Chaos reigned within the fortress; Clark had a moment to observe it all, knowing it was up to him to resolve things. Jor-El had made it clear that whatever happened was his responsibility. It was up to him to put things right. He could see Draaga still struggling to break free of his bonds, Lionel looking very uncertain as he tried to stop the self-destruct system, Kelex monitoring Kandor as if nothing here was amiss, Lenaria staying as far from him as possible in case he tried to remove her powers, and Zod, who came at him in a blur. He barely managed to move before Zod's fist slammed painfully into his chest, instantly cracking the armour and bringing Clark, body shaken by the impact, to his knees.

Through the pain, Clark felt despair. After all he'd been through, was this how it was going to end? His determination had seen him through a lot, but in the end it had been Lenaria's own cowardice that had enabled him to survive her so long, and luck that had gotten him past Mongul. Zod swung again, almost taking Clark's head from his shoulders this time. Knowing it was hopeless, Clark struck back with a barrage of attacks, Zod blocking them all. He would not give in! He'd told Jor-El he would take responsibility. The portal to the Phantom Zone had not yet closed – he couldn't beat Zod head-to-head, but if he could, he would drag Zod in there with him.

It was in the back of his mind that Zod would surely not survive here long anyway, not now that the armour had been cracked. However, if what Fine said was true, then there was still at least one more sample available, and currently it was held by Lex. It had surely been Fine's own tampering with the fortress (along with, he realised, Lionel's connection to it) that had made it so easy for Lenaria to release Zod. He didn't know if she intended Zod to live or not, but he couldn't worry about her right now. He would just have to hope Draaga could get free and deal with her - Zod was all he could handle right now.

More than he could handle. Zod unleashed heat vision through Preus' eyes, Clark noticing that it was the same dark purple colour that Lenaria's had been. Clark met the blast with one of his own, only for him to be overpowered and blasted across the fortress. He landed next to Lionel at the console, who looked at a loss over what he should do. Getting to his feet, Clark pushed him aside before Zod could touch him.

"Finish him quickly!" Clark heard Lenaria shouting. "We have to get out of here!"

Feigning a punch, Clark instead wrapped his arms around Zod's shoulders, planning to push forwards and force them both into The Phantom Zone, but didn't manage more than two steps before Zod blocked the attempt. Grabbing Clark's throat, he hoisted him into the air, tossing him back so that Clark landed on the edge of the console. Clark howled as two of the crystals impaled him through the shoulder, trapping him in place. Lionel, who had discreetly taken one of the crystals out, snuck up behind Zod and tried to stab him through the neck, only for Zod to turn and catch his wrist. Zod then jerked Lionel's arm, driving the weapon into Lionel's leg and leaving it there as Clark's former enemy screamed.

The Fortress was beginning to break apart. Lenaria wasn't prepared to wait any longer, sprinting for the exit. She was almost out when Draaga, still partially bound, grabbed her ankle. She struggled free, but Draaga rose to meet her.

"Zod, protect me!" she ordered, watching Draaga fearfully. She clearly didn't want to try and force her way past in such an enclosed space, where Draaga would have the advantage. Zod blasted Draaga aside with his heat vision, joining Lenaria at the exit of the fortress. Then, to Clark's surprise, Zod sharply grabbed her wrist, pulled her forwards and chopped her across the throat.

Lenaria fell to the ground, holding her reddened throat, shock written all over her face. She rose to her knees and Zod placed his hands on her shoulders roughly.

"I don't require any armour to be immune to your tricks, Empireth," said Zod coldly. "I will not be controlled by you or anyone else."

Grabbing Zod's hands, Lenaria tried to force him off of her.

"I may not be able to control your mind," she said, voice sounding sore after the attack, "but physically I can…"

She was silenced with a kick to the head that flipped her body over backwards. Afterwards she lay still for a moment before again getting to her knees, bleeding badly, body shaking with fear.

"Physically you are nothing compared with Zod."

"I-I c-could be your, your most devoted servant, i-if you'll only s-spare my life. I-I was a f-fool, I can s-see that now…"

"Zod does not require a race of leeches as his allies."

"Wait!" she shrieked, arms raised as though to shield herself. "The b-body you possess came from the city of Kandor. It c-cannot survive long on this world. You have only hours. B-but with my powers, I can shield you from harm l-long enough for you to find a cure…"

Lenaria began kissing Zod's feet as he contemplated what he'd just heard. Clark had little time to watch the scene, however, as with what strength he had left he tried to pull himself off of the console. His shoulder was trapped deeply enough that he feared he might achieve nothing except tearing himself to pieces. With a grim effort, he finally managed to slide his body off the crystals, blood spurting everywhere as he opened the wounds.

"You are lucky, Empireth. If you aid me, I will spare your life," said Zod. "However, should you try anything against me, you will plead not to be spared, but for your death to come more quickly."

"Y-yes," stammered Lenaria, head bowed low. "General Zod is most merciful."

Zod hauled Lenaria to her feet, making to take her from The Fortress. Only Clark noticed Lionel getting to his feet, eyes completely white, and using the console to deactivate the self-destruct. The doorway to The Phantom Zone remained open, while the Fortress returned to a state of calm. Zod turned slowly, looking surprised but completely unconcerned.

"General Zod," said Jor-El through Lionel's mouth. Zod smiled, eyes cold.

"Jor-El. Or rather, his memory. Little better than an Empireth yourself, you carry the memories of one who is dead. A testament to his failures," said Zod. "You were sent here to guide your son. Is he so weak, have you failed so badly, that you must now fight in his place?"

"My time has ended. So however, has yours. We are not the future of Krypton. You will be returned to The Phantom Zone."

Leaping across The Fortress in a single bound, Zod caught Jor-El with a succession of kicks and open strikes, overwhelming him.

"I am a soldier, while you are a scientist," said Zod. "You cannot possibly beat me."

"I did not intend to," said Jor-El, sounding as powerful as ever even in Zod's grip. Failing to comprehend Jor-El's meaning, Zod was caught completely off guard as Clark blasted him full-force in the back with his heat vision. Jor-El was dropped and managed to roll clear as Zod was forced towards the portal. Summoning all his strength, Zod managed to stop himself in time, rolling off of the blast and launching his own towards Clark. As Clark struggled to overpower him, he was surprised as Lenaria's own heat vision worked alongside his. Incredibly, Zod was still keeping his footing, though it was clearly taking a supreme effort on his part. Lenaria finally broke the tie, launching a powerful beam of energy at Zod, who finally fell back into The Phantom Zone with a cry of fury.

Bleeding badly, Clark fell to one knee, exhausted by the effort. Beside him, Lionel's eyes had returned to normal; Jor-El had left his vessel. The wound on his leg had been healed.

A sphere of energy struck Clark's back, his body flipping through the air. His arm snaked out and grabbed hold of the console, preventing him from flying into the Phantom Zone after Zod.

"I can't say it's been much fun, Clark," said Lenaria, looking at him with undisguised hatred. Their heat vision collided half-way across the fortress. Normally equal in strength, he realised that whoever had been hurt the least, and whoever wanted to win more, would overcome the other. Thinking of Lana, Clark seized an early advantage, but Lenaria proved very determined. As he slowly began to push her back, Lenaria raised one arm and he saw a familiar glow. She wasn't about to attack him – she planned to heal herself. Doing so gave him a momentary advantage as his blast pushed along towards her, but once the healing was complete Lenaria counterattacked.

(Let go, Clark! Just let go and throw yourself into the Phantom Zone! It's useless to oppose me.)

She was right, he realised. It had been foolish to even try.

As he loosened his grip, an agonizing pain gripped his head. At first he thought it a telepathic assault on Lenaria's part, before realising he'd felt this somewhere before. Back on the space station, those voices had guided him to them, the memories of all those Lenaria had murdered. Now they screamed at him to fight, and screamed out not for vengeance… but for justice.

Clark let go. Lenaria gave a cry of triumph which cut short as Clark spun backwards through the air before suddenly flying forwards, arms outstretched. He landed behind her, grabbing her as she turned round with wide eyes, and tossed her across the fortress. Lenaria's arms caught the console, scrabbling for purchase even as the crystals tore her hands to pieces.

(HELPMEHELPMEPLEASE)

He could feel Lenaria under his skin, her voice echoing throughout his head with her desperate babbling. He used all of his willpower to hold her off, but still it wasn't enough. His feet betrayed him, taking him forwards, arm outstretched to help her.

(YESYESPULLMEBACKSAVEMEOHGODSAVEME)

And then her voice dimmed, even as he took her hand. The voice he heard was one so completely unexpected he almost let Lenaria slip from his grip; if she hadn't seized it so fiercely she would have.

(Put the necklace on, Clark. We didn't mean it for her. We meant it for you.)

"Cyrus?" asked Clark, voice weak with emotion.

(Sort of. Quickly, before it's too late. We won't hurt you, I promise. We'll shield you from her power.)

The vortex's pull was growing stronger; Clark had to either pull her free or they'd both be pulled in together. Trusting his instincts, he took the necklace that had been meant as Lana's birthday gift, Lenaria's eyes bulging as she saw it.

(PUT IT AWAY, CLARK! YOU CAN'T USE THAT YOU MUST NOT)

Letting her go for a second to attach the clasp (feeling slightly foolish for wearing a girl's necklace, but now was not the time for vanity) he could feel the minds and thoughts of all those who had died because of Lenaria's mad ambitions. And each one gave her no real strength, because no matter how many powers Lenaria absorbed she would always be the weak-minded, pitiful creature he saw before him. The memories, rather than overwhelming his own thoughts, formed a shield around them, protecting them from Lenaria.

"The sentence has been given," said Clark, unable to meet Lenaria's pleading eyes. He struck the arm that was still clinging desperately to the console, and then Lenaria was pulled into the vortex, screaming both aloud and in his mind.

(NONONO I'll KILL YOU FOR THIS! I'LL WEAR YOUR BALLS FOR EARRINGS! I'LL – NO! HELPMEHELPMEHELPME)

Finally, everything became mercifully quiet as Lenaria disappeared and the doorway closed. At last, it was over.