As the pod plummeted towards Earth all Irene could think about was her brother and the fact that she hadn't had a chance to say goodbye. She didn't even want to imagine how worried he had to be. All Irene could do was close her eyes and attempt to accept that this was the way everything would end.

The sound of metal tearing apart caused Irene to open her eyes to find herself face to face with Clark.

Relief flooded through her knowing that she was safe and she wasn't going to die just yet. In an instant he pulled her out of the pod, and although Irene knew that everything was going to be okay she kept her eyes closed. Her arms were wrapped around his neck and Irene couldn't be sure she would ever get used to the feeling of flying so freely like this. If it wasn't for the fact that she had been moments away from dying she might have enjoyed the feeling.

Once she felt her feet touch solid ground Irene felt as if she could breathe again, She was very aware of the fact that she was shaking, fear still having a firm grip on her.

"You'll be safe here." He assured her and although she felt safe in his arms Irene couldn't bring herself to open her eyes as she convinced herself that she really was alive. That even though she was moments away from dying she was still breathing. Opening her eyes Irene first looked at her surroundings, realizing that they were standing in the middle of a cornfield. Debris from the pod was scattered around them, and Irene wondered if they were in Smallville. "Are you alright?"

Irene's heart still felt like it was seconds away from bursting, but she nodded anyways as she pulled away enough to meet Clark's curious eyes. "Yeah."

Suddenly she became highly aware of how close Clark was. His hands were on her waist and his eyes were heavy with concern. He seemed to blame himself for everything that happened though Irene knew perfectly well that everything that had happened to her up until this point was all her doing. Irene should have known that the search for Clark Kent would only bring trouble, yet she couldn't find herself regretting any of it.

"I'm sorry." Irene said quickly both out of guilt and the fact that it felt like every single nerve in her body was alive. She felt as if she needed to put some distance between her and Clark but she couldn't completely bring herself to move. Maybe it was because she was afraid that losing his support would cause her to collapse or maybe it was as simple as her not wanting to. "I didn't wanna tell them anything about you, but they did something to me. They looked inside my mind..."

"It's okay, Irene. They did the same thing to me."

He continued to hold her as he raised one hand to brush a strand of hair behind her ear. It felt as if Irene's heart had stopped in her chest, and for a moment she thought that he was about to kiss her. Ultimately she found herself disappointed when he abruptly turned his head away looking out into the expansive cornfield.

Clark only offered her one last glance as he took a step back before he took off into the sky. He was gone in an instant and it was like he was never there.

"Clark!" Irene called out as she suddenly realized that she hadn't told him everything that she learned from Jor-El. They were running out of time as Zod was already planning his next move.

Running through the corn field she found the road just as an old red pickup truck was driving by. She made no motion for the truck to come to a stop, yet the elder couple came to a sudden stop a couple feet down the road. "Are you lost dear?"

Irene nodded feeling grateful that the couple seemed willing to help, were this a big city like Metropolis no sane person would pick up a stranger from the side of the road. Such an act would be incredibly dangerous, but it seemed that the same rules didn't apply here. "Do you think you can take me to the Kent's?"

"Of course dear. Here to visit Martha?" The woman questioned in a cheery tone and Irene wondered if everyone in Smallville was this kind. That small town life was something that she was not familiar with, though she could imagine that Smallville was the kind of town where everyone knew everybody.

"Yes." Irene replied quickly as she got into the truck hoping that the couple wouldn't want to engage in small talk the entire drive. She simply wasn't in the right mindset to pretend that the world wasn't currently in danger.

Just as she suspected the couple was incredibly talkative and although she didn't want to seem rude, they quickly realized that she was not open to conversation. The fields of Smallville looked the same to Irene, but she the sight of a familiar mailbox told her that they were close.

"Just drop me off here."

The man looked at her with uncertainty having to know that there was something wrong. "Are you sure? It's no trouble..."

"Drop me off here." Irene repeated, realizing that she did sound rude to the elderly couple that were kind enough to pick her up from the side of the road. But she didn't want to risk them seeing Clark or putting them in any possible danger. "Thank you."

Without a moment's hesitation Irene got out of the truck and began running down the road that led to the Kent house. She was undeniably exhausted but her adrenaline and the fact that the world depended on the knowledge that was given to her was what pushed her to continue.

Irene came to a stop at the sight of Kent Farm in ruins. It looked like something large had gone through the roof, and the barn doors seemed to have been ripped off revealing a shining silver pod within all the hay. That had to be the pod that Clark had arrived in as a child, the one that was the key to returning Zod and his army to the Phantom Zone.

Although Irene was tempted to go investigate, the realization that whatever happened here was the reason Clark had abandoned her in that field. Instinctively she ran up the step leading into the old farm house.

The door was open, though that was of little importance considering that there was a large hole in the house's roof. It wasn't until she reached the doorway that she realized that it was a red truck that had been thrown into the house. In the living room Irene could see Clark's mother attempting to clean up the disaster that was left behind, her dog patiently watching at her side.

Slowly Irene approached Clark's mother not wanting to seem like an intruder in her home. She couldn't imagine what had occured her before either she or Clark arrived. "Ms. Kent?"

Martha Kent looked up at her seeming not at all surprised or concerned that a stranger was in her home. "I remember you. You're Irene."

"Yes." She confirmed as she helped Ms. Kent to her feet seeing as she was struggling with all the picture frames and photo albums in her arms. Reaching out Irene took a hold of all the photographed memories realizing that they were indeed heavy.  "Here let me help you."

"That's very kind of you." She replied dusting off her jeans before walking towards the other side of the room and picking up a broom.

Irene looked down at one of the frames in her hand seeing a family picture of a young Clark with both of his parent's. The three of them seemed so full of happiness, and Irene wondered when the last time Ms. Kent or Clark had ever felt that happiness again. "What happened? Where's Clark?"

"That Zod came here, looking for some Codex." She replied almost dismissively as if it was only an inconvenience and not a dangerous encounter with an alien who was looking to destroy Earth. Martha Kent stopped turning towards Irene, almost like she was looking at her for the first time or trying to think about the reason she was here. "He's right you're very pretty. Didn't notice it before, sorry if I was rude last time you were here."

"Mom?" A familiar voice questioned from outside.

"I'm alright!" Ms. Kent called out as she headed towards the door clearly eager to see her son. Irene slowly followed watching silently as Clark tightly embraced his mother. "Nice suit, son."

Clark shook his head in shame. "I'm so sorry."

"It's only stuff, Clark. It can always be replaced."

"But you can't be." He replied immediately making no attempt to hide his guilt and fear. In that moment Irene realized that Clark only had his mother, he was completely alone in this world. Now the last of his people were here and they were looking to destroy the only thing he had in this world. "Mom, Zod said this codex he's looking for can actually bring my people back."

Ms. Kent looked at her son questiongly. Almost like she couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Isn't that a good thing?"

"I don't think they're interested in sharing this world."

"They're not. But I know how to stop them." Irene declared as she continued to clutch the Kent family photos to her chest. Although she was confident that the information that Jor-El had given her was correct and that it was possible to save this world, she couldn't completely ignore the doubt that also came with that confidence. "Your father, Jor-El, he told me how."

Clark's eyes widened as he seemed to realize that Irene was there. "How?"

"With that." Irene said as she turned to the old barn where a glimpse of a small Kryptonian pod was barely visible within the ruins of the barn.

There were so many factors that needed to be put into place for the plan Jor-El had given her to work. Ultimately, this whole plan rested on General Swanwick and the resources that he would need to provide in order for the plan to be successful. There was Zod's ship and what Jor-El called the World Engines to take care of and although Irene didn't know the full range of Clark's abilities, she did know that he couldn't be in two places at once.

Irene was surprised when Colonel Hardy agreed to Irene and Clark's plan though from his change in attitude she could only guess that something had to have occurred between him and Clark during the fight in Smallville. It seemed that the two men had come to an understanding, one that would hopefully facilitate getting Swanwick to agree to their plan.

Earth was already undergoing the terraforming process as Zod had already released the World Engine. It had landed in the heart of Metropolis, and Irene didn't even want to imagine the destruction that was happening in her beloved city. Most of all she was worried about everyone at the Planet and her brother along with Mia who luckily lived far from the center of the city.

The fact that her phone had been taken away when she had first been brought to the military base gave her no comfort. She knew that Angel had to be worried sick, and although she was itching for a moment to try to give him a call there simply wasn't time.

When Irene and Hardy arrived at the military base Swanwick was already waiting for their arrival. Jimmy and Dr. Hamilton were standing just behind him, and when Irene met Jimmy's eyes she recognized the relief shining in them. She wanted nothing more than to hug her best friend, especially after everything that she had been through. But doing that seemed incredibly inappropriate when they had the difficult task of convincing General Swanwick to trust them with such an important task.

"We have a plan, General." Irene declared immediately just as a large shadow consumed them as everyone looked up at the shy where Clark was carrying the ship.

Dr. Hamilton looked behind them, his eyes wide with excitement as Clark lowered the ship onto the ground. "Is that what I think it is?"

"It's the ship he arrived in." Irene confirmed as she stole another glance at the ship wishing to know the entire story behind what happened on Krypton the day that Clark was sent to Earth. There was so much about him that was still a mystery and it seemed that was the way Clark preferred it. He wanted to remain a mystery to the world, but now everyone would want to learn more about the man of steel.

About the new hero in a world hungry for hope.  

"This ship is run by something called a Phantom drive, it bends space." Clark declared as he joined them adopting the serious tone that Irene rarely saw him in. "Zod's ship uses the same technology and if we can make the two drives collide with one other..."

"A singularity can be created." Hamilton concluded already hopeful about this plan, a sentiment that was not shared by Swanwick who was still skeptical.

"Like a black hole?" The General asked.

"They call it the Phantom Zone... but essentially yes." Irene clarified knowing that the term black hole really was an oversimplification of what the Phantom Zone was, but to explain it to them now would be pointless. All they needed to know was that sending them back would eliminate the threat of Earth being turned into Krypton. "So if we open up this doorway, then theoretically they should be pulled back in."

"So, you...you want to bomb them with that?" Jimmy questioned in disbelief as he gestured towards the space ship. Irene was aware of how ridiculous the plan sounded, that it really was a gamble if they would be able to pull it off or not but she had to believe that it would work.

"I believe that's an oversimplification." Dr. Hamilton said as he pushed his glasses higher up the bridge of his nose.

They were all clearly feeling the weight of this situation, people were currently dying and the number would only continue to grow if they didn't act quickly.

"General, if that craft maxes out seventeen thousand pounds, we can drop it from a C-17. It's a viable plan." Hardy continued seeming almost eager to get the plan in action, something that Irene couldn't blame him for as Earth was currently being turned into Krypton as they had this conversation.

"And if I don't stop that machine over the Indian Ocean, the gravity field will continue to expand." Clark concluded meeting General Swanwick's unwavering eyes. The man's stubbornness and hesitation were clear whether it was his lack of trust in Clark or the plan itself Irene couldn't be sure. All she knew was that there was no other plan to stop Zod, any hope of stopping him relied on this plan.

Swanwick seemed hesitate for a moment before reluctantly nodding his head agreeing to the plan. Everyone instantly went to work Hardy, Hamilton and Swanwick walking off to discuss the plan in further detail. Irene wished there was more that she could do, but she was no longer needed.

And although everything for the plan was being put in its place there was one uncertainty that Irene couldn't shake. This all relied on Clark who was not adapted to a Kryptonian atmosphere, and if he was going to destroy the World Engine over the Indian Ocean he was going to be weaker around it. "If that thing is making Earth more like Krypton, won't you be weaker around it?"

"Maybe, I'm not about to let that stop me from trying." He replied with certainty as a slight smile touched his lips, a gesture that was meant to comfort her but she knew it was a fact that worried him too. "You might want to step back a little bit."

Irene took a couple steps back, wanting to avoid being knocked down from the force of his departure.

"Maybe a little bit more."

A small smile touched Irene's lips as she took another couple steps back now standing next to Jimmy before Clark took off, disappearing instantly into the sky. Jimmy continued to look up in the sky in disbelief, even though Irene had described some of his abilities it seemed that he had been hesitant to completely believe her.

"Why did you get to do the fun adventure?" Jimmy commented and although he was clearly attempting to lighten the mood it was impossible to miss the worry in his eyes. Of course he was worried, Metropolis was the site of where the World Engine was beginning to terraform the planet. She didn't even want to imagine the destruction that was occurring in the city that she loved so much. 

"Nothing about that was fun Jimmy." Irene replied having had one too many near death experiences in the span of three months.

Jimmy smiled, but the gesture didn't meet his eyes as he suddenly became serious. Seeing her best friend who always managed to have a smile on his face, worried only continued to remind her of the danger they were in. The last couple of hours felt like a complete blur and almost a dream. But their reality was much more grim. "Well, are you ready to go back to Metropolis?"

Truthfully Irene was terrified to return home. She was aware how devastating it was going to be to see the city she grew up in and loved in ruins. Their fate was entirely out of their hands now, everything was up to Clark and General Swanwick. It would be safer to stay in Smallville, that was a fact the bothe her and Jimmy were incredibly aware of. But neither of them would be able to live with themselves knowing that the people they cared about were in danger.

A/N: Four more chapters until the end of Book One. I'm so excited to start Book Two as it will all be my plot and will not be based on any of the movies. There will be a lot more action and mystery that Irene will be involved as we will see her researching another story, and let's not forget the romance between her and Clark. Then Book Three will be set during the event of BVS which I am also excited for because I love that movie. Admittedly I also really want to write Diana and Irene's upcoming friendship as it is all I currently think about. I really am itching to get to the BVS material as the film is easily one of my of my favorite superhero films of all time.