[color=gray][INDENT][COLOR=SILVER][SUB][SUP][H3][b]KNOWHERE[/b][/H3][/SUP][/SUB][SUB]Edge of Galactic Rim - Andromeda Galaxy[/SUB]
[SUP][i]Two Years Ago[/i][/SUP][/color][INDENT][color=#6fa8dc]“The Guardians of the Galaxy?”[/color]

Clark stared back at the rabbit-like alien with a look of disbelief on his face. This had been the strangest day he had ever had. Though to be fair, he hadn’t known what to expect before setting off into the vastness of space. 

Sure, Smallville had seen its fair share of strange, Chloe had an entire wall in the Torch’s office dedicated to the weird and bizarre. The meteors that had accompanied Clark to Earth had left their mark on the town, warping people mentally and endowing them with abilities that at times rivalled his own. But anything from out of this world, that had solely been limited to Clark himself.

[color=#38761d]“We’re a group of independent contractors from different backgrounds who decide to put aside all that and work to defend Andromeda from people like Mongol and his Warworld.”[/color] Rodg’y explained, [color=#38761d]“We’ve just been lacking the fire power to do it,  and with the loss of Groot, we were just burning fuel with no real direction.”[/color]

[color=#6fa8dc]“But now?”[/color] Clark asked,

[color=#38761d]“Now we’ve got you, Kryptonian or not, you held your own against Taghurrhu,”[/color] Rodg’y replied, [color=#38761d]“That’s no small feat,”[/color]

[color=#6fa8dc]“Why not send Taghurrhu in then?”[/color]

[color=#38761d]“It’s not that we haven’t considered it, but a Karnan isn’t the same draw, no doubt that Mongul already has some fighting for him. But the ‘Last Son of Krypton’...”[/color]

[color=#6fa8dc]“I thought you both agreed I couldn’t be Kryptonian.”[/color]

[color=#b45f06]“Hey, if whatever you actually are was enough to fool a Nova’s scanners, then that’s good enough to convince Mongul.”[/color] Rocket chimed in as he slapped Clark on the back. 

[color=#b45f06]“T.I.T.S. up in forty,”[/color]

[color=#6fa8dc]“What?”[/color]

[color=#b45f06]“T.I.T.S, that’s the name of that beautiful ship over there.” [/color]

[color=#c9daf8]“He’s confused, because it’s a Terran expression about mammaries.”[/color] Interjected a new voice, as Clark turned to meet yet another anthropomorphic alien. This one resembled an otter adorned in what appeared to be very regal attire.

[color=#c9daf8]“Princess Lylla of Sal’s Folly, it’s a pleasure to meet you,”[/color]

[color=#6fa8dc]“Clark, Clark Kent,”[/color]

[color=#c9daf8]“Clark,”[/color] Lylla smiled. [color=#c9daf8]“Rocky, be kind to Clark.”[/color]

[color=#6fa8dc]“Rocky?”[/color] Clark raised an eyebrow, [color=#6fa8dc]“You don’t strike me as a ‘Rocky’?”[/color]

[color=#b45f06]“One person in the entire ‘verse gets away with callin’ me that, and it ain’t you,”[/color] Rocket replied, [color=#b45f06]“So you call me that again, and I’ll make it my life’s mission to find something your smooth skin ain’t impervious to.”[/color]

[color=#6fa8dc]“So why’d you name your ship after, what was it you said, Lylla?”[/color] Clark asked with a grin, [color=#6fa8dc]“Mammaries?”[/color]

[color=#b45f06]“T.I.T.S., it’s an acronym, doesn’t have anything to do with mammaries.”[/color]

[color=#c9daf8]“Not even a particularly clever ship, it means ‘Thanagarian Interstellar Travel Ship.’”[/color]  Lylla deadpanned, [color=#c9daf8]“Rocky’s not particularly cultured, but he is pragmatic and he has heart.”[/color]

[color=#b45f06]“Not in front of the new guy,”[/color] Rocket muttered, kicking the ground slightly as Rodg’y approached the group.

[color=#38761d]“Clark, I think these should fit you,”[/color] He said, handing Clark a Sakaaran leather jacket and some other clothing. [color=#38761d]“Should make you stick out less, at least until we get to Warworld.”[/color]

[color=#b45f06]“And that’ll help,”[/color] Rocket piped up.[color=#b45f06] “Especially since Taneleer just put a bounty on your head.” [/color]He said holding up his wrist and projecting the wanted flier. Rodg’y looked between the gathered Guardians before bringing two digits to his mouth and whistling sharply.

[color=#38761d]“Make it T.I.T.S up in five.”[/color][/indent][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/01999ab1-cb01-748d-bd12-afb19d17251c.webp[/img][COLOR=SILVER][SUB][SUP][H3][b]EARTH[/b][/H3][/SUP][/SUB][SUB]Sol System - Milky Way Galaxy[/SUB]
[SUP][i]Now[/i][/SUP][/color][INDENT][i][color=#ffffff]“And in tonight’s broadcast, we invite Gordon G. Godfrey on for his perspective on the recent events in New York. Gordon, you’ve been an outspoken opponent of these ‘superpowered’ individuals since they first started gaining traction. What are your thoughts on the attack on New York by yet unidentified creatures and the intervention of a group of superpowered individuals?"[/color][/i]

[i][color=#ffffff]“Let me tell you, Rick, I think of all people, Lionel Luthor is the only one being sane about this. These beings of mass destruction need to be controlled and regulated. You think about all the controversy we’ve had over the years about firearms, and now we’ve got people with not only the ability to produce enough nuclear power to run a city for a year, but they’re walking about freely using these abilities without consequence.”[/color][/i]

[i][color=#ffffff]“That might be true, but you can’t deny they saved New York from imminent destruction.”[/color][/i]

[i][color=#ffffff]“Can’t I? That didn’t look like random wanton destruction, it looked targeted and specific. Retaliatory if I’m allowed to speculate. If you have ‘superheroes’, you will soon have ‘supervillains’. It’s called escalation, and it’s going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better if we do not get ahead of this and regulate-”[/color][/i]

Martha Kent clicked her tongue against the back of her teeth, a scowl crossing her face as she watched the debate unfold on the television. These were people who, like Clark, had been blessed with extraordinary gifts and chose to use them to help others. They didn’t deserve to be vilified on national television. 

The continuous arguing of Gordon Godfrey reverberated through the screen lit room. The one bedroom apartment above the local coffeeshop still didn’t feel like home to her, it was simultaneously too small while having too many of her possessions from the farm packed within it. 

A long exhale filled the room as her hand moved to a framed photograph of Jonathan and Clark. A small tear welled in the corner of her eye before dropping on the glass as she hurriedly wiped it away. Jonathan was looking back at her, proudly beaming while Clark was excitedly driving the old tractor for the first time. 

He had always been such a happy kid, always saw the best in every circumstance. Even when there was no reason, Clark had been able to find the silver lining on every cloud. It was something she had been trying to emulate in the last couple of months even when it seemed like each storm was followed by another.

First Clark didn’t come home, then Jonathan, then the farm…

Martha’s hand drifted to her phone, opening her recent calls as her finger hovered over Ryan’s name. He had sent her last five calls to voicemail, there was no guarantee he’d pick up today. A sob suddenly escaped from her mouth as Martha realized just how alone she felt.

[color=#fce5cd]“Jonathan,”[/color] The television continued in the background as Martha spoke to the photograph, tracing her husband’s face. [color=#fce5cd]“I need you to guide him home.”[/color] She pleaded in the dimly lit room.

[color=#fce5cd]“Please, bring my son home.”[/color]

A sudden knock at the door nearly caused Martha to drop the photograph grasped in her hands. Jumping to her feet, she hurriedly ran to open it, hope filling her heart as she threw the door open, looking up only for her eyes to meet an empty hallway before lowering her gaze to find Chloe standing outside her door.

[color=#93c47d]“Hi, Mrs. Kent, I was in the neighbourhood visiting my Dad, and I thought I’d drop by.”[/color] She smiled holding up a tray in one hand and a bag in the other. 

[color=#93c47d]“I brought bagels and coffee,”[/color] 

[color=#fce5cd]“That’s very sweet, Chloe, please come in,”[/color] Martha replied, trying her best to hide her disappointment as Chloe’s keen green eyes tracked the sad smile on the older woman’s face.

[color=#93c47d]“I should have called,”[/color] Chloe apologized, [color=#93c47d]“You were obviously expecting someone else, I didn’t mean to get your hopes up,”[/color] She said, offering a cup of coffee.

[color=#fce5cd]“It’s fine, Chloe, I appreciate the visit either way. I was just being a foolish old woman,”[/color]

[color=#93c47d]“I haven’t given up hope on him yet either,”[/color] Chloe reassured Martha, placing a hand on the other woman’s back. [color=#93c47d]“Clark doesn’t quit, he’s out there fighting to get back to you, he’s just going to be a little longer until he comes home.”[/color]

[i][color=#ffffff]“We interrupt this broadcast with a breaking headline. Moments ago, an unidentified object was seen over Smallville, our sources say it touched down near a farm off of county road thirty eight. In developing news, our on site reporter now says that Sheriff Adams is in a stand off with a man who fell from the sky. We’re live with Cat Grant on location. Cat, what’s happening there?”[/color][/i]

[color=#fce5cd]“That’s our farm-”[/color] Martha exclaimed as both women paused to watch the scene on the television. Beyond the woman reporting the story was a white wolf beside a tall man. His hair was longer than either remembered, and the beard was new, but to the pair of women who loved him, that face was unmistakable.

[color=#93c47d]“That’s Clark.”[/color][/INDENT][/INDENT][/COLOR]