There was a soft knock on the door, as Kara was finishing getting ready for the second day of negotiations. "Come in," she called as she put the last pin in her hair.
With a soft gliding sound, the door opened and Kara's Aunt Astra came into the room. She was dressed like a soldier, as ever, with her dark jumpsuit that had her house sigil stitched into it. "My dear niece," Astra started, coming over to embrace her in greeting.
"Good morning," Kara spoke with just a hint of scepticism. After the events of yesterday, she was rather suspicious of any interactions or signs of affection from her aunt and mother. She didn't doubt that they still loved her, but she did suspect they might have ulterior motives for being especially kind to her at the moment. "Is there something you need?"
If Astra heard the edge to Kara's tone, she didn't show it. Instead, Astra led Kara to the bed and sat down with her niece. "I wanted to have a quick word with you before we go back into the halls today." She paused, waiting for some acknowledgement from Kara. She gave none, so Astra continued, "I know you think we're against you, but we're not. You have to understand that your mother and I, and the other members of the council, have been dealing with the temperment of the Daxamites for so long. You've only struggled through a few years of the havoc they spread, where as we have dealt with decades of it."
Drawing in a deep breath to calm herself, Kara pulled her hands free of her aunt's supposedly comforting grasp. "But that is specifically why we need to be certain these talks are successful. We can't just keep passing the hatred of our worlds onto the next generation. It has to end somewhere. And if older generations can't handle it, perhaps they shouldn't be involved."
"You're very right, my dear niece, that's why you were brought in - so we could have another, younger opinion on how to solve and end this war. But we must seem a united front in the hall, standing in front of the Daxamites."
"But I can't agree with just arguing back and forth on these ridiculous demands that both sides seem to think they're entitled to!"
Astra gave a sympathetic look, but truthfully it just seemed condescending to Kara. "My love, don't you think we deserve some recompense for all the lives lost and hardships endured over so many years? Didn't seeing that battlefield make you want to have justice for our people?"
"That's my point though, we need to stop the fighting at any cost," Kara insisted.
"Would you let us accept their terms and be subject to those crude Daxamite Royals?"
"No! No of course not. But we have to be willing to compromise."
Astra reminded Kara that the prince had shown no signs of compromising yesterday either.
Knowing there was little use in arguing, Kara simply stood before motioning towards the door. "We better get moving, the meetings are going to start soon."
Giving a warm smile, Astra hooked her arm around her niece's and headed out towards the hall. Kara felt her stomach flop at the carelessness being taken with these talks, even by her own family. But she also had to trust that her family and the others knew best, after all they were the elected officials for a reason, right?
Mon-El had slept restlessly, once again, and his hair proved it in the morning. He glanced at the girl lying in his bed, still peacefully asleep, through the looking glass. It was nothing new for him, to drown out his mind with sex and alcohol, he'd been doing it since he was a teenager. His father had taught him actually, how to numb himself to the emotions that tried to clutter his brain. The Queen would never stand for an emotional husband or child, so Mon-El learned quickly from his father how to drown out whatever he was feeling, in order to push forward. He wished he could sleep as peacefully as the girl in his bed, and wondered absently if he ever would again.
For now, he had to get ready for the events of the day, and went to the bathroom to start. The shower had fixed the mess of hair, but it had done little to clear his cluttered mind. When he came out of the shower, the girl had already disappeared - likely Gareth's doing - so Mon-El proceeded in getting ready for another round with the Kryptonians.
He couldn't say he was particularly prepared or thrilled to return to the hall and receive another verbal beating from the self-righteous Kryptonians; but he figured he had to at least try. He'd have today and tomorrow to try and salvage this attempt for peace, but how to go about it was lost to him still. His parents refused to compromise, and the Kryptonians refused to bow. Gareth seemed to think that Kara would know what to do, but Mon-El wasn't so sure. She seemed to either side with her people against him; or at the very least have as little influence as he did.
Once dressed, he took a last swig of alcohol - thank goodness he had that at least - and headed out towards the hall. Gareth had been waiting outside the door for him and fell quickly into step behind him. The guard inquired in a delicate tone, aware of Mon-El's nervousness most likely, what the plan might be.
"I'm winging it," was his blunt reply. He could feel Gareth's disapproving look boring into his back, but did his best to ignore it. "Look, my parents won't honor any alliance I try to establish on my own, so my only real chance is finding a way to bring these crazy Kryptonians to their senses."
"Yes, but perhaps you should seek some advice in order to succeed in such an endeavour."
Mon-El knew what his friend was getting at, and he knew he was right. But he also knew that he probably had destroyed any chance of Kara actually helping him at this point. Still, he figured he should try. "I'll see about talking to her again today, but I don't know if it'll do any good. Satisfied?"
"Exceedingly," Gareth said flatly.
They made their way to the hall, glanced inside for Kara but upon seeing she was not there they decided to wait just outside for her to appear. Gareth stood stoically beside Mon-El, conscious of being watched and knowing his duty. Normally the prince would take pleasure at teasing his guard out of such a stance, but he figured it would be a little too risky, considering their surroundings. Although Mon-El did not truly fear for his life, he was conscious that it was threatened by being in such close proximity to the heads of state of the world that was trying to destroy his. After Bo, he was not in any hurry to risk the safety of his guards again. He pushed the thought of his friend away before it could overwhelm him, wishing he had finished that bottle this morning.
Then suddenly Kara was there, walking beside her mother (or was it her aunt?). Mon-El stepped forward as they drew closer, headed for the large entry into the hall. "Hi, uh, Captain?" It felt odd calling her that, but it seemed like the right choice with so many Kryptonian officials around - best to show the proper respect, he supposed. "Can I have a word?"
Kara and her mother (aunt?) turned towards him; one with a curious but clearly annoyed expression, the other with pure disdain. "It's time for the meeting, Prince Mon-El," Kara's companion informed him - as if he didn't know.
"I am aware. Please, just a quick word?"
Kara nodded and gestured for her companion to go on without her. "We'll be right in, Aunt Astra." The aunt gave a suspicious and bitter look towards Mon-El, but headed inside the hall. After she was gone, Kara crossed her arms and cocked her head at him. "So, now you're ready to hear what I have to say?"
He deliberated for a moment about telling her off for her attitude, but bit his tongue and shook the desire away. "Yes, maybe. My parents are being stubborn, and so I'd like to know if your people are planning on bending at all." He didn't pose it like a question, and it came out a little more demanding than he had meant, but he hoped she would help all the same.
There was a beat as Kara seemed to let his statement sink in, though she looked rather disbelieving. "There has to be compromise on both sides. I can't say my people are the most thrilled with your conditions-"
"Or mine at yours," he reminded her.
She gave him a look and continued, "But I'm trying to convince them to bend some. However, we're not about to just lay down our defenses and submit to your rule." She seemed unsure about something, but he couldn't quite make out as to why or what it was.
Mon-El ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
"Look, we can discuss this later, for now we are needed inside - where the real deliberations are taking place," she said with a wave of her hand towards the door.
"After you then."
The second day of negotiations were just as unproductive as the first day had been, Kara thought. Mon-El once again asked for some compensation for his world, and Kan once more shot him down at every turn. They were going to get nowhere if someone did not start making a compromise. However, Kara knew she did not have the power to overrule Kan and her mother, both who seemed adamant for these negotiations to fail. Halfway through the talks, Kara decided an attempt at a discussion with the other council members, alone, was the only hope she had. She decided to try and convince them to talk after dinner tonight. Thus when Kan finally released them all for the day, with no more progress made, Kara quickly made her way to Mag-Num and Astra to ask for their ears later. Though both seemed reluctant, Astra's agreement seemed to convince Mag-Num to agree as well.
It was late after dinner when Kara left to go meet the other two in one of the council rooms. There were several rooms that were most often vacant in the building, and all were open to any council member at any time. With an additional fear of being seen in the halls, and wanting to seem like this was not an underhanded task; it seemed wise to meet in one of said vacant rooms. They were almost all identical, plain rooms with seats lined along the walls.
Kara stepped into their designated room, and found that only Mag-Num had arrived before her. She greeted him and took a seat in the room. "We probably should wait for my aunt to arrive," she said, and he only nodded in agreement.
"Do you know what you're doing?" Mag-Num asked after a few moments of silent waiting.
Kara was slightly taken aback by his direct question. It didn't have malice in it, not really, it was more curious and concerned. "I'm working on it," she confessed. "But I know that we need to do something or these negotiations will be completely torn apart and we'll continue to fight each other for who knows how long."
He shook his head sadly. "You really don't know what your parents have been up to, I suppose." He looked over at Kara with a cold but almost sympathetic look. "You are so young and naive still."
"What do you mean? My parents are trying to help end the war, why do you say that like it's a bad thing?" She felt her face flush with anger, but tried to contain it in her tone.
"I support the end of this war, I think we all do. But I don't support how they're looking to go about it." His eyes grew cold and hard but in a flash the expression was gone, and his normal, bored face appeared again.
"What do-" Kara began, but was cut off by a greeting from her aunt in the doorway behind her.
"Please forgive my tardiness, I was caught up. But please, let's get started," Astra said, sounding strangely chipper. "What were you hoping to discuss with us, Kara?" She asked, taking a seat in the room and settling in.
Though tempted to finish the question she had begun before Astra's entrance, something in Mag-Num's suddenly blank expression told her not to. Instead, she began with what was hopefully a convincing argument to stand together and make the negotiations successful. As she continued to talk, however, she started to wonder if she was really talking to the right people. Perhaps she should have gone to Mon-El again. Astra continued to gently but stubbornly oppose Kara's idea to side with the prince on at least some points. "How could you suggest we side with him over your own people? Your own family?" she accused.
Kara raised her hands in half defeat. "I'm not saying we oppose the other members, I'm saying we encourage them to work with the Daxamite, rather than against him. He's treating this like a surrender, and so far we haven't been much better. If we want these talks to succeed, we have to start bending some - and hopefully he will too."
"I agree," Mag-Num said, much to Kara's surprise. There was a pause, as Kara hoped Mag-Num would say more, but when he failed to, Kara continued.
"Thank you, Mag-Num. I don't have an exact plan just yet, but I was hoping that if we worked together we could find a way to make these talks a success. Because at the rate they're currently going, there is no chance for a treaty to be struck."
If Mag-Num had anything more to say, he kept it to himself. Astra however, was ready to speak the moment Kara paused to look hopefully at her little audience. "I think it's a wonderful hope, Kara, but I do think we need a real plan before we make any move against the council. And at this point we don't have one, and the talks are soon to resume, and ultimately end. My dear niece, as great as your plan is, I don't think we'll be able to implement it in time. But your attempt at making this right proves you were the right choice for the council." When she had finished her own speech, Astra stood and patted Kara's shoulder before giving a pointed look at Mag-Num and heading for the door. "For now, I think it is time we all get some rest. If anyone has a true plan in the morning, we can meet again then."
She stood at the door, clearly waiting for the others to leave before she would. Kara was disappointed, to say the least, and had half a mind to fight her aunt right then, but she knew that set face on her aunt. There was no way she'd be able to get another full sentence heard. So, with a dejected nod, Kara agreed and walked to the door. "Just please, give it some thought tonight. And tomorrow, let's meet back here thirty minutes before the talks begin again," Kara said to the other two before heading down the hall. She would have a plan tomorrow, even if it meant staying up all night thinking on it.
It was nearly midnight, just as Kara was starting to give up hope when a very light knock sounded from her door. At first she thought she had imagined it, the sound was so soft. But then she heard it again, and went to see who could possibly be at her threshold at this time of night. To her surprise, it was Mag-Num, looking nervous for once. When she opened the door, he quickly slipped inside and closed the door again.
Kara opened her mouth to ask what was going on, when Mag-Num raised a hand to stop her. "I'm sorry for the intrusion so late at night, but I needed to tell you something and I wanted to be sure that I was not going to be seen," he paused and took a breath. When he spoke again, it was in a bitter but quick tone, somewhere between angry and fearful. "I found out about it not long ago myself, but when I did I started doing everything I could to stop it. I was opposed to your coming in, since it was clear they would try to keep you on their side, they are your blood after all. However, from what I've seen you have very different morals than your mother or aunt - meaning you actually have them. I don't truly know Astra's role in it, but I know she is not wholly opposed to it either.
"Two years ago your father started working on a genetic weapon. He led us to believe it would be helpful in bringing peace to everyone. He pitched it as if it were a cure, not a disease. But about two months ago, I found out what they were really doing - he and your mother. He has been doing the science, but she's been pulling the strings to convince the council that it will be a good choice when it is finished."
"I don't understand, what are they making?" Kara said when Mag-Num paused again. She was struggling to truly believe him, being that he was a known opponent to her mother already.
"I don't know all the details of it, but I do know it will kill anyone who is not Kryptonian. They're calling it Medusa."
Kara smiled and shook her head in disbelief, there was no way her parents could stand behind, let alone plot such a scheme. "No, no you have to be mistaken, my parents are good people. They work to help our people."
Mag-Num gave her a deeply saddened look. "Exactly. They work to help our people. Kryptonians. This war has been cruel on everyone, and your parents are desperate to save Krypton. But the trouble is, in their search for peace they lost their respect and regard for other species. I know how hard it is to be disillusioned by your family, parents especially. But please believe me, and help me fight this awful plan."
Taking a step backward and shaking her head again, Kara tried to settle on one emotion as her mind spun around and around. No, it had to be false. He was mistaken, or trying to turn her against her family for some plot of his own. "No, you're lying, you have to be."
Mag-Num opened his mouth to say something more but Kara cut him off.
"I don't want to hear anymore, now go," she said, waving a hand at the door and turning away from him. There was a moment of silence, and Kara suspected Mag-Num was going to say something more but then she heard his retreating footsteps and the soft woosh of the door opening. She turned back around reluctantly, a horrid feeling stirring in the pit of her stomach.
What if he had been telling the truth? What if her parents really had started planning something awful? In reality, it would make sense with the way they had both acted since she'd returned from the warfront. But they were her parents; the man that gave her sweets when she was younger during church services, the woman that had held her close when she cried over a skinned knee. They couldn't really be killers, could they? Then again, she knew how war could change people for the worse. She'd seen numerous soldiers come to the warfront wide eyed and passive, only to be sent home months later for torchering Daxamites to death. Still, she wanted to believe her parents were not capable of such a drastic change.
Mag-Num's words haunted her when she tried to sleep, and eventually she threw herself out of bed and back into some clothes. If she couldn't sleep, maybe she could at least do something to make tomorrow a success.
Mon-El heaved a sigh and flopped backwards onto his bed when his mother abruptly disconnected their call. He'd tried, he really had. He'd tried more than he had on anything else before so far. But still, he failed to convince his parents of a compromise. Reaching for the bottle of ale on the nightstand, he tried to not think about how disappointed everyone was going to be in him tomorrow. His parents expected him to fail, but they'd still be angry when he got back. The Kryptonians would be angry that the negotiations had failed, and worse was the thought of Kara's disappointment in him. She'd taken a risk for him when they'd first met, but now he was failing to repay her in kind.
He took a long swig of the ale, and let the warmth of the alcohol spread through his veins, grateful that Gareth had thought to bring it. Unfortunately, he only had this bottle left, but they would be leaving tomorrow, so it was of little concern. Plus, Mon-El had learned when he was younger that if he drank quickly and with little food, he did not need as much to get drunk. Thankfully he hadn't had dinner yet, so the bit of ale he had left would be just fine for his needs tonight.
Gareth came in when Mon-El was about halfway through the bottle, and already pleasantly numb to the world. "Gareth! You brought my new friend!" Mon-El exclaimed when he saw the woman from the previous night enter the room behind the guard.
"Be sure to get some rest, sir," Gareth warned Mon-El in a stern but comforting tone.
"You always treat me like I'm a little boy for you to care for. Why is that?" Mon-El slurred, wavering on the bed and welcoming the girl to come join him.
There was a pause, as Gareth started sweeping the room in search for any dangers to his prince. "It's my job," he reminded Mon-El simply. But when he was done, he moved slowly to the doorway leading to his own chamber, once there he paused. Looking towards Mon-El, who was now gladly wrapping his arms - that felt somewhat like jelly, he thought - around the girl in his bed. So softly and gently that Mon-El figured he must have imagined it in his alcoholic state, Gareth confessed, "Besides, someone has to help you be the king you're meant to be, not just the blindly loyal soldier your parents want you to be." Mon-El had to of imagined that though, because when he tried to really concentrate and refocus his eyes on the doorway, where he thought Gareth had stood, there was no one there. Mon-El shrugged it off though - easily done when he felt so loose and confused by the ale - and returned to enjoying the feel of the person beside him.
Later, after the alcohol had saturated his bloodstream, and his head was thoroughly swimming, he found himself drifting off to what he hoped would be a restful sleep.
The following morning, he jolted awake, however, covered in a cold sweat. Instead of nulling his dreams, the alcohol had heightened the memories and twisted them into an even more horrifying sequence of events that night. How he would ever get over these dreams, he had no idea. He reached out for his companion, but found nothing but cold and empty sheets. The woman must've left some time ago, maybe just after he'd fallen asleep even.
Rubbing his hands over his face and through his mussed hair, he sat up and began the process of getting ready for his coming failure in these negotiations.
Standing at her podium, Kara watched silently, trying to keep her breathing in check as everyone filed into the room. She had met with her aunt and Mag-num earlier, but once again to no avail. She hadn't mentioned anything about Mag-Num's claim about her parents; she wasn't sure why but something told her not to. So she'd kept the secret, and instead eyed Mag-Num carefully, looking for some sign or reason to trust him. But he sat quietly with his stoic and bored face, just the same as always.
Kara rubbed her stinging eyes before adjusting her stance as the last of the representatives entered the hall. She'd spent most of the night in the reading hall, searching for something that would help her, and had come up with next to nothing. She'd only really discovered that the accounts of how the wars started was different in nearly every text she opened, they all would only agree that the Daxamites started it. But that was of little surprise, since she'd heard varying accounts her whole life as to what started the feud between the two worlds.
She tried to push away the guilt rising in her chest at the strong possibility that these talks were going to fail. Although she'd tried, she didn't know if she had really tried hard enough. All those soldiers out on the battlefields, dying even as she stood in the hall, could be saved if she only knew how to fix the rift between the two worlds. But the other counselors seemed set on keeping the two worlds at war, and it made her wonder why they would ever even attempt peace talks if they weren't willing to compromise.
The meeting was called to order, and the conversation began just as it had the last two days - with arguments on both sides. The guilt inside of her chest thickened and threatened to cut off her breathing if she didn't act soon, didn't make one last attempt at salvaging things. It had become clear that despite his ill attempt and lack of compromise, the prince did want to make these talks work as well. But he was a captive in his own world's politics just as much as she was to her world's.
Mon-El grew more weary and frustrated as the day wore on, and his guard seemed to be giving him reassuring words every now and then. But eventually, Alura spoke up to silence the clatter of another heated argument about some foolish demand. Everyone looked over as her mother leaned down to hear something one of the Kryptonian guards whispered in her ear. Then, as if she had been shocked with lightning, Alura stood straight up and covered her mouth with her hands in a clear sign of shock.
Slowly lowering her hands, and wearing one of the most frightening looks of anger Kara had ever seen on her mother, Alura turned back to look at Mon-El. Astra let out a small huff of boredom, shifting her weight on her podium next to Kara's.
"Do Daxamites really care so little for the lives of others?" Alura asked in a scathing and accusative tone.
Mon-El looked as confused as ever, and put his hands on his waist, shifting his weight around. "Excuse me? I care very much for the lives of others. Why else would I come here and try to discuss peace with-" but he was cut off by Alura's clipped remark.
"You care about no one but yourself, clearly." Alura nodded and the silent guards that had been standing in various corners of the room motionless until now, swarmed around Mon-El and his royal guard.
The tallest of Mon-El's guards moved first, barking orders at the others as they circled the panicking prince and stood waiting for the others to attack. They all stood frozen in warrior stances, ready to fight and defend against the other.
"What is this about? This is a hall of peace!" Kara exclaimed, unable to help herself. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Just a few moments ago there was arguing, but she never expected it to turn into a brawl like it threatened to now.
Her mother, and the other members of the council looked over to Kara, but said nothing. Alura sent her a silencing look, before turning back to the Daxamite. "Mon-El, Prince of Daxam." The way her mother sneered his title and name made Kara's skin crawl. "You and your guards are placed under arrest to await trial for the rape and murder of Sah Krif-El." And with another nod of her head, the Kryptonian guards descended upon the Daxamites.