3024

A large battleship of the Zerg empire arrived on the home-world carrying Kon-El. He wore dark clothes and a cloak. On his face was a mask with a voice simulator installed. In his possession were three cases containing important artifacts. Once in port, he was escorted to Emperor Zerg's palace where thousands of men were standing in formation. The Prime Minister greeted Kon in front of the palace entrance and inspected the cases he had brought.

"Max, Carrie, and Mark," he identified. "For ten years, these three assassins have repeatedly plotted to kill His Majesty. So, he has not had a single peaceful night's sleep. Today, we discover a hero that has single-handily wiped out the enemy! From now on, His Majesty can once more sleep without fear!"

"His Majesty's courtiers congratulate him. Heaven has sent a great warrior to vanquish the assassins!" they all said in unison while bowing to Kon.

"You give me far too little credit," Kon said, smirking behind his mask.

"By his majesty's command, summon the warrior," a messenger said.

Kon walked like a boss towards the palace with thousands of soldiers on either side of him. He went up all the steps and entered the palace. There, he was searched for weapons by the emperor's guards. His mask was taken off and put off to the side revealing his pale complexion, black hair, and dark brown eyes. "You will stay 100 paces from the throne or you will be killed without question. Please do not forget," he was warned.

"No problem," Kon told them.

Kon walked into the throne room and positioned himself 100 paces away from Emperor Zerg. He then took a knee. "For ten years, no one's approached within 100 paces of the throne. Do you know why?" Zerg asked him.

"Assasins everywhere!" Kon shouted obnoxiously.

"Correct. As long as there are assassins, I cannot remove my armor. Now that you have rooted out this evil, on our behalf, what do you desire as a reward?" Zerg asked.

"To rid great Zerg of its enemies is my duty. I desire no reward," Kon lied.

"In accordance with Zerg law, you must be properly rewarded. Max's spear had wounded a great many Zerg warriors. Pronounce my edict!" Zerg said to his servant.

"By order of His Majesty, he who vanquishes the assassin, Max-the-shadow, will be awarded 1000 pieces of gold, authority over a thousand households, advance to 20 paces of the throne, and drink with His Majesty," his servant read.

A small table was placed 20 paces from Zerg with a drink. Kon slowly made his way to the table and sat down. "According to my informants, you are a citizen of Zerg," Zerg said.

"I am a mere prefect," Kon lied, having stolen the identity of one.

"This is the lowest rank in our kingdom. What enabled you to overcome three deadly assassins?" Zerg asked.

"I dealt with them one at a time," Kon said vaguely.

"Tell me the details," Zerg ordered.

"Perhaps Your Majesty has heard that Carrie and Mark were lovers," Kon said.

"Indeed," Zerg nodded.

"And was Your Majesty aware that they were brother and sister?" Kon asked smirking.

"Damn, I had not," Zerg admitted.

"And that Carrie had an affair with Max? Mark was understandably pissed-off," Kon continued.

"Why hadn't I heard this before?" Zerg wondered.

"It took me much effort to uncover the secret. To create a rift between Carrie and Mark, I had to first dispose of Max," Kon said.

"I am beginning to understand your strategy," Zerg allowed.

"Your Majesty is most perceptive," Kon said condescendingly.

"What did you use to defeat Max?" Zerg asked.

"The sword," Kon answered.

Flashback

It was night in the desert as Zerg's troops surrounded a village. They formed a perimeter not daring to confront Max directly. Kon landed in his own ship and confidently approached the village wearing black clothes, a cloak, and his mask. With the village evacuated, it would be between Max and Kon.

"Look how old you have become," Kon said insultingly.

"Something far worse has happened to you," Max shot back.

"You know why I'm here," Kon said coldly.

"I know where you came from before you became Zerg's bitch," Max said to him.

"You've tried to assassinate the emperor and failed. I'm here to end your string of failures," Kon said cryptically.

"Zerg arose from the darkness. You did not," Max said to him.

"I'll show you the darkness," Kon said forcefully.

"You may try but you cannot deny the truth that is your family," Max said to him.

"You're so right," Kon agreed and then quickly took out his sword.

Max attempted to block with his spear. Kon cut through his spear slashing him downward. Max fell to the ground dead. Kon then collected the end of Max's spear.

End Flashback

Emperor Zerg looked upon Kon impressed. "How swift your sword must have been."

"It was super-easy, barely an inconvenience," Kon replied.

"I prided myself in knowing every corner of my planet. Yet, I was unaware there was such a talent as yourself," Zerg mused. He then looked over the two swords of Carrie and Mark.

"By edict of His Majesty, Carrie-the-fisher and Mark-of-Ham have always worked as partners. He who eliminates either of them is awarded 10,000 pieces of gold and authority over 5000 households and may advance to 10 paces of His Majesty," a servant read.

"Three years ago, Carrie and Mark stormed the palace together. Three thousand soldiers were unable to resist them!" Zerg said pissed-off.

"I think that says more about your soldiers than them," Kon rolled his eyes.

"I have since emptied this great hall so there is nowhere to hide. Are you saying that your sword was swifter than theirs?" Zerg asked him.

"No, I defeated Carrie in space," Kon replied.

Flashback

Kon suddenly exited hyperspace near Carrie's cruiser and went straight for the docking bay. Before the cruiser's fighter pilots could get ready, Kon entered the cruiser's docking bay and fired missiles at it. The missiles destroyed the cruiser's complement of fighters and pilots. Zerg's fleet then arrived and immediately pursued the damaged cruiser.

Kon swung around and went straight for the bridge. With his X-ray vision, he spotted Carrie on the bridge. "I have you now," he said as he fired missiles. The missiles got through the cruiser's shields and blasted out the bridge. Carrie and several of her officers were flung out into space.

Kon eyed Carrie as she floated in space. "This is going to hurt like a bitch," Kon realized as he opened his fighter and flew out into space. With his Kryptonian powers, he was able to stay alive even in the cold vacuum of space. He flew straight to Carrie and took her sword.

The Zerg fleet, having witnessed what Kon had done, fired on the damaged cruiser destroying it completely.

End Flashback

Emperor Zerg looked upon Kon impressed. "Your fighting skills are matched only by your ability to pilot. With pilots like you, I can go beyond the six systems."

"Your Majesty wishes to conquer more?" Kon asked curiously.

"Six systems is nothing. I intend to lead our army to every corner of the galaxy until we have established a vast and powerful empire," Zerg said ambitiously. "How did you defeat Mark?

"On the salt lakes," Kon replied.

Flashback

Kon confronted Mark on the salt lakes with Zerg's army forming a defensive line behind him. Mark was trapped between the mountains and Zerg's army. Still, he was known to have the formidable skills to defeat entire armies by himself.

"Did you come here to prevent me from telling everyone you were in love with your sister?" Kon asked him.

"No," Mark replied.

Kon dropped his cloak on the ground and took out his sword. Mark took out his own sword in defiance of him and the Zerg army. Kon tensed up as he went Super Insane taking this battle seriously. He charged Mark and swung for his head. Mark dodged the swing and then evaded Kon's follow through to his side. Kon then charged Mark again and swung for his head. Mark did the limbo to evade the strike.

"I failed you, Kon. I'm sorry," Mark said to him.

"I'm sure you are. The Resistance is dead, the war is over, and when I have killed you, I will have killed the last assassin," Kon taunted.

"Amazing, every word you just said...was wrong," Mark replied.

"Are you ready to die?" Kon asked him.

"Strike me down and I will always be with you," Mark said to him.

Kon nodded and then charged Mark. In front of Zerg's men, Kon and Mark clashed at fast-speed creating air shock-waves with each impact. Mark took the early offensive forcing Kon back. The two dueled in a circle with Mark spinning and keeping Kon on the defensive. Kon got some distance from Mark, his golden aura flared out.

Mark nodded for them to continue and charged forward. Kon waited for him to almost be on him. He then pushed Mark's sword up and sliced through Mark's chest. Kon then put his sword back in its sheath as Mark remained standing mortally wounded.

"How swift your sword is," he said softly as he fell to the ground dead.

Kon collected his sword and then walked back with the Zerg army.

End Flashback

Emperor Zerg looked upon Kon suspiciously. "Your story seems to make sense but you underestimated one person."

"Who?" Kon wondered.

"Me," Zerg said obviously. "Ten years ago, I fought both Carrie and Mark face-to-face. I found them both honorable and exceptional, hardly the narrow-minded people you say. That is why Carrie and Max did not have an affair, Carrie and Mark were not enemies. In other words, your entire story is a lie."

Kon said nothing to that. "Only one thing you said was true. Max must have known one of you," Zerg figured.

"Who?" Kon asked still playing dumb.

"You," Zerg replied. "I suspect you and Max were allies. You were able to defeat him for one reason only."

"Which reason?" Kon asked.

"He lost to you deliberately," Zerg accused.

"I wouldn't go that far," Kon rolled his eyes.

"In order to assassinate me, the two of you staged a fight, using my guards as witnesses. Laying the trap was not difficult. The hard part was persuading Max to die. Your sword is swift but not enough to defeat Max. Yet, he willingly fell to your blade. What courage! What gallantry! So, Max became your first accomplice. Max was a proud man, who regarded himself without equal on this world. What made him think you would succeed where he had failed?" Zerg asked him.

"Within ten paces, my sword is unblockable," Kon revealed.

"And that is why you made a pact with Carrie and Mark," Zerg realized. "You knew the reward for killing Carrie and Mark would take you another ten paces. That is why you are the most dangerous assassin of all!"

"I know, right?" Kon smirked.

"A man of Zerg would never try to kill me. Who are you?" Zerg asked finally.

"I am Kon-El of Earth. My father is a Jin-Saiyan Prince and my mother is a Kryptonian. Upon hearing how you conquered planets, I decided to assassinate you," Kon revealed.

"I understand now. My guards are 100 paces away from me and you are 10. It would seem I am fucked," Zerg realized calmly. "And yet you hesitate?"

"Just enjoying the moment," Kon smirked.

"I have only desired that the galaxy be all united under heaven. For this, I have suffered endless criticism and threats to my life. My own court sees me as a tyrant. No one has ever grasped what I have been trying to do," Zerg said bitterly.

"Without condoning...or condemning...I understand," Kon allowed.

"Without a sword, how do you intend to kill me?" Zerg asked.

"By taking yours," Kon said obviously.

"Bitch please," Zerg rejected clutching his sword tightly.

"Damn, I totally thought that would have worked," Kon sighed.

"This sword has accompanied me in battle for the last ten years. I face you without fear. For the good of my empire, I will defeat you!" Zerg said to him.

Kon pointed his index finger at Mark's sword and rotated it on Zerg's throne's armrest cutting the emperor in half at the midsection. Zerg's upper half fell to the floor mortally wounded. "If you spare my life, I'll make you warlord of six worlds second only to me."

"The Insane in me is enticed by your offer...but the Kryptonian in me cannot accept," Kon said as he blasted Zerg to ash.

Zerg's men then rushed into the palace having heard the commotion from all sides. Kon eyed the thousands of men charging him with swords and spears. Kon quickly escaped the palace blasting through the roof and then retreated away from the city having accomplished his goal.

Shortly thereafter, Kon's damaged ship exited hyperspace and tumbled its way onto a desert planet where it crashed in the sand dunes. "Fuck!" Kon exclaimed as his ship impacted.

Kon quickly got out of the wrecked ship and notice what remained sank underneath the sand. "That could be an issue," he muttered.

Activating his wrist computer, he saw that his target was not too far. "Nice," he smiled as he walked off.

Meanwhile, Mara was busy at work on an excavation site looking over some alien ruins. She wore an all-white outfit as she worked in the heat. She had been on the planet for a few weeks photographing the alien symbols and delicately working to collect rare artifacts. Once she was done for the day, she came into town and handed her findings over to the archeological research center.

"What you have brought me is worth a shit-ton of credits," her boss said amazed.

"Keep the credits. I don't need them," Mara declined.

There was a sudden commotion in the market as Kon ran about trying to evade pissed-off Zerg soldiers. Plasma fired blasted up booths as they missed. Mara shook her head dismayed and then gave the Zerg soldiers shockwave blasts that knocked them unconscious.

"Thanks," Kon said sheepishly.

"You could have done that yourself," Mara pointed out.

"It's more fun if you give them the impression they can win," Kon smirked.

"I don't see the fun," Mara looked at the damage they had caused.

"Lighten up. I just killed Emperor Zerg and saved this quadrant," Kon said.

"That will create political instability," Mara disagreed.

"Killing the emperor always wins the day," Kon said obviously.

"This isn't a movie. It's real life. Grow up," Mara scolded. "Why are you here?"

"My ship got damaged escaping Zerg. I need a ship," Kon said.

"I'm busy on my dig. It will have to wait," Mara told him.

"I literally have a million bounty hunters after me," Kon countered.

"Fine, let's go," Mara said displeased.

The two casually walked over to Mara's ship, the Vindicator cruiser. "This is a piece of junk," Kon remarked.

"Don't talk...bad about my ship," Mara said offended.

Kon grinned amusedly as Mara had taken a vow of not killing, stealing, and cursing. As they went inside, Zerg fighters descended upon them. Kon immediately took the gunner's position and started firing back as Mara piloted the ship. "Oh, fuck yeah!" Kon said excitedly as he blasted fighters one-by-one.

The Vindicator cruiser's shields held as they escaped the desert planet's atmosphere and into space. There, they evaded the blockade of Zerg battleships as they activated the cloak. Mara then inputted the coordinates as they entered hyperspace.

"So, where are we going?" Kon asked curiously.

"I have requested that father meet us on a planet not too far from here. He'll know what to do," Mara said.

"I hope he congratulates me on my success," Kon said hopefully.

"Don't count on it," Mara doubted.

Kon sank in his chair. "Just for once, I would like for him to say he's proud of me."

"It's not the Insane way," Mara reminded him.

"I know," Kon looked down.

"Cheer up. I know a place on this planet where you can get drunk as...funk," Mara said.

Kon rolled his eyes at her and then started laughing. "Shut up," Mara pushed him and then started laughing herself.

The Vindicator cruiser eventually landed on a forest planet and parked right outside a bar. Entering the bar, Kon immediately started downing shots while Mara read archeology reports on her datapad. An older man then entered the bar and all of a sudden it was quiet. "Mon-El!" the bartender identified.

Kon finished his drink and then addressed his father who was wearing a black Vindicator uniform. "I heard what you did on Zerg. You an assassin for hire now?" Mon asked gruffly.

"I did that one for free," Kon said honestly.

"It's a low-level kill," Mon remarked.

"But he was the emperor. Their whole empire is in chaos and confusion," Kon pointed out.

"And now your mother and I have to clean up the mess," Mon said annoyed.

"I'm not apologizing," Kon said automatically.

"You start a job, you finish it," Mon lectured. Mon then noticed Mara come over to him. "What are you doing here?"

"Kon needed a ship. Can you take him, so I can get back to work?" Mara asked.

"Sure," Mon said warmly giving her a hug.

Kon frowned feeling disrespected. "Let's go," Mon said to Kon as they exited the bar. Mon worked to focus on Earth with his instant transmission when the bar behind them exploded. The two turned back to find the bar completely demolished by a fighter bomber.

Zerg fighters circled around firing at anything that moved down below. "You've been tracked," Mon said to Kon. The two flew up into the air and engaged the fighters. In the rubble, Mara got up and dusted herself off. She frowned as her datapad had been destroyed in the hit. She looked over all the dead bar patrons completely appalled.

Mon and Kon made short work of the fighters in the air. Mara made her way through the forest towards the Vindicator cruiser. As she arrived, she was ambushed by Zerg's men all firing Kryptonite pulse weapons at her. Mara quickly became overwhelmed and was taken away unconscious. Kon then noticed the Vindicator cruiser rise from the forest and into the air. With his X-ray vision, he could tell there were two dozen occupants in the cruiser.

"What the fuck?" he wondered.

The Vindicator cruiser then disappeared as it entered hyperspace. "Mara has been taken," Kon informed Mon.

"Well...shit," Mon frowned.

Mon and Kon instantly appeared on Earth and met up with Kara and Brainiac 5. "What the fuck did you do this time?" Kara asked Kon.

"He killed a head of state creating a military overreaction throughout the quadrant. The price on Kon's head is exceedingly high," Brainiac 5 reported.

"We lost Mara. They have her," Mon told Kara.

"The Vindicator cruiser is on this planet. The data I have collected indicates the planet is heavily shielded. The Zerg fleet is amassing there, possibly an invasion fleet," Brainiac 5 said.

"That's just great," Kara said sarcastically. "Mon, bring Mara back and take care of this in your own way."

"God forbid you get your hands dirty," Mon scoffed at her.

"What am I supposed to do?" Kon asked.

"You're staying put," Kara ordered him.

Mon put two fingers to his forehead and disappeared to Mara's location.

Mara stood on a bridge overlooking a bottomless pit inside a superstructure on the planet. Zerg soldiers marched about the area. Mon suddenly appeared inside the superstructure and immediately fired on the Zerg soldiers killing scores of them in seconds. Their counter fire did nothing against the energy field around his body. After he had killed every soldier in the immediate vicinity, he walked onto the bridge.

"Mara!" he shouted at her.

Mara turned to face him with red demonic eyes. "Your daughter is gone. She was weak and foolish like her brother. Now, there is only Zerg," she said to him.

"Look, I don't have time for this crap. We're going," Mon said to her as he got closer.

"I'm being torn apart. My Insane side wants to kill, maim, and conquer. My Kryptonian side simply wants to learn and solve problems," Mara said to him.

"And you can do both at the same time," Mon assured her.

"I want to be free of this pain, free of your Insane ways," Mara said to him.

Mon was taken aback by her. "If that's what you want...so be it."

"Can you help me?" Mara asked.

"Absolutely," Mon said still stinging from her rejection. "Let's go home and we can talk about it."

Mara held her hands out to him. Mon closed his eyes as he focused on getting them back home. Mara suddenly turned on Mon blasting a hole through his gut. Mon gave her a stunned look not understanding her betrayal. Mara then backhanded Mon off the bridge where he fell into the bottomless pit.

Mara then looked up and saw Kon's shocked face.

Kon sped towards the Vindicator cruiser to get back up when Mara blocked his path in the thick forest. "Going so soon, Zerg killer?" she asked him.

"This isn't you," Kon realized.

"No shit," Mara glared at him.

"What did they do to you?" Kon demanded.

"Opened my eyes to the truth that is Zerg. The galaxy must be united under heaven, one empire, one language, one religion, one culture," Mara said to him.

"You killed father. I'm going to kick your ass now," Kon said to her as he went Super Insane.

Mara went Super Insane as well. The snow at their feet instantly melted and the trees started to burn away from their golden auras. "I don't want to hurt you, Mara," Kon said to her.

"That makes one of us," Mara sneered.

"Fuck," Kon muttered.

Kon and Mara exchanged energy blasts in the forest creating an instant forest fire. Mara aggressively went after Kon with punches and kicks. Kon kept up on the defensive and blasted Mara to the shoulder. Mara quickly fired a beam through Kon's shoulder. Mara then punched him to the gut sending Kon to his knees. She quickly swiped at his back, dropping him. Mara pointed her palm at Kon for a finishing strike.

The forest exploded as Mara fired on Kon. Trees, branches, and leaves went high into the sky from the blast. When the smoke cleared, Kon was gone. Mara eyed Kon who had just barely escaped the blast. He was bleeding from his head and his clothes were torn up. He calmly took out his sword.

"I need only be ten paces away from you," Mara smirked at him.

Kon nodded and then disappeared. Mara tensed up as the real Kon sliced her through the midsection with his sword. Mara then fell unconscious on his shoulder. Kon quickly withdrew his sword and brought Mara onto the Vindicator cruiser only to find Mon already there healing from the injury Mara had given him.

Mon eyed Mara's unconscious state as the medical droid went to work on her. "Not bad," he said to Kon.

Kon smiled, the most he could realistically expect from his father. The Vindicator cruiser then took off from the planet. Once it was a safe distance away from the planet, Mon emerged from a hatch on the top of the ship. A forcefield around the ship allowed him to still breathe pressurized air. He looked over five planets in the system all being used as military staging grounds. Hundreds of ships were being assembled in the system just above each of the planets.

Mon tensed up as he went Super Insane and then extended the fingers on his right hand with each finger aimed at a planet. Mon then smirked as he fired five golden beams at the planets. The planets were instantly destroyed along with their fleets as soon as the beams hit.

On Earth, Kara gave Mara a hug while ignoring Kon as soon as they arrived. Mon turned to a bitter Kon. "It is not the Insane way to show love or praise very often," Mon told him.

"I understand, father," Kon frowned.

"But when it happens, it's meaningful," Mon added. "Keep up the good work."

Kon simply stared at his father in amazement. Not long afterward, Kara ordered a family gathering with Brainiac 5 there as well. "I'm going back to 2017. I'm getting Alex and coming back, quick and easy," Kara told them.

"Yeah, bullshit," Mon doubted.

Kara glared at him. "Keep it up and I'll be gone forever."

"Good," Mon scoffed.

"When are you leaving?" Mara asked concernedly.

"In a week. Again, I'll be there and back instantly from your perspective," Kara assured them.

"Why can't we come?" Kon asked.

"Because I can't risk anything happening to you. According to Brainiac 5, a lot of fucked-up stuff happened in an erased timeline. I'm not chancing anything. Again, there-and-back. That's all," Kara said.

"I'll be coming to provide technical support," Brainiac 5 said. "This unit is expendable. You are not."

"Sounds great," Mon said as a plan formed in his mind.

"Well, okay then," Kara said surprised at the lack of resistance from Mon.

Before Kara's time jump, Mon got dressed in his Insane armor and activated the time machine. He inputted a random date in 2020 into the machine. Suddenly, he was gone in a flash of light and then reappeared in a torn and bloody uniform. Pleased he had turned Earth into his own Insane version, he took a shower, got dressed, and had dinner with the rest of the family. To his dismay, the Earth in 3024 looked exactly the same as before. Nothing he had done in the past had any impact on the future.

"Something wrong?" Kara asked him.

"No, I just hope you miss me when you go," Mon said with false sincerity.

"Of course I will," Kara smiled back at him.

For a week, Mon kept his mouth shut and then saw her enter the time machine with Brainiac 5. They inputted 2017 into the machine. "I'll be back in a flash," Kara assured him.

Mon nodded and then she was gone. Instantly, Mon experienced new memories of his trip to 2020. Instead of bringing about an Insane revolution where he was king, he saw himself and Kara looking across from each other on the DEO skyscraper.

Author's Notes: During the Star Wars sequel trilogy development, I pondered about the movie Hero (2002) and if it would redeem Kylo Ren's character. Like, if Kylo Ren had killed Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Luke Skywalker to get close enough to Snoke to kill him and save the galaxy. With this bonus episode, I wanted to remind readers that I have not forgotten Kon and Mara.