A sound came from upstairs.
Eric and Jonathan looked over, finding Clark unconscious at the stair landing.
The two quickly went upstairs and helped Clark up.
"His body is very hot."
Jonathan said with a frown, holding Clark.
"When I tried to activate the spaceship, I encountered the same situation as Mother; a strong light shone on both Clark and me. Perhaps Clark's body was affected."
Eric explained to his father.
"That's truly the worst-case scenario."
Jonathan motioned for Eric to help him get Clark onto the sofa. "Eric, is there anything unusual with your body?"
"Not yet, just a bit weak."
Eric shook his head. "Clark's situation is quite serious; he previously suspected he had lost his powers."
"Phew."
Jonathan exhaled. "You stay here and look after Clark. I'll go call Doctor Helen."
He then went to the living room to make the call.
About ten minutes later, Doctor Helen arrived at the farm.
Dressed in casual clothes, Helen pushed open the door with her work bag and immediately asked, "What happened?"
"Clark was exposed to the same toxin as his mother," Jonathan told Helen.
Doctor Helen nodded, took out a stethoscope from her work bag, and immediately began checking Clark's condition, who was lying on the sofa.
"You should call an ambulance. Clark needs to go to the hospital immediately, and we must notify the Disease Control Bureau right away."
Helen said while examining Clark's body.
"I don't think that's a good idea."
Eric, standing by, agreed with Clark going to the hospital.
Jonathan glanced at Eric and agreed with his youngest son's opinion.
"Sorry, I can't let Clark go to the hospital."
"Why not?" Helen asked, puzzled.
"Doctor Helen, I need you to promise me you will never tell anyone about this, no one at all."
"Mr. Kent, I am very discreet about my patients' matters, but Clark needs medical assistance."
Helen tied a rubber band around Clark's arm and looked up at Jonathan.
Jonathan saw that she still didn't understand his meaning and his tone became more serious. "Clark is not the ordinary boy you imagine."
"I don't know about an ordinary boy. Right now, I need to draw blood from Clark."
Saying this, she took out a syringe from her work bag, preparing to draw Clark's blood.
Eric saw her actions and gave Jonathan an inquiring look, signaling whether to stop her.
Jonathan shook his head at Eric, indicating that he should not act rashly.
"Listen, Doctor Bryce, you can't do that!"
"Is it because of faith?" Doctor Helen asked without lifting her head.
"No, it's not a matter of faith, but you can't do that."
Before Jonathan could finish his sentence, Doctor Helen's syringe pierced Clark's vein.
This unexpected outcome, the ease with which it penetrated Clark's skin, made Jonathan's eyes widen.
Had Clark truly lost his superpowers?
Taking a few deep breaths to clear his head, Jonathan bent down and said to Helen, who was squatting, "You can't send this sample to the lab?"
"Mr. Kent, I am trying to save your son. Unless you tell me what's going on, I can't save him."
Helen said to Jonathan with some impatience, preparing to stand up.
But the next second, Jonathan grabbed her wrist and said in a serious tone, "Doctor Helen, you must promise me that you will personally examine this sample. As long as you examine it yourself, you will understand my intention in doing this."
Helen was taken aback by Jonathan's demeanor and instinctively nodded.
After Helen left, Eric spoke to his father, "You shouldn't have let her take that blood sample."
"I know."
Jonathan bent down and tucked the blanket around the unconscious Clark. "I know this might cause trouble, but it could help treat Clark, even if there's only a tiny chance, we have to try, don't we?"
"Eric, are you really okay?"
Jonathan walked over and patted Eric's shoulder.
He was still a bit skeptical. Martha and Clark had been severely harmed by the spaceship's beam, so why did Eric seem fine?
Now he suspected Eric was just enduring it so he wouldn't worry.
"Perhaps my physique is special, you know, I also have enough resistance to meteorites. My body might be able to resist the erosion of energy from the spaceship."
Eric made an excuse to his father.
"That's possible."
Jonathan nodded, agreeing with Eric's explanation.
His youngest son's talents and abilities, displayed since childhood, had left him with the impression that he could not be easily defeated.
Meteorites, accidents, illnesses, Jonathan couldn't imagine what could bring Eric down.
Even before this, he had never thought Clark would be brought down by illness.
"If I move the spaceship over, perhaps the energy released after the spaceship is activated can heal Clark."
Eric thought of an idea and said to Jonathan.
"Do you think the spaceship can heal Clark and Martha?" Jonathan asked Eric.
"I don't know, but Mother believes the spaceship made her pregnant again, so perhaps it can also heal her. We can't put all our hope in doctors."
Saying this, he pushed open the door and walked out, "I'll be right back."
The next day.
Before dawn, Eric, again under the cover of night, sent the spaceship to Pete's cellar.
After a night of work, no matter how he operated it, he couldn't reactivate the spaceship.
Jonathan, looking tired, came over and patted Eric's shoulder.
"You need to rest, Eric."
"I just feel like I can do more."
Eric shook his head, sat on the sofa, and pressed his aching forehead. "It's strange, isn't it? My mind keeps being flooded with jumbled memories, about Mother. When I was in second grade, I didn't like the school cafeteria food, so Mother would prepare beef and potatoes and burritos and bring them to school for me. Sometimes I think I'm very strong, but sometimes, I feel weaker than anyone."
"You've already done very well. You are Martha and my pride."
Jonathan touched Eric's head. "Always have been."
Eric was silent for a moment, composed himself, stood up, and walked out of the room; he needed to calm down.
But his gaze inadvertently fell upon the latest newspaper on the table.
Words like "Blue Valley" and "Starlight" were caught by his eyes.
And a familiar golden Staff from his memory appeared in the newspaper.