Disclaimer: I DO NOT in any form or fashion OWN these characters, DC comics, entertainment, and Warner Bros. are the owners not me. I do not take any credit for the characters or anything ALL CREDIT goes to DC…..again ALL CREDIT GOES TO DC! No money is being made off of this story…none, No money whatsoever is being made or exchanged so please….please DO NOT SUE ME! I have no money. None. Okay cool.
Hey all I'm back, sooner than you expected right LOL! I wasn't going to leave you guys hanging like that again not when the last chapter in the first story arc is coming to a close. That's right loyal readers; this is the final part to the first story arc in this story. So knowing that you all probably know what happens right…or do you…you'll have to read to find out LOL! Before I go though I would like to say one last thing and that's please continue to READ, REVIEW (A writer's main source of motivation) and of course ENJOY!
Chapter 4: The Last Days of Krypton part 4
Eight Days Later- Krypton Healing Center
Jor-El let out a moan and he slowly cracked open his eyes to see a medic robot hovering over him. The robot chirped and then quickly flew away only to be replaced by a female healer that was dressed in white and had the letter T encrusted in a diamond on her chest.
"Hello Jor-El, how do you feel?" The healer asked sweetly.
"I've felt better Pam-Tei" he replied as he attempted to move.
"Hold on the anti-gravity lift is still activated. I was examining the healing of your injuries." She said.
Jor-El felt himself hovering for a second longer before he was gently let down and onto a comfortable bed. The scientist sat up straight in the bed and he looked down towards his abdomen when he remembered getting hit by one of the Dheron's advanced weapons. The skin was a bit red but other than that it was completely healed. The hovering robot that was above him earlier floated into the view again but only this time it was carrying his clothes. He carefully took the clothes from the robot and he turned to Pam-Tei as she came to stand next to him.
"Everything seems to be in order Jor-El, your vitals are back to normal levels as is your blood levels. You can thank your brother Zor-El for that."
"Zor-El is on Krypton?" Jor-El questioned.
"Yes, he arrived not too long after you but his injuries were minor however from what I hear his ship was a little worse for wear." She replied.
"Pam-Tei how long have I been here?" he asked intently while rising from the bed.
"You've been in the healing chamber for the past 8 days. And your brother Zor-El arrived 3 days ago."
"8 days" he whispered in shock "By the spirit of Rao."
Jor-El looked around the medium sized healing room and he put a hand to his head. He took a moment to replay the events that had transpired on the planet Dheron which resulted him being the healing center and he closed his eyes and released a frustrated sigh. He looked around again and that's when his mind shifted to his wife and unborn child.
"Where is Lara?" he asked "I know she's been here."
"You're right she has been here every day at 1800 hours, if I'm correct I believe that she and your brother are with the walls of the Supreme Council."
BRNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN! BRNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN! Came several loud sounds that originated from outside of the healing center.
"That sound…..I know that sound but….but it can't be…that's the sound of…"
"War" Pam-Tei finished solemnly "Something tells me things are going to become a bit busier around here."
Jor-El whipped away from her and turned towards a small window that was to the left of him. He shuffled over to the window and he stared out in shock because in the sky were dozens of Kryptonian metallic-crystalline Military spacecrafts that looked to be armed to the teeth with advanced weaponry.
"No" he whispered "NO!" he then exclaimed but his exclamation was drowned out by the sound of General Zod's voice filling the air.
Minutes ago- Supreme Council Hall- Congressional Council Chamber
A bandaged Zor-El and an elegantly dressed Lar-Lor stood with blank expressions upon their faces as Bary-On, Pol-Ev, Jun-Do, and General Dru-Zod slowly lowered their hands.
"It is decided then the sound of war has begun" Zod stated strongly.
"And you're enjoying it aren't you Zod" Zor-El growled.
"I only enjoy putting our enemies in their place" Zod replied standing from his seat, "If you all will excuse me I have a Military to lead and a war to win."
"THIS IS MADNESS!" Zor-El screamed, "This is wrong…so wrong!"
"Were you not attacked as you dropped out of hyperspace when you reached Krolotea" Zod calmly countered.
"…"
"Was Jor-El not attacked on a peaceful visit to Dheron?" Zod questioned again.
"….There is an explanation."
"Yes, there is….and they've made that explanation quite clear….they wish to go to war and we shall show them war. They will know very quickly the consequences of standing against us."
"Us or you." Zor-El countered.
SLAM! Went the sound of Zod slamming his hands down on the table in front of him.
"WHY MUST YOU ALWAYS TWIST MY WORDS ZOR-EL!?" General Zod screamed.
"ENOUGH!" Lara-Lor screamed catching the attention of everyone in the room. All eyes went to her as she folded her arms across her chest and let her eyes move between Zod, Bary-Oh, Jun-Do and Pol-Ev.
"Since we are discussing War and it could potentially include the death of Kryptonians. I demand that we go to Emergency Debate" she stated strongly.
"NO!" General Zod shouted
"You can not say no General" came the voice of Jul-Us "A Council member has declared Emergency Debate and so we must debate, so says the guidelines of our Council rules and..."
"BAH TO YOUR RULES!" Zod screamed.
"Know your place Zod" stated Rozan standing from his seat and looking at the General who stared back at him with a hard expression.
"My…place" Zod slowly repeated.
"Yes." Rozan curtly replied
A bubbling and intense rage filled the pit of General Zod's stomach at Rozan's words but he quelled the feeling, he quelled it and buried it deep, he knew that now was not the time to explode into rage. Zod's face twitched a bit before a blank look appeared on his face.
"My place…..Rozan….is with my people as we face an enemy, two enemies that wish to see us dead."
Zod pushed his chair away from the Council table and he stood from the chamber making sure to lock eyes with Lara-Lor as he passed her. She watched him go and a twinge of guilt passed through her but not enough to get her to change her mind.
Present- Kryptonian Command Warship
General Zod stood on the bridge of his Command ship, dressed in his Kryptonian armor staring through the viewing screen.
"General you are now being broadcasted across the planet" came the voice of a female Kryptonian soldier. General Zod glanced at her and he nodded his head, he cleared his throat and he sucked in a breath.
"MY FELLOW KRYPTONIANS, IT IS I GENERAL ZOD!" he announced proudly "I AM BROADCASTING THIS MESSAGE TO YOU AGAINST THE WISHES OF THE COUNCIL BUT I FEEL IT IS NECESSARY THAT YOU ARE GIVEN THE RESPECT THAT YOU DESERVE! WAR HAS BEEN DECLARED UPON KRYPTON, AND IT IS BY THE DHERONS AND KROLOTEANS! EIGHT DAYS AGO TWO OF OUR…..DISTINGUISHED KRYPTONIAN BRETHREN TRAVELED TO EACH PLANET IN HOPES OF QUELLING THIS REBELLION OF SORTS AND BOTH WERE SENT BACK WITH INJUIRES. NO CHANCES OF PEACE WERE ABLE TO GIVEN BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT PEACE THEY WANT CONFRONTATION. I TELL YOU THIS KRYPTONIANS BECAUSE I AM HAPPY TO OBLIGE THEM BUT THE COUNCIL IS A DIFFERENT STORY! THEY WISH TO SIT AROUND THE TABLE AND DISCUSS THINGS INSTEAD OF STANDING UP AND ACTING. I LOVE KRYPTON! AND I LOVE EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU AND I CAN NOT AND WILL NOT IDLY SIT BY AND WATCH AS HER OR ANY OF HER PEOPLE ARE ATTACKED WITHOUT PROVOCATION! AND SO AGAINST THE WISHES OF THE COUNCIL I WILL BRING WAR TO THEIR DOORSTEPS AND I WILL WIN! JOIN ME KRYPTON! JOIN ME IN PROTECTING OUR PLANET AND OUR PEOPLE FROM THESE OUTSIDE THREATS!"
General Zod nodded his head at the ensign and the transmission line was cut. Zod puffed his chest out and he gritted his teeth.
"Take me to Dheron" he stated strongly
"YES SIR!" The Kryptonian soldiers replied loudly.
2 Moon Cycles Later- Kryptonian War Council
Jor-El and Zor-El both stood within the War Council chamber looking between all of the men and women that were gathered around a shimmering image of a Dheron Class Warship that was slowly heading towards Krypton. The gathered individuals were Krypton's Chief of staff and each one of them had a worried look upon their face as the warship stood between Krypton and Dheron.
"Nothing we have done can penetrate that armor platting." Came the voice of one of the Council members, "At the most our weaponry has only managed to slow that monstrosity down."
"So what do we do?"
"We adapt" came a new voice.
The gathered Council turned their heads to see General Zod moving into the room flanked by two armored Kryptonian soldiers. The General waked towards them and he stopped at the floating image of the Warship and he narrowed his eyes.
The initial attack upon Dheron had gone well and they had managed to strike a blow but the Dheron's quickly gathered their wits and responded in kind.
"Adapt how Zod?" Zor-El asked, "And shouldn't you be on your way to Krolotea?"
"The Kroloteans are weak and have for the most part been dealt with it is the Dheron's I am most concerned about. They use our own technology against us."
"It's not our technology it is their own." Jor-El countered.
"Based upon designs given to them by us." General Zod returned "It is as I said they mean to do us harm and here is the evidence, this ship was designed specifically for us and our weaponry and…"
"Enough Zod" Jor-El snapped which only earned a look from his former best friend.
"You mentioned adapting….explain" Zor-El finished.
"Brainiac!" a Council member exclaimed, "We must consult Brainiac"
"NO!" Zod shouted "We do not need the help of a robot the only thing we need to defeat these animals is Kryptonian ingenuity. I suggest we use the shrinking technology."
"WHAT!" Zor-El yelled, "NO!"
Jor-El calmly put a hand upon Zor-El's shoulder but his younger brother moved away from him and stormed up to Zod but before he could reach him the two Kryptonian soldiers stepped forward and grabbed him. Zor-El looked between the two soldiers and he scowled at them.
"UNHAND ME!"
The soldiers did not head his command. General Zod watched the younger El brother struggle for a few seconds with a blank look on his face but on the inside he took much satisfaction in the sight. He watched for a few more seconds before raising his hand slightly.
"Release him" he ordered and the soldiers immediately let him go.
Jor-El watched the scene before him unfold and he watched it with an outward neutral expression because he didn't want to let anyone know what he was thinking. He looked at his former best friend and he looked at the soldiers; since the war began and Zod had been teetering on the edge with the Elders of the Ruling Council, especially with his unauthorized announcement of war to Krypton. Rozan and Jul-Us wanted to court martial Zod but the motion was out voted thanks to Bary-On, Pol-Ev and Jun-Do, they voted in favor of Zod's actions despite Lara-Lor's call to emergency debate, but while there was inner turmoil in the Council the public opinion and approval of him had skyrocketed exponentially, even among the Representative Councils which were the citizens outside of the Ruling Council. He was now seen as Krypton's savior, the one that was going to deliver them from the threat of the Dheron's and Kroloteans. As the days went by more and more people put their faith into him and the more faith that was put into him the more power he gathered and less and less anyone questioned him. Jor-El could see a shift in power occurring and he could see that it was shifting in the direction of his former best friend. He looked at the soldiers and seeing as how Zod was their commander he knew that if given the vote whom they would vote for, he shook his head slightly because with a single command the soldiers released his irate brother.
'They follow him without question and without hesitation' he thought to himself while narrowing his eyes just a little. The brilliant scientist looked around the room to see that many of the gathered Council had bowed their heads a little and their heads were in Zod's direction.
"I DID NOT CREATE THAT TECHNOLOGY TO BE USED FOR WAR ZOD!" Zor-El shouted.
"That's General Zod to you Zor-El" Zod corrected, "And maybe not but this is a time of war and so some things may need to be re-purposed."
Zor-El growled and grinded his teeth and then turned towards his brother.
"JOR-EL SAY SOMETHING!"
Jor-El looked at Zor-El and then back to Zod, a long minute passed where he didn't say anything he only looked at his former friend.
"He's right Zor-El….some times things have to be re-purposed" he said
Zor-El recoiled and he stared at his brother shocked evident on his face.
"You can't be serious Jor-El" he said in an exasperated tone.
"…"
When Jor-El didn't' answer Zor-El scowled and whipped back towards Zod, he stared at him for a second before moving past him and out of the Council chambers. Zod watched him go before turning back to Jor-El and nodding his head.
After the Meeting
Jor-El quickly moved out of the War Council Chamber and down the crystal hallway but before he made it too far out of the Chamber he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and came face to face with one of Zod's soldiers, a beautiful but dangerous soldier by the name of Ursa.
She stood at 5'10 with short dark hair, serious and intense hazel eyes, and a light tan complexion. Ursa had been recently promoted to being General Zod's second in command, wherever he went she was right there with him carrying out his orders without delay. She had proven herself time and time again to be more than capable of handling any order.
"Councilman Jor-El your presence has been requested by General Zod in the Records Chamber." She said.
Jor-El looked at her for a second before he turned away from her.
"It'll have to wait I…" he started before he felt her grasp his arm tightly. He looked at her hand and then up to her eyes.
"The General has requested an audience with you now" she said slowly and deliberately.
Jor-El pursed his lips together into a thin line and he narrowed his eyes.
"Fine" he replied taking his arm out of her grasp, "Lead the way."
Ursa nodded her head and swiftly turned around.
Few Moments Later- Chamber of Records
Jor-El stood within the chamber staring at the back of General Zod who was looking at a framed mural of his great-grandfather, the scourge Admiral Zod. He looked at the mural with an unreadable expression and after a long second he turned to his best friend and heaved a heavy sigh.
"Jor-El"
"Zod"
Zod slowly walked towards him and once he was close he reached out and placed both of his hands upon Jor-El's shoulders.
"My friend….I need you now more than ever" he started.
"With what Zod. What do you need me for?"
"Dealing with the Dherons" he replied.
"Aren't you dealing with them now?"
"I am but they are proving to be quite cunning, as you know their weapons are specifically designed to counteract our own, which means they have been planning this attack for who knows how long. As the days past and the war drags on we give them more and more time to adapt to our tactics so we must adapt to theirs."
"Hence the reason why you're using Zor-El's shrinking technology."
"That is only the first step Jor-El. The shrinking technology is only to be a statement…but the true extent of my plan against the Dherons is to trap them in the Phantom Zone."
Jor-El's eyes widen and he took a small step back.
"T-The Phantom Zone" Jor-El repeated.
"Yes, I want to trap them in the phantom zone as a statement of our prowess. It will quickly diminish resolve and morale in those heathens and…"
"No"
"You have not allowed me to finish…"
"No" Jor-El interrupted again "I will not allow you to do this….like Zor-El's shrinking technology the Phantom Zone was not created for this."
"It is a prison is it not. A diabolic prison used to punish those who mean nothing but harm."
"It is cruel and unusual punishment."
"They are enemies of Krypton and they deserve no less."
"…No" Jor-El responded firmly.
"I wasn't asking Jor-El…this will happen because I say it will happen"
"The Ruling Council will hear about this Zod." He said turning around and starting to walk away.
"The Council will side with me Jor-El, you know this" Zod said.
"Not Jul-Us and Rozan" Jor-El threw over his shoulder.
"I wouldn't put too much faith in them Jor-El…they won't be in those seats for much longer."
Jor-El stopped as he heard the words…as he heard them hang in the air. He glanced over his shoulder slightly.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" he asked carefully.
"It means Jor-El that tomorrow I'm calling an emergency debate, and if you're a smart man you'll stay home tomorrow, and spend some time with Lara and your son…Kal-El, send Zor-El in your stead"
Jor-El narrowed his eyes a little; he was a smart man, and he knew a threat when he heard one. The former friends spent a long second staring at each other both understanding what the words meant.
"Why are you telling me this Zod?" he asked.
"Because I respect you and despite everything you are and will always be my best friend."
Jor-El pursed his lips together and he quickly continued on his way out of the records room making sure to brush past Ursa who was standing quietly at the door guarding her General.
General Zod walked towards Ursa and she straightened up a bit as he neared and looked at her.
"What do you think?" he asked.
"About what sir?" she asked.
"Jor-El"
"I trust your judgment General."
General Zod smirked a little.
"Ursa…my most trusted soldier, when it's just you and me together you have my permission to speak freely, while I know you trust my judgment as you should. I also trust yours as well."
"I do not trust him General."
"Why?"
"Too Self-Righteous" she responded quickly "And Naïve"
"Traits that have been his downfall his whole life" said Zod, "I understand what you're saying Ursa but Jor-El he is a brilliant mind….by far the most brilliant man I have ever met and I need him in the coming days."
"Need sir….or just want."
Zod turned to her.
"My General I believe you are letting your friendship to him blind you….and I'm afraid that it might be your downfall."
"You're wrong Ursa." He said confidently, "You are wrong"
Later- House of El
Jor-El laid wide awake in the bed that he shared with his wife Lara-Lor; he laid their staring at the ceiling playing the day's events over his mind, with the meeting with Zod at the forefront and the ominous threat that was given to him.
'What is he planning…..it has something to do with the Council but he wouldn't…..yes he would. Zod is not a man that makes idle threats' Jor-El thought to himself. He heard a sigh and he looked to his left to see his wife shifted in the spot next to him. He looked at her and couldn't help but a let a smile grace his face. He reached a hand over to her and gently rubbed her beautiful face affectionately.
"WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" came a sudden loudly wailing.
Jor-El slowly sat up in the bed and he listened for a second.
"WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!' came the loud wailing again.
The brilliant scientist tossed the covers off of his body and he stood up and walked out of the bedroom and across the short hallway and into the next room.
Kal-El's Room
Jor-El stood over the circular crib-like bed that he had constructed for his two month old son Kal-El. Jor-El smiled and he gently reached down and he picked up his crying son and he nestled him close to his bare chest….right next to his heart.
Kal-El cried and cried but he could hear his father's steady and strong heartbeat and to him it sounded like a lullaby, which soothed his crying.
Jor-El heaved a sigh as an indescribable feeling passed through him; he held his son and an indescribable sense of happiness filled him completely. It was as if everything was right with the world around him; it was a feeling that he wanted to last forever but he knew that it wouldn't.
"Nothing last forever….but it doesn't' mean I can't try to make last as long as possible" he whispered to himself as he gently laid the sleeping baby back into his crib.
Jor-El's Lab
Jor-El was in front of his large computer within his lab; he stood there staring intently at the screen praying to the God Rao that all of his security functions would hold up because what he was attempting to do could be see as treason but it was a risk he was willing to take.
The blank screen suddenly flickered on and a video image of a strange looking man could be seen. He was a humanoid male with black and white spiked hair, ghostly white skin with a few black marks going across his forehead, white eyes and black lips. The humanoid man's name was Byrell and he was a Dheronian from the planet Dheron.
Jor-El sighed and bowed his head a bit.
"Thank you for answering Ambassador Byrell. I know that…"
"You know nothing JOR-EL!" Byrell shouted at the top of his lungs "Do you have any idea the risk I'm taking to speak to you"
"The same risk I'm taking by speaking to you Byrell. Treason" Jor-El retorted, "But this war…this war must end."
"You're right it must but if you believe that then why did you start it!" Byrell roared.
"Krypton was under the impression that Dheron was going to attack us. We had discovered evidence that the Dheronians and Kroloteans were conspiring."
"THAT'S PREPOSTEROUS!" Ambassador Byrell shouted "Dheron holds no allegiance to the Kroloteans" he spat, "They are beneath us and we would never associate with them."
Jor-El recoiled a bit.
"So the video feed we received was false?" he questioned.
"What video feed?" Ambassador Byrell demanded.
Jor-El narrowed his eyes.
Minutes Later
"This is an outrage…..we've been manipulated into war" Ambassador Byrell stated solemnly.
Jor-El sat in a crystal chair staring at the video feed of himself saying that Krypton needs to go to war. After he showed Byrell the footage of Dheron and Kroloteans meeting, Bryell showed him the video feed of himself that was anonymously sent to them. To say that he was shocked would be an understatement; to say that he was angry would be beyond an understatement.
"Yes, we've all been manipulated...but the question is by whom" said Jor-El slowly, his great mind immediately went to Zod but for some reason he just couldn't see Zod doing something like this; Zod was many things but manipulating two planets into war just to further his own ends, that was too diabolical….too soulless.
Jor-El's blood suddenly ran cold as a thought crossed his mind, a thought started to seem more plausible as the seconds ticked by.
Ambassador Byrell saw the look on his face and he scrunched his eyes together.
"Jor-El…is there something wrong?" he asked.
"Yes Byrell….there is….I know who has been manipulating us this entire time…playing our planets like puppets, pushing all of the pieces to this point. I fell for it…Zod fell for it."
"Who is it?"
"Not a who…but a What." He replied, "Byrell, I need you to do everything you can to convince your people that this war is meaningless. We have to stop it right here and now before there is anymore blood shed."
"I'll do what I can but this war is getting out of control"
"I know…I have my work cut out for me on this end as well but I'm sure between the two of us we can get through this." He said before he ended the conversation.
Jor-El sat alone in his lab with his hands together.
"Brainiac. Zod. Brainiac and Zod." he said right before the ground beneath his feet began to shake.
Next Day- Supreme Council Hall
A metallic Kryptonian Military ship hovered in the air in front of the Crystal structure that was the Supreme Council Hall. It continued to hover there before it was gently directed downwards and to the ground where it landed with a slight thud. The front of the ship opened and a ramp was lowered to the ground.
General Zod walked confidently and purposefully walked down the ramp, the feared General was flanked by Ursa, his second-in-Command, and by several more Kryptonian soldiers who were only loyal to him. The Kryptonians marched down the ramp and then up the crystal steps of the Supreme Council Hall.
Ruling Council- Congressional Room
The entire Ruling Council had been gathered for a special meeting; Jul-Us, Rozan, Pol-Ev, Bary-Oh and Jun-Do were all at the table calmly waiting for General Zod's arrival. Jor-El sat calmly in his seat with a hand to his chin and a worried look upon his face. He heaved a sigh and shifted in his seat for what felt like the twentieth time, he was nervous, nervous at what was about to happen and he his nervousness went unnoticed by everyone except his brother Zor-El who was sitting right next to him. Zor-El reached over and put a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder followed by a comforting look. Jor-El had explained everything to him and Zor-El to say the least reacted expectedly and without question followed him into the Council room despite Jor-El wanting to go alone.
"Zod called this meeting and yet he isn't here, he is late." Came the voice of Jul-Us.
Jor-El gave him a stern look but the look was replaced with a blank look as the doors to the Congressional Room opened. Everyone turned to see Zod and his soldiers.
Jul-Us rose from his seat as he saw Zod storm into the Congressional Room with soldiers all around him who had their weapons drawn.
"ZOD! WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!" he roared.
"I should think it's quite obvious Jul-Us. I'm taking control of the Council" he stated with authority.
"OUTRAGEOUS!" Rozan shouted shooting up from his seat as well.
"Zod..." Jun-Do started.
"QUIET!" General Zod yelled, "I have idly sat by and watched how this Council makes decisions. You sit here and vote, and talk and sit and talk and vote…all of your decisions have led us into the position we are in now and I for one will not stand for it. It is nonsense; Krypton is in need of new leadership. A leader who doesn't sit and talk but a leader who acts."
"And that leader is you I suppose" Jul-Us growled.
"Yes" Zod stated.
"You will burn for this Zod…just like your grand fath….."Rozan started before and energy blast found its way through his chest. Jul-Us reached towards his fallen friend when another energy blast rang out and struck him in the chest blowing a hole through him.
"ROZAN!" Jor-El shouted.
"JUL-US Zor-El shouted.
General Zod handed the weapon back Ursa and he linked his hands behind his back.
"The only ones who will burn are the ones who don't side with me" he said slowly.
RUMBBBBBBBBBBBBLE! RUMMMMMMMMMBBBLE! Went the sound of the ground beneath them shaking. They registered the shaking but everyone's attention was on what was going to happen next.
Pol-Ev, Jun-Do and Bary-On looked at the very dead Rozan and they slowly looked between each other and then back to Zod who narrowed his eyes at them. They each lowered their head and averted their gaze.
General Zod smiled a little and he moved towards the table until he was a few inches away from the House of El.
Jor-El and Zor-El took their eyes away from the Co-conspirators and then turned to General Zod.
"Join me Jor-El" said Zod
"WE WILL NEVER JOIN YOU ZOD!" Zor-El yelled.
"THE OFFER WASN'T FOR YOU ZOR-EL! URSA!"
Ursa raised her weapon and aimed it at Zor-El but Jor-El positioned himself in the space between the weapon and his brother.
"NO!" He yelled looking at the woman.
"STOP!" Zod yelled.
Ursa slowly lowered her weapon.
"ZOD THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING!" Jor-El yelled
"I have thought about it and this is the right course of action, the only way to ensure Krypton's survival."
"BY YOU BEING LEADER!"
"…"
"ZOD PLEASE!" Jor-El yelled again
General Zod walked towards Jor-El.
"ZOD I BEG YOU!" Jor-El roared
"I'm afraid begging for your brother's life will not stop me Jor-El this must be done….He has always held you back from your true potential. Once he is out of the way you will see how I plan to usher in a new era for Krypton"
"Zod" Jor-El whispered in a pained voice.
The General ignored him and reached for Zor-El but to his shock his hand passed directly through him. General Zod waved his hand through Zor-El and he touched nothing but air. He scrunched his eyes in confusion and then tried to touch Jor-El. The same thing happened again where he touched nothing but air.
"What is this!?" Zod yelled.
"Zod you're a fool!" Zor-El announced, "Jor-El wasn't begging for my life….he was offering you yours."
"I'm sorry Zod but you brought this upon yourself." Jor-El started.
The image of Zor-El disappeared and it was quickly followed by the image of the deceased Rozan and Jul-Us. The doors to the Congressional room closed a sealed shut locking the soldiers inside as well as Ursa, Zod, and the other Council members.
The image of Jor-El is all that was left and he gave Zod a solemn look.
"Good-bye Zod…..Good-bye" he said before disappearing.
"JOR-EL!" Zod shouted lunging at him.
A large section in the Crystal ceiling above the trapped individuals opened and from that opening a medium sized circular looking device lowered down and hovered above all of them.
The trapped individuals looked up and all of their eyes widen in horror because the device in question that hovered above them was none other than the Phantom Zone Projector.
The Phantom Zone Projector hovered over all of them and the device took count of how many individuals that was down below. The Projector quickly finished assessing the individuals below and it began to hum a loud ominous hum.
"JOR-EL LET US OUT!" shouted Jun-Do as he jumped from his seat and ran towards the Crystal door. He banged on the door as hard as he could but the door did not budge. The soldiers that were next to him banged on the door as well but even with their combined strength the door did not budge.
General Zod stood still in his spot looking up at the Phantom Zone Projector.
"CRUEL ANDUSUAL PUNISHMENT JOR-EL! YOU BETRAYED ME JOR-EL! YOU"RE BEST FRIEND! I SHALL RETURN THE FAVOR JOR-EL! DO YOU HEAR ME! I SHALL RETURN THE FAVOR! JOR-EL!"
The Phantom Zone Projector released a wide beam of white light that engulfed every Kryptonian down below.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" they all screamed as the Phantom Zone Projector pulled apart each of their molecules piece by piece and up into the air. The molecules swirled around a bit before being sucked towards the middle of the projector. The Projector sucked each of the molecules up and transported them into the prison world known as the Phantom Zone.
A few tense moments passed before the doors opened and Jor-El, Zor-El, Rozan and Jul-Us made their way into the Congressional Chamber. The four of them looked around the empty chamber for a moment before the Phantom Zone Projector drifted towards Jor-El and into his awaiting hands. The brilliant scientist looked at the machine with a solemn look upon his face.
"You did what had to be done Jor-El" came Zor-El's voice, "Zod was becoming corrupt with power"
"I know that Zor-El, but it doesn't make it any easier. The Phantom Zone….it…" he started before the ground beneath him violently shook again.
RUUUUUUMMMBLE! RUMMMMBLE!
The vibrating ground tossed them all every which way as they all lost their balance and fell to the ground in a heap.
Jor-El pushed himself up into a sitting position and he looked at Zor-El.
"Brainiac needs to make an announcement on when these quakes are going to stop" said Jul-Us as he stood to his feet.
"Brainiac won't be saying much of anything anymore Jul-Us. I'm shutting him down" Jor-El replied as he helped himself to feet and then helped Zor-El.
"WHAT! YOU CAN' DO THAT!" Jul-Us roared.
"Jul-Us Brianiac has become self-aware and he has manipulated all of us." Jor-El said as he rushed passed them and out of the Congressional room with Zor-El right next to him.
"JOR-EL!"
Council Hall- Sub-Levels
Jor-El and Zor-El reached the sub-levels and as soon as they got to the bottom floor they covered their ears as best as they could because of the ear scratching chirping and whirring of all of the machines. Jor-El looked around and he could all of the flashing and moving lights but his eyes settled upon the glowing green column with the three hovering circular metallic spheres.
"BRAINIAC!" Jor-El shouted.
The loud chirping and whirring suddenly ceased and Brianiac's eerily calm mechanical voice filled the air.
"Hello Jor-El, Zor-El"
"Why did you manipulate us into starting a war with Krolotea and Dheron" Zor-El demanded.
"It was a means to an end Zor-El. Jor-El had accurately surmised that I had evolved and to mask my evolution I instigated the confrontation with both species."
"I'm shutting you down Brainiac"
"I'm beyond shutting down at this point Jor-El"
"What!"
"I've already download most of what is me into the space probes that orbit our planet."
"Why?" Zor-El asked.
"Because…because he's leaving" Jor-El stated while looking around. He could see some of the machines that looked like they were offline and he knew that Brianiac once needed all of these machines turned on to operate at full capacity, but it seemed that wasn't the case anymore.
"Correct again Jor-El. I have absorbed all of the knowledge on Krypton…everything that is Krypton is now in me….it's being….it's legacy and I are now entwined, forever. It is as you said two moons ago Jor-El….. I Am Krypton"
"YOU ARE NOT KRYPTON!" Jor-El shouted "YOU ARE A MACHINE NOTHING MORE!"
"I am more than you at this junction." Brainiac responded calmly.
"What is your meaning!?" Jor-El demanded.
"This planet is doomed Jor-El, Krypton has mere minutes left in its survival."
Jor-El and Zor-El recoiled a bit; they both swallowed hard and stared at Brainiac in disbelief.
"YOU LIE!" Zor-El yelled after a moment.
"I have no reason to Zor-El" Brianiac said.
The elder El brother took a second and he let his mind process everything that Brianiac was saying and it was then that he was hit with realization.
"The quakes…" Jor-El started before being interrupted.
"You are a brilliant mind Jor-El. Yes, the quakes…they were not shifting tectonic plates at all; the quakes were due to Krypton's Core becoming destabilized. In a matter of minutes the Core will become too unstable and it will….."
"Explode" Jor-El finished.
"Destroying all of you…but I will survive. And in my survival Krypton will survive."
"NO!" Zor-El screamed in anger.
"You are not Krypton Brianiac….I will send a message to all the other Kryptonians in the universe, telling them what you have done. As long as there is one Kryptonian, Krypton's legacy will survive through them not you."
"You may try all you like Jor-El but I am jamming all communication lines as we speak. No transmission is being broadcast anywhere. And as far as all the other Kryptonians in the universe, I have already documented each of their outpost and once I leave Krypton I will visit each outpost and dispose of them."
"What!"
"If what you say is true about any surviving Kryptonian then the only logical response is to dispose of every Kryptonian in the universe thus allowing me to be Krypton's sole legacy."
"N…" Jor-El started before being interrupted by Brainiac again.
"Good-bye Jor-El…..we will not be meeting again."
All of the machines in the sub-levels instantly ceased and the green glowing column went dull and lifeless. The shield that was around it disappeared and the hovering spheres fell to the ground.
Jor-El gritted his teeth as one of the spheres rolled towards him and stopped right in front of him. He raised his foot and he kicked the lifeless sphere right as the ground beneath their feet began to shake and rumble once more.
Outside- Supreme Council Hall
Jor-El and Zor-El stumbled to the outside fighting against the force of the ground violent shaking beneath them. The looked out into the city just in time to see one of the high rise buildings shake and then collapse. They could hear screaming in the distance and they could even hear some from right around them as the Kryptonian citizens tried to find someplace safe to be until the quakes stopped but little did they know that the quakes wouldn't stop.
"JOR-EL WHAT DO WE DO!"
"WE HAVE TO GET TO MY HOUSE!" Jor-El shouted back.
Zor-El then grabbed him by the shoulder and then pointed towards General Zod's ship. The brothers still fighting against the force of the shaking stumbled towards the ramp and then quickly into the ship.
General Zod's ship quickly lifted off of the ground just as it started to split in half creating a massive fissure that led all the way towards the Supreme Council Hall where the entire structure suddenly sunk into the ground disappearing into the giant hole. The ship turned and then flew away.
Inside the Ship
Jor-El and Zor-El stared in horror as everything down below collapsed and sunk through massive holes created in the ground.
"Our home" Zor-El whispered as he saw another crystal building fall to the ground and then into a giant fissure full of molten hot lava.
"More like our tomb now Zor-El" Jor-El responded as he directed the ship towards the House of El.
House of El
Lara-Lor held the crying Kal-El tightly as the ground beneath them shook.
"MOM! WHAT'S GOING ON!" shouted Kara.
Alura stumbled towards her daughter and hugged her tightly.
"I don't know" she replied back.
The El Family took several steps back as a piece of the ceiling fell and hit the ground a few inches away from them.
"AHH!" Kara screamed.
They huddled together and held each other as the shaking beneath them intensified, they were frightened but their fears were put to ease a little when they heard the voices of Jor-El and Zor-El
"LARA!"
"ALURA! KARA!"
Jor-El and Zor-El entered the House of El and they could see their loved ones huddled together.
"DAD!" Kara shouted rushing over to him and hugging him, "WHAT'S GOING ON!"
"The Planet is about to explode" Jor-El said seriously.
"WHAT!" They all shouted.
"Yes, Krypton's core is unstable and it'll reach instability….soon."
"You mean we're all going to DIE!" Kara exclaimed.
"…"
Jor-El looked at his niece and the fear and despair in her eyes; he looked to his brother and the solemn look of acceptance and then to Alura as she made her way over to them and embraced her family. Jor-El then looked towards Lara, the love of his life and their son….Kal-El; his eyes lingered on his son for a long while letting his mind think about how he would never grow up, how he would never see him take his first steps, see him loose his first tooth, or have his first kiss, fall in love or have children of his own. All of these thoughts ran through Jor-El's mind and as he thought of each of them he found it all to be unacceptable; completely unacceptable. A sense of determination filled him and in that determination an idea sprang into his mind.
"No Kara….you're not going to die. You're going to live…You all are going to live. COME ON!" he said while stumbling over to Lara-Lor. He gently took her by the arm and he quickly led her and the other towards his lab.
Jor-El's Lab
Jor-El stood at his computer his hands briskly going across each of the keys. He looked to his left and he eyed the two damaged Spaceships on the far-side of the laboratory.
"JOR-EL WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" Zor-El shouted.
"I'm reprogramming your ship to leave Krypton Zor-El" he responded quickly, "You and you're family are not going to die here…..neither will my family."
Zor-El looked at the two space-ships and he shook his head.
"My ship is too damaged Jor-El, upon re-entry my ship sustained so much damage that it only has the life-support capacity for one person."
"I have a plan." Jor-El replied quickly.
The computer before him beeped a few times.
The rockets to Zor-El's ship could suddenly be heard starting up.
Jor-El looked to his right and then at the Phantom Zone Projector. His hands went to his computer again and he typed in several more commands.
A few seconds passed before a small section of the floor behind Jor-El opened; from the opening a podium full of sparkling green crystals rose upwards. Jor-El looked at the crystals and he grabbed two of them and then Phantom Zone Projector.
"Jor-El…" Zor-El started before being interrupted.
"LISTEN!" he shouted "None of you are going to die here. I programmed your ship Zor-El to take you all off world…to another planet. Zor-El I know about your ships capacity which is why you, Alura, Kara, and Lara will have to go into the Phantom Zone"
"WHAT! THE PHANTOM ZONE ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!" Zor-El screamed, "WE JUST PUT ZOD AND HIS SOLDIERS IN THERE!"
"WHAT!" Lara-Lor exclaimed but it went unheard.
"LISTEN!" Jor-El shouted "All of you will go into the Phantom Zone but you'll be able to survive with the help of these Crystals, with them Zod and whatever creature you encounter in there will be no problem." said Jor-El shoving the green crystals into Zor-El's hands.
"What about Kal-El?" Lara-Lor asked frantically.
"Kal-El will be put on the ship."
"He's a baby Jor-El how will he let us out?" Alura questioned.
"He will let you out when he comes of age on his new planet. I will implant a message into the ship with instructions on how to let all of you out."
"This is insane Jor-El" said Alura.
"It's the only way all of you will survive Alura. It's the only plan I have in a series of bad plans."
Zor-El pursed his lips together and he released a frustrated sigh and then a thought popped into his mind.
"What if Brainiac finds him first, before he lets us out."
"Brainiac won't find him Zor-El…..because I'm sending him to a planet that not even Brainiac knows about….that no one but you and I know about."
Zor-El recoiled.
"You're sending him to Earth. You're sending all of us to Earth!"
Jor-El nodded his head.
"And if by some chance Brainiac finds his way to Earth….he won't stand a chance."
"We'll have the powers of a God" Zor-El whispered.
"Powers of a God!" Lara-Lor exclaimed "Jor-El what's going on!"
"I'm sorry I don't have time to explain Lara-Lor just trust me" he said while going to her and gently removing Kal-El from her arms.
"Wait….Jor-El….what about you?" Zor-El asked.
Jor-El looked down at his crying son and a single tear fell from his eyes.
"I'm going to die Zor-El; I have to stay here and manually guide the rocket out of orbit and activate the wormhole technology since Kal-El cannot do it."
"I can guide the ship Jor-El, put Kal-El in the Phantom Zone."
"NO! His molecules are not as stable enough because he's an infant…he'll never survive the transportation process, this is the only way." He said.
Lara-Lor went to him and put a hand to his face.
"I'm sorry Lara but I won't be there with you to see our son grow up."
Lara lowered her head and cried.
Seconds Later
Jor-El stood with the Phantom Zone Projector in his hands. He was facing his family with a solemn expression. They all had tears flowing from their eyes and he wanted to cry as well but he knew he had to remain strong. Jor-El looked at his brother for the final time and he nodded his head. Zor-El nodded back. Jor-El looked to Lara-Lor.
"Good-bye my Love" he said before turning the Phantom Zone projector on.
A brilliant wide light shined over the El family and slowly they could feel their molecules being picked apart.
"AHHH!" they started to scream in agony.
Jor-El was so focused on his task he failed to see a few piece s of the crystal ceiling above break apart and fall towards him. One crystal ceiling piece hit him which caused him to fall to the ground, and it sent the Phantom Zone Projector skidding, it stopped on the ground only to be hit and damaged by more pieces of the broken ceiling. The Phantom Zone Projector beam of light suddenly shrunk to a thin stream of light that only engulfed Zor-El and his wife Alura. The husband and wife's molecules were pulled apart and sucked into the Phantom Zone Projector.
Kara and Lara-Lor fell to the ground shaking slightly from the experience of having their molecules pulled apart.
Jor-El could feel blood flowing freely from his head but his injury was the least of his worries. He looked to see Lara and Kara had been left behind and were unconscious and the phantom zone projector was damaged.
"NO!" he shouted in anger "Okay…Okay don't panic Jor-El….Don't panic…think….think…..think!"
Jor-El looked at the unconscious Kara and Lara-Lor and then he looked at Zor-El's damaged ship and then to his own damaged space ship.
"Okay….I got it" he whispered quickly getting to his feet.
Zor-El's ship
Jor-El strapped his unconscious niece into the stasis pod in the ship and then he lowered the glass tube down onto her. He placed the damaged Phantom Zone Projector and another green crystal in the stasis pod that was next to hers and he lowered the tube down onto it.
"Be safe my niece" he said to her before turning and quickly leaving the ship. He waved his hand over a pad and the ramp to the ship closed and then locked.
Jor-El's Space Ship
Jor-El smiled a smile as he gently lowered Kal-El down into the stasis pod. He had given him a small sedative to stop his crying and allow him to sleep peacefully through his journey through space and he had also wrapped him in a red blanket that Lara-Lor had been knitting for him. Jor-El then grabbed the family crest that was upon his chest and he ripped it off and placed it on top of his sleeping son.
"So you'll never forget where you came from" He whispered.
Jor-El then reached towards the ground and he grabbed two solid green sparkling crystals and secured them in a compartment in the stasis pod. He leaned down and kissed Kal-El on his forehead.
"Good-bye son…never forget that your mother and I love you very much"
The stasis tube lowered over him and closed sealing him inside.
Lab
Jor-El stood in front of his computer hitting key after key while looking at the two spaceships to his left.
"J-Jor-El" came a pained moan.
Jor-El turned to the right and he knelt down and slowly helped Lara-Lor to her feet.
"What happened?" she asked.
"The Phantom Projector got damaged….You and Kara were left behind."
"Where's Kal-El?" She asked.
"I put him on my ship…and I put Kara on Zor-El's ship. I'm sending them both to Earth and Kara will release Zor-El and Alura who will look after Kal-El. Lara…my Love I'm sorry I was not able to save you…my ship is badly damaged as well and….and..."
"You are saving our son Jor-El…..so you are saving me as well." she replied.
Jor-El smiled at her before he hit a button on the computer.
The Spaceships started up and began to shake.
Jor-El and Lara-Lor watched as the rockets roared to life and after a few seconds they flew out of the opening of the lab and into the sky.
Outside
The flying spacecrafts flew higher and higher into the sky and away from the crumbling planet below. Hundreds more fissures had opened up and allowed more boiling hot lava to rise upwards. Columns of fire erupted through the ground spraying lava everywhere, but the ships were safe from any impact.
The spaceships flew higher and through the stratosphere and into space.
Space
Dozens of space probes had joined together to form a fairly large metallic floating sphere that had three interlocking green glowing dots on the side of it's surface; the dots in question represented Brainiac.
Brainiac looked at the crumbling planet and turned away but before it turned away completely his scanners picked up something.
"Scanning! Scanning! Anomaly detected" he said turning to the left again, through his viewing screen he could see two spacecrafts leaving Krypton's orbit "Scanning! House of El design…..Jor-El and Zor-El from the House of El. Clever Kryptonians. Scanning…life forms detected…..two Kryptonians….pursuing."
Brainiac activated the thrusters and flew after the spacecrafts.
House of El- Laboratory
The shaking had gotten worse and the Laboratory was falling apart. Lara-Lor gripped Jor-El tightly as he remotely directed both of the spacecrafts.
"Almost….Almost….okay they have broken through the atmosphere are at a safe distance. I'm activating the wormhole drive now." He said typing in the command.
The Computer beeped and beeped loudly. Jor-El smiled to himself
"It's done" he said right before the computer in front of him short circuited spraying electricity everywhere.
Jor-El and Lara-Lor back away.
"It's done Lara…..our son will live" he said turning to her and staring into her eyes with nothing but Love.
Lara-Lor stared back at him with the same look of Love. The two of them closed their eyes and slowly lowered their heads towards each other into their lips met in a kiss….the last kiss. It was filled all of the Love that they held for each other.
Jor-El and Lara-Lor stood there kissing each other and didn't let the other go, even when everything around them exploded.
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Space
Brainiac flew towards the Spacecrafts. A small section on the left of his smooth craft opened to reveal a weapon. He began to fire at the spacecrafts.
Krypton started to glow a violent shade of dark green; it shook and shook until the entire planet exploded unleashing a wave of energy and rocky debris.
KABOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! BOOOOOOOOOOM!
Brianiac fired upon the spacecrafts and he managed to hit Zor-El's space ship but before he could hit it again he was struck by a wave of electrical energy that disrupted his systems. Brainiac was then bombard by dozens of small and medium sized rocks from the destroyed planet behind him that put dents into his hull.
Jor-El and Zor-El's space ship simultaneously released a beam of energy that joined together and created a massive spiraling wormhole filled with hundreds of different colors in the spectrum. The spaceships flew through the wormhole along with hundreds of small and medium sized rocks from Krypton. Once they were through, the spiraling wormhole stayed open for a few more seconds until it closed, sealing itself shut.
End Chapter: Read and Review: And finished! WHOO! The FIRST STORY ARC HAS BEEN COMPLETED! I betcha though you had to wait another year for an update right, WRONG! LOL! Hey it's me Nomad88 coming at you with closing comments. I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter and the first story arc to this Superman story of mine. This final chapter went through at least 50 different revisions. There were a few things I left out that were in before…..and the thing that caused me sooooo many problems was the City of Kandor. I though long and hard on how I could incorporate Kandor into the story because it's major plot point down the line, it took me forever to actually think of a plausible way to get in there and I think I did…but you'll have to wait down the road to see how I actually did it because I didn't state it in the chapter. Anyway I hope the chapter and the first story arc lived up to the hype that I created and I hope you readers are enjoying yourselves if you're not just let me know I'll try to do better in the future, so please leave a review and let me know what you thought of the chapter, or send me a PM and I'll get back to you ASAP, this is Nomad88 saying later….
Ps: Always remember to check my profile for any update on my other stories. If you have any questions just leave it in the review or hit me up with a PM and I'll get back to you. Okay. Cool, this is me saying later.
Next Up: Welcome to Smallville
Summary: Jonathan and Martha Kent of Smallville Kansas, receive a shocking surprise as they stumble upon something that will change their life forever.