Superman: The Ark of Krypton

Chapter 125

by

Jason Richard

The place that Ursa found was perfect. Through conversations of hearsay and gossip, and some listening for sounds in the area, she found a place that was relatively out of the way. It was a cavern deep underground that could potentially be reached through a long underwater passage. This passage, however, was a winding maze filled with many currents that proved impossible for divers to get through.

But for two Kryptonians who'd absorbed plenty of solar radiation and had X-Ray vision, it was no problem whatsoever.

Ursa and Zod came out of the underwater river into a large cavern. It was dark, dank, and stuffy, but it was hard to find. Even Superman would have trouble hearing them there unless he knew what to look for. It was miles to the surface, and the cave was under a large body of water.

"I don't think Superman will find us here," said Ursa. "I was lucky to find it myself. It's not very well known."

"It will do," said Zod. "Our benefactors tell us that we will not need food, water, or even breathable air so long as we have solar energy to sustain us."

"Speaking of which," said Ursa. "Shouldn't they have contacted us by now?"

"We wouldn't want to interrupt," said a voice from the shadows.

Zod and Ursa turned, surprised. Somehow this probe could sneak up on them without making a sound, not even a sound their sensitive Kryptonian ears could detect.

"Our plans have been thwarted, it seems," said the probe.

"Indeed," said Zod uncertainly. "What happens now?"

"Now," said the probe. "We must plan for the next step. We had hoped that an army of Kryptonians would assist us, but the two of you should suffice once we alter the details. You wait here and instructions will be transmitted soon."

"Not so fast," said Zod sternly.

"Is there a problem general?" said the probe.

"Yes," said Zod. "I agreed to help you achieve your mysterious goals if you helped me get my people out of the Phantom Zone, but they aren't out, are they? They're still trapped."

"An unfortunate circumstance," said the probe. "And sadly it will be some time before the Phantom Zone can be opened again. Furthermore, I suspect that Kal-El will have obtained countermeasures to prevent The Phantom Zone from being opened again."

"Exactly what I was thinking," said Zod. "And now that we're on the outside, we don't necessarily need you anymore."

"You owe us for getting you out," said the probe.

"But not the full price," said Zod. "Not when you got so little of us out. Besides, even if we had all escaped it was us doing most of the work. Maybe I'll do you a favor, but then that depends. I won't do anything further to help you until you finally reveal who you are."

The probe whirred for a second, then said, "You should not treat us lightly."

"Your name," said Zod. "Or we sever ties with you once and for all."

"You think that just because you have escaped the Phantom Zone that you are free? You owe us a debt Zod."

"A debt to who?!" Zod cried out.

Zod's cry echoed through the subterranean cave, and once the echo faded away they stood in silence for a few moments. Finally, the probe replied.

"Have it your way," said the probe, before uttering a single word. "Apokolips."

Zod and Ursa's eyes grew wide. That world was far from Krypton, but they'd heard stories. Tales of war, of death, of pain and of torture had reached their ears."

"No deal," said Zod, gripping his fists and wearing anger on his face. "Had I known it was you offering us help I would have let myself and my people rot away in the Phantom Zone."

"Bold words, General of Krypton," said the probe. "But we see the truth. It seems even a Kryptonian heart filled to the brim with solar energy will beat faster when afraid, and your heart is beating fast, Zod. So very fast. You owe us a debt, and your loyalty will belong to Darkseid, one way or another. No...no that's wrong. All beings in this vast universe owe their loyalty to Darkseid, and the day will come when the whole of creation realizes it. This we promise."

And the probe disappeared in a flash of light. Zod and Ursa instinctively stood back to back, watching for danger even as they trembled in fear.

…

Clark, sitting at his desk in the Daily Planet, saw the article, and it disturbed him.

New Lexcorp Weapon Destroys Kryptonian Enemies.

It talked about how Luthor's cyborg had come in at the last moment and taken out the larger Kryptonian Non. Lois was the author of the article, of course, and had apparently caught the scene from a distance. She'd also picked up on the fact that the Cyborg hadn't seemed to care about Superman or the Kryptonian girl who'd helped him, but people didn't seem to be responding to that. Someone, it seemed, had leaked information on social media.

Kryptonians were weak to Kryptonite, and Superman knew it.

Clark didn't know how someone knew that Kryptonian technology was powered by Kryptonite, but someone did, and now people were talking. Of course, Superman would know a substance at his disposal would be a weakness for him. Clark could hear them, all around the world.

Some defended him, saying that he'd already given out one Kryptonian weakness. Why should he give out two? Others pointed out that if Earth knew about Kryptonite they might have stood a better chance against the Kryptonian invaders. Maybe less military technology would have been destroyed. Maybe Edward Lytener wouldn't have gotten injured and the other two Kryptonian leaders wouldn't be at large.

Things were going to get tense soon, and Clark wondered what he was going to do about it.

…

Corbyn, lounging in his apartment, turned off the TV and picked up the phone. Before he could even utter a single syllable, however, Lex Luthor barked, "What have you done?!"

"Whoa!" said Corbyn, "Chill out. What's wrong?"

"You leaked the knowledge of Kryptonite online?" asked Luthor. "What were you thinking?"

"Relax," said Corbyn. "It's a dummy account. It can't be traced back to me."

"That's beside the point," said Luthor. "While it was secret it was under my control. I had the exclusive ability to built anti-Kryptonian weapons. With the secret out anyone can do it."

"You worry too much," said Corbyn. "If you thought it wasn't hard to make this kind of weaponry you wouldn't need me to be a cyborg. No one has better tech than you."

"Granted," said Luthor. "But I didn't become as rich as I am by throwing caution to the wind. The next time you think about giving away my information, check with me first. Otherwise, I'll find a new cyborg!"

And he hung up, leaving Corbyn to just roll his eyes.