Destined to be a Hero
The Scarlett rays barely pierced through Kara's window as she scurried around her room, preparing for the biggest day of her career. Since childhood, Kara wanted to follow into her mother's footsteps and make a difference. Alura was one of the most influential judicators on Krypton, but Kara discovered a different path for her life while studying Krypton's law. She didn't want to pass judgment, she wanted to prevent crises before they occurred and be a peace maker. For the past few years, she was trained for negotiations, forming alliances, the art of compromise and forging peace treaties that would last. She understood it was a difficult job that required extensive training but she was desperate to go out in the field. What she didn't wish for was a threat of this magnitude to pull her into the field way before her time. She rushed to the Citadel, to make sure that she was the first one to show up at the war council meeting.
Kara spotted her mother and her aunt Astra talking the moment she entered the Citadel, both sisters standing stronger than the pillars that surrounded them, with the weight of the worlds on their shoulders. Krypton wouldn't have survived the threat of destruction thirteen years ago if the two of them hadn't joined forces and saved the planet from a highly probable doomsday. That was the only time Kara witnessed both sisters under this much stress. The reason behind this urgent meeting was classified and Kara's brain was flooded with catastrophic theories. She wasn't ready to represent the Peacemaking Forces all by herself, it was too soon for her, and she needed her mentor by her side.
"Mom, what are you doing here?" Kara asked as she approached Astra and Alura, her royal blue gown trailing behind her. The formal gown complete with House El's coat of arms was what Alura wore on her first day at the Citadel, she passed it down to Kara for her big day.
"I've been here all night. Both of us called for the war council meeting. I'm guessing you haven't been briefed yet." Astra raised an eyebrow, questioning Kara.
"No, I was just told that this is a Priority Zero intergalactic incident and that I had to represent the Peacemaking Forces alone. What happened?" Kara asked, terror seeping in as Astra averted her eyes. "Why am I the only one here from my office? I'm the least experienced." She inquired, her voice shaky.
"I don't know how to tell you this, little one, but almost everyone from your office is either dead or trying to make amends for what happened last night." Astra said, still avoiding eye contact.
Alura's expression softened after looking into her daughter's eyes, "There was an event last night and most of the emissaries currently residing on Krypton were in attendance. Many people from your office attended as well. They were attacked around midnight and we were left with a large number of causalities. Almost everyone from the Peacemaking Forces established diplomatic channels with the planets whose emissaries didn't survive the attack and they left for the respective planets soon after. But a few hours ago, despite the increased security, there was a second attack on the Daxamite Embassy and we haven't been able to establish communication with them since. The only thing we know for sure is that they are treating it as an act of war and their missiles are pointed at Krypton at the moment, ready for attack. We have Intel that they are preparing battle ships as we speak." Alura sighed, gesturing them to walk towards the War Council Chambers.
"But why would they take such drastic steps?" Kara asked, she knew that Daxam and Krypton were rivals but cutting communication lines and declaring war was a bad move considering Daxam's current economic conditions. Kara opened the door for them. This was the first time she stepped into these Chambers and it was spectacular, a circular room with high ceiling and two semi-circular desks on both sides.
Astra smirked, "Well our brilliant General thought that it was a good idea to point our missiles at them before initiating communication, some nonsense about gaining the upper hand and being prepared for the worst." She slumped into her chair, "If we didn't have to prepare for the worst before, we absolutely have to now." She stood up straight in her chair and threw her arms up in the air. "I am so done with men and their desire to start unnecessary pissing contests." She declared, making Kara smile for the first time since she woke up.
"I could try to establish communication with some of the Royal advisors who are neutral towards Krypton in the hopes that one of them convinces the Queen and the King to hear us out." She said, pushing a button on her pendant that projected a screen and a keyboard on the desk in front of her.
The General stormed in, followed by the rest of the council members, "Daxamites are drunk and lazy hedonists ruled by monarchs, they can't be reasoned with. Reason didn't work the last time we were in this situation and reason wouldn't work this time either." He declared with conviction.
"I agree with you, Daxam is a problematic planet, but you are the one who acted unreasonably this time General." Alura raised both her palms momentarily for gesturing him to calm down.
"We need to act now, before they prepare their battleships. We could liberate the people of Daxam, finally give them freedom and gain control of their abundant natural resources." He paced around the room, making sure everyone in the room understood the opportunity this presents.
Astra sighed, "There we go again with your lust for exploitation of natural resources." She rubbed her forehead. "We came this close," she brought her thumb and index finger close together, "to the destruction of our planet because of your pointless agenda, and now you want to destroy another planet for it. Krypton is functioning perfectly with what we have and we can't afford to waste taxpayer money on a war so that you can satisfy your ego."
"You are slowing down the growth of our planet with your lack of ambition and meager notions of sustainability." The well built middle aged man in full armor paused in front of Astra's desk.
"And you would destroy both Krypton and Daxam with your blood lust and war mongering, General!" Astra stood up in her chair, to look him in the eye, her palms resting on the desk to support her body weight.
"Enough!" Alura commanded, switching eye contact between Astra and the General.
"I finally made contact with one of the advisors and they are ready to talk, but they won't allow anything larger than a single person pod anywhere near their planet," Kara interrupted, still typing furiously on her keyboard.
"The Peacekeeping Forces sent a child to represent them? She can't be older than twenty five! Is she even fully trained to handle a crisis of this magnitude?" The General demanded, studying Kara like she was an alien.
"I could leave as soon as I have a detailed report of last night's incident to study while travelling. I will make contact as soon as I gather new information." Kara said, struggling to stay professional and ignoring the General's condescending remarks.
"You can't go alone!" Alura quipped. "What if they take you prisoner and use you as a bargaining chip? What if they attack your pod?"
"It wouldn't come to that. Trust me Mother, I am ready to handle this and from what I gather, the Daxamites believe that we declared war on them by attacking their embassy and pointing our missiles in their direction. I'm sure I can stop this war if I can just sit down with the Royal family and clear everything up. The Prince's personal advisor assured safe passage for a single pod, they would not attack me." She pleaded her case.
"One life is not that big of a risk." The General said, nonchalantly, rubbing his chin.
"I don't trust that infamous playboy prince! Does he even have any real power?" Alura shook her head, convinced that Kara is taking a great risk. Kara agreed with her mother, considering everything she read about the prince in the tabloids over the years, but this was their only pacifist option.
Alura was in a difficult position; strategically it made sense, but she was a mother and she couldn't help but worry about what those Daxamites could do to her little girl. It was a race of hedonists and bullies, with a medieval political system, cruel practices and they weren't particularly known for their levelheadedness. On the other hand, this could be the Kara's greatest achievement; she would always be remembered as the youngest diplomat to stop a war, and not just any war, but a war between Krypton and Daxam. Alura reluctantly nodded her head and ordered one of the council members to make the report from last night's incidents available to Kara. When it was time for her to leave, her entire family came to see her again and Alura hugged Kara with every last bit of strength that she could muster.
"You are so brave for doing this, Kara." She said with pride, a single tear falling down her cheek.
"I get it from you, mom. You don't have to carry the burden of saving Krypton alone anymore, let me share it." Kara held her mother by her shoulders and breathing in the pride that she witnessed in her mother's eyes.
"You were always destined to be a hero." Alura said as Kara got into the pod and sealed it. She programmed Daxam's position into the pod and within seconds she could see her entire world behind her. She knew what she was fighting for; she had to protect her world at all cost.