Chapter 20: I Want to Go Back to Krypton
2023-10-23 Author: Rowing Without Oars 233
"Don't talk after we go out, don't run around, and stick close to me. Go wherever I go. Nod if you understand."
Orin Vale stared into Kara's eyes, making sure she understood.
It had been two days since Kara landed. Now that she was settling down, daily necessities were essential—things like a toothbrush, a towel, other toiletries, and a change of clothes. Currently, the only things she could wear were borrowed from a neighbor.
The little Kryptonian dress was quite pretty. Orin Vale estimated it even had an impervious protective function; its material was basically black technology by Earth's standards. It was just that the style was a bit too conspicuous for Earth, not to mention the 'S' emblem on the chest, which wasn't suitable for wearing out on the street.
Orin Vale also recalled that Krypton's civilian materials were all outstanding. In the original story, the uniform Supergirl wore was actually her high school prom dress, but it was invulnerable to Earth's weapons; even a nuclear bomb couldn't breach it.
In fact, this was just a small glimpse. It showed that Krypton wasn't only advanced in military technology but was far ahead of Earth in all aspects of life, including food, clothing, housing, and transportation.
Therefore, Kara was different from her cousin, Superman. Since Superman had grown up on Earth from infancy, he didn't feel anything was amiss. But Kara, having grown up in Kryptonian society, was now stranded on Earth. For her, it was like being thrown back thousands of years. It was akin to a modern person, accustomed to cellphones and computers, being forced to adapt to the life of a primitive tribe. The feeling of loneliness was naturally much stronger.
However, she had been very obedient these past two days. She did whatever Orin Vale told her to do, rarely speaking or talking back.
She nodded seriously at Orin Vale, ran a small hand across her lips in a zippering motion, and signaled that she would be on her best behavior and wouldn't say a single unnecessary word.
Of course, she only knew Kryptonian and was clueless about any of Earth's languages. Even if she wanted to talk, there was no one to confide in besides Orin Vale.
Oh, right, and the white-bearded old man at home.
Shazam was, after all, a nine-thousand-year-old Wizard. A trivial matter like language naturally wouldn't pose a problem for him.
Although the clothes borrowed from the neighbor were hastily chosen and didn't fit perfectly, the little girl's natural beauty made up for it. Her skin was fair and tender, and she was pure and pretty. Her large eyes were incredibly bright, and with just a little sprucing up, she had completely transformed into an adorable little girl from Earth.
The Old Wizard sat in the shop, watching his big alien lead the little alien out into the distance. Stroking his full white beard, he couldn't help but reveal a gratified, grandfatherly smile.
"Meow~"
Stryker came before the Wizard, holding an empty cat bowl in his mouth, his eyes wide and pitiful.
He looked just like a retired grandfather, playing with his cat and dog at home while his children and grandchildren were away.
The Old Wizard glanced at him sideways and asked with a smile, "Hungry?"
Stryker nodded repeatedly and let out an ingratiating meow. "Meow~"
The Old Wizard smiled. "Suck it up."
Stryker: "???"
Orin Vale stood on the edge of the sidewalk with Kara, waiting for the traffic light. Cars roared past on the street, and Orin Vale could feel her little hand tighten its grip on his. She subconsciously shrank behind him, cautiously looking around like a wary kitten on high alert.
"Don't be nervous. This is a car, a mode of transportation. It's like the spaceship you came here in, just a lot more low-tech... wait a minute. By that logic, you Kryptonians should have something similar, right?"
Kara stared at him with her big, doe-like eyes, looking adorably dazed. The cowlick on her golden-blond head stood up again.
Orin Vale: "?"
After a moment's pause, he suddenly understood.
Oh, because she wasn't supposed to talk.
Orin Vale couldn't help but chuckle. He didn't expect her to be so well-behaved that she wouldn't say a single word when told not to.
"It's fine. You can talk when I say you can."
Thinking about it, he suddenly felt he might have been a bit overbearing.
Orin Vale then added, "Actually, you don't have to say it out loud. Just try hard to think about what you want to tell me, to convey it to me in your mind."
Telepathic communication was a basic skill of the Ultraman Race, as shown in the various TV series. But it was limited to communication and wasn't mind reading; the other party had to be willing to talk for this ability to establish a communication channel.
To put it plainly, it was a team voice chat.
Kara was a little surprised. She closed her eyes, her small face looking very serious and strained. After a moment of concentration, her voice soon echoed in Orin Vale's ears.
"C-can you hear me?"
"Of course."
The little girl opened her eyes, a look of amazement on her face. The way she looked at Orin Vale was filled with even more admiration.
"You're amazing!"
"Just so-so, moderately amazing, I guess," Orin Vale said modestly.
"Krypton has similar tools. But..."
Kara tilted her head, looking at the vehicles speeding down the middle of the road with a puzzled expression.
"Why aren't they flying? Isn't the sky very empty?"
Orin Vale: "..."
Yeah, that's a good point. Why the hell aren't you all flying?
It had the same flavor as "Let them eat cake."
It was like Batman in his youth. Little Batman once expressed his confusion about people being homeless, wondering why they didn't just live in their own homes.
Then, upon learning that ordinary people had to spend their own money to buy a house, his worldview suffered a devastating impact, his face a picture of existential doubt...
A moment later, Kara finally understood that it wasn't that people didn't want to fly, but that they couldn't.
The little Kryptonian girl once again felt a sense of disbelief. "Then if everyone is crowded together running on the ground, isn't it very dangerous?"
"It's actually fine. Most of the time, driving is safe. Traffic accidents are rare..."
*Thump.*
A black sedan rear-ended the car in front of them, burying its front end in the other guy's trunk. The first car's trunk was completely deformed.
Kara turned her head again to look at Orin Vale blankly.
Her expression seemed to ask, *This is what you call safe?*
Orin Vale: "..."
In a place with customs as simple and honest as Gotham, life was all about escalating small matters and never talking when you could use your fists. After the two drivers got out, they immediately started cursing each other out. One yelled about how the other couldn't drive and must not have eyes, while the other retorted that he was crawling down the middle of the road like The Turtle, so how was it his fault?
They spewed insults, trading barbs about each other's mothers. After the heated exchange, they realized they had only fought to a draw. This made them even angrier, and they simply rolled up their sleeves, escalating from ancestral greetings to intimate, unrestricted physical contact.
The more Orin Vale watched, the more exasperated he became.
Alright, maybe he had spoken a bit too soon.
He should have said that, generally speaking, it was quite safe.
But in Gotham, nothing was truly safe.
Kara silently watched the two men arguing and shoving, and the surrounding populace who acted as if this was the most normal thing in the world.
Kara: ·°(﹏)°·
Earth is terrifying.
I want to go back to Krypton.
(end of chapter)