Content

Beginning

Jor, eyes cast down, worried how she’d take his answer, “I... smelled you.”

“What?” asked the indignant Lara, whose stern expression poorly hid a grin.

“You asked for the first moment I knew, that was it. Honors Chemistry, first year. I’d made some vile concoction that choked me. I spluttered away from my table and only caught my balance crashing into you.”

“I remember. You smelled my hair.”

“No, It wasn’t shampoo, my nose landed on your shoulder... I smelled only you,” his voice softening.

“I never wear cologne.”

“I know.”

The minister interrupted, “I need to hear, ‘I do.’”

Middle

“How many more titles do you need?” She looked at him sullenly – everything he did served everyone but himself, and her.

Jor tried to explain, “They need someone who will judge rationally. It’s an honor to be thought worthy.”

With that she knew, her marvelous, gifted husband would accept the role of supreme magistrate. Astrophysical engineering dreams would be put on hold, or worse, handed to dull–witted colleagues and he would be thrust into politics and law.

“There is other news,” she coyly announced.

“I know, our orbital variance is growing,” he said vacantly.

“No, good news. I’m pregnant.”

Beginning

“You must go, he’ll need you,” tears in their eyes could not obscure the truth.

“The system may not support us both,” Lara could see the love clouding his judgment, “He’ll make it, he’ll do better, on his own.”

“He’s so small.” Jor, wiping tears away, watched the baby fall asleep in the cryogenic capsule.

“He’ll be impervious to anything in his new home. They’ll never be able to hurt him.”

“No,” agreed Jor-El pressing buttons that loaded the capsule and launched his son earthward, “Never more than I have.”

“You’ve given him a chance... and given them a hero.”

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