Good morning! This fic is a prequel to Red Capes: Saviors and develops the background and childhood of one of its main characters, Darcie Kent. If you read Saviors before the publication of this fic, then you will be familiar with the plot of a few of these chapters, but the story itself has nearly doubled in size. Thanks to my amazing beta, I will hopefully be updating this fic once a week on Saturdays, though don't be surprised if I go on brief hiatuses (my personal life is a little insane rn as I just moved countries + started another school year + am still living out of a suitcase), but I will continue to write every day! Please enjoy this fic - leave comments and kudos if you loved it, they really help!

Chapter Notes: The word 'milor' comes from MoS Kryptonian, a dialect of the Kryptonian language that was created specifically for the DCEU. It can be simply translated as 'hope'.

Prologue: Milor

"Hope," he muttered under his breath, "Rao, nothing but hope."

"Eminence Var-El? Is all well with you?"

Var glanced at Kelir, his faithful assistant, hovering patiently beside him, and nodded slowly. "All is well, Kelir. Just… thinking."

Kelir's liquid-geo display panel flickered understandingly and a small smile crossed Var's face at the thought that the hovering artificial intelligence could possibly have feelings, but he immediately dismissed the idea and returned his attention to the console in front of him.

"Now is not a time for thinking, but for action," he told himself before addressing his fellow thinkers focused on the task before them, "Ak, Em - status report on the World Engine."

Two Kryptonians at similar consoles nearby nodded and tapped the levitating figures of the liquid-geo, reading the incoming data as it appeared.

"The Phantom Reactor is powering up. We are currently at twelve percent efficiency," Mu-Ak stated.

Var grimaced at the number and did a quick mental calculation before asking, "Are the stellar charges operating?"

"Negative, Your Eminence."

Var swore under his breath, knowing full well that as an Eminence he was supposed to be a perfect example in the Twelve Virtues and not given to low profanities, but at this point, he no longer cared. Too much was at stake here, too much had gone wrong, and too little was being done to repair their way of life. He gazed out the wide window opposite his control console at the vast gray expanse of the macro-moon, the only home he had ever known and completely empty besides the Kryptonian settlement and monstrous three-legged machine on its surface - the machine that had once changed worlds. He desperately needed it to change his now, but those damned stellar charges-

"Now it is at ten percent efficiency. If we do not get it working now, we will lose all power," Thyr-Em was saying, but Var didn't hear him. Kelir, his companion ever since he could walk, recognized the distant look in his eyes and tapped his shoulder with one of its tentacles until Var looked up.

"Kelir, how many subcycles will it take to charge it to operation?"

"Two-hundred-three-point-nil-nil-nil-nine-eight, at its current rate," the aide calculated instantly, "But the power levels of the reactor will be depleted before it can charge fully,"

Var nodded soberly and ran a hand through his dark hair, dimly registering that the strands were grimy after days without sleep or cleansing while he worked to repair the World Engine.

"I thought so," he sighed tiredly, and entered a few commands into the console in front of him, "Connect the energy generators. They should maintain a steady power level until we can possibly repair the stellar charges-"

"Var!" a woman's voice rang out across the research chamber. He turned to see Lieutenant Tara Lin-Do, the sister of his beloved, burst into the room with her short hair ruffled and casual armor slightly askew from running so quickly.

"What is it?" the Eminence asked quickly, but he could easily guess.

"It's Kara," she confirmed, "The baby is coming."

Var immediately stood a little straighter and put his shoulders back in true Eminence fashion as he descended from the command module, barely suppressing his excitement with a mask of cold formality as he moved past Tara for the door.

"Do not let the power levels fall! I will return!" he told his assistants as he hastily left the chamber with Tara at his side. It was only when he heard the door grate shut behind them that Var threw all etiquette to the wind and broke into a sprint.

He knew the outpost well, having lived his entire life there - though perhaps 'outpost' was the wrong word now considering how the ancient community was barely surviving.

Many cycles long ago, a scout ship from the mother planet Krypton had settled on the rocky macro-moon in search of the rich ore beneath its surface, which had been a valuable resource at the time. But as cycles passed, the mines had been abandoned due to the lack of supply ships from Krypton and the moon's inability to sustain crops, eventually leading to famine. The outpost's population had dwindled to just a few thousand, and until a few cycles ago had continued to grow more children of Krypton in the Genesis Chambers before the Council was forced to prohibit new Kryptonians until there were enough resources to provide for all of them.

Var and his beloved Kara had been among the last children to live on the outpost, and now Var was an Eminence on the Council he believed had doomed his small world. Their only hope for survival lay with either the supply ships Krypton had promised cycles ago, or the revival of the World Engine. As leader of the Thinker Guild, Var considered his life's purpose to have the great machine operating again - but now he had more pressing matters on his mind: the matter of his child.

Var-El rushed along the main corridor of the old outpost with Kelir floating quickly beside him, but Tara, a trained lieutenant of the military peacekeepers, was much quicker and led the way towards the south branch that housed the personal living units. The route took them through the more populated areas of the outpost, where the trio passed surprised members of the small community who shook their heads in condolence and contempt for the Eminence of the Thinker Guild, but Var paid them no heed. Eventually, he slowed as he caught up to Tara and neared the unit that he and his beloved shared, quickly locating his Key in the folds of his robe and pausing in thought before the door. He hesitated only a brief moment before inserting the Key into the small port beside the doorway, the barrier folding upwards to allow him and the Lieutenant entrance. In an instant, he had crossed through the small living space and nearly forced open the door to the resting chamber, his quick eyes immediately taking in the scene.

Tara's aide had taken up the duty of midwife, a job the medic droid was well suited to considering its knowledge of emergency treatments. And beside the aide, laying on the bed that had more than once belonged to both Var and herself, was his Kara - his strong, beloved, Lieutenant Kara Ar-Do - her usually stoic and commanding visage now pale and dotted with perspiration, but she still managed a weak smile when Var knelt down beside her.

"Kara," he begged softly, grasping her hand in his, "Are you all right? Is there anything I can do?"

She shook her head, fighting back a pained grimace. "Do not worry about me, Var. You shouldn't be here - if anyone discovers that you were in my quarters-"

"Hush, I am staying with you. The Council may be stubborn, but they would not convict a fellow Eminence for simply attending the birth of his child," he assured her, gently stroking her hand as he did. Kara shot him a look that he knew all too well, the look she used when Var was in over his head, but she was too exhausted to argue the point with him.

Secretly glad for that, Var turned away from his beloved, seeking out Tara who had taken up a position near her aide in case her assistance was required. He caught her eye, lowering his voice as he asked, "Why wasn't I summoned when the contractions first began?"

"I had been on duty," Tara answered in an equally soft tone, "My aide was with her and managed to remove her to our quarters before any of the medics found out, but I came to fetch you as soon as I heard the news."

Var frowned, but nodded solemnly and squeezed Kara's hand in his as she cried out when another contraction wracked her weak body, stroking her brown locks from her forehead as she pushed again. Kelir and Tara's aide remained close by, monitoring the vitals of the mother and unborn child while a three-dimensional display in Kelir's thorax displayed a representation of the mother's heart, increasing in speed as she struggled to bring life into the world. Var could only watch as his dearest trembled in pain as he knelt by her side. He had no knowledge of time passing, only the occasional lull in her agony before she cried out again, and he would continue to reassure her with tender promises.

This had not been planned, she was not meant to have to endure childbirth. The Ar-Do sisters were the pride of the Warrior Guild, their fate determined before birth - Kara had been bred for strength and obedience and battle, not the pain of motherhood. Deep down, Var knew that he was at least partly responsible for what she was going through, but neither had considered it at the time - neither of them had even thought it possible. Yet here they were with Kara mere moments away from giving birth to the product of their love.

Her brow grew paler, her skin slick with sweat and she groaned as another excruciating pang wracked her weak body, squeezing Var's hand all the tighter for what little strength it gave her. Each moment that passed felt like it stretched on for an eternity until, but both Var and the aide continued to assure her that it would all be over soon. Kara barely heard them, striving as hard she could and begging Rao for it to be over, before she let out a final agonized scream… followed by the healthy wail of an infant.

Var hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath until he heard Tara sigh in relief as she picked up the child, carefully allowing the aides to confirm that its heart and breathing were steady. The vitals were normal, so Tara gently wrapped the child in a blanket and handed it to the waiting Var with a proud smile. "A female."

He felt a minor twinge of annoyance that his offspring wasn't a male, but he pushed the thought aside to grin in awesome wonder at the thing that was the miracle of birth, his eyes full of joy and adoration for his beloved Kara as he knelt beside her. She was still weak from the ordeal, so he helped her to lift her head and see the infant's small face with its shock of dark hair. Startlingly blue eyes stared back at them as their child let out another soft bawl.

Kara sighed in contentment, her chest heaving from exertion, but she smiled all the same for her baby. Raising a trembling hand, she placed it on her child's head with the words, "Jaora, daughter of El and Do - the Thinker and the Warrior together as one."

"A Thinker and a Warrior," Var repeated softly, and Tara smiled.

"A wonderful name, sister. I wish you and your family Rao's blessings despite the… circumstances."

Kara looked up from her child to return her sister's gaze with a cold look, but her voice held warmth as she replied, "Thank you, Tara. Your patience and care have been invaluable in these past cycles. You have my gratitude."

Lieutenant Tara simply nodded, taking the hint that the new parents would rather be alone, and turned to leave with her aide following close behind. Only when she heard the grate of the door closing did Kara relax back onto the birthing couch, accepting her offspring as Var passed the child to her.

"You did well, beloved," he murmured, leaning down to kiss his partner as she stroked Jaora's head resting on her bosom, and Kara managed a small smile at his affection before quickly sobering.

"Are you sure the Council will allow us to keep her, considering-"

"Hush, dearest. Of course they will," Var assured her. "Rest now, you need to recover your strength."

Kara was too drained to argue, so she obeyed and relaxed back onto the birthing couch with a low sigh as her eyes drifted closed. Var stayed by her side a while longer, holding her slender hand grasped in his and quietly thinking of what the beautiful future held for him and his family. He was interrupted by the whirring of hovermotors nearby, and with an annoyed sigh, he stood up and addressed Kelir hovering close by with a frown, "Do you have something that requires my attention?"

The aide paused as if in thought before answering, "I am not programmed with extensive knowledge of natural childbirth."

"What of it?" Var snapped impatiently, "The child is born. All is well."

"Kara Lin-Do's vital signs have plummeted over the last few days and became dangerously weak during labor, exhausting her body to the point of no return," Kelir replied simply. "She passed unto Rao a few moments ago."

The words took a moment to register in Var's mind before he fully comprehended what the aide was telling him. He blinked, turning slowly to look down at his lover, her eyes closed as if asleep with one hand on the infant bawling softly on her chest - but somehow she looked different. The majesty he saw in her had faded, her vibrant spirit gone and leaving her pale and lifeless. He felt the same without her love to strengthen him.

Var stood as if frozen in place, unmoving, his face emotionless except for the small spark in his eyes showing the strength of his devastation. Kelir had known its master since infancy and had never seen him so grieved. Or so enraged.

"Kara is gone," he said simply, staring down at his deceased lover in some fragile hope that she'd prove him wrong, but to no avail. Kelir's liquid-geo display rippled in sympathy, but he only waved the aide away.

"Murder is punishable by death," he said slowly, unable to tear his gaze away from his beloved Kara and his voice dripping with menace, "The child killed her."

The aide started in surprise as he removed a personal blaster hidden within the folds of his robe, his hands trembling as he aimed it at the babe, "The child killed her. So it must die as well."

Jaora's blue eyes widened at the angry voice, the newborn weakly searching for her mother's protection as she began to cry. Kelir moved between her and the vengeful father, trying to placate him before he did something regrettable. "Var, it is no fault of the child! Lieutenant Kara Lin-Do died from-"

Kelir's words were lost in an explosion of sparks and searing hot metal, shrapnel flying from the impact of the blast. Jaora cried out as a piece barely missed her head and another sliced across her arm, but Var did not move to quiet her beyond lowering his smoking blaster.

He stared down at the smoking remains of his faithful aide, his furious gaze flitting back to Kara and the bawling infant on her chest before he softened. With one hand, he cocked the blaster for a second shot, and his daughter opened her small eyes in time to see him raise it to his head…

…and pull the trigger.

V*V*V*V*V*V*V

Lieutenant Tara headed the small group that entered the room, stepping warily around the blood pooling on the floor as they stared at the scene before them in horror - the chamber silent except for the weak wail of an infant from the birthing couch.

One of the older Kryptonians moved around Eminence Var's headless body to the mother's motionless form, gently freeing the child from the folds of the blanket before carrying it back to the dumbstruck group. Wordlessly, he handed Jaora to her aunt before leaving, shaking his head in pity.

The rest soon followed him, escaping the stench that lingered there as Tara looked down at her sister's daughter and gently stroked the infant's cheek with her thumb to distract her from the pain of the bloody gash scarring her left arm, and to distract herself from the pain of her loss. Jaora ceased her crying long enough to grab the finger with a strong little hand, and Tara managed a smile through her tears before fleeing the death-stricken chamber with the child in her arms.

V*V*V*V*V*V*V

Ama-Mer looked over the crowd gathered in the Council Hall, her formal robes rustling as she stood up from her seat on the dais. All eyes turned to her as the head of the Laborer Guild raised her hand to silence any whisperers before she began to speak.

"This Council is now in session," she announced, her voice echoing throughout the ancient chamber and she paused a moment before continuing. "I would like to open by announcing that I and my fellow Council members are severely grieved by the death of our fellow Eminence and head of the Thinker Guild, Eminence Var-El, and of Lieutenant Kara Lin-Do. May Rao accept their souls."

Ama waited as the crowd repeated the blessing in murmured agreement, a few bowing their heads in a moment of reverence for the deceased. Lieutenant Tara was among them, a blanketed bundle in her arms that she hushed occasionally - though the infant Jaora was half-asleep and completely silent despite the pain of her bandaged arm.

Ama carried on with her speech, "Long ago, this Council put up laws against natural procreation and procreation of offspring without a partner under Rao's blessing. For cycles, these laws have protected and prospered us. Yet despite the laws in place and the simple truth that Var was not joined with any partner under Rao, he still left this existence with a child. Some of you have called to our attention the disadvantages of allowing such a child to exist. After much consideration, this Council has decided to let Jaora Var-El continue to live as punishing innocence with death is a devastating crime in itself."

There was a murmur of disbelief, even righteous fury among the listeners that Eminence El would dare to break laws they held in such high esteem. But Res-Lor, the ancient head of the Mediator Guild, quieted then with a wave of his hand before inclining his head towards Ama, "The supply situation, Eminence Mer."

"Yes, the supplies," she nodded in agreement, turning back to her audience, "I am sure that most of you are aware that we have less than the usual amount in our food stores, but there is no need to be alarmed. We must only ration once more ou-"

"Do not lie, Ama!" For-Ul protested.

All eyes turned to stare at the frowning Warrior Guild commander. His brow darkened in a grimace as he rose from his seat on the dais to indicate the crowd, "These people deserve the truth and nothing but the truth. We are nearly out of food! Eminence El, may his soul rest with Rao, was working to repair the World Engine so that we might revive this desolate moon and grow crops. But with his death, we have lost much of his research on the matter. - it may take us years to have the World Engine operational again. We do not have years. Unless another solution can be found, we may have to resort to drastic measures."

There was a general gasp of disbelief and a few shouts of anger from the audience, and Tara tried not to be jostled by the uneasy movement of those around her. She clutched Jaora closer and hummed soothingly to distract herself from the horror of what Eminence Ul was suggesting, but she had known for a long time that the food would run out eventually. Still, the plain truth had caused a disturbance in the crowd and Res-Lor raised his voice to quiet them, "Listen, my children. There is no need to panic. Rao will-"

"Rao cannot help us, old one!" a man shouted, "A god that does not exist can help none!"

The throng froze to stare at the disbeliever, a few stepping quickly away from a man in battle armor bearing the crest of the House of Zar as if to distance themselves from what he was suggesting. He moved towards the dais, the crowd parting in fear to let him through - never in so many years had anyone dared to deny Rao, the wrath of the Great Provider too dangerous to incur.

"No one will help us in our hour of need, much less Rao!" the man spat as he mounted the steps of the dais, glaring menacingly at Res-Lor, "We are better off leaving this stinking outpost than to die cowardly in here!"

For-Ul stepped towards his soldier, attempting to turn away the aggressor, "Heks, what is the meaning of this? Get down!"

"Peace, For-Ul," Saola-Nu, head of the Artisan Guild said calmly, speaking for the first time, "We are a Council. We listen to all Kryptonians' thoughts and suggestions. You may proceed, Heks-Zar."

Heks nodded to her in thanks before turning to the rest of the council, "For hundreds of cycles we have waited on Krypton to send aid and supplies, but to what avail? Do you not understand? Krypton has abandoned us! You are fools to believe otherwise!" he scorned, "And fools deserve no food."

The Sapphire Guards standing expectantly nearby finally moved to dispel him, but stood down at a signal from For-Ul as the rest of the council watched Heks grimly. There was a long pause before Ama-Mer spoke up again, "This… is a delicate matter. I believe we will need more time to discuss-"

"Cowards!" Heks roared, pulling a blaster from his holster and promptly taking Ama's life. The shot echoed through the chamber and little Jaora tensed in her guardian's arms at the sound. For a brief moment, silence reigned, all eyes drawn to Heks, before someone screamed.

Chaos broke loose and the Sapphire Guards fought to remain in control of the situation, trying to calm the crowd while simultaneously attempting to arrest Heks-Zar. The madman only laughed harshly from atop the dais, casually removing For-Ul and a Sapphire Guard from existence as they moved towards him.

People swarmed out of the room, fleeing the wrath of the furious blasphemer. Tara was among them, but having been so close to the dais had trapped her at the rear end of the throng.

The infant in her arms threatened to cry as Tara held her closer, and the lieutenant felt someone grab her arm before pulling her sharply into an alcove away from the fleeing crowd. She managed a small shriek of horror before Heks silenced her with his gauntleted hand over her mouth, looking her over with a glare of approval before he smiled grimly, "The bastard will have to go, but you will make a suitable mate."

Heks removed his hand from her mouth as if to grab his blaster again, but Tara took advantage of the moment and screamed, hoping to gain the attention of the Sapphire Guards, before Heks cut off her cry for help by slapping her across the face.

"Enough of that!" he growled, "Scream again and I will kill the bastard!"

A concealed metallic dagger shot out to protrude from the gauntlet, forming a deadly weapon over his knuckles which he pointed at the infant in her arms. Jaora reached out to touch it, unafraid of the shiny thing, but Tara was horrified.

"Please, I will go with you, just let me give her to-"

Another shout rang out on the far side of the room, catching Heks' attention, and Tara did not hesitate to wrench herself from his grip and run for the nearest passageway.

She could hear him chasing after her, but she was light and swift on her feet, only hindered by the child clutched in her arms while Heks was weighed down by his armor. Even so, he was catching up.

Tara grasped Jaora close, searching for an escape from the madman. A sigil on the entrance arch above alerted her that she was entering the branch of the outpost that housed the Thinker Guild, but with each gasping breath, she knew there would be no one there to help her as nearly the entire population had been at the Council session to mourn their fallen Eminence.

A robotic aide hovered from around the corner and Tara recognized it as belonging to Thinker Thyr-Em, it's sensors immediately taking in and assessing the situation.

"Lieutenant Lin-Do! This way!" it directed her, unlocking a nearby door and she rushed through it into an indoor docking bay. The aide followed her, locking the entryway just as Heks reached it, and the blasphemer banged his fists on the solid door, demanding to be let in.

"Is everything all right?" the aide asked, turning to her, and Tara gave it a hard look before shaking her head.

"Heks-Zar murdered Eminence Mer and Eminence Ul, I believe. It all happened so fast, then he was chasing me and-"

Tara paused to tuck a loose auburn strand behind her ear to hide how shaken the encounter had left her, mentally berating herself for letting such weakness show. She was a lieutenant, damnit - a revered soldier in the ranks of her outpost's peacekeeping force, and no true warrior of Krypton should ever be given to any form of weakness, no matter how small.

With that thought, she brushed her panic aside and forced herself to smile reassuringly down at Jaora - who besides looking a little rumpled from her caretaker's brush with death was now silently watching the new surroundings with mild curiosity. Comforted that her charge was unhurt, Tara turned back to the aide, automatically falling back on the tactical instincts the warrior class was bred for, "We need to alert the Sapphire Guard to Zar's location before he-"

"I will kill it! I swear, I will kill that reprobate of a Kryptonian!" Heks roared from the other side of the door. Tara inwardly shuddered and once again had to force herself to carry on, looking around for any possible means of escape. The only other way out of the indoor docking bay was through the penetrable gravity shields that provided a sort of barrier against the harsh atmosphere outside, which after the loss of the World Engine had gradually become more and more inhospitable. Tara knew the air out there would sustain her long enough to reach another entrance back into the outpost, but the infant's small lungs would collapse within minutes. It was too great of a risk.

There was a speed-class dropship hovering sedately in the center of the room, not unlike the small ones in the Main Port of the outpost occasionally used for short flights and designed to be more compact than their heavy carrier-class counterparts, but the one Tara saw here appeared to have been modified. Stepping towards it, she shifted Jaora to her other arm and ignored Heks persistent oaths as she eyed the strange engine, an idea forming in her mind. Thyr-Em's aide had managed to open a communications module and was attempting to establish a connection with the Sapphire Guard when Tara spoke up, "Can we use this?"

The aide's liquid-geo display flickered as its sensors glanced at the ship.

"It is a phantom-drive dropship, modified by Eminence El to travel through space for remote delivery of cargo," it explained, "An older project - it was never fully completed or tested. The phantom-drive takes up a majority of the pressurized space, but you and the infant could fit…"

The aide paused and seemed to droop slightly in its hover, "No, it is incomplete. The life-support systems were only designed for non-sentients, with minimum heating and atmospheric compensation. You would not get very far before you suffocated."

There was a sudden silence as Heks pounding ceased, both the aide and Tara turning to gaze at the doorway suspiciously. The blasphemer could be heard muttering and his armor shifting on the other side when a small, red circle of hot metal appeared on the door. Tara recognized it immediately, nearly tripping in her haste to move away from the entryway, and Jaora let out a small cry at her aunt's distress. Heks-Zar, armed with his plasma firearm, had the capability of melting through the door, undoubtedly breaking through to keep his word in murdering the infant. Though now that Tara considered it, death from Heks-Zar would only be a result of the inevitable.

The child in her arms was already hated by many for reasons that could never be her fault - and if not Heks, some other Kryptonian might choose to end her life. Then there was the problem of the diminishing supplies, promising slow starvation for everyone, not just Jaora. There were so many odds stacked against the small child, so much that would do anything to take away the spark of life that breathed within her. Despite how much she denied it, deep down Tara knew the girl would not live to see her first cycle. And there was nothing she could do but give her a chance.

"You said the ship was designed with minimal life-support, as in it is not compatible with an adult ," she spoke up, addressing the aide.

"That is true, Lieutenant Lin-Do," it replied.

"What about a child?"

The robotic assistant paused at the console, turning slightly to face her.

"It would be a great risk, but with proper modifications to the atmospheric scrubbers and heating, it would be possible-"

"Ready the ship immediately," Tara commanded, "Make whatever modifications necessary before charting a course for the nearest inhabited planet in our archives - and for Telle's sake, open the damn cockpit!"

The aide hesitated only a moment before springing into action, removing a Command Key adorned with the insignia of the House of El from a nearby console and passing it to Tara before hurrying off to find the necessary materials.

Tara moved to the forefront of the small ship, finding the command panel where the main weapon port would have resided on a traditional dropship, but was now replaced by a makeshift bay door up into the helm. With a tap of her finger, the panel slid back to reveal a Key port - a small shield-shaped hole glowing expectantly, and it hummed as Tara partially inserted the Command Key.

The bay door opened as the aide appeared beside her, a few odd mechanisms and containers she did not recognize gathered in its tentacles, but she had no time to question their purpose as the aide immediately got to work modifying the atmospheric system within, and Tara climbed up after it.

It had been right - the space was extremely limited, barely enough for a seat and the steering console, but all that mattered was that it was enough for its precious passenger.

Tara removed her outer robe, clutching the child to her chest as she formed the garment into a small nest in the captain's seat. Humming soothingly, she laid Jaora down on the improvised bed, stroking the infant's cheek as she tucked her blanket up around her. Her niece moaned at being set down and threatened to cry, but something in her aunt's face made her keep silent and she only let out a small mewl as her aunt turned to leave. A pang of reluctance made her pause, taking a moment to leave a light kiss on the babe's forehead before quickly departing the small ship through the bay door below.

Tara took a deep breath, trying to ignore the growing line of molten metal forming on the door to the docking bay as she watched Officer Em's aide insert the last of a few sheets of exhalation filters.

"Is the passenger ready?" it asked, and Tara managed to nod before pressing the Command Key into the port completely, the panel covering it sliding back into place automatically.

The engines began to drone in response, glowing blue with the power of the phantom drive as the aide moved to a liquid-geo control panel against one wall of the docking bay, manipulating one of the hovering silver orbs to power up the ship. Tara stepped back as the engines hummed louder and the bay door began to slide shut with a low hiss. The last she saw of her sister's child was Jaora's stormy blue eyes shining in the light of the phantom drive.

"Destination set for inhabited planet Sol-Daemao," the aide alerted her, "Preparing for launch now, Lieutenant Lin-Do."

She nodded wordlessly and watched as the craft hovered above the docking bay floor. Heks was kicking at the door now, shouting incoherently as the sound of the engines drowned out his voice and the ship rose in the air.

Turning its dark nose towards the flat expanse of gray rocks and dust that formed their vast macro-moon, the ship hovered through the docking bay's gravity shields before Thyr-Em's aide entered a final command into the control console. The craft's engines flared a bright, spectral blue as it sped across the lifeless desert, building up velocity to launch itself into the black void above.

Tara watched with bated breath as it struggled to clear the thin atmosphere, shakily escaping into the ocean of space before it finally managed to steady its course. It seemed so delicate soaring through the dark sky, faint among the shining stars, until the phantom drive finally kicked in and the small ship along with its lone passenger disappeared in a flash of light.

Tara allowed herself a momentary smile at the victory, before turning back to the docking bay to watch as Heks broke through with a mighty roar.

"Tara Lin-Do!" he bellowed furiously, swatting aside the aide's attempts to halt him. She took a deep breath to steady herself and faced him only to be shoved to the ground with a blow from his smoking blaster. Tara cried out in pain, her arm bleeding through a tear in her thin casual armor as she struggled to crawl away from the madman. She grimaced as Heks grabbed her arm and pulled her violently to her feet, deep hatred darkening her gaze. He ignored the look, his grip on her tightening as he noticed the absence of the child.

"Where is it?" he growled low in his throat, cocking the firearm at his side "Where is the bastard spawn of El?!"

Tara lifted her chin defiantly, hope shining in her eyes as she answered, "She is far from here, free from our fate."

Heks snarled at the act of courage, raising his blaster again.

"You are an insolent woman, but I will soon beat that out- Aughhhh!"

Thyr-Em's aide had its tentacles wrapped around the blasphemer's shooting arm, disarming him with a shock of plasma energy just as Sapphire Guards stormed in through the hole carved in the door.

"Heks-Zar!" one shouted, leveling their staff to his throat, "By the order of Eminence Res-Lor, you are under arrest for murder and high treason!"

Tara was roughly released as Heks was forced into relinquishing his blaster and his victim before her tormentor was quickly shackled by the Guard. Still somewhat in shock over the whole situation, she could only watch as he was dragged from the indoor docking bay, shouting blasphemies at his captors. She ignored the remaining Guard questioning Thyr-Em's robotic aide, not making any attempts to speak to them knowing that they would come to question her soon, and instead took a deep breath to calm her pounding heart as she turned to look back at the black sky where Jaora had vanished.

"Forgive me, Kara," she murmured, "I pray to Rao they will accept her."

She turned to follow the Sapphire Guards out of the docking bay, ignorant to the flash of light in the dark expanse above the moon as a large ship appeared, still glowing from the effects of its phantom drive. It's markings identified it as the Black Zero .

V*V*V*V*V*V*V

The outpost was cold and silent, void of the usual sounds of life.

Inside, a body was slumped up against the curved wall of the South Passage, a blackened and bloody gash where his stomach should have been. More limp forms littered the floor, fallen in grotesque positions as they died and their lifeblood pooled on the burnished pewter floor, the crowds of dead growing in numbers towards the Council Chamber. The stench of death filled the room as the corpses began to rot, their souls already ascending to meet Rao. Except one.

Res-Lor lay on the dais beside his Council throne, a gaping wound cut through his robes to his chest while another injury bled on his forehead. His breaths were labored and far between as the ancient Kryptonian's lungs failed him. He murmured incoherently to himself, looking out over the carnage of his beloved home, before taking a final shuddering breath as the light left his eyes.

"Degenerate bloodlines," he repeated thoughtfully, and all was still.

Chapter Notes: Res-Lor's final words are a reference to Man of Steel, specifically Zod's entrance into the Council Room when he begins his coup and speaks to Jor-El about starting afresh. Zod believes that the reason for Krypton's demise was years of inbreeding and 'degenerative bloodlines', so one of the main tasks of his coup is to cut down any degenerative citizens to ensure the stronger and purer Kryptonians' survival. Faora briefly makes mention of this during her fight with Kal-El in the IHOP where she points out that as a member of the Warrior Guild, she was bred to have a specific personality that would be most beneficial to the Warrior Guild as a whole. Zod is the same way, bred for one purpose (also mentioned during the Battle of Metropolis) and without his purpose, he has nothing left. His purpose at the time of Krypton's demise is the same one he brought with him to Earth and the same one that started the coup - to ensure the survival of the purest bloodlines, which the members of Jaora's outpost are not. (And if you're wondering, Kal-El is not technically pure because he was a natural birth.)

This is actually a really neat and in-depth subject in the MoS fandom, centered around Krypton's evolutionary culture. I'd love to write something about it on my Tumblr to give a better analysis of it and when I do, I'll be sure to provide a link here.

Just for kicks, I have also made both a moodboard and a spotify playlist to commemorate this fic. Both were made by yours truly. Please enjoy and do not repost/use without permission of the creator. Unfortunately, the doc manager won't let me provide the links here, but they can both be found on the Ao3 edition of this fic, which there is a link for in my profile page!