the limits of her control. Her heat vision, in particular, was a source of concern. More than once, she had scorched an area of the barn, and although Jonathan was understanding, he made her promise to train farther from the house.

There was one day when Kara, feeling confident, tried to push her flight speed. She shot into the sky, the ground becoming a blur beneath her. But something went wrong—a sudden jolt of pain shot through her body, and she tumbled out of control, plummeting toward the earth. At the last second, she righted herself, but not before crashing into the treetops of the Kent's orchard. She groaned, rubbing her head.

"Too fast," she muttered to herself. "Need to slow down."

It was all part of the process, but it frustrated her that these powers didn't come naturally. On Krypton, she had always been the best at whatever she put her mind to. Here, things were different. She had to train harder, think smarter. The responsibility of protecting Kal and keeping her powers in check was heavier than she had ever imagined.

What Kara didn't know was that her every move was being monitored. The Department of Metahuman Affairs had recently taken an interest in Smallville after a series of strange reports. Unusual disturbances, sightings of an unidentified flying object—none of it seemed like coincidence. Investigators had been dispatched to the area, and they were beginning to connect the dots.

The agents assigned to the case had no idea what they were dealing with, but their interest was piqued. They believed something—or someone—was hiding in the quiet town of Smallville, and they intended to find out what.

Kara remained unaware, though she had started to feel a subtle sense of being watched. A creeping feeling that someone, or something, was observing her from afar. She dismissed it at first, chalking it up to paranoia. But the feeling lingered, gnawing at the edges of her awareness.

It was a crisp evening when the next big change came. Kara was in the barn, practicing with her powers again, when she heard the distant hum of a car engine. It wasn't unusual for people to visit the farm, but something about this particular sound set her on edge.

As she stepped out of the barn, she saw the car pulling up to the house. A woman got out—tall, poised, with an air of authority. Even from a distance, Kara could tell that this woman was no ordinary visitor.

Jonathan stepped out to greet her, but Kara could hear their conversation from where she stood.

"Evening, ma'am. Can I help you with something?"

The woman's voice was calm, but there was a sharpness to it. "I'm Diana Prince, with the Department of Metahuman Affairs. I'm here to investigate some unusual activity in this area. We've received reports of... disturbances."

Kara froze. Her heart pounded in her chest. She knew she had to stay hidden for now. Whoever this Diana Prince was, she wasn't here by accident.