9

                                    

                                          
These Aroni were diligent, that was for sure. It seemed like no matter how hard Clark hit this one, it just kept getting back up. No matter how high they fell from, or how many times John hit him with that hammer he had fixed up or anything else, they seemed relatively unphased. 
Clark was pushing himself up off of the ground and could hear the Aroni getting ready to strike him again, and he got up on his feet and turned around just in time to see someone very quickly tackling the Aroni. Everyone's attention was drawn to the steps leading up to the house, shock and relief flooding through everyone when they saw Jordan on top of the Aroni.
"That really hurt," he grumbled before bringing a punch down on the alien. As he went for the second one, he caught Jordan's fist and shoved him off of him.
"That's too bad," the blue skinned alien replied sarcastically, lunging at the teenager before being intercepted by Kara. The superpowered trio ganged up on the Aroni, who couldn't defend himself against all three of them and eventually, though conscious, couldn't get himself up off of the ground. 
Deep breaths were taken by the three of them with everyone looking around when Jonathan asked, "Where's Nicole?"
As if on cue, Nicole landed next to Natalie by the barn and dragged the unconscious Aroni that had taken on her image over to where the one who had posed as Jordan was laying.
"I took a detour," she answered. There were some scratches and soot on her face, indicating that she had been thrown through something, but no one asked. They didn't need to when the Jordan-imposter emitted a sound that Nicole recognized as a call out to the fleet, but she shook her head. "There's no one for you to call to, so I'd save your breath. It's just you and your friend, now."
The Aroni frowned but said nothing. It wasn't long before soldiers from the DOD came and took the blue-skinned aliens into custody, with Nicole informing General Lang and Lieutenant Marshall that the fleet's records showed that only two had been deployed so, while they should still check their own records for any sightings of unidentified objects entering the atmosphere, they shouldn't have to worry about an invasion, and they wouldn't have to worry about letting the people know that they nearly experienced the third apocalypse in five years. That would wreak havoc on the planet, havoc that was unecessary.
Later that evening, the Irons', the Kents, and Kara Danvers stood outside as they said goodbye to their inter-dimensional visitor. Nicole had a world that wasn't as lucky to get back to and, more importantly, a brother waiting for her. While she was going to miss this group of people she had known for barely a day, she had her own priorities, none of which allowed her to stay. Her dad had given her one mission, and she accomplished it. That's what was important.
Clark was the last one to step forward, resting a hand on her shoulder and telling her to stay safe. She smirked and pulled the cylinder she'd held tightly to and made the empty promise. Both of them knew that her safety was something that neither of them could guarantee. 
"I'm glad I got to meet you all," Nicole said to the group. "Even if it was under unfortunate circumstances."
With one last wave of farewell to the group of six, she pressed the button on the side and was pulled back through the timeline. After a second of the teenage girl disappearing, the crowd headed back inside the house. The three adults sent the three kids upstairs for the night, as they had school the next day, while they talked about the conversation he'd had with the girl soon after the DOD left the farm.
"She...flew through the entire fleet," Lois asked for clarification, and Clark nodded in confirmation.
"I went up there as I was coming back from the DOD and she wasn't lying," he informed them. "It's...a mess up there, but we don't have to worry about an alien invasion anymore. I'm supposed to go up and clean the mess. I'm thinking about just pushing it all into Jupiter and letting that storm have a heyday."
Nodding, the three adults agreed to leave the conversation and head to bed themselves. While walking over to his side of the bed, trying to be quiet as Lois had long since fallen asleep, he noticed an envelope sitting on the nightstand with the name his earthly parents had given him written on the front. He picked it up and opened it, reading the letter.
I wasn't sure how welcoming you and your family would be to me and the news I brought. When my dad told my brother and I what he was going to have us do, I wasn't entirely sure how it was supposed to work out. Looking back, neither was he, and I think he gave that responsibility to us because he knew the mission he was about to leave for was going to be his last.
My dad never stopped defending our world. He had once said, when we were still living in Metropolis, that he would keep defending Earth until he couldn't anymore. I am both proud and sad to say that he kept that promise until his dying breath. No matter what he lost, he never stopped protecting those he swore to keep safe. My dad lived as a hero, and he died one. I saw that same passion in you that I saw in him after I showed you the message, and that's when I knew I'd landed in the right place. I didn't think about how alike the two of you would be, though I guess it makes sense since you are just another version of him.
I am so glad that your Earth is safe. 
~Natalie Nicole Kent
.....
Almost finished. Got one more chapter coming next week, and then this chapter of the story will be complete. 
Also, happy Easter!
~queendingaling