Reforged in the Sun: Clark Kent Reborn SI

The pod hummed softly, the sound reverberating through the vault like a heartbeat. The green energy tendrils coiled tighter around its crystalline surface, and the soft white light inside flickered, as though whatever—or whoever—was inside was struggling to emerge.

I stepped closer, my hands trembling as I reached out toward the pod. My mind raced, a thousand questions clashing at once: What was this stasis chamber protecting? Why was it buried here? And why had Jor-El's voice warned me not to awaken it?

The symbols etched into the chamber's walls continued to glow faintly, their meaning clear in the Kryptonian language imprinted on my mind:

The sleeper must remain. For their awakening brings chaos.

Despite the warning, I couldn't walk away. The pod's pulse called to me, its energy resonating deep in my chest, stirring something familiar yet alien. If this was connected to Krypton, it might hold answers I'd been searching for my entire life.

Behind me, the vault door let out a faint creak, and I turned to see Lex standing in the entryway, his sharp features illuminated by the soft glow of the chamber. His scanner was clutched tightly in one hand, the device beeping faintly with every step he took.

"Clark," he said, his voice low, almost reverent. "What is this place?"

The sight of him standing there—calm and calculated—stirred a memory I'd buried deep. A time when I'd stood before him, my secret laid bare, trusting him with the truth. A choice that had changed everything.

The Luthor Mansion always felt like another world. Its towering stone walls, ornate furniture, and endless rows of ancient books felt out of place in Smallville, like they'd been stolen from a gothic novel. That day, though, it felt more like a fortress—cold, unwelcoming, and dangerous.

I stood in Lex's study, my heart pounding. I had rehearsed what I was about to say a hundred times, but now, with him standing just a few feet away, I could barely find the words.

Lex leaned against his desk, his sharp gray suit perfectly pressed, his piercing blue eyes watching me carefully. "You've been quiet, Clark," he said, his voice calm but probing. "What's on your mind?"

I took a deep breath, clenching my fists at my sides. "Lex… I need to tell you something. Something I've never told anyone outside my family."

That got his attention. He straightened, his expression shifting from curious to serious. "I'm listening."

I hesitated, my gaze dropping to the floor. "This isn't easy for me. But you've always said you wanted the truth, and I… I think you've earned it."

"Clark," he said softly, taking a step closer. "Whatever it is, you can trust me."

His words were meant to be reassuring, but they only made the knot in my stomach tighten. Can I really trust him? I asked myself for the hundredth time. But it was too late to turn back now.

"I'm not like other people," I said finally, forcing myself to meet his gaze. "I'm… different."

Lex's brow furrowed slightly. "Different how?"

I swallowed hard. "I'm not from here, Lex. Not from Smallville. Not even from Earth."

For a moment, Lex didn't respond. His sharp mind was already working, piecing together the clues I'd left behind over the years. The miraculous rescues. The unexplained events. The times I'd dodged his questions about my abilities.

"You're saying…" he began, his voice trailing off. "You're not human?"

I nodded, my chest tightening. "I'm Kryptonian. My parents sent me here before my planet was destroyed."

Lex's eyes widened, and he let out a soft laugh—not one of amusement, but of disbelief. "Kryptonian. That explains a lot."

I stepped closer, my voice steady. "Lex, I'm telling you this because I trust you. But this can't go beyond this room. If people find out what I am…"

"They'll fear you," he finished, his voice quiet. He turned away, running a hand through his hair. "I always knew there was something different about you, Clark. But this…"

"It doesn't change who I am," I said quickly. "I'm still me. I'm still your friend."

Lex turned back to me, his expression unreadable. "You have no idea how much I've searched for the truth about you, Clark. And now that I know…" He shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "It's incredible."

I frowned, unease prickling at the back of my mind. "Lex, this isn't about power or control. It's about trust."

"And you have my trust," he said, his voice steady. But there was something in his eyes—a flicker of ambition—that made me wonder if I'd made the right choice.

The memory faded, and I was back in the vault, Lex standing in front of me with the same sharp gaze he'd had that day. Only now, I could see the cracks. The ambition. The hunger for something more.

"Clark," he said, his voice snapping me back to the present. "What's inside the pod?"

Before I could respond, the pod let out a high-pitched whine, its glow intensifying. The tendrils of green energy pulsing across its surface flared brightly, and cracks began to spiderweb through the crystalline casing.

"Lex, stay back!" I shouted, stepping between him and the pod.

But Lex wasn't listening. His eyes were locked on the pod, his expression a mixture of awe and determination.

The cracks on the pod deepened, and the whine grew louder. A sudden burst of green and white light filled the chamber, blinding me for a moment. When the light faded, the pod's casing had shattered, its fragments falling to the floor in jagged pieces.

And inside, someone stirred.

The figure slowly sat up, their movements unsteady but deliberate. It was a man—or at least, it looked like one. His skin was pale, almost translucent, and faint green veins ran across his exposed arms, glowing softly in the dim light. His silver eyes opened, locking onto mine with an intensity that made my stomach turn.

"Kal-El," the man said, his voice smooth but cold. "You have made a grave mistake."

I took a step back, my chest tightening. "Who are you?"

The man stood slowly, his movements unnervingly precise. "I am Va-Ra," he said, his silver eyes narrowing. "A scientist of Krypton. A survivor of its destruction."

Lex stepped closer, his curiosity overriding his fear. "A Kryptonian survivor?" he repeated, his voice tinged with wonder. "How is that possible?"

Va-Ra's gaze flicked to Lex, studying him with thinly veiled disdain. "Your companion has an insatiable hunger for knowledge. Be careful, Kal-El, or he will consume you as well."

"Answer me," I said, stepping between Va-Ra and Lex. "Why were you in stasis? What were you protecting?"

Va-Ra tilted his head, his expression darkening. "I was protecting Krypton's future. My work was deemed too dangerous, so the Council buried me here, on this fragile planet, to ensure it would not fall into the wrong hands."

Lex's eyes gleamed with interest. "What kind of work?"

Va-Ra's gaze sharpened. "A weapon," he said simply. "A weapon capable of reshaping worlds."