Chapter Six: House of Women
Kal couldn't decide which was more disturbing: his father's fixation with Faora's sudden glowing eyes or the fact that he lied about the destroyed data. Ursa's men, Ka was confident, did not delete those files. However, he vividly recalled his father storing them someplace else ever since his parents argued before his mother was suddenly kidnapped.
Since his mother's incarceration, he's seen a side of his father he'd never seen before. Jor was completely disoriented and unable to think clearly. He was also prone to rage, which was unusual for him. Jor continued to carry out his responsibilities with the council members despite Lara's absence, but he couldn't ignore the chatter and rumors about his wife. Everyone was aware.
The most irritating aspect of this dilemma was Jor's inability to address it with his colleagues. Because of Lara's acts, no one trusted him anymore. His family eventually grew estranged from all of the aristocratic families with whom they had previously maintained long-term ties. Jor chose to spend half of his days at the palace and half at home because of his awkward presence with the council, which wasn't much better.
Jor sat in the family room, scrolling through a tablet, attempting to get as much work done as possible. Kal banged on the wall to get his father's attention, only to be ignored. Sighing, Kal let himself in, afraid of his father's imminent rage.
"I received a signal earlier," Kal said, tapping the tiny tablet, "the Amazon Queen is on her way today. I told her to go to the east port."
Jor pinched his brows, dropping the gadget out his sight. "The east port," he said flatly. "That is a dangerous region. It's swarming with insurgents."
Kal curled his fingers around the tablet, bracing himself for the worst. "I know, but I couldn't take the chance of her coming inland. I'll pick her up and bring her here, just as we discussed."
His father rubbed his chin and resumed scrolling. "You're going to do anything you want with or without my permission," he implied.
The quiet did nothing except increase the thickness of the air between them. Kal gasped when the loud alarm signaled that someone was at their front door. He was afraid it might be Faora again, although it had been three days since their last meeting. Faora did make it clear that she intended to return, and no one in the El family wanted her to, with the exception of Valora, who wanted to fulfill her curiosity.
Kal immediately excused himself in order to meet the visitors. He caught his breath when he saw three shadows behind the door. He paused as he looked at the keypad, afraid to see who was on the other end. He gently put his hand on the pad, and the door slid open, draining all color from his face.
Before him were his maternal grandparents and his mother's younger sister. Kal swallowed forcefully. This unplanned visit was almost as bad as Empress Faora's impromptu visit.
"Aren't you going to invite us inside, Kal?" Lara's mother, Nara, inquired.
The three followed Kal inside, and he welcomed them one by one, getting a kiss on each cheek from his grandmother and aunt, followed by a strong shoulder hug from his grandfather, Lor. He couldn't say anything because he was too anxious, and he didn't want to alarm his father.
Valora sprang from her chamber, her curiosity piqued. "Who is at the door, Kal? Did the empress come by again?" She gasped as she peered over the balcony.
Valora almost flew down the stairs and collided with both of her grandparents. She raised her head, wrapping her arms around their legs, and smiled from ear to ear. She started asking a million questions, her words flowing together, overjoyed by their presence.
Nara raised her brows, seemingly unable to comprehend the questions posed to her. Instead, she turned to face her husband, who was similarly amused. She leaned down, touching her granddaughter's face, and flipped her lengthy auburn hair behind her shoulder.
"Where is Bru?" she inquired, managing to quiet Valora's talkative tongue.
"He's upstairs. I can go grab him!" she yelled, sprinting away.
Nara grinned brightly, taking Lor's hand and pulling herself up. Her grin, however, vanished as soon as she made eye contact with her grandson.
"Where is your father?"
Kal immediately vanished without saying anything. He heard his siblings enter the entryway, which gave him some breathing room. He rushed up to his father's table and put his palm on the tablet.
Jor lowered his brows. "I'm trying to read, Kal."
"Father, you must get rid of them," he said quietly.
"Who?"
"Mother's parents and sister!" he yelled, and his father finally acknowledged the grave situation.
Jor sprang out of his chair and peered around the corner at his in-laws, who were talking with Valora and Bru. He had no urge to speak with Nara or Lor. He was on decent terms with them, although Lara's mother was not very kind to him during the first several years of his marriage to Lara. Jor guessed they'd heard about Lara's arrest and came seeking answers.
"Did you call and tell them to come?" Kal put a hand on his father's shoulder.
Jor turned around and said, "Kal, why would I invite your grandparents to discuss your mother's incarceration?"
"What are we going to do? I'm supposed to be bringing the Amazon Queen here!"
The days appeared to blur together, but Diana kept herself occupied by speaking with Kal's mother. She didn't have anybody else to speak to, and she didn't want Lara to get too preoccupied with her present situation. Today was an exceptionally calm day since Lara slept much of the morning and early afternoon.
Diana lay on the floor, gazing at the ceiling, singing a song her sisters used to sing to her as a child. It was the only thing that could keep her sane and make her feel secure in this cold, sterile atmosphere. When booming boots marched down the corridor, her whistling came to a stop. She rose to her feet swiftly and established eye contact with Commander Ursa. She turned around, seeming to be unconcerned.
Ursa frowned and ordered her troops to unlock Lara's cell door. The two men marched in and jolted Lara awake, seizing her from under her arms and hoisting her off the cold floor. Lara, barely awake, her hair mildly disheveled, her hazy vision came to a stop, and she stared at the short-haired commander.
"The emperor has requested you, mother El," she said, smirking.
Diana overheard and became curious about what was going to happen to her cellmate. She turned around, her gaze fixed on the soldiers leading Lara out of the cell. She vividly remembered Lara's last encounter with the monarch. It was unbearable to see the emperor grope Lara despite the fact that he was surrounded by pairs of eyes.
Ursa then drew the Amazon's attention to herself and gave her a menacing glare. "Don't worry about things that don't concern you, princess," she murmured as she walked down the hallway.
"I won't be here for long, Kryptonian!"
Ursa came to a halt in her stride, looked over her shoulder, and snubbed the remark before storming up the stairs. Once she reached the top of the stairs, exited the prison below, she grabbed a soldier's arm.
"Have the princess brought to the interrogation room," she commanded. "I would like Lara-El to join after the emperor is finished with her."
"Yes, commander."
"I will require Kal-El to come to the room as well," she said her final word and briskly stormed down the hall, her hands clasped behind her back.
Dru Zod's obvious pleasure in Lara's presence irritated her from the moment she was dragged into a secluded section of the palace. She shuddered as the doors slid shut, leaving her alone in this chamber with the emperor. When he turned on his heel, his attention shifted to her, and he smiled as Lara disguised her anger.
The emperor strolled up and lifted Lara's chin higher, looking into her sparkling eyes. "Thank you for coming to see me, Lara."
She raised an eyebrow in response to his remark. She didn't have a choice since she was forcibly removed from her cell and taken to this tiny room. Nonetheless, she decided to remain silent since she didn't believe it was appropriate to express her views in front of him. Lara stiffened as the fingers ran down her neck, shoulder and then firmly gripped her arm.
Zod tightened his hold on her arm, expressing his displeasure with her response. "You're extremely bright, Lara. I admire your intellect, as I've stated many times before," he added as he carefully brushed her hair over her shoulder, exposing her neck.
She took a deep breath and shifted her attention elsewhere. "Why did you summon me?" she inquired gently.
"To appreciate your brilliant mind, of course."
He grabbed Lara's hand in his and led her to a wall on the opposite side of the room. After pressing a few buttons on the wall pad, the wall shimmered, exposing a screen. They gazed out into a huge room packed with almost sixty Kryptonians sparring.
Lara's eyes widened as she stared in awe at the secret chamber. She knew the palace like the back of her hand after years of working there, but she had no clue this secret chamber was hidden inside it.
Curiosity taking control, she moved closer to the screen and saw these Kryptonians had more strength than the ordinary inhabitant. When one of the Kryptonians took flight, Lara exclaimed, taking a step away from the wall. She felt her legs nearly give out and almost fell beneath herself but was rescued by the emperor's lending hand.
"I'm going to need your help with this little project, Lara," the emperor said, and the screen on the wall went black.
Lara gazed into his cunning eyes, apprehensively and foolishly. As Zod inched closer and took hold of her hand, her heart pounded, wanting to escape.
He went up to a desk, opened a drawer, and took out a bracelet. He handed the bracelet to Lara, who inspected it thoroughly, examining every visible component. Zod raised an eyebrow at her analytical intellect, which he had always respected.
"May I ask what this is?" she eventually inquired.
He merely said, "It's a tool. It shields us from the radiation of the blazing red sun above us. It's currently in an experimental state, and it requires some modifications. I felt you'd be the ideal candidate for the job."
Lara swallowed the knot in her throat and shook her head angrily at the thought. She would never, ever succumb to the temptation of mass-producing these bracelets. It was obvious that the emperor had special intentions for the people of Earth.
When he watched Lara start to struggle, he drew her closer, repeating, "now, Lara, remember what I told you?" he murmured, inches from her face. "If you do what I say, I will give you your freedom."
A whole war against the people of Earth was not worth her freedom. She declined the offer by shaking her head. She attempted to back away, but Zod pulled her in closer, pushing their chests together.
"I will not!" she spat, her mouth trembling.
She recovered the power she had lost while imprisoned and managed to break free from the emperor's grasp. She pushed his chest and inhaled quickly, adjusting her clothing and hair.
"I will not do that," she repeated.
"You will, Lara," he insisted.
She held her ground, crossed her arms, and breathed deeply through her nose. Her heart sunk to her stomach as Zod got closer, but she maintained her composure as best she could. He was now just a foot away from her, so close she could feel his body heat.
"You stole from me," he said, feeling her cool breath against his lips. "You took things that do not belong to you. You're no longer free," he held her arm, tightening his fingers until Lara winced. "Do you understand?"
Lara just agreed with him, nodding her head to calm his budding rage. But instead of loosening, his grasp tightened even more until she felt a muscle twitch, and she cried, gripping her arm.
"I would hate for your family to suffer for your crimes."
When he addressed her family, her eyes erupted with rage. Her lips curved into a sneer, and she wrenched her arm away, a finger pointed in Zod's face.
"Don't you dare go near them," her voice trembled as she suppressed her rage.
"Then do as I say, and all will be well," he gave a satisfactory smile.
Kal landed at the eastern port on time. He sat beside his vehicle, constantly checking the time. When he finally spotted a ship going to the harbor, he straightened his back and made his way across the rebel-infested region. This was hardly the best location to meet a queen, but he didn't have a choice. This was the only location that wasn't teeming with Zod's troops. In reality, there wasn't much here save for few dilapidated ships on the docks.
He neared the docks, rising to his toes, anxious to meet the Amazon Queen. Except for the short meetings he had with Diana, he knew very little about the Amazons. If this woman was anything like her daughter, he was in serious danger. Kal did anticipate the queen to be unkind to him, given that her daughter was a prisoner.
Hippolyta went down the ship's ramp and glared at Kal as he waited for her. She half anticipated a swarm of Kryptonians to welcome her, but when she saw the lonesome man, she remained vigilant.
She walked over, getting off the pier with Philippus at her side. She lifted her chin, adjusted her clothing, and scrutinizing the young Kryptonian from head to toe.
Kal couldn't help but feel uneasy in front of her. He was taken aback by the size of this Amazon Queen. She wasn't as tall as Diana, but it didn't make her any less intimidating.
"Your Majesty, I—"
"Where is my daughter, Kryptonian?"
His breath stopped in his throat, but he remained poised, a worried smile on his face. He motioned for her to enter his father's vehicle. Kal clenched his fingers into a fist as the Amazon refused to move.
"It is not safe here, Your Highness. I need to move you to a safer location."
Hippolyta's lips quirked up, her gaze drawn to the strange apparatus ahead. "It is never safe when a Kryptonian is around. I don't trust you."
"You're right not to," he erroneously replied, slapping himself inwardly. "I can promise you that I will assist you in freeing your daughter. I've met with her."
"Did you?" she said mockingly. "What did you do to her? Torment her?"
Kal gradually lost patience and inhaled deeply. "Your Majesty, I am risking my life to bring you here. I would appreciate it if you came with me. You will not be harmed."
"I, too, am putting my life in danger just to be here, Kryptonian," she hastily added.
After a short moment of deliberation, Hippolyta agreed to accompany Kal. She was escorted by Philippus, who was not bashful about scowling at their guard. Kal took a big breath in, fearful of what was about to happen. He had no desire to bring this queen into his house, particularly now, with the unexpected arrival of his family members.
"Do your best to keep your distance from me, Kryptonian."
Valora and Bru had been sitting on the floor for the last several hours, talking with their grandparents and aunt. Jor, on the other hand, was not thrilled with the unexpected visit. He also didn't like the side-eye glares from Lara's mother. Despite the fact that it wasn't his fault that Lara got herself into this situation, Nara blamed him entirely.
Zora, Lara's younger sister, excused herself from her chatty niece and nephew. She waltzed across the room to meet with her brother-in-law, who was clearly preoccupied with something else, probably his wife. Jor attempted to fake a grin as she nudged his arm.
"Is it true?"
Jor crinkled his eyebrows at the ambiguous question. "Is what true?"
"Did my sister, in fact, commit treason?" Zora leaned forward, and her eyes narrowed. Her confirmation came in the form of his silence. "I can't believe Lara jeopardized herself and her whole family. What will become of her?"
"I'm not sure," Jor regretfully said.
Suddenly, a feeling of melancholy poured over him. He had been so concerned with being furious at the whole affair that he had forgotten to consider how his wife was doing. She may be subjected to painful techniques inflicted by Ursa. She may be starved or abused until she submits to the empire. Knowing his wife, he realized she was probably more concerned about her family and pride than any torment that came her way.
"Well, my mother offered to take the children until this is all sorted out," Zora added, sipping a fruity drink.
Jor blinked at the abruptness in her tone. "W—what? She won't be taking my children," he asserted.
"It really isn't safe for them to alone without their mother, Jor," she explained further. "Who knows how long this will go on for? Hopefully, Lara will come to her senses."
Jor had finally grasped everything. While he disagreed with the emperor and empress' ways of governing the empire, his wife went much farther. He didn't know what Lara was doing behind everyone's back, but he was certain she planned to expose Zod and Faora's terrible acts. But he was shocked to learn that Lara had kept this a secret from him and her family, and he now understood why. Her family was fully committed to the empire.
"You may tell your mother that I've already made arrangements with my brother," he asserted, folding his arms and glaring at Nara from a distance.
Zora laughed, brushing her long brown hair behind her neck. "Jor, please, your brother doesn't even talk to you. Besides, my mother adores Bru and Valora. I'm sure they wouldn't mind staying with us for a while."
"They're not going!" he shouted, drawing attention towards him.
The front door opened, interrupting the heated exchange, and in stepped Kal, accompanied by the Amazon Queen and General. All eyes were drawn to them, and Kal forced a grin at his grandparents, who seemed to be the most perplexed of them all.
Hippolyta threw off her cloak's hood and gazed about at the odd architecture of this Kryptonian house. She saw two children seated on the floor, staring at her as if she was some alien creature, which she supposed she was. She did not avert her gaze from the auburn-haired woman's hard stare.
"Kal, who is this?" Nara questioned, intertwining her fingers in front of her.
Kal intervened between his family and the Amazons, putting an end to the uprooting turmoil. "A guest. She'll be here with us for a while."
"And does your guest have a name?" Nara said, her gaze fixed on the strange-looking woman. "She is not of Kryptonian origin."
Before he could respond, Hippolyta spoke up, "I don't believe I have to answer to you, and I don't need Kal-El to speak for me," she stated, rendering a wide-eyed stare from Nara.
Valora jumped up and approached the Amazon Queen, oblivious to the tense atmosphere. She grinned as she circled her, examining her pastel robe and the jewels strewn over her neck and wrists.
"I love your dress," Valora remarked.
By the child's innocence, Hippolyta's mouth curved into a crescent smile. The girl's beautiful eyes and long midnight hair reminded her of Diana many moons ago. She longed to see Diana, and being in the care of these people was something she would have to put up with in order to guarantee her daughter's safety. She stroked Valora's face before shifting her gaze to the obtuse redhead across the room.
"Ah, I will show you to your rooms upstairs," Kal eagerly said, desperately trying to escape.
Jor, standing off to the side, snickered at his in-laws' discomfort. He was so distracted he didn't even see Lara's father standing beside him and quickly wiped the smile off his lips.
"Jor, who is that woman?" Lor asked.
"A guest."
Hippolyta eventually managed to calm down after the little questioning she had earlier. She was already not fond of the Els, and to be honest, she wasn't convinced it was a smart idea for her to come here. Her mind went to Themyscira, where she remembered her sisters in the hands of the Bana Amazons. It was a terrible moment to be trapped between two adversaries.
She sat on the uncomfortable bed, running her fingers over the pristine linen, and saw the General standing watch at the entrance. It was a hilarious sight to see, and she waved her hand to Philippus.
"I don't believe you need to guard my door, Philippus," she alleged, suppressing a laugh.
"I do not trust these people, Your Majesty."
That was unavoidable, but if what Kal-El claimed was genuine and he was really risking his life for her to be here, she should be thankful for the small sacrifice. She didn't trust the Els or any Kryptonian for that matter. She just wanted Diana back. And she would do everything, even taking her daughter's place in prison, to bring her daughter home.
"Neither do I," the queen acknowledged. "That woman downstairs leaves a lot to be desired," she muttered.
"She's very persistent," Philippus remarked, sharing a smile with her queen.
Hippolyta huffed and looked up at the General. "Do you think Diana is alright?" her eyes swelled, asking for tears to flow freely.
The General sat on the bed, her hand on Hippolyta's knee. "Given the circumstances, I'm sure she's trying her best to remain vigilant."
She attempted to stay calm by nodding her head and inhaling forcefully, and exhaling gently, hearing Philippus' promising words.
"She is, indeed, a force to be reckoned with. I have no clue what they've done to her or what they'll do," she worried, fearing the worst was yet to come.
Diana screamed in pain as a scepter jolted her ribcage. Her head whirled around, blindfolded, as soon as the agony faded. She attempted to break free from the bindings around her wrists and ankles by forcefully breathing. Her thoughts raced, her heart pounded in her ears, and her stomach twisted as she had no idea when she would be zapped again.
Lara was glued to a metal board next to her, listening to the screams of pain alongside her. Lara wriggled her arms in an effort to break free. Sweat streamed from her brow, and her eyes stayed open despite the fact that a slab of metal was placed over her vision.
Ursa advanced and jabbed Lara with the dull end of her scepter, forcing her to recoil. "See, mother El, what happens when you don't comply?"
Lara cringed as she heard the Amazon give out another piercing scream.
"The longer you resist, the worse the penalty for the Amazon. I hear you two have become quite the cellmates recently," Ursa said, snorting under her breath. "Do it again," she told the soldier.
"No! Stop!" Lara pleaded.
Diana, relieved that she wasn't about to be zapped again, reared her head back. "Lara, don't tell them anything," she said breathlessly. "Don't do it."
"I will not let you suffer as a result of my actions..."
Diana smiled weakly and replied, "Don't worry about me. Tell them nothing."
Ursa growled and walked to the back of the room, seizing the collar of a soldier. "Where is Kal-El?"
"He should be arriving shortly, commander."
In a separate room, Kal strolled through with two armed guards. He wasn't expecting to be brought to the palace, especially when he learned it was Ursa who summoned him. He also did not wish to leave his family alone with the two Amazons, but he was already under heavy surveillance, so he couldn't refuse the order.
He came to a stop in front of a screen, his gaze fixed on the guards stationed at the entrance. Grimacing, he turned to face the one-sided glass and was startled when he saw his mother and Diana blindfolded and tied to the wall. He pushed his palm on the window, his fingers pressing into the glass.
He overheard Ursa instructing her soldiers over the intercom. When he watched the soldier approach Diana with the scepter, his fingers clenched when the soldier shot an electrocuting jolt through her whole body. Kal's eyes broadened at the horrifying sight, and hearing Diana's painful cries was awful music to his ears.
"Your mother should have cooperated when she was ordered to."
Kal jumped at the unexpected voice and swiveled around to find Faora silently enter the room.
"And now the Amazon suffers because of her. Your mother has caused a great deal of pain for a lot of people."
He did his best to bite his tongue in front of the empress. If he made a smart remark, none of this would end well for him or his family. This torturous interrogation was just proof that Zod and Faora were desperately trying to conceal their crimes, and the only way to do it was through coercion and deception.
Diana was right. Tyrants ruled this empire. Kal gently turned his head to look at the empress, attempting to hide his contempt for her. When Faora saw his attention on her, she merely smiled, pulling the veil of her headpiece over to hide her profile.
"I do hope your mother makes the right choice," she placed her hand on Kal's shoulder. "Do tell your brother and sister that I hope to see them again soon."
Against his will, Kal bowed his head, never taking his eyes away from Faora.
AN: I've changed Lara's mother's name for this story since she is entirely different from the Kandor-Kryptonian version in the comics.