Chapter 12

The Kent farm stood as an island of tranquility amidst a sea of chaos. Outside its boundaries, the world had exploded into a frenzy of speculation, adoration, and controversy surrounding Superman's latest heroic feat. But here, in the heart of Smallville, Kansas, Clark Kent sat at his childhood kitchen table, hands wrapped around a mug of coffee that had long since gone cold.

Across from him, Jonathan and Martha Kent exchanged worried glances. The weight of unspoken truths hung heavy in the air, a burden they had carried for over two decades.

"Son," Jonathan began, his voice gruff with emotion, "there's something your mother and I need to tell you. Something we should have told you a long time ago."

Clark looked up, concern etching his features. "Dad? What is it?"

Martha reached out, placing her hand over Clark's. "It's about where you came from, sweetheart. About who you really are."

As the Kents began to unfold the extraordinary tale of a child from the stars, found in a cornfield on a night that changed their lives forever, the world outside continued to buzz with activity.

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In newsrooms across the country, pundits and anchors dissected every angle of Superman's plane rescue. Side-by-side comparisons with Homelander's failure in the Midwest dominated the airwaves. Social media exploded with hashtags like #SupermanSaves and #WhereWasHomelander.

At the Daily Planet in Kansas, Lois Lane's fingers flew across her keyboard, her latest exposé taking shape:

"A Tale of Two Heroes: Superman's Triumph and Vought's Silence"

Her sources inside Vought had gone suspiciously quiet, but the contrast between Superman's actions and the company's carefully managed heroes was too stark to ignore.

__________________________

Meanwhile, in the gleaming offices of Vought Tower, a crisis meeting was in full swing. Madelyn Stillwell stood at the head of the conference table, her usual poise strained by the events of the past 48 hours.

"Gentlemen," she addressed the room of executives and PR specialists, "we are facing an unprecedented situation. Superman's actions have put us in a... difficult position."

Stan Edgar, Vought's CEO, leaned forward. "Difficult is an understatement, Madelyn. We're hemorrhaging public goodwill by the minute. Every time that... thing in a cape makes the news, our market share takes a hit."

Madelyn nodded, her mind racing. "We need to change the narrative. Superman's independence has been charming until now, but it's becoming a liability. We need to bring him into the fold."

A murmur of agreement rippled through the room. Ideas were tossed around – lucrative contracts, promises of global reach, appeals to patriotism. But one question lingered: how do you recruit a hero who seems to need nothing?

As the meeting adjourned, Madelyn found herself alone with Stan. The CEO's eyes were cold, calculating. "Whatever it takes, Madelyn. Get Superman on board, or find a way to discredit him. We can't afford to have a loose cannon outshining our entire roster."

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Back in Smallville, Clark sat in stunned silence as his parents finished their story. The truth of his alien heritage, the rocket ship hidden in the storm cellar, the cryptic messages from a father he'd never known – it was almost too much to process.

"Why now?" he finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "After all these years, why tell me this now?"

Jonathan sighed, running a hand through his greying hair. "Because the world is changing, son. Your actions, your visibility – it's only a matter of time before someone starts digging. We wanted you to hear the truth from us, not from some exposé or government investigation."

Martha squeezed Clark's hand. "And because you deserve to know who you are, where you came from. Especially now, with all the attention you're getting."

As if on cue, Clark's super-hearing picked up the sound of approaching vehicles. His eyes widened as he x-rayed through the walls, seeing a convoy of black SUVs making their way down the long driveway to the farm.

"We've got company," he said, rising from his chair. "Looks like Vought has finally decided to pay a visit."

Jonathan's face hardened. "You don't owe them anything, Clark. Remember that."

Clark nodded, squaring his shoulders as he prepared to face whatever Vought had in store. But even as he steeled himself for the coming confrontation, his mind whirled with the implications of what he'd just learned.

He was an alien. A refugee from a dead world. The last of his kind.

The weight of this knowledge settled on him like a physical thing. It colored every memory, every experience of his life in a new light. And yet, looking at the worry and love in his parents' eyes, Clark felt a surge of gratitude. They had given him a home, an identity, a moral compass. Whatever came next, he would face it with the values they had instilled in him.

As the first knock sounded at the door, Clark took a deep breath. This was more than just a potential job offer or a PR opportunity. This was a crossroads, a moment that would define not just his future, but potentially the future of heroism itself.

With a reassuring nod to his parents, Clark moved to answer the door. Whatever Vought had to say, whatever offer they might make, he would listen. But he would do so as Clark Kent, son of Jonathan and Martha, raised with Midwestern values and an unwavering sense of right and wrong.

The door swung open, revealing Madelyn Stillwell's practiced smile. "Mr. Kent," she began, her voice honey-sweet. "We need to talk."

Clark's response was simple and direct. Pure Kansas farmboy. " Well ma'am, I think you'd better come in. Looks like we've got a lot to discuss."

As Madelyn and her entourage filed into the modest farmhouse, the contrast between Vought's sleek corporate image and the homey warmth of the Kent home couldn't have been starker. It was a physical representation of the choice Clark now faced – the glitz and power of Vought versus the solid, unpretentious values of his upbringing.

The coming conversation would be a battle of ideologies as much as a business negotiation. And its outcome would send ripples through the superhero community, the media landscape, and potentially the entire world.

In living rooms and boardrooms across America, all eyes were on Superman. The choices he made in the coming days would shape the narrative of heroism for years to come. And Clark Kent, the last son of Krypton and adopted son of Kansas, stood at the center of it all, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.