For starters I would like to once again thank everyone nice enough to leave a review, it really excites us to read what you think. I'd also like to thank my Beta and cowriter DaisyJane, without who this story would not be as rich or nearly as legible. Now on to chapter 4!
Dr. Thompkins passes her portable scanner over the alien captain and looks over his vital signs on her personal computer pad. She stops, looks directly at her patient and says, "I must come on away missions more often. It's rare that I meet a member of such an attractive species."
Kal Kent looks up at the good elderly doctor and smiles.
"Lets determine whether or not he's going to survive before you start making dates Leslie," Captain Wayne says dryly.
"From my scans he should recover quickly and easily Captain. He needs a nutritious meal and to soak up plenty of sunlight. His species seems to process solar energy directly into their metabolism to fuel their bodies," she explains.
"Yes, which is why in my people's early history we worshiped our sun Rao, for it gives us life," Kal explains. "Or at least it did."
"How about his crew?" Diana asks.
"According to my scans they are slowly and safely being brought back to consciousness, they should all start waking up in a few hours," the doctor explains.
"Being the commanding officer my cryotube was built to wake me up quickly, as was my first and second officer's cyrotubes if I needed them. A possibly dangerous but necessary precaution," he answers.
Captain Wayne looks about the bridge and commands, "Give us the room."
While all of his officers and most of Diana's leave without question to give the Captains privacy, Donna walks up and speaks quietly to her sister. "Diana that man has been through serious psychological trauma. I don't think in his condition he should be interrogated by the SA's Dark Knight. Besides with my first contact training and experience, I should be here to monitor the situation."
Diana looks at her and then Bruce before saying, "Sister...give us the room."
Donna realizes that this is a battle she won't win and leaves saying, "I will be waiting with the others if you need me."
Once the Captain's are alone on the bridge, Bruce kneels down and stares into Kal's glowing red eyes. "Tell us what happened."
Kent stares back for a few seconds before sadly looking away. "We...thought...even though we are a technologically advanced race, we were never great explorers. Only a century ago did we first attempt to colonize the other worlds of our star system. We were still afraid of moving too far away from Rao's life giving red rays," he explains. "A hundred days ago we were shocked out of our "enlightened" indifference towards the rest of the universe when the Coluans came. They were a migrant fleet of advanced warships and crewed by artificial humanoids, and when they attacked our outer most colony it spelled the beginning of the end for our world."
...
As the captains discuss the fate of Kent's home world the others wait in the next room. Artemis studies the figures in the now glowing tubes while three old friends reminisce about their days at the academy. Barbara is laughing hard as Dick and Donna talk about the first time he showed Donna how to use the frozen yogurt machine in the cafeteria.
"...just couldn't master turning it on, making a swirl on the cone and turning off the machine. I got yogurt all over Dick's uniform," Donna explains while giggling.
"And I received fifty demerits at the next inspection because I didn't have any other clean uniforms," Dick says with a laugh.
"That is because you always wait until the last uniform to do your laundry," Barbara states. "You're lucky your First Officer now and that one of the perks is laundry service."
"I am a lucky man, that is true," Dick says. He gives Barbara a charming smile and adds, "Especially since I have a girlfriend like you."
Barbara rolls her eyes but before she can say anything her communicator beeps. "This is Lieutenant Commander Gordon."
"Barbara the planetary governor's office just hailed us and they want an update on the alien ship," Mr. Drake states.
"I will be right there," the communications officer says. "Talk to you guys later," she says to Dick and Donna before heading back to the Bat.
"You know I don't think Captain Wayne would be that harsh to me, I am his favorite officer," Dick explains to Donna.
Barbra's laughter is heard back through the hatch at that comment and Donna raises an eyebrow at him. "Glad to see you still have a very active imagination Grayson." She then waits until she knows that Barbara is out of ear shot before saying, "You need to tell her who you slept with. Barbara is not going to rest until she finds out."
His smile disapears off of the Lieutenant Commander's face. "I don't think now is the right time. We are on a very important first contact mission if you hadn't noticed," Dick says tersely.
"You're just chicken," Donna says.
"Do you blame me? You know how bad Barbara's temper can be," he responds.
"She is determined to find out and she eventually will so you may as well tell her and get it over with. This way I will be here to help manage the fallout," Donna says reassuringly.
"I just don't know," he says as he really isn't sure what to do.
…
"Why did they attack you?" Captain Prince asks after coming to terms with the sad fate of Kal's people.
"It is their way, they scan and consume all information and technology before obliterating the source. They claim that it makes the knowledge far more valuable if only they owned it," Kal answers.
"Go on," Bruce tells him.
"We assembled a fleet and fought them, but while our weapon's technology was comparable to theirs we haven't had a war for decades, not since Zod's revolt, and we were swiftly out matched. So in the end, we had to do something drastic to save our race," Captain Kent explains.
The Kryptonian rubs his eyes and temples then continues. "In desperation we sent a small fleet of volunteers to keep the Coluans busy, as the rest of our population was loaded into the Fortress Ships. Once we were a safe distance away two very brave souls activated a device which disrupted sub space and trapped all remaining ships in the system. Then Jor Kent and his wife Lara Lor Kent activated a bomb which killed our star, the holy Rao, and sent a wave of death that destroyed every Coluan and Kryptonian life left behind."
"And the two that activated the bomb?" Diana asks, though sadly already guessing the answer.
"My mother and father," the Kryptonian says softly, his pain clear in his voice. He turns to look at the dark figure of Wayne and asks, "Do you know what it's like, to see your parents and your whole world destroyed before your eyes, and be powerless to do anything but watch?"
"Yes," the Bat's Captain answers, surprising them both. He stands up and looks down at Kal Kent and says, "But that isn't the end of the story. This ship has battle damage, you were attacked after you escaped."
"Yes. Apparently as we fled our ship was spotted by a Coluan Dreadnaught, which chased after us, so in a way we inadvertently saved their lives. They thanked us for that favor by attacking," he explains.
"Keep going," Bruce tells him.
"The Dreadnaught out gunned us severely, but through some luck and ingenuity we were able to severely damage their engines. Since that was about the only system on the Kandor that wasn't damaged, we pointed ourselves at the brightest star and warped away," the Captain says. "As our life support system was impaired we put ourselves into stasis and prayed for the best."
Captain Wayne looks over at his Themysciran counter part. She looks down at a screen on her golden gauntlet and says, "According to my equipment he isn't lying." She looks at Kal, smiles and says, "No offense."
Captain Wayne sighs, "Great." Next he touches the symbol on his chest and says, "Alfred, how long until the Kryptonian ship is repaired?"
"While this amazing vessel is still rather new to me, I'd say at least six hours," the Engineer answers.
"Then get Dr. Thompkins to help you revive as many of the ship's engineering crew as possible to help you, we've got in coming," he orders.
"What?" Captain Kent and Captain Prince ask.
"You've been orbiting this star for three days, more then enough time for your enemy to patch their wounds and come after you. Seeing that your race wiped out most of theirs I don't see them doing anything other than chasing you down and destroying you and anyone who gets in their way," he tells them before turning around and walking back to his ship.
Diana rolls her eyes and looks back at Kal. "Sorry, he can be rather abrupt and he is not exactly a people person."
"I can tell," the alien Captain answers, "I'll revive my first and second officers to help get our ship into shape."
"Good, we'll do our part," Captain Prince tells him, following after Wayne. As she walks she contacts her ship and says, "This is Captain Prince, there is a good chance that a hostile and powerful alien ship will soon join us. Make sure we're ready to greet them."
She soon catches up to the SA Captain as he gives out orders to his crew in person with the exception of Ms. Gordon, with him he is talking to over the comm. link. "...and Barbara I want you to send a message to Watchtower, explaining the situation and request immediate reinforcements. Then I want you to send a message directly to the Flash, if anyone can get here in time it's West."
"Yes sir," she says before ending the connection. The rest of his crew hurry off to fulfill his orders while Diana's beem back to the Lady Wonder.
Captain Wayne then turns to the Themysciran Captain and asks, "Can you get any help from your fleet?"
"The Thanagarians are causing tension at our borders with their "training", so most of our fleet is there," Diana answers. "You're nervous."
"Diana we are standing in a ship more advanced and powerful then any I have ever set my eyes on, and what's coming mopped the floor with it," he tells her. "I plan to be prepared."
…
On the bridge of the Coluan Dreadnaught Brainiac, a mechanical man sits jacked into a hovering throne. "Make sure we simply disable the Fortress Ship, I want to use a methodical method to take apart the Kryptonians," he orders. " We might as well dissect all the data we can from them for all the trouble they have caused us."
"Yes Lord Stargrave," the Coluans on the ship answer.
TBC. Reviews are always welcomed and very appreciated guys, so tell us what you think.