A/N: We're close to the conclusion, but after all of Fine/Brainiac's lectures to Clark about Kryptonian superiority, I thought that maybe it would help to know the truth about Clark's home world. So, in this chapter, Chloe takes a virtual tour of Krypton. During which, she discovers a few rather unsettling facts about Zod.
Oh, and for those of you who read my Chlark fic Sea Change (can't do a link, but it's on this site) may spot a very special friend (or, at least, a distant cousin of that special friend :) ).
Part Eleven
The crystal burned like a young star as Chloe's fingers brushed its surface, bathing the lab in blue-white, incandescent light. Across the room, Chloe saw Lex shield his face with his hand, while behind her, Fine shouted instructions that she only half-heard.
It hardly seemed possible that less than an hour ago, she'd been facing a boring morning of filing in the Daily Planet basement. Since then, she'd been lured into a trap and kidnapped; now, she was debating whether to destroy the crystal, and herself in the process, in order to save Clark and the world from General Zod.
All in all, Chloe thought, she'd had better days.
Now that she was face to face with the gem that had haunted her visions, she found that her eyes seemed less affected by its brightness. Motionless, she stared, unblinking, into its depths.
It was like diving into the heart of the sun.
The radiance grew, wrapping around her like a cocoon, forming walls of white fire that seemed to stretch far into the distance. They slipped past her on either side, as if she was traveling along a corridor toward the center of the light. Some distance away, a tiny opening, no more than a dark pinprick, appeared and slowly grew in size.
The room and its occupants had disappeared, although she could still faintly hear Fine calling out to her angrily. He was drowned out by a deeper voice coming from the light surrounding her, speaking strange words that Chloe somehow recognized as a greeting:
"Welcome, daughter."
The voice was Jor-El's, of course. Chloe barely had time to wonder how this latest version of the AI knew about her upgraded status before she felt herself being pulled through the opening, leaving behind all thoughts of Level 33.1.
The frozen landscape that stretched out far below her was utterly alien—and yet, somehow, familiar. Against the otherworldly backdrop of a pale green sky, a panorama of windswept ice and snow moved beneath her, washed in the red glow of a swollen setting sun.
It occurred to Chloe that she must be flying. To her surprise, she felt no more afraid than she had yesterday, when she and Clark had floated high above the floor of Jor-El's Fortress.
That seemed too much like a dream to be real, she mused. And this seems too real to be a dream. Go figure.
Far away on the horizon, she peered at a shimmer of rainbow colors and gasped in amazement. There, in the distance, trailing away into the green haze, a range of multicolored mountains sparkled against the otherwise barren landscape like iridescent dragonflies' wings. She changed direction to get a closer view, grinning in delight at the ever-shifting patterns of emerald, topaz, and sapphire that glinted off the peaks of the closest mountains. As the sun lowered behind her, she watched the golden topaz highlights slowly melt into the ruby shades of sunset.
Then, to her frustration, something made her change course, and the mountains receded from view. Jor-El, she guessed at once. I suppose he's got more in mind for me than sight-seeing. Regretfully, she watched the rainbow glow fade away behind her as she flew over the icy wastes in the opposite direction.
She skimmed close to the ground now, slicing through the cold air straight as an arrow over snowdrifts and deep ravines, towards a sprawling expanse of pinnacles and towers that thrust up from the middle of the plain, as if cut from the surrounding ice. A gust of wintry air blew past, and she felt the tingle of snowflakes melting on her cheeks.
She didn't shiver, even though she was still, apparently, wearing the same short-sleeved summer blouse she'd worn to meet Lex that morning. More proof that this isn't real, she thought.
As she swooped closer, she caught the glint of pillars, domes, and angular vaults. This, she realized, was the city of her visions; the city on which Jor-El's Fortress was modeled, and the place Clark had been born. Fascinated, Chloe watched the silver-pink sliver of a large moon appear over the tall spires.
She was on Krypton—and yet, she couldn't be, because it didn't exist anymore. This must be a memory stored in the crystal, she mused. The AI must want me to see this for some reason. But why?
Unlike Jor-El's deserted hideaway, this city was alive with activity. She glided past bustling streets and crowded moving walkways, darting through narrow canyons formed by gigantic crystalline skyscrapers. They seemed to have grown naturally from the ground far below, and the smallest of them was easily twice the height of LuthorCorp Tower.
Transparent openings of various shapes and sizes dotted the symmetrically-shaped walls. As she flew through the passageways between the buildings, she craned her neck to peer through as many as possible. Here and there she caught glimpses of activity: A child playing with something that looked like a cat, except that it had fangs and blue fur; a classroom where the "professor" emerged from a large 3-D screen, waving a stern finger at a talkative student; a woman painting a wall with light that swelled into music as each new color was added.
Chloe couldn't help wondering if there were any reporters in this world, and if so, what kind of stories they'd cover.
At one point, the walls fell away and she found herself in the middle of a huge open space dominated by a clear glassine dome. The brilliant Technicolor world under the dome contrasted sharply with the soft whites of the rest of the city. Flocks of red-crested birds spread wings tipped in orange and yellow, swooping like flames onto the scarlet and purple boughs of trees in a brightly-lit garden. Lizards with golden scales curled around the trunks of the trees, apparently sunning themselves in the artificial light. In a nearby pool, iridescent flying fish darted in and out of the waves.
Crowds of people wandered the grounds of the garden, but the most popular attraction appeared to be in one part of the pool. A large throng stood along its banks, throwing handfuls of something—snacks, she guessed—at an enormous, black finned fish that swam just under the surface near the water's edge. As it grabbed the treats, its tail waved lazily, while children reached out to stroke its head.
Chloe grinned. Even Kryptonians, apparently, had petting zoos.
The buildings closed in again. Peering far up the side of the nearest tower, she stretched an exploratory hand skyward, and discovered to her delight that she could control her altitude. Soaring over the tower's needle-sharp pinnacle, she emerged into the open air and saw, for the first, and maybe only, time, the skyline of the city of Clark's birth as it had looked before its fall.
Motionless, she surveyed the acres of twinkling spires, each perfect facet of each tower pulsating and thrumming like a living thing. Together, they shone against the darkening sky like a field of fallen stars.
Clark, she promised silently, if I ever get out of this, I will never call you a small-town boy again.
Except she probably wasn't going to get out of this. It was heart-wrenching to think that the only way to save Clark, and Earth, from Zod, was to destroy Jor-El's crystal, but so far she hadn't come up with any better ideas. And with the crystal gone, the last memory of Clark's home world would disappear forever.
When Chloe looked again over the city, her vision was blurred by tears.
Her unseen tour guide must have gotten impatient, because she started moving again, this time towards a cluster of the tallest towers near what looked like the city's center. In their midst rose a single massive dome, softly glowing in the light from the rising moon. Descending along the graceful lines of the domed building until she reached an opening high in its walls, she hovered, obeying an unspoken command to wait.
A glittering knot of people, dressed like a collection of exotic birds, in colorful robes and form-fitting garments, glided down a ramp to the main walkway below, laughing and talking among themselves. They seemed not to notice their human observer.
She watched the group move with authority and assurance past a line of guards dressed in black, who bowed as they descended. Some of them were crowned with gold or silver bands, and their outfits were decorated with symbols stitched on the shoulder or chest, each one different. The symbols made her think of the emblem for Clark's family, and she wondered if these meant something similar.
Her eyes narrowed as she imagined how Clark would have looked in these form-hugging Kryptonian outfits. The results were exhilarating, until she pictured the beet-red blush that was sure to spread over his face if he ever wore something that revealing in real life. He'd probably wrap himself in one of these big robes and run for the nearest flannel store, she thought, grinning.
One woman in the group caught Chloe's eye, perhaps because she was the only one plainly dressed in a simple white one-piece outfit. All the same, she was strikingly beautiful; tall and slender, with shining auburn hair that cascaded softly to her shoulders, held in by a thin silver band.
Unlike the others, she was silent, and her ocean-blue eyes were sad. Looking at her, Chloe had an uncomfortable feeling of déjà vu. It was impossible that she'd seen her before, yet something about this woman was very familiar.
As they reached the walkway, the group closed ranks. Away from the guards, their talk grew softer and more serious.
Chloe's curiosity was almost unbearable now. Moving closer, she strained to listen to their conversation.
"Jhan-Ar, congratulations. Your evidence condemned Zod for the traitor he is," one of the more brightly-dressed men said approvingly to the man leading the group down the walkway.
Chloe hovered nearby, scarcely daring to breathe, even though she knew they couldn't see or hear her. This was her chance to learn more about Zod.
The leader nodded. "His body has been destroyed, his essence is trapped in the Phantom Zone, and without him, his rebellion must die. Even Jor-El must agree with that."
Chloe's ears perked at the mention of Jor-El. A clear, low voice spoke up, and she saw that it belonged to the auburn-haired woman. "But what about the construct Zod created? It escaped, and we have yet to find it."
She fixed her enormous eyes on the leader. "I spoke of this earlier in the Council chamber, but got no real answer."
The first man spoke up again. "Lara, be reasonable. The construct can do nothing now."
"It has the power to destroy our world," she said, eyeing him steadily. "Through the Eradicator."
A woman near Jhan-Ar raised her eyebrows. "We discussed this in the chamber," she answered frostily. "The machine is programmed to preserve Kryptonian ideals. Zod's people wish to protect our culture from contamination, not to destroy it. The Eradicator is no danger to us."
"It could be reprogrammed."
Several people in the group shook their heads and a few frowned in annoyance, but Jhan-Ar was still smiling as he turned and faced her. "Are you saying the rebels would commit suicide? Why?"
Lara's steady gaze met his. "Perhaps not the rebels, but Zod's construct may have other plans. You underestimate Zod's desire for revenge."
A bored-looking man behind her spoke up. "Zod is gone. His most fanatical followers were banished with him into the Zone. And the Council met the rebels' demand to cut off all contact with other races, and destroy all means of transport to other worlds. There is nothing more to fear."
One or two of the group smiled in agreement. Lara ignored them and focused on the leader with a note of urgency in her voice, stretching out one arm to touch his. "Please, Jhan-Ar," she pleaded, "For my child's sake—for the sake of all our children—find this construct before it is too late."
Jhan-Ar put a reassuring hand on the outstretched arm. "As the wife of Jor-El, you are to be commended for your loyalty to him," he said soothingly. "But put your fears to rest. The crisis to our world is over."
Chloe froze in mid-air, staring at the woman in fascination. This was Jor-El's wife. She was almost directly face-to-face with Clark's own mother.
Now that she had a closer look, she could see the resemblance easily, in her face, her voice, her bearing, and especially in the way she defended her views without fear or hesitation.
Clark, she thought sadly, would have been proud of her.
A murmur of general agreement passed through the group at Jhan-Ar's response. He raised his voice genially. "Let's forget the Council meeting, and Zod. All hail Rao!"
Without knowing why, Chloe shuddered slightly. Once again she found herself soaring up and over the city, heading for a tall tower near the dome. She set down at last on a spacious balcony that overlooked the skyline. On the horizon, winking in the distance, she caught a glimpse of the rainbow mountains.
"Welcome, Lois Lane, life-mate of my son, Kal-El."
Chloe tore her eyes away from the mountains, and froze.
In front of her stood an older, graver version of Clark, dressed in a silver garment, broad shoulders draped in a white mantle. A silver band circled his forehead, and on his chest, in darker silver, was stitched the familiar crest of the House of El. The soft neutrals of his outfit set off the startling emerald of his eyes.
Next to him stood Lara, stunningly beautiful as before, again wearing simple silver and white. Like her companion, she was looking directly at Chloe.
These couldn't really be Clark's parents, she told herself. And yet, here they stood, and they were waiting for her to speak.
Chloe struggled to find her voice. It seemed like ages since she had used it last.
"H-hello," she stammered. Embarrassed, she tried again. "I mean, I'm honored to meet you. But—excuse me—who are you?"
The woman's eyes brightened in response. "We guard the memories of Jor-El and Lara, and all other knowledge contained in this crystal," she said simply, in her musical voice. "We are here to instruct Kal-El, and his life-mate."
"Is that why you brought me here?" Chloe asked.
Jor-El's AI nodded. "In part. We wished you to understand Kal-El's true heritage. Our people were not the overbearing conquerors that Zod's lies would have you believe."
He lowered his eyes, sighing heavily. "As you have seen, we were simply overconfident. And complacent. When disaster struck, we were unprepared."
Chloe felt a surge of sympathy for Jor-El and his world. "What happened to Krypton?" she whispered, half afraid of the answer.
Lara answered. "A band of zealots, led by the former General Zod, protested our efforts to study other races, claiming that contact with less advanced cultures would defile the "purity" of our race." The word "purity" was filled with disdain. "Zod especially targeted Jor-El's family, who had established a base on Earth."
She smiled faintly. "Of course, it was no coincidence that the House of El, as the most influential family on Krypton, was also the only obstacle between Zod and supreme power. As you heard, the Council did its best to appease Zod's followers, but it wasn't enough. Zod finally rebelled openly."
Chloe thought back to the conversation she'd just overheard. "So the Council arrested Zod and his inner circle, figuring that his other followers would just go away. Only….they didn't, did they?"
"No," Jor-El's AI said sadly. "Neither did Zod's interactive construct. Before the rebellion began, Zod had stolen a device called the Eradicator, and reprogrammed it to, as he claimed, protect the "sanctity" of Kryptonian culture. I suspected from the first that he intended to use it for more violent purposes."
His mouth settled into grim lines. "I believe that, after his capture and imprisonment, his servant, the construct, acting on Zod's orders, altered the Eradicator's programming and used it to destroy our world."
Lara took up the story, her large blue eyes focused on Chloe. "His hatred for us, and his desire for revenge, passed all the bounds of reason. The Council never understood that."
Her eyes closed briefly. "He detonated the device within hours of Zod's detention. As we suspected." She reached out for Jor-El's hand. "We did not expect to save ourselves, but we had only a short time to prepare our son."
Chloe looked down at their linked hands, Jor-El's fingers squeezing his wife's gently. She reminded herself that these were only images of people long dead, but the thought came too late to stop the tears quietly spilling down her cheeks.
"Did anyone besides Clark survive?" she asked, more gruffly than she'd intended. She sniffled slightly, wishing there was such a thing as a virtual Kleenex.
"Zod's interactive construct, of course, escaped, most likely with some of his Kryptonian followers. Beyond that, I have no information," Jor-El's AI told her sadly. "We sent Kal-El to Earth, knowing, from my family's contact, that he would be protected by special powers there. I gave him into the keeping of the son of the Earth man who once befriended me. We rejoice that he has been safe for so long."
The AI images of Jor-El and Lara fell silent. Chloe looked from one to the other, sensing that this wasn't the end of the story. "But?"
Lara looked at her gravely. "You must beware of Zod and his construct."
"I already knew that, and so does Clark." Chloe remembered Fine, waiting in the lab, and her voice took on a desperate edge. "What are you trying to say? Look, I'd love to hear more, but time's pretty short right now, OK? So please tell me. What else do I need to know about Zod?"
Lara and Jor-El exchanged glances, as if debating. At last Jor-El spoke. "Zod intends to destroy not only the House of El, but your people, daughter. Not even as slaves would he consider them acceptable. He and his followers from the Phantom Zone will recreate Earth in the image of his perfect Krypton. If you fail to defeat him, you and all you love will die."
Chloe met Jor-El's gaze. "I'd die anyway, Jor-El. I'd never be a slave of Zod, or of anyone."
His smile was brief, but warm. "I expected no less. But it is important that you understand how deadly he is. At all costs, he must never again be set free."
Chloe swallowed nervously. She'd dreaded this moment. "What if I told you that Zod was trying to use me to do just that, right now?"
Lara's eyes widened, but Jor-El's green eyes turned sharp. Chloe winced, thinking of Clark's accusing stares in times past. "I didn't betray you, Jor-El. But Fine—I mean, Zod's robot, or whatever—is holding me prisoner out there, and he wants me to use this crystal to open Zod's prison."
She took a breath to stop the quaver in her voice. "I came here to destroy the crystal."
Jor-El looked at her. "You, too, my child, will be destroyed. Are you sure?"
She lifted her chin in what she hoped was a brave gesture. "Yes."
Jor-El studied her wordlessly. "Perhaps," he said at last, "there is another way."
TBC…
