Superman: The Ark of Krypton
Chapter 130
By
Jason Richard
They were frustrated, as they lay on the fringes of space. They'd served their master on Apokolips well, causing the unrest needed for Apokolips to present themselves as liberators on many planets. But this planet...this Earth...was different. It was protected by one of enormous power and others of enormous intelligence.
And the powerful one, this Superman, had a machine that jammed their signals, making it difficult to spy on this planet. That, in particular, made this process slower than it should have been.
And yet...this machine might prove the key to victory in the end. It was time to redirect another powerful force towards Earth, one that could turn the Kryptonian AI to the advantage of Apokolips. It was risky, however. This force that they would redirect was no servant of Apokolips.
This plan depended entirely on Earth surviving another invasion. It was a risky gambit indeed.
…
"Kal-El," said Brainiac, speaking with an ultrasonic frequency only Superman could hear. "As loath as I am to burden you with another problem..."
Superman was at the Ark of Krypton within minutes.
"What's wrong?" Said Superman, standing on the bridge.
"Ships are approaching the planet," said Brainiac. "Ships from Colu, and there's a good chance they're coming for me."
"Why?" Asked Superman. "Who are the Colu?"
"Some would describe them as a race of sentient computers," said Brainiac. "Though they began as an organic race that was experimenting with cybernetic implants. Their implants became so extensive, however, that the line between the biological and the technological became blurred. Not every citizen of Colu was compatible with these enhancements, however, and those with the implants ruled the rest of the planet with an iron fist, citing their evolutionary superiority as the right to rule."
"What do they want with you?" Asked Superman.
"They do make it a point to conquer planets with sufficiently powerful technology," said Brainiac. "Absorbing their scientific prowess into themselves, but I believe it might be more than that. There is one element of Colu technology that Krypton's military managed to obtain and Jor-El used in his creation of me. A Colu cell."
Brainiac's display showed a human cell, a round ball with organic looking organs floating inside it and the nucleus at its center. Beside it was another cell, with a steel exterior, and small devices floating it in, and a nucleus that looked like some sort of power core.
"As I said," said Brainiac. "The line between the organic and the technological is blurred where the Colu are concerned. This cell forms the basis of my operating core, my brain if you will. It's a small piece of this artificial organics technology, but I suspect it's enough for the Colu to want to reclaim it."
"Do you think Apokolips has anything to do with them showing up now?" Asked Superman.
"It's not out of the question," said Brainiac. "If the Colu do reclaim me it would remove the interstellar jamming signal I've been broadcasting."
"That's all we need," said Superman sarcastically. "Better warn General Lane."
"I've already done so," said Brainaic. "And forwarded him all the information I have on Colu technology."
…
"So what do you think?" Asked General Lane.
Lytener, lay back in his hospital bed, a computer screen suspended above him. He was able to control it with a mental interface attached to his head, the same type used in his Luminus suit. As he lay there, his body still covered in casts, he looked grim.
"I think I might need help on this," said Lytener. "Superman's AI wasn't kidding when he said the Colu blur the line between the technological and the biological. Maybe if I could get a biologist to help me study it?"
"I'll get right on it," said General Lane. "Have anyone in mind?"
"No one from Lexcorp," said Lytener. "But STAR Labs has Eliza Danvers, the world's premier biologist. I don't know if she'd be willing to work with me, but if anyone could help find a countermeasure for this kind of technology, it would be her."
"I'll contact her immediately," said Lane.
…
The government had sent Luthor information about the Colu as well, once Lane sent it over. Luthor now sat in his office at Lexcorp looking it over. He had to admit, it was impressive technology. Where others might look at this blend of technology and biology and see something unnatural, Luthor liked to see it as a riddle. How could he make such things himself?
It provided several advantages as well. A person controlling a ship with manual flight controls could increase their reaction time with training, but to be a part of the ship, to control it with little more than a thought, flying was too simple a word. Dancing in the air would be a better way to describe what was possible with such a system.
As he looked over the data on his computer, Mercy Graves stood by him and said, "Careful Lex. You're about to drool."
Luthor laughed and said, "Can you blame me? This is amazing technology, and exactly what I need to improve the technology in Corbyn."
"You're still keeping him around after what he did?" Asked Mercy.
"His leak was a minor setback," said Luthor. "Besides, one doesn't throw away their prototype so carelessly."
"I suppose," said Mercy. "Though you know...I'd love to see the look on his face when we tell him he's just a prototype."
"In due time Mercy," he said. "In due time."