Hello, everybody...back again to write this story ;)
Chapter Five: The Red Sun
Watching Lara waste away in the cell was nearly unbearable to watch. In the commander's office stood Ursa and Emperor Zod, as they hovered over a monitor that honed in on prisoner El. So far, over the last few days, Lara had been non-compliant and refused to give any information and eat any of the food brought to her.
Zod, being the impatient man he was, kept switching monitors from Lara to the Amazon prisoner. Although Diana also kept to herself and did not give any other information, she gave Kal-El. Zod grew tired of the El family's consistency in his empire. Though he always enjoyed and had excellent things to say of Lara, those thoughts withered as the days went by.
Ursa sighed, flipping through several other prisoners' screens, and then turned Lara's screen back to view.
"She isn't going to talk, Emperor. We should use force," she suggested.
He shot the commander a glare. "She already knows she's caught, Ursa. What good will it do if we torture her?"
"Amusement?" she raised an eyebrow, grinning.
Zod couldn't help but return the smile, and then his hand slid around her narrow waist. His hand rested above her hip as he pulled her close. Whispering her ear, Ursa's eyebrows lifted into her fringed hair and traced her fingers across his shoulder blades.
Empress Faora entered the room, halting in the doorway once she saw her husband and the commander very close together, a little too close for her liking. Curling her fingers into a fist, she calmly waltzed into the room and made her way around the monitors.
Instantly, Zod took a generous step away from Ursa, retracting his wandering hand. He cast a nervous smile at his wife. Meanwhile, Ursa couldn't and wouldn't dare look either of her superiors in the eye, especially since she could feel the burning of Faora's stare penetrating her exterior.
"Any news on Lara?" she asked.
Zod shook his head, flipping through the screens. "Not yet. She is now refusing food."
Faora nodded, glaring at the sheepish commander. "I see." She combed through her long silky raven hair. "You are wanted in the council room."
Quietly and eagerly, the Emperor hurried out of the room. He had no desire to stay in a room with two women who severely disliked each other, nor did he desire to see the outcome of leaving the two women alone.
Ursa began closing several of the screens, only to focus on Lara. As her eyes were glued to the monitor, she heard the clicking of heels inching nearer and nearer. She held her breath and felt heat beside her, almost radiating. Finally, she met Faora's hazel eyes merely inches away.
"Keep a close eye on the Amazon."
Ursa's throat felt numb as she spoke, "yes, ma'am."
Leaning in close, Faora whispered, "and I will be keeping a very close eye on you."
Kal walked out of his little's room, carrying a crate of electronic devices. He tried his best to keep necessary items for his brother, but ultimately, he had to get rid of everything that sent signals from their home to god knows where. As he marched down the stairs, he could hear Bru chasing behind him, whining like the little kid he was.
"Kal! That's my tablet! Please, let me at least have that back!"
He set the box onto a table in the formal sitting room, where his father was, currently ripping apart several devices found in every room, every crevice, of this house. He knelt down in front of Bru, clasping firm hands on his small shoulders.
"I'm sorry, but you won't be getting your tablet back."
Bru frowned sadly, "but why?"
Neither Kal nor his father trusted anybody in the empire after his mother was abruptly arrested. Kal figured that this entire house was bugged and had been for quite some time. Talk of the empire or any mention of Zod or Faora was now considered forbidden, and Kal wanted to make sure it stayed that way from here on out. They trusted no one, not even their extended family, to an extent.
Kal sighed, peering over at his father hard at work. He focused on his little brother and put on a face for him. "Because it's safer this way. You want mother to come home, right?"
Bru nodded vehemently.
"So, this is what we have to do to make sure that mother comes back home. I think you can live a couple of months without your tablet."
The boy rubbed his chin, thinking it over, and decided, "well, if it's for mother…then, I guess I don't need it that bad."
Kal smiled and paddled his brother's shoulder.
"But you're still going to take all of Valora's stuff too, right?" Bru asked skeptically.
Kal rolled his eyes and went over to help his father disassemble every device found in the home. He took a seat at the table, which went unnoticed due to Jor's focused state, maneuvering every tool he could possibly find in his wife's office—her vacant office that he hated passing by—to open the devices.
"I sent a message to the Amazon Queen," Kal stated quietly so his siblings wouldn't hear.
Jor hummed, picking at a tablet, pulling pieces apart with his hands. "And what makes you so sure that she's going to come?"
"She will."
"She doesn't trust us, Kal. I'm assuming you sent an encrypted message?"
Kal nodded, "I did. Our names aren't attached to it. I think she'll come, father. Her daughter is being held prisoner."
"All the more reason for her to distrust us. What exactly are you planning to do when she arrives?" Jor set down his tools, glaring at his son. "Take her to the Emperor's palace and demand that Zod release your mother all while using the Amazon's mother as a tool?" he snorted. "Not a good plan."
Kal crinkled his eyebrows at his father's distasteful attitude. He couldn't blame him. His father was outraged and upset ever since his mother was imprisoned. Anyone would be upset at that, but what Kal didn't like was that his father's attitude was beginning to affect the twins. His siblings were now hesitant to approach their father, and they never were before.
"I'll figure something out. The Emperor doesn't know the Queen is coming. She can stay with us and—"
"Pardon?" Jor blinked, "you want the Amazon Queen to live with us? You have really lost your mind, Kal!" he slammed his fist on the table.
Valora and Bru quieted their enjoyable conversation and glanced over at their father. Amid a brewing argument, a loud ping sounded throughout the home, indicating someone was waiting outside by the entrance.
"I'll get it," Valora said, eager to leave the hostile environment.
Jor, with a horrible grimace painted on his face, grabbed another tablet to disassemble. "That better be Alura and Zor," he mumbled.
Valora ran to the door, rose to her toes, and placed her on the pad. The door slid open, and she gasped at the sight of the tall Empress. She scanned Faora's long black gown with a cape to match and elaborate silver headpiece with a veil that nearly dipped to the floor.
Faora smiled warmly. "Good afternoon, Valora."
The girl kept ogling, gawking at her with doe-eyes. Faora's smile withered, and she turned, laughing lightly at the female servants that accompanied her.
"She's a little shy, I see. Won't you invite me in?"
Valora stepped aside, and in walked the Empress and three of her servants, all dressed in black suits and headdresses that were nearly miniature versions of Faora's. She kept eyeing the silver jewels and designs on Faora's dress, completely enamored. For one, she had never seen the Empress up close and personal. She had only seen her on a screen during ceremonies, but never once did she think that she'd ever see the Empress in her home.
Bru ran into the foyer once he noticed his sister was gone a bit too long. "Valora, what're you—" he halted, widening his eyes at Faora and company.
"Oh, you two look just alike," Faora said, amused. "You both look like exact copies of your mother."
Without another word, Bru ran out of the room, leaving his sister alone in the foyer. Faora arched an eyebrow at the abrupt departure and looked at her servants.
Breathing heavily, Bru darted into the sitting room, startling his father and brother. "The Empress is here!"
Panicked, Jor and Kal gathered the boxes and set them side into an adjacent room. Kal quickly sealed the door and followed his father back into the foyer. Bru clung onto his elder brother, grabbing his arm. Jor put on a false smile once he greeted Faora at the entrance. He took his daughter's hand, gently pulling her closer.
"Hello, Jor. Your children are delightful. I was just telling them how much they look like your wife," she emphasized, flaring her eyes.
"Empress…this is very unexpected."
Faora's lips twitched into a sneer. "I'm sure you've encountered many unexpected visits lately, Jor-El."
He wore an uneasy grin and whispered to Kal. "Take the children to their rooms."
Kal grabbed his siblings' hands and ushered them away from the foyer. Both twins kept craning their necks, gawking at Faora until they reached the stairs.
Valora uttered in a hushed voice, "does she know where mother is? Can you ask her, Kal?"
In the prison wing, Diana grew more and more restless as the days passed by. She somewhat expected another interrogation session from Kal and was even a bit disappointed when he didn't appear. Interrogation, she laughed at that. That man couldn't interrogate to save his life. She could count on her hand how many of her Amazon sisters could interrogate so well, and there were so few.
But since she knew that Kal's mother was imprisoned, she figured that he wasn't allowed to come near this wing. On that first day when Lara arrived, she tried to spark conversation, but Lara was unwilling to utter anything but a sentence. Now, four days later, Lara barely rose from the spot she left on the floor and refused food and drink for two days in a row.
Diana groaned, picking at the reinforced shackles on her wrists. These were virtually indestructible. If her people had technology like this, the Amazons could surely rule the entire earth. It was no wonder everyone feared the Kryptonians. They were intelligent, had impeccable blacksmithing skills, knew sciences from worlds that Diana had no knowledge of, and generated terror into every citizen on earth.
She stood from the bench, bored as she kept peeling away at the led walls, and sauntered over to the holographic cell door. She stared at Lara, who had been in that same position on the floor since last night.
"Lara," she called softly. "Lara," she said louder. "Lara!"
Finally, the El sat up weakly. She glanced over at the Amazon, who was smiling at her with hands pressed on the door.
"Are you alright?" she whispered. "I was beginning to worry. You haven't moved from that spot in days."
Lara pulled her long tresses behind her shoulders. Then, she eyed the tray of food, which had been sitting there since this morning. The juice was tempting as her mouth was arid and throat parched. Once she remembered why she was here, her eyes darkened, and she refused to eat or drink anything. She knew they were watching her.
"Your Kryptonian food is horrible," Diana tried to make light of the conversation, yet Lara was silent. "But it's better than starving to death. You should try to eat something."
Lara crossed her arms and brought her knees close to her chest, gazing at the wall.
Diana sat on the floor in front of the door, twiddling her thumbs in her lap. "I…know Kal is your son, but you mentioned you have children," she said, and finally, she grasped the El's attention. "How many children do you have?"
"Three."
Ah, so she speaks. This is a good start. Diana continued, "how old are they?"
"Eleven. They will be twelve soon," Lara's voice sounded worn and tired.
"Twins," she smiled. "In my culture, twins are a rarity. They're two halves a whole and have a special bond that no one can break. Or," she raised a finger, "they can be their own greatest foes. There is no in-between."
Lara finally cracked a smile.
"I know it must be difficult for you to be away from them," she noticed a dark shadow looming over Lara's pale features. "I'm sure you'd want to see them again, right?"
The El woman lifted her chin, pools of tears swelling in her eyes.
"So, you should eat something even if you don't want to—for them."
Just then, Lara contemplated the words spoken to her and eyed Diana, who gave her a reassuring smile. Relenting, she grabbed the glass of juice and inhaled it. Exhaling heavily, she wiped the corners of her mouth, and was about to reach the bowl of grains, then heard the doors slide open from down the hall.
Too weak to stand up in time, General Zod appeared in front of her cell. He allowed himself entry, and Lara glared at him from below. She hoisted herself up by using the wall as support and walked forward.
Zod grinned, eyeing the tray. "You're starting to eat again. This is very good news, Lara." He caressed her cheek gently. "This pale look doesn't suit you."
Diana stepped to the side, observing the close proximity of the Emperor and Lara. She raised an eyebrow and turned her back as the guards were watching her. Leaning against the wall, she eavesdropped on the conversation across the hall.
That touch—his touch—churned her insides, and Lara smacked his hand away.
Internally, Zod groaned and looked up at the ceiling to calm his nerves. He clenched his fist and then smiled from ear to ear at Lara.
"This attitude isn't very becoming of you."
She sent a churlish grin his way.
"You're going to have to talk sooner or later, Lara. I'd hate to use force, as you know; you've always been my favorite among the council," he brushed strands of hair behind her ear.
Listening in, Diana's eyes enlarged, and she whipped her head around. She watched the Emperor closing in, and his hand encircled Lara's waist. She met Lara's pained gaze overlooking Zod's shoulder. If there wasn't this indestructible door in her way, she would've already thrown the Emperor across the room. Right now, the red sun was a blessing.
Zod pulled her in and gripped her ribcage firmly. Lara took a sharp inhale, wincing slightly at his firm hold, and any tighter, there was bound to be a bruise.
"If you do everything I say, I'll let you have your freedom," he whispered into Lara's ear. "You should start telling us what you know." He let his cheek touch hers, gliding away, near her lips.
Lara stood, frozen, and finally, the grip on her ribcage relaxed. She locked eyes with the Emperor and felt his fingers gently graze her cheek and slither down her neck. With a tantalizing smile, Zod left the cell and briefly acknowledged the Amazon Princess before exiting.
Diana walked forward, pressing her hands on the hologram. "Lara, did he hurt you? Lara?"
"I know you care deeply for your family, Jor."
Faora drummed her fingers on the table, growing more impatient the longer she stayed here. She pulled up her sleeve, checking her watch. So far, this meeting hadn't gone as she planned since Jor was reluctant to give up any information pertaining to his wife's findings.
"And I don't want your children to suffer for your wife's crimes," she reiterated for the third time. "If you simply hand over the files, then this will all go away."
Jor tightened his jaw and chose his words carefully, "Ursa's soldiers destroyed everything when they raided my home."
She let out an exasperated sigh. "You're still protecting her, Jor. Tell me where the files are."
"I don't have them. I just told you what happened. They were destroyed." He took a long pause, noting the fury in her eyes. "You are so worried about these files, Empress. Perhaps, if you told me what was in them…I could look through our archives."
Faora's eyes flashed red, and then she turned away, shielding her eyes. Jor, taken aback by the look he was given, and he must've thought he saw something. It wasn't something he was supposed to see—red eyes. He knew the look all too well, yet…it was impossible, at least with the active red sun in the skies.
She rose from the chair, adjusting her gown, and swirled the veil of her headpiece over her shoulders. Jor also stood, meeting her gaze, trying to hide his shock and suspicion swimming in his mind.
"That is enough for today. I will come back another time. Do tell your children that I enjoyed seeing them," she briefly smiled, turned on her heel, and stormed out of the room.
Kal, nearby, entered the room soon after the Empress nearly bumped right into him. He bowed his head, waiting for her to exit the home. He rushed into the room and saw his father's distant gaze.
"Father, what did she want? Did she give any information about mother?"
Jor folded his arms, deep in thought. "Her eyes…"
"What?"
He turned to his son. "Her eyes. They were red."