04/29/08
Wow, this is my first day after I just updated update in a while. I guess not even (ignored) school work can close the broken flood gates of inspiration. And double Wow, this chapter is sixteen pages. A new record!
PLEASE READ! VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION!
Speaking of records this story is about to break it's 200 reviews marker, which is more then I have EVER gotten! I'm so happy... -tears of pure joy- So, to celebrate, I was thinking of holding a fanart contest. The first place winner would receive a(t least a) oneshot LOSH fanfic on their subject of choice. Example: Brainy/Clark date, or a date of some of the other characters, or a certain subject manner, etc... It doesn't even have to be slash but I WILL NOT write anything with an Original Character. Or, if you want, I can do a spin off oneshot of one of my already existing stories or your idea can be inserted in the story if it doesn't clash with what I have planned (insert option not to Broken Gears since it is already finished). If you win, we can work on what you want to do with me for your story through e-mail or private messages.
The contest would be a fanart contest of this story only, either of a scene that already exists or just something with the characters from TOSoP even if it's with characters that have never met like Wisdom and Saturn Girl. If I decide to do the contest I will give everyone until the end of June to send in links of their entries or, if you do not have a website that you can post it on, you can send it to me through email and I'll post it on either my LJ or Da account but give you full credit. At the end of June I will post links to all the entries on my profile here, or do a collage and post it at Da so everyone can see the voting through the comments there, and anyone who has previously reviewed on my story can vote on who they want to win by private message, but you cannot vote for yourself. I will leave the voting open for about a week and then announce the winner on the next chapter I post. All submissions will get the usual chapter dedication and I might think of something for second and third place winners depending on how many entries I get.
When you review the story please tell me what you think of the contest idea and what you think would make good prizes. If all goes well I may do the contest again when my other stories (besides Broken Gears because it's already finished) break the 100 marker. And if I did that, to be fair, the previous winner wouldn't be allowed to enter the contest again.
I'm looking forward to hear what everyone thinks on the contest and, especially, what happens in this chapter. I'm particularly curious as to what you all think of the things around Wisdom, but all comments are appreciated. As always, thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far. -hug-
Chapter 26
The red sun was beginning to stretch out above the horizon when Wisdom had fully regained herself. She sat up and sniffled awkwardly, pulling a handkerchief from her sleeve and dabbed at her eyes.
"I apologize for my behavior. I hope I wasn't too much of a bother."
Her voice was scratchy and weak from her hours of laughter. It was amazing that she could speak at all, let alone so much.
"You," began Kal-El, staring at her as if she was still laughing manically. "How can you apologize?"
Wisdom blinked, and her gaze fell to her lap.
"Damn it, Wisdom, do you have any idea how worried we were?" asked Kal-El, ignoring his mother's look at his cursing. He waited until Wisdom looked up at him before continuing. "You could have warned us. We didn't know what to do. We couldn't help you. Why did you take it all on yourself? I could have taken some of the pressure or, or something to help."
"You helped," said Wisdom weakly.
Storming from the room, Kal-El returned with a glass of water.
"You're lucky you're a princess, or I would have to be really mad at you."
Without speaking, Wisdom took the offered glass.
"Thank you," said Kal-El softly.
Wisdom's lips twitched in what could have been a smile before she began to drink.
Returning from the nursery, Jor-El surveyed the room with a sigh.
"It's been a long night, we should all get some rest. If you can wait a few minutes for me to change the sheets you're welcomed to stay in the guest room, your highness."
Pausing, Wisdom's eyes narrowed and gave Kal-El a look before tilting her head towards Jor-El.
"Her name is Wisdom, Dad," said Kal-El.
Wisdom nodded.
"Oh, well, huh, Princess Wisdom-" began Jor-El.
"Drop the 'princess' Dad," said Kal-El.
Jor-El frowned at Kal-El in a worried fashion but saw Wisdom looking at him expectantly and nervously smiled.
"Does that sound alright?"
Wisdom nodded.
"Then I'll go change the sheets," said Jor-El, leaving the room.
Wisdom turned to Kal-El and raised an eyebrow.
"I know, he just completely avoided using your name," said Kal-El. "But give them some time. They haven't had the chance to be tormented by you yet."
Narrowing her eyes some more, Wisdom made a show of contemplating her nearly full glass of water.
"Did I say 'torment'?" asked Kal-El, smiling at her. "I meant to say 'charmed'."
Though Wisdom clearly didn't believe him, she returned to drinking her water.
An alarm went off, making Martha cry again and Wisdom spit out some water from surprise. Brainy remained peacefully asleep.
A loud knocking came from the other side of the door.
"My lady, men are approaching," called Wisdom's nanny. "It looks like their law."
Rushing through the room, Jor-El turned off the alarm and went to the door.
Wisdom's Nanny pushed past him, and shrieked when she saw her charge and practically sprinted to her.
"My lady, what are you doing on the floor? What happened to your face? What did those barbarians do to you?"
Standing, Wisdom threw the water into her nanny's face. Shooting her a glare, she stormed out of the room.
"A little early in the morning for a social call, isn't it?" Jor-El asked the Enforcers when they came to the door.
"Too early for anything decent," joked the Enforcer on the right.
"Enough pleasantries," snapped the other Enforcer. He presented his badge. "We have been ordered to take in Brainiac Five for the hearing on resurrecting Brainiac."
"Is he under arrest?" asked Jor-El.
"No," began the first Enforcer a bit hesitantly.
"But he's coming whether it likes it or not," said the second.
"Brainy is not feeling well so, as one of his guardians, I must decline the invitation," said Jor-El, glaring at the other man.
"It wasn't one," said the second Enforcer, pushing Jor-El aside and walking into the house.
Turning, Jor-El grabbed the abrupt Enforcer's shoulder.
"You just can't walk into my home like this."
"We have the permission of the Chairman to do whatever necessary to bring Brainiac Five," said the abrupt Enforcer, throwing off Jor-El's hand and moving further into the house.
"Sorry," mumbled the first Enforcer, following his partner.
Returning from the other room, Wisdom was cradling a cranky, but no longer crying, Martha in her arms. She promptly ignored her nanny's horrified look, instead watching the Enforcers as she absently bounced Martha in a soothing fashion.
"There's no point in bringing him in," protested Kal-El, stepping in front of the approaching Enforcer. "He won't wake up."
"Where's your shirt?" asked the first Enforcer.
"Why do people keep asking about my shirt? I could sleep naked for all you know and only just put on pants when the racket started," exclaimed Kal-El, annoyed.
The nanny looked disgusted while Wisdom covered her eyes, trying to stop her mind from imagining it.
"Get out of our house," said Kal-El.
"Step aside brat," said the first Enforcer.
"There really isn't a point in bringing an unconscious person to a hearing," commented the second Enforcer.
"It isn't a person," shouted the first Enforcer.
"And you think you are?" asked Wisdom, her voice light but firm.
The two Enforcer's turned and stared at Wisdom, neither spoke.
It was then Kal-El noticed that something had been added to both of the Enforcer's armor. The one Kal-El wanted to nicely show the edge of a cliff had engraved the Brainiac insignia under his badge. The other Enforcer had done the same but there was a five engraved in the bottom circle.
"If Brainiac Five must go then he shall go," said Wisdom, adjusting Martha in her arms. "But it shall not be with you."
"You listen to me, little-" began the first officer.
"Silence," said Wisdom, with such force even her whisper of a voice made him obey. "Wait outside if you must but the family must dress for the day and they shall be the ones who take him to this hearing."
"It is our job to-" began the first officer again.
"You. Shall. Not. Touch. Him," stated Wisdom. "Leave."
It was a very tense moment as the Enforcers looked at Wisdom and then each other as if unsure who they would rather disobey; the chairman or this girl they had no idea who was. Martha didn't help Wisdom's authority any by grabbing hold of her left braid of intelligence and pulling on it, but the Enforcers still bowed their heads to her and walked out the door, saying that they would escort the family to the hearing.
"Wisdom, you kick ass," cheered Kal-El.
"How absurd," exclaimed the nanny. "My lady, please put that, that child back where you found it."
Promptly ignoring her, Wisdom tickled Martha's belly with a finger, making the baby giggle.
--
Those of the House of El quickly dressed but only Martha ate any breakfast, the rest too nervous to swallow anything. They were escorted by the Enforcer's to the Council Chamber and followed by Wisdom and her reluctant nanny.
"Since you are Brainiac Five's temporary guardians one of you may stay with him during the hearing," a woman informed them when they arrived. She was wearing a pin of the Brainiac insignia with a five in the lower circle. "I recommend the one who knows more about the law. On the floor you'll have a better chance of being heard."
"You go dear, you've dealt with them before," said Laura, adjusting her hold on Martha since she was squirming within her arms.
The woman instructed Jor-El to place Brainy in a seat they provided in the center of the room.
Once on the chair, Brainy's head tilted to the side, his body completely limp, sleeping on just as oblivious to everything as before. He looked like a doll that someone forgot to put away.
"What are we supposed to do?" asked Kal-El, looking at Brainy.
"Join the spectators," said Laura.
"But we aren't just spectators," said Kal-El.
"We have to be," said Laura, pulling on Kal-El's arm and taking him to the stands.
"My lady, may we please leave now?" asked the nanny, fidgeting every time someone passed them to go to the seats.
Wisdom waved her off, staring upwards at the Council stand, far above the spectators, making anyone below it seem small and insignificant.
"You're highness, would you please take a seat?" asked the woman with the pin.
Glancing at the woman and her five on the pin, Wisdom gently shook her head.
There was a sound that was similar to a knock at a door and people stood from their seats. All besides Brainy who continued not to stir.
The Chairman was the only one who sat in any of the Council's chairs. Once he was seated the spectators did the same.
"We are gathered here today to vote whether or not the computer Brainiac should be resurrected. Furthermore if Brainiac Five should be used as the base for his program."
Wisdom loudly scoffed.
"Ah, Princess Wisdom, how nice it is to see you," said the Chairman.
"I doubt that," said Wisdom, her voice only slightly louder then earlier. Still you couldn't help but hear her.
"With how fast you left last night I thought you returned to Colu," said Chairman.
"So you thought you'd take the opportunity to violate my adopted brother?" questioned Wisdom.
"Your highness, no one wishes to harm Brainiac Five," said the Chairman.
"Oh? Then you won't be scanning my brother's brain for your ridiculous resurrection? Excellent. We'll be going now," said Wisdom, suggesting to Jor-El to pick Brainy back up from his seat.
"This isn't a ridiculous task, your highness," interrupted the Chairman. "Krypton needs Brainiac."
"Yes, and we all know how well the other Krypton turned out with Brainiac," said Wisdom.
"This Brainiac is not like that Brainiac. Our Brainiac helped saved Krypton," said the Chairman with great pride.
"Yes, but that's only because this Krypton had time to be saved," said Wisdom. "This Council had listened to Jor-El sooner and it hadn't been too much of a bother to this Brainiac to put in a little extra effort. Lets all forget that he attacked civilians when you gave him a body. Shot at Enforcers and threatened to kill anyone who got in his way. It's a rather inconvenient truth to your argument, don't you agree?"
"We shall not give Brainiac a body again," said the Chairman.
"Yes, but that didn't stop the other Brainiac from being a nuisance," said Wisdom.
"This new Brainiac will be based off of Brainiac Five. Surely you know how good this Brainiac is. He saved a girl from a fire and protected those that other Brainiac attacked," said the Chairman.
"If you think Brainiac Five is so good then why do you wish to wrong him?" asked Wisdom.
"I wish to honor him," protested the Chairman.
"Very well. Come back to Colu and I shall honor you by copying everything there is about you. I will take your morals, your memories, your values and emotions, your very soul and make it last for all eternity so you shall never die. I shall make you a dead for all eternity and yet you shall have no rest. A perfect way to be honored, don't you agree?" asked Wisdom, her voice dripping with smooth venom, smirking at the Chairman.
"That is different," protested the Chairman.
"It is exactly the same," protested back Wisdom.
Wisdom stood far below the seated Chairman. Her lips were bruised, her eyes were puffy, her hair a mess and her voice was strained from overuse but her glare made the man she had to look up at cower in his seat. She turned to the spectators and the entire crowd leaned forward to listen.
"It was ruled by the previous council that Brainiac Five was a son of Krypton. I know you are free to question the decisions made by the former council since they were accused of crimes, but they did good things before they were accused, did they not? Did they not govern you all with care until they made their wretched mistake? You can not let a parent turn on it's child just because some of the rules have changed. As a child of Krypton Brainiac Five deserves all the care any one of you would receive but you must also remember that he has another parent."
Wisdom half turned to narrow her eyes at the Chairman.
"If Krypton is harmful to this child, he shall be taken in by Colu and if Krypton insists on doing harm then Colu will protect it's child."
"You-you can't threaten Krypton," exclaimed the Chairman, though his voice was shaking. "Colu has no army."
"Who said anything about threats, dear Chairman?" asked Wisdom, her voice now full of sweetness. "Colu doesn't do messy things such as war." Her expression darkened, along with her tone. "Colu does much, much worse things."
"That's enough," shouted the Chairman, springing to his feet, his entire body shaking. "We shall use Brainiac Five for the base and that's final."
"Oh? What happened to the vote?" asked Wisdom.
"Arrest her," shouted the Chairman.
"She's the Coluan princess, you can't touch her," shouted Jor-El.
"Let the Coluan government try to do 'worse things' when she's stuck on our planet," exclaimed the Chairman.
Enforcers poured into the room, a few carrying weapons, causing the spectators to protest and shout, but none of their words could be understood.
Jor-El rushed to Wisdom's side, kicking away the first Enforcer that tried to grab her. He punched away the second but was ganged up by three more, being hit with the backs of their weapons.
Wisdom twisted away from a couple more Enforcers that reached for her and seemingly pushed another two away without actually touching them.
"Stay away from my lady," shouted the nanny, hitting an enforcer with everything she had only to be thrown against the wall that came before the stands.
Hearing her nanny shout, Wisdom instinctively turned to look only to scream when an Enforcer came up from behind her and grabbed her by her hair. She struggled but the remaining mental abuse from the night before along with the pain and the fear of a stranger touching her began to cloud her mind. Tears began to fall from her eyes as she struggled not to use her power just to blast them all away.
"Let go of me! Let go!"
From his chair, Brainy stirred. He opened his eyes, turned and saw all the Enforcers; Jor-El on the ground and Wisdom crying…
"What are you doing to my family?!"
Springing up from his chair, Brainy attacked the Enforcers. Stretching out his arms and knocking the ones beating Jor-El into the wall. Turning his arm into a canon and blasting away the ones that ran towards him, severally destroying their armor and making them all loose consciousness. Running forward and punching away the remaining Enforcer manhandling Wisdom.
Barely having the time to blink, Wisdom was very surprised when Brainy suddenly wrapped his arms around her.
"Are you okay, sister?" asked Brainy, softly.
"Yes, thank you," said Wisdom, her voice shaking as she returned the embrace.
"Arrest them," shouted the Chairman and more Enforcers came running in.
When Brainy released Wisdom, she could see that his eyes were still unfocused and that there were tiny black dots in the center of his eyes.
"Stay back," said Brainy, moving Wisdom so she was behind him, but pulled her forward so they were by Jor-El.
"Surrender Brainiac Five or we will fire," warned an Enforcer, bringing up his weapon with the other following suit.
"Can we make smores?" asked Brainy.
"Fire," said the lead Enforcer.
Brainy activated his belt, bringing up the force field, protecting the three of them from the laser fire. He took his belt off, the force field remaining in place, and placed it around Wisdom's waist.
"Wisdom stay here with Jor-El."
"Brainy, you shouldn't fight," protested Wisdom. "You're not well."
"No one is gonna hurt my family," said Brainy. He pressed a button on the belt, temporarily making a hole in the force field in the back away from the laser fire, quickly jumping through it before it closed itself.
For a moment Brainy stood on the other side of the force field, still shielded from the laser fire. Quickly turning he jumped on top of the force field, barely landing on it before jumping again. While in the air he extended all of his fingers, attaching the ends to the weapons, sending a charge through them and causing the weapons to explode. He landed on the other side of the Enforcers and shook his finger at them.
"You've all been very bad. Go to your rooms!"
An Enforcer leapt out and tackled Brainy to the ground.
"EWW! You smell like socks," whined Brainy. "Get off!"
Another Enforcer approached with something similar to handcuffs, only they enclosed the entire hand instead of restraining the wrist.
"Go away," shouted Brainy, growing into his bigger, robotic form and pushing the Enforcer on top of him away and knocking the other away with the back of his hand.
"By Krypton, he's a monster," exclaimed the Chairman. "Get him! Get him!"
All of the Enforcers tried to tackle Brainy at once but he easily knocked them away. They all backed away when he pointed his canon at them.
"You leave me and my family alone," said Brainy, his canon beginning to ignite.
"Brainy stop," shouted Kal-El.
Turning Brainy saw Kal-El standing amongst the unconscious Enforcers, panting from running.
"Don't hurt them," said Kal-El, approaching Brainy.
Lowering his canon, Brainy shrunk back to his normal form. He looked away and nervously twiddled his fingers.
"You're not mad are you?"
"No, of course not," said Kal-El, barely two feet away now.
"You don't think I'm a monster, do you?" asked Brainy.
"I could never think that," said Kal-El, reaching out and bringing Brainy to him in an embrace.
"They, they hurt Jor-El and Wisdom," whimpered Brainy, shaking and returning the embrace, sounding as if he was going to cry.
"I know," said Kal-El softly, stroking Brainy's hair.
"Quickly! Get him before he changes back," shouted the Chairman.
Brainy whimpered and Kal-El's hold on him tightened.
"This seems all too familiar," said a familiar female voice.
Everyone turned, spotting the former councilwoman Pri-Nox, who was looking around the room in a curious matter. With her was another woman and a man from the former council.
"Hey, it's that nice lady," said Brainy.
Pri-Nox stepped over a few unconscious Enforcers to get a better view of the shaking Chairman.
"Couldn't even handle a few weeks without making a mess, could you?"
"You've been discharged Pri-Nox," said the Chairman.
"We've been acquitted," corrected Pri-Nox. "And since there is more then one of us, that means all the laws we passed stay in place. Brainiac Five is free from your stupidity and you are no longer needed as Chairman."
"W-What?" asked the former Chairman.
"We get our positions back you buffoon," said the other councilwoman. "Get down from there and back out of whatever hole they found you in before we arrest you."
"I couldn't agree more," smiled Pri-Nox. "Now go on, scat."
The former Chairman fearfully looked around before running from the podium, but no one saw where he went.
Slipping out of Kal-El's hold Brainy ran over to Pri-Nox and hugged her, nearly knocking her off of her feet.
"You saved me again!"
Blushing, Pri-Nox awkwardly patted Brainy on the head.
"I wouldn't go that far…"
"Thank you," said Brainy brightly.
"You're, ah, welcome," said Pri-Nox, softly hugging Brainy back. She turned to Kal-El as he approached. "Is Brainiac Five alright?"
"Not quite, but we're getting there," said Kal-El, pulling Brainy away from the tall, blond councilwoman.
"Could someone get a medical team in here?" the councilman called out.
--
"Is Dad alright?" Kal-El asked his mother when she came back from checking on Jor-El in the Medical bay.
"They're almost done healing the cracked ribs but he'll be sore for a few days," said Laura before turning to Wisdom. "Your nanny is refusing treatment."
Frowning Wisdom walked to the entrance of the Medical Bay and shouted, with the little voice she had left, "You refuse treatment here then you'll be refusing it on Colu as well!"
"Remind me never to get on Wisdom's bad side," said Kal-El.
"My sister doesn't have a bad side," commented Brainy.
"Oh, that's right. I'm thinking of my sister," said Kal-El.
Within Laura's arms, Martha gurgled.
"Not you Martha, my other sister," said Kal-El.
"How are you feeling, Brainy?" asked Laura, brushing back Brainy's bangs to get a better look at his eyes, the black dots were still there but they didn't seem to be growing.
"I'm okay Mom," said Brainy smiling brightly at her.
"Now you've done it Brainy, she's going to cry," said Kal-El.
"I am not," said Laura, but the softness of her voice said otherwise. She pulled Brainy to her in an one arm hug and kissed his forehead.
"Not to interrupt but how is Jor-El," asked Pri-Nox, approaching the family.
"Hi nice lady," said Brainy.
"Ah, hello Brainiac Five," said Pri-Nox, patting him on the head.
"Brainy," pouted Brainy, looking up at the councilwoman with his big eyes.
"Now who can resist those eyes?" asked Kal-El, grinning.
"Certainly not I," said Pri-Nox, "but if I am to call you 'Brainy' you shall no longer call me 'nice lady.' Understand?"
"But you're not a mean lady," said Brainy.
"I think she wants you to call her by name," said Kal-El.
"Oh," said Brainy slowly. "Okay!"
"And to answer your question, Dad is going to be sore but fine," said Kal-El.
"That is good," said Pri-Nox. "I am recommending it to the rest of the council to award Jor-El with a medal for protecting a visiting diplomat. How is Princess Wisdom?"
"She would like to see more bodily harm done to the men who attacked Jor-El but other then that she is relieved that not all of Krypton's leaders are incompetent fools," said Wisdom, rejoining them.
"Are you sure you're a princess, your highness? You carry yourself more like a queen," commented Pri-Nox.
"I shall be one of those one day so I must get in some practice now and again, wouldn't you agree?" asked Wisdom.
"Very much so," said Pri-Nox.
Looking around, Brainy noticed one of the Enforcer's standing by the giant windows. As everyone else was watching Wisdom and Pri-Nox go back and forth, Brainy was able to slip away unnoticed and approached the Enforcer.
"Should you be with the Owie Fixers?"
The Enforcer gave Brainy an odd look mumbling that he was fine.
"That's good, I hope the others will be okay too," said Brainy.
"Is there something wrong with you?" asked the Enforcer.
"Why do people keep asking that?" asked Brainy, pouting.
"You're acting crazy," mumbled the Enforcer.
"I am?" asked Brainy, pausing to consider it.
The Enforcer fully turned to face the Coluan, who did not notice that there was no five in his Brainiac insignia. He suggested toward the window.
"People look very small from up here, do you want to see?"
"Okay," said Brainy, forgetting his earlier train of thought and approached the window near the Enforcer. He peered down at the people, as small as ants.
"Is it true you lost that thing that made you fly?" asked the Enforcer.
"Yes, it got broken. Why?" asked Brainy, not looking at him.
Not answering, the Enforcer drew his weapon and fired, shattering the glass.
Having been leaning against it, Brainy fell.