Ch. 1 Beginnings

Martha and Thomas Wayne drive leisurely through the countryside on their way back to Gotham. Their original plans cancelled, they decided on a vineyard tour in California and a long drive home to enjoy the sights. Thomas knew his friend and partner Lucius Fox would be upset, he took longer than anticipated. But seeing the smile on Martha's face was worth a scolding or two.
That same smile slowly turned to curiosity then to panic as she was watching something behind him. He slowed the car to turn his head in time to see a meteor crash in a field only a few miles away. He stopped the car, processing what he had just seen. Turning to Martha he says, "Let's go see." Martha smiles wildly as Thomas turns the car towards the meteor. He starts to slow once he thinks he's close enough. Parking the car and they walk the rest of the way. Martha rushes ahead of him. He follows close behind, nearly crashing into her as she stopps at the edge of a crater that seems to be only 20km. They look down and see what appears to be a giant silver egg.
Martha, fascinated, leans forward to touch it. Thomas grabbing her arm, pulls her back. Ready to lecture her on the heat built up in atmospheric entry. Instead a clicking sound interrupts him. A sound that came from the strange meteor. They stare. Watching as this seemingly solid object, hisses as it opens itself to reveal a small baby nestled inside. Martha pulls away from Thomas, gently reaches for the baby and lifts the baby from it's extra terrestrial crib. Unsure of what is happening Thomas doesn't stop her. She turns him.Al look in her eyes that asked the question she couldn't. Thomas simply responded "No." Martha trying to find the words rallied, "Thomas we've been trying for years now. Maybe this is fate. This child has no one. And we both know now I'll never be able to give you a child."
Thomas knew she was right, it had no parents. And the tears in her eyes left no room for argument. They can't let anyone know about it, if the government found out. No. He'd perform any necessary tests on the child to make sure it's healthy he looks human enough. If it is extra terrestrial no one else will be allowed to touch a hair on it's head. "Okay," Thomas tells her as he kisses her forehead. "We'll keep it."
"Him" she corrected.
"What?"
She pulled back the blanket covering the baby laughing, "It's a boy"
He sighed, smiling at her as he asked, "What should we name him?"
"I don't know, I'm a little partial to 'Clark'."

As the years went by the child grew healthy and strong. Stronger than most children his age. It started becoming a concern when he turned 5, little Clark got into the habit of breaking the doors around the mansion. Thomas realized then, he needed a way to teach Clark self control. Kindergarten registration was only a few months away. Thomas did not want to deprive Clark of the opportunity of being a normal kid.
Alfred scheduled personal trainers. Martial arts, fencing, gymnastics. Only two or three lessons with each trainer. It was paying off. He learned what Clark was capable of and Clark was learning how to control his body to fullest extent.
Time kept moving without incident. Clark wanted to play in sports like the other kids. Thomas was hesitant but Martha wholeheartedly agreed, on the condition he was always careful. They got a little scared now and then when he would make a home run. Or if a ball he kicked flew farther than possible. But all the other parents took it as a combination of luck and talent on Clark's side.
Around the time Clark was 8 he fell in love with the popular show The Gray Ghost. A crime fighter using his wits & resources. Soon Clark became enthralled with the idea of masked heroes, doing what no one else could and would often ask his if someday he could become a 'Hero' too. His mother always told him the same, "There is always more than one way to be a hero Clark." He would always pout at that. He understood, but he didn't like it. He loved the idea of masked heroes.
At 10 years old, Clark was especially excited for The Mask of Zorro, wearing a mask and a cape for week before opening night. His parents promised to take him if he finished his homework for the weekend. He happily finished with enough time to take a nap before going to the movies.
The movie was amazing. Watching the 2nd Zorro take up the mantle, establishing himself as an aristrocrat by day and a hero by night. Clark could think of nothing else he wanted to do.
When the movie ended Martha & Thomas made sure to hold Clark's hands in theirs. He was so excited and there were so many people they didn't want to risk him getting lost. They left the theatre walking toward Park Row, where Alfred had been waiting for them. They were approached by a man walking opposite them asking the time. Only to pull a gun on them as Thomas was checking his watch.
"Give me you wallet" the man hissed. "And your watch too!
Thomas slowly let go of Clark's hand and removed his watch before reaching for his wallet. "Okay, you can have them. Just please -"
"Don't try anything funny!" the stranger hissed. "you too lady! Give me your purse and whatever else you got."
"Please don't hurt us." Thomas told the man as he handed him his valuables.
"It's going to be okay Clark" Martha said, not letting go of his hand as she tried to take off her earrings.
"The pearls too!" The stanger hissed as he took everything she had in her hand and stuffed it in his pockets.
She still wouldn't let go of Clark's hand as she fumbled with the necklace's clasp. But he was getting impatient.
Before she could remove it, he grasped it, yanking it off her neck, breaking the thread, spilling the beads on the floor.
Martha screamed, the sudden action scaring her. A loud deathly scream silenced by the sound of thunder. Thomas running to her falls as a second thunderclap sounds.
Clark stares at this stranger, a wisp of smoke rises from the gun as he points it at Clark before pulling the trigger. Clark screams, a flash lights the street.

The man stands there staring at his now mangled hand, the boy watches him with glowing eyes. He runs. Runs as fast as he can from that child. That thing.
The boy drops to his knees screaming with all his might. As light escapes his eyes, hitting the skies, lighting the street.

Alfred waiting by the car for Mr. & Mrs. Wayne, became worried at the sound of sirens from ambulances and police cars. With the rain pouring down as it was, he had hoped the sounds he heard was merely distant thunder. But the fast approaching sirens told him otherwise.
He began walking in the direction of the nearby theatre, urgency pressing him to run. he arrived to see Martha & Thomas Wayne, laying side by side, both unmoving.
An officer with young Clark. He was crying, shaking his head but keeping his eyes shut. Alfred rushed to him, quickly telling the officer he was the butler before checking to see if Clark was okay. Thank god, he was completely fine but for a single scratch, he would find later, under the bullet hole nobody had noticed.
Young Clark wouldn't open his eyes, shaking his head at every the request. When he finally did, he looked surprised, as if he something was supposed to happen.
The lead detective promptly decided to let Alfred and Clark go home letting them know he would stop by the mansion to ask questions at a later time. It was a few days before the detective visited them. Clark had gone without sleep most nights but he tried his best. He couldn't explain what happened, it seemed he couldn't understand it himself. The next week passed as a blur for both of them. An occasional call from family friends and business people offering their condolences. Alfred trying to get Clark to eat or sleep.
The day of the funeral they approached by someone, a close friend of Clark's father. She held a letter in her hand when she introduced herself.
"Clark, hello, I'm Leslie Thompkins, a friend of your fathers." She offered him her hand to shake, when he didn't respond she turned to Alfred, handing him the letter "Thomas asked me, should anything happen, that I contact you. Please call me should either of you ever need anything. It was Thomas' wish I become Clark's new private physician."
Alfred read the letter and it did indeed say all of that, as well as explaining Clark's unique situation, down to the detail of the ship he was found in. He returned his gaze to Leslie returning the letter to her, "Thank you, Thomas trusts you therefore we shall too. I only ask that you dispose of that letter as soon as possible."

Leslie opened a small clinic in Gotham to be closer to Clark. Alfred and Leslie did their best to bring some normalcy back to Clark's life. He studied and did his work at school. Raised as little attention as possible. While at home he focused on other subjects and continued his training trying to understand the abilities he had. Clark always knew he was different. But he didn't know why. The years passed like this until his 17th birthday.
Clark approached Alfred one evening with a question. "What am I?"
Alfred said firmly, "You are the son of Thomas & Martha Wayne, you are the Master of this house."
"You know what I mean!" shouted Clark "I've been patient, I thought you would eventually tell me who or what I am. But I am sick of waiting! I never get hurt, I never get sick! I'm stronger and faster than everyone but even my parents always told me not to show off! Then last month, I started flying! If I was normal then how come nobody else can fly?!
"You're father wanted to make sure you were old enough to understand."
"I think I'm old enough now!"
"No, you already reached that point some time ago. It was my own reluctance Master Clark. I'm sorry."
"I.. No, I'm sorry I shouldn't have talked to you like that.." Clark looked at the floor, ashamed.
"Follow me and I'll show you." Alfred walked up to an old grandfather clock on the wall and pulled it to the side, showing a hole in the wall. Inside, stair leading down into the dark.
"What is this?"
"This has been here since you're great grandfather had the mansion built. You're father had me use it to hide your secret Clark." He said as he started descending the stairs. "You're right, you are not normal, master Clark. Regardless your parents loved you, always remember that."
"I know that.." Clark said following behind.
"When you're mother called you her little angel or her gift from the heavens it was a little more than a euphemism. You see, when they found you, you had literally fallen from the sky. You're father used this cave to hide the ship you had landed in."
"Ship? Are you saying I'm an alien?"
"I'm saying, young Clark, that maybe you can find your answers you need behind that waterfall"
Clark stared at Alfred, though he knew he wouldn't get anything else out of him. He looked over to the waterfall. it seemed impossible to get there. But that's what makes it the perfect hiding spot.
He started to think of how to reach it when Alfred flinched. Clark had stepped off the ledge. Slowly floating towards the waterfall.

This was the true begining for Clark, Alfred understood that when Clark emerged from the waterfall holding a shimmering crystal in his hand. He watched silently as Clark dropped the crystal in the cave, letting it sink in the pool of water at the bottom. Alfred, alarmed when the cave began to shake. Saw crystals growing, rising from the bottom. Climbing the walls of the cave, startling the sleeping bats as the crystal engulfed the walls.
For the next two years this cave became Clark's second home. His studies only intensified as he started studying medicine wanting to learn more of his father's trade & spent his evenings in the cave looking at the records left to him by his biological family. Clark learned that he came from a planet named Krypton. His biological father, Jor-El, a scientist found that the planet would soon reach it's end and tried to prepare accordingly. In the end, with no support, only managed a long distance ship for Clark, or as they named Kal-El. Now the last of his people.
Clark eventually started going out at night at the same time that criminals started being tied up, left for police to find. Babbling about a blurr or occasionally a masked man. He must have thought he was hiding it well enough, but Alfred still found the torn clothes. He knew what Clark was doing & decided to respect his wishes. Clark would tell him about it in his own time.
The day finally came when Clark invited Alfred down to the cave. He told Afred everything. Everything he'd been trying to keep secret. Alfred simply reminded him that he was there to help him with whatever he needed. Alfred using the local news, a police scanner and any other sources he had, would find potential crimes in progress. He supported Clark with any information he might need using a military grade two way radio.

Clark was saving lives, protecting people and stopping criminals. He was becoming the hero he dreamed he could be. And it all came to abrupt halt one night when Clark came across a home invasion.
He stopped the burglars. He sent them to the hospital in critical condition. But it was too late for the family living there.

He returned, covered in blood. Tired in a way he'd never been before. He wouldn't leave the cave again. Alred tried reaching him. "You've saved a lot of people Clark. You sent a lot of criminals to jail. You're doing everything you can."
Clark snapped. He screamed, and faced Alfred. "It's not enough! Alfred, It's not enough. . I know I can do more."
"You're doing plenty. The people may not know it yet, but I know how hard you're trying. If you think you're doing enough maybe this isn't the answer. There's more than one way to be a hero."
Clark stiffened at that. "I could have saved them."
"No Clark, you couldn't. It's not your fault you didn't get there on time."
"Not just them. . My parents. I could have saved them. That man shot me too. The bullet only left a scar. I could have stepped in front of that gun and taken every bullet and I would be fine.. And they would be here now.."
"You were only a child."
"I was a child that was bulletproof. How can I be a hero to a city when I am too weak, too scared, to protect the people closest to me."
"Can you honestly believe that you are to blame for their passing? They loved you, and would have given their lives for you a hundred times."
"And for them I could have taken a hundred bullets!"
Alfred turned away, he didn't know what to say. He didn't have the words to convince Clark.
"I know I can do more. The answer isn't here, but I know it exists. Somewhere in the world I will find it."
With that Clark stepped out of the cave and started preparing. He shaved his head, replaced his clothes. Leaving little recognition to his image. He said his farewell to Dr. Thompkins and Alfred before leaving the mansion that night. Beginning his journey to find the answer.