Superman: The Ark of Krypton
Chapter 104
by
Jason Richard
Lex Luthor was officially in an arms race with Edward Lytener. He knew he wasn't liked and was technically a criminal in the eyes of many people. If Lytener managed to make weapons against the Kryptonian criminals more efficiently than Luthor then the billionaire would be forced to go into hiding again. Not that he couldn't do it, but he had a feeling he wouldn't be able to keep Lexcorp afloat this time. People were already saying he got pardoned too easily.
And So Lex Luthor worked in one of his laboratories alone. He usually deferred things to scientists under his pay, but this he decided to handle personally. He had to come up with a way to fight Kryptonians, something that Lytener wouldn't have. He still had a few mutated cells from the Parasite, the same cells that formed the base for Bizarro, to test red sun energy and other radiation on. If he could find a way to increase the red sun energy's effectiveness, that might do the trick. An instant power drain would be the most preferable option. If he could find an alternative to the red sun energy, he'd take it as well.
So he tested the cells against anything he could think of. Uranium. Plutonium. Anything even remotely radioactive. Light was related to radiation, so he figured that was where he should start.
And it was there that Mercy Graves found him, hunched over a lab desk with bags under his eyes from working several hours.
"Lex," said Mercy. "Take a break. You look terrible."
"I can't," said Luthor as he pressed a button at his computer and a machine combined two vials. "I have to keep working. You know what Lytener did don't you?"
"Yeah," said Mercy. "He gave the criminal Kryptonians the information they need to use their powers effectively, and now not even Superman will be able to protect us should they escape their prison. It doesn't matter. You'd not good to anyone exhausted. Even you will start making mistakes eventually. Look at you, you're just exposing the fake Kryptonian cells to random things seeing if it will get a reaction. You don't rely on such random methods."
The machine mixed another two items and Lex Luthor sighed, rubbing his temples.
"I know that," said Luthor. "For goodness sake, I know all of this. We just don't have time. We're backed into a corner...like we usually are lately."
"Oh come on," said Mercy. "Lex Luthor losing his nerve? It can't be as bad as all that, can it?"
"Haven't you noticed?" said Luthor irritably. "I've been kidnapped by a parasitic janitor, lost control of a child with godlike powers, lost control of the man who can counter Kryptonians, Lytener, and all my worst secrets have been brought into the limelight. Even if we somehow survive the Kryptonian invasion I'm still in a position to lose everything."
The machine mixed another two items and Mercy bit her lip. He had a valid point.
"It all changed when he arrived," said Luthor, laying back in his chair and staring at the ceiling. "I'd never been backed into a corner before him. I used to be in complete control, untouchable. Then this Superman drops out of the sky and I have godlike power set against me, and not just from him at this point. Mercy, what do you suggest we do?"
Mercy didn't have an answer for him. She couldn't see any way out of these problems either. After a moment of silence, however, an answer seemed to show itself as Luthor's machine beeped.
"What?" asked Luthor, looking at his computer screen and the device mixing chemicals together.
"What's going on?" asked Mercy. "Did the faux Kryptonian cells react to something?"
"Yes," said Luthor. "It looks like they have...wait. Mercy, do you remember that green rock we found, the one that could be a power source but proved to be too radioactive to be safe?"
"Yes," said Mercy, confused. "You destroyed most of it I believe, to show the public your commitment to safety. I know you kept some back in secret...are the cells reacting to that radiation?"
Lex Luthor grinned as he looked at the readings, "Oh Mercy, luck has smiled upon us. React, my dear, is too simple a word to describe what I'm seeing right now."
Mercy smiled back. Now this was the Lex Luthor she knew.
…
Superman watched another video from the Ark of Krypton, this time showing him Zod's coup d'etat. It showed the council room, a large hall with golden columns, as well as men and women at a long table wearing fine clothing. Suddenly the guards outside the room were blasted, falling down in pain as Zod, the big man, the fierce looking woman, and several rowdy soldiers marched into the room. One of the older Kryptonians at the council table stood up.
"What is the meaning of this?" the elder demanded. "This is treason against Krypton!"
"Not at all," said Zod. "I would never commit treason against Krypton. It is the council who has committed treason by spreading their lies to sway the people. It is they who have committed treason. I am simply enforcing justice."
"General Zod," said Jor-El at the table. "Is this about what I think it is?"
"Depends on what you're thinking," said Zod, regarding Jor-El disdainfully.
"The people voted, Zod," said Jor-El. "They don't want to be corrupted by our ancient power. I know you wish for it, but will you really resort to this violence against your own people because you haven't gotten your way?"'
"Things are changing in the universe," said Zod. "More threats to us are being discovered every day, and these beings have power such as ours. If we don't act now…"
"If you have new information then share it!" Jor-El almost screamed. "If there is such danger out there then we cannot afford to go to war with ourselves!"
"There is no time!" said Zod. "These enemies might attack us at any moment!"
Jor-El sighed, "General Zod, I believe your wish to protect Krypton is genuine. I'm sorry I have to do this."
Jor-El pressed a button on his console, and suddenly the guns each Kryptonian insurgent carried flashed with electricity, knocking each of the rebels out instantly, save Zod, who held on to consciousness long enough to look at Jor-El with a mixture of anger...and betrayal.
And Zod finally succumbed, leaving him and his men knocked out.
Back in the Ark of Krypton's control room, Superman watched the scene and didn't know what to make of it.
"Brainiac," said Superman. "How did Jor-El get all those weapons booby-trapped like that?"
"The Kryptonian science division designed all Kryptonian weapons," said Brainiac. "Apparently one of Zod's soldiers didn't agree with his commanding officer staging a coup, so he warned Jor-El ahead of time, allowing him to make sure the weapon's sent to Zod's men were compromised. Jor-El didn't want to believe it, but he prepared for it anyway."
"I see," said Superman. "What I don't understand is why Zod didn't seem angry at me when I fought him. He must have felt some enmity for Jor-El after this, but despite how much I look like my biological father Zod didn't react."
"That isn't surprising," said Brainiac. "Kryptonian soldiers are trained to suppress emotion when they're in battle. It's possible he did feel enmity but wasn't willing to show it."
"I don't know," said Superman. "There were a few times when he smiled at me as we fought. What do you think that means?"
"I cannot say Kal-El," said Brainiac. "I can tell you facts about what might affect Zod's psyche, but as an emotionless machine myself I am hardly qualified to give an analysis of his mental state. That is one department that was never given to artificial intelligence on Krypton."
Fair enough. Superman figured he'd just have to figure that out on his own. He had one more piece of footage he wanted to look to better understand his enemy. He wanted to see how Zod reacted to being put in the Phantom Zone.