"Oh? Target found!"
Bruce, who had been repairing the tunnel above Axel and Clark, spotted the discovery below and dropped down beside them.
Lex followed close behind, his eyes fixed on the frozen mass Clark had uncovered.
Clark rested both hands on a section of brilliantly black metal that shimmered with subtle colors.
Running his hand across the hull, he paused for a moment before letting out a long breath.
The alcohol had loosened his thoughts, and he looked up with a faint smile.
"I can feel it. Some of the ship's systems are still functioning, but... there aren't any Kryptonians inside.
It doesn't feel good knowing I'm still alone, but honestly... I'm relieved."
As soon as he finished speaking, Clark resumed clearing away the ice surrounding the spacecraft.
While digging, he continued thoughtfully.
"You all know what I can do. I can't fly yet, and aside from my enhanced senses and strength, I don't have many extraordinary abilities.
But... I'm still incredibly powerful, aren't I? I doubt even an army could stop me.
My people shouldn't be weaker than I am. After all, I haven't really trained since arriving on Earth.
You've probably all considered the same possibility. What if Kryptonians are a race of conquerors?
A civilization where everyone possesses power like mine wouldn't necessarily become peaceful. When an entire species is living weaponry..."
He sighed again.
"I kept imagining opening this ship and finding an invasion force.
I worried they'd expect me to help them conquer Earth or carry out something that would threaten everyone here.
Now, even if I don't find my people, at least I won't have to choose between Krypton and Earth.
I've had nightmares about that scenario more times than I'd like to admit."
Clark shook his head before tearing away another massive section of frozen ground, causing the surrounding ice shelf to rumble.
Lex listened quietly before breaking into laughter.
"So you've been thinking the same thing. That's perfectly reasonable, because so have I.
To be honest, I've been preparing for that possibility for a long time. Not just me, Bruce has contingency plans for Kryptonians too."
"Lex, shut up."
Bruce muttered through a drunken scowl before removing his mask and looking directly at Clark.
Meeting Clark's calm smile, Bruce nodded.
"He's telling the truth. I've made preparations, and Axel is part of those plans.
I'm not trying to deceive you, Buddy, but I have a responsibility to protect our team and this planet."
Clark smiled.
"It's fine, Bruce. I understand.
Enough talking. Whether there are Kryptonians aboard or not, I want to see what's inside.
Come on, everyone. Let's get this ship open."
As everyone resumed digging, Axel blinked.
"Get inside the ship? How? I don't see an F key."
Bruce rolled his eyes.
"What is this, GTA? Planning to press F to enter the vehicle?"
Axel laughed and joined in.
Five or six minutes later, they had cleared nearly all the ice surrounding the ship, leaving only the upper layer intact to support the glacier above.
Seeing the vessel's true size only made Lex more excited.
Compared to the tiny capsule that had brought Clark to Earth, this ship was vastly larger.
Clark and Axel continued digging beneath the hull.
Although it wasn't a classic flying saucer, its primary hatch was still located on the underside, allowing them to excavate a direct path.
Lex and Bruce followed into the opening and looked up at the sealed circular hatch.
Clark glanced between them.
"So... now what? Didn't you two prepare for something like this?"
"It's a Kryptonian spacecraft. Why would we have technology for that?"
Lex replied before confidently knocking on the hatch.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
A dull echo rang through the corridor.
Moments later, mechanical sounds answered from inside the ship, making Clark's expression turn serious.
Lex rubbed his chin.
"If nothing else... we force it open.
Once we understand its construction, Bruce and I can repair the damage afterward."
"Terrible plan," Clark admitted. "But it would work."
He looked at Axel.
"You or me?"
"What, you don't want to do it yourself?"
Axel replied.
With a casual wave of his hand, flames flashed around the group, and the four instantly appeared inside a dark metallic corridor.
It was exactly what Lex had hoped for, although neither he nor Bruce would have asked Axel to use his abilities unless he volunteered.
Lex immediately examined the surroundings.
"The hull design is noticeably older than the scout ship at your farm. The engineering style and decorative patterns show several generations of technological evolution.
This vessel predates your escape pod by a considerable margin. Exactly how much older will require..."
"Later," Bruce interrupted.
"Something's coming. Fast, and almost silent."
He raised both arms, aiming the cannons built into his gauntlets toward the end of the corridor.
A moment later, more than a dozen hovering machines sped toward them.
They resembled metallic insect larvae, each glowing with blue energy.
More appeared behind them as well, surrounding the group.
Lex stared eagerly.
"Incredible engineering.
Their entire structure appears to be constructed from nanotechnology.
Their exact durability is unknown, but if they're designed to defend this ship, they must be capable of surviving impacts comparable to Clark's strength."
He clenched his fist.
"Bruce, Clark, stay sharp.
Axel, try not to interfere unless necessary. You'll probably destroy them.
And if something goes wrong..."
He grinned.
"Save us."
"No problem."
Axel waved lazily.
"You three have fun. I'll watch your backs."
The machines immediately transformed.
Their shells unfolded as glowing blue energy cores emerged, along with countless energy-conducting tendrils.
Dozens of tendrils shot directly toward Axel.
Apparently, the ship's defenses had correctly identified him as the greatest threat.
Lex's armor instantly shifted.
Panels unfolded across his back, launching dozens of miniature missiles that intercepted the incoming tendrils.
At the same time, Clark charged forward and smashed two machines aside with his shoulder.
As they collided, the Human Federation armor covering Clark's shoulder dissolved into nanites and flowed away from the impact point.
Clark stared at the exposed section of his suit.
"Lex... you said my armor wasn't built for defense.
Does it seriously dodge attacks before they even hit me?"
Lex continued firing missiles without looking back.
"Clark, your body is tougher than any alloy I can manufacture.
Why waste expensive materials protecting something that's already indestructible?"
Bruce ignited the thrusters beneath his boots and darted through the corridor.
He twisted between attacks before grabbing several tendrils together.
The instant they tangled, however, the tendrils dissolved into nanites and slipped free.
Meanwhile, Clark grabbed one machine with both arms and swung it like a club, knocking several others aside.
"They're strong," he shouted.
"Not as strong as me, but close enough.
There's no point wasting time here.
The scout ship gave me that control key.
If we can find wherever it belongs, we should be able to shut down this security system."
"Exactly."
Bruce kicked another machine aside.
"I scanned the ship before we entered.
Follow me. I can estimate where the command center should be."
"No problem," Axel called.
"But could somebody help me first?
While you three keep talking, I've somehow been wrapped in seventy different tentacles.
These things have good judgment.
Apparently they know I'm the strongest one."
He tore several glowing tendrils away from his face so he could speak.
Bruce and Clark froze.
Lex stared.
"What happened to your powers?"
"I didn't want to break them."
Axel sighed before grabbing an entire bundle of tendrils.
With a single pull, more than twenty mechanical guardians were yanked into the air.
Lex's eyes nearly popped out.
"Don't move!
Please don't break them!"
He immediately shoved Clark forward.
Clark caught the airborne machines before they slammed into the walls.
Lex and Bruce then dove into the tangled mass of tendrils, painstakingly freeing Axel without damaging the valuable robotic defenders.
Clark pulled Axel along as they sprinted forward.
Bruce led the way while Lex covered the rear, using overwhelming long-range firepower to suppress the ever-growing swarm, which had already exceeded a hundred machines.
After more than forty seconds of running through winding corridors, crossing a bridge, and turning several corners, they entered an enormous chamber.
Bruce's eyes narrowed.
"Found it."
The room occupied nearly a quarter of the entire spacecraft.
There was no doubt it served a vital function.
Then it happened.
Black nanometal flowed upward from the floor like liquid.
Within seconds, it formed a sleek control console illuminated by blue light.
At its center rested an inverted triangular slot.
The key Clark carried fit it perfectly.
Without hesitation, Clark inserted it.
The entire spacecraft came alive.
Lights illuminated every corridor.
The pursuing machines stopped instantly, hovering motionless before the group.
Lex exhaled with relief.
"Clark... your people really liked minimalist design."
Clark barely heard him.
"What do you mean by minimalist..."
His gaze shifted toward the distant bridge.
Someone was standing there.
The figure slowly nodded at him.
Clark pointed.
"Wait. Someone's there."
Axel chuckled and patted Clark's arm.
"You can tell that's not a living person.
There's no heartbeat, no breathing.
Now let go of me.
I knew you were only protecting those robots.
Come on. Let's go meet the hologram that's been waiting for us."
Unlike the version Axel remembered, the figure made no attempt to remain mysterious.
Faced with four men entering the ship together, Jor-El's holographic AI appeared genuinely confused.
He had left a key for his son.
Instead, four people had arrived.
The two wearing advanced armor clearly weren't Kryptonian.
That left the remaining pair.
One wore no armor at all.
Surely... that had to be his son.