Mon-El struggled against the guards, looking nervously about for any sign of Gareth, but there was none. He hoped he hadn't just gotten another one of his friends and guards slaughtered because of his reckless behavior.
The Kryptonian guards shoved him forward as they led him forcefully towards some unknown location - though he could certainly guess. They were headed down a lonely hallway that looked just like all the others in the maze that was Krypton's architecture. But he could still hear the cacophony of angered voices back in the meeting hall, echoing down the corridor.
"You know, if you let me go I could get you some alcohol. I'm sure you boys wish you had some on this dry planet, right?" Mon-El couldn't help but joke, despite the bleak outlook of things, it was his natural reaction. Still, the joke fell flat and was only half hearted on his part anyway.
"Shut-up, Daxamite," one of the guards commanded with an extra shove - clearly a woman, Mon-El noted by the sound of her voice. A part of his brain registered that having a female guard was a very Kryptonian thing to do, since there were of course no women in the Royal Guard on Daxam. Women weren't good followers, according to his parents.
"Could I at least get the alcohol from my room for myself, then?" he continued to tease, unable to stop himself.
The guards didn't respond, only pushed him a little harder forward towards their unknown destination. Mon-El vaguely tried to remember the route they took, but all the halls here seemed the same: long, white, and plain. He tried to calm his increasingly agitated nerves, but was having little success. Normally he had his alcohol and sex to take care of these matters, but right now he had little hope of seeing either again anytime soon - if ever.
Finally they reached a door, which looked the same as all the others, and the guards halted in front of it before unlocking it. Mon-El dimly noted that it was a biological lock, which certainly made any hope of escape more challenging. The door opened to a descending set of narrow stairs, which they awkwardly went down - Mon-El was held between the two guards as they walked in a jolting manner down the steps together.
When they finally reached the bottom, there was another door and then a set of half a dozen cages. "Oh wow, this is such a nicer set up than my other accommodations," Mon-El mocked, earning him yet another hard shove forward.
Reaching one of the barred cages, they tossed Mon-El in, locked the door and turned to leave without ceremony. "Thanks for the great room, guys! I feel so special," he called after them in Kryptonian.
The one who had spoken before, the woman, turned around irritably at the door. "Anytime. It's fitting for an animal like you, Daxamite," she spat at him before shutting the door violently.
The room was engulfed in darkness for a few moments before a dim light began to glow from above the cage. It was barely enough light to see a foot or two in front of him, even as his eyes started to adjust.
"Well this is a great turn of events," he mumbled to himself, sitting on the floor with a resigned sigh.
Kara's mind spun as she saw the Daxamites be marched out by the Kryptonian guards. "What the hell is happening?" she demanded, turning on her aunt. She could see her mother stepping off the podium, an alarmingly victorious look on her face.
Astra simply shrugged. "It would seem the prince acted violently against our laws, and is now going to answer to said crimes." She sounded bored and uninterested, despite the half-hearted attempt at an astonished expression.
Something was clearly wrong, and Kara was highly suspicious that her family was behind it. Looking to Mag-Num, Kara saw the council member was just as surprised as Kara - or at least was acting so. Kara watched as her mother moved to the center of the room, where the Daxamites had been moments before. Whispers and shouts spread through the representative booths behind her. There was no way her mother was going to get away with all of this.
Alura raised her hand and a hush spread across the room. "We have let an enemy into our city, and in doing so have invited violence and harm to come to our people. I had hoped, as I am certain many of you did, that these negotiations would bring an end to the war with a peace treaty. Now we must raise our guards once more, as the Daxamites are sure to retaliate for our capture of their prince. However, we cannot release him without seeing to it that he faces justice for his crimes, according to our laws."
Whispers of agreement spread through the room, and Kara was at a loss of what to do. She refused to believe Mon-El, the foolish but seemingly caring person that he was, could commit such a heinous crime. But it's not as if she had known him that well or for very long. She had known her mother all her life, and yet she now was questioning her mother over the word of a Daxam born. Kara's head hurt from all the confusion she was facing.
"Have no fear, my fellow representatives. We will see to speaking with the family of the deceased and make inquiries about her death before we begin the trial of the Daxamite. But make no mistake, he will pay for his actions," Alura continued, and the anger that was written across her face sent shivers down Kara's spine. She could not remember her mother ever looking so cruel and cold before, for she had always been so kind and gentle to Kara. She knew the war had changed them, it had changed everyone on Krypton, but it was hard to see how drastically they had changed in the two years she had been deployed.
Kara struggled to find a way to help Mon-El, to help save the peace treaty. But from all accounts it was clear that no peace was going to be had today, or even within a month. The Daxamites were sure to retaliate for having their prince put in a cell. The only thing Kara could hope to do now was to avoid provoking the Daxamites any further. With that idea in mind, she cleared her throat and spoke up. "We should see to it that the Daxamites have proper treatment during their imprisonment, however, so as to avoid any further anger from the Daxam Royals." She took a pause as chatter arose through the hall. Why treat a Daxamite any better than a dog after he killed one of ours? Kara saw her mother about to respond, but she continued before Alura could start. "The royal family entrusted us to care for their prince, and we still have to honor that. We must show Daxam what civility is, even if they will not obey it themselves. If we lose sight of our democracy, our honor, our kindness, then why bother trying to save our planet and people from the Daxamites? If we stoop to their levels, then we will lose our own way."
There was a hushed murmur in the hall, but most seemed to reluctantly agree with Kara's words. "Of course, we will see to it that the Daxamites are treated fairly and justly while they are in our custody," Alura finally said. Her words were agreeable, but her eyes revealed her anger to Kara.
Though they had agreed for now, Kara knew she'd need to keep a close eye on Mon-El and the treatment of the Daxamites. She was quickly learning that the council and its members were not all they appeared to be at a glance. Still, she was thankful that at least they would keep a pretense on treating the Daxamites well - for now.
With little left to share or say until the trial began, the hall was quickly emptied and everyone continued on to their normal tasks. Kara, having only been brought back for the peace treaty, suddenly realized that she might be released back to fight in the field once more. If that was to be the case, she would have to find someone she trusted to watch over Mon-El and his guards. She was starting to rethink her distrust for Mag-Num, but was still wary of what his intentions were.
After returning to her room, Kara decided that it was likely time to start researching the laws and procedures of murder trials. They hadn't happened very often when she lived in the city, and she honestly barely remembered much of the law process anyway. Her mother was a judicator, but Kara was always too young to really know the details behind the trials Alura had worked. As a child, she had always paid more attention to what her Aunt Astra was working on in the Military Guild - it was why she had joined said guild instead of the judicial when she came of age. Pulling out her holocrystal, she began her research on the judicial procedures.
It was several hours later when Kara heard a knock on her door. Stretching her tired and stiff limbs, she made her way to the door. Mildly surprised to see Mag-Num standing before her, Kara welcomed him inside her room. "What can I do for you councilor?" she asked warily. Her research combined with the morning's events had left her tired and drained, she was not in a mood to put up defences and play mind games. Though Mag-Num did not seem nearly as much of a snake in the grass as her parents now did, she still had been raised to be on guard around the councilor that had always made Alura so frustrated.
"Do you mind if I sit?" he asked, gesturing to the chair and desk in the corner that was opposite her bed. Kara nodded and he sat with a heavy sigh. "You may want to take a seat yourself, Captain."
"It's general, now."
He inclined his head but said no more until Kara sighed and took a seat on the end of her bed.
"Now then, I would ask that you wait for me to be finished before you decide to ask any of your questions. This is not a story I take lightly in discussing, and it's not one I would recommend you tell anyone either."
Mon-El was tired and glum, sitting in his cell and contemplating his solemn existence. There was no daylight in the cell, which meant he had no idea how long he had been trapped down there either. When in the world was he ever going to get out, and even if he did, how was he going to save his companions? Though he knew his parents would save him, he now worried about Gareth, or the other two Daxam Guards that had come to this planet with them. "Hey, can I get some ale?" he was only half serious, but the bored guard that stood inside the room, leaning on the door scoffed and banged the door to be let out. There was little to tell if they were going to get him ale, or just tired of standing guard pointlessly - it wasn't like Mon-El was going anywhere.
A few minutes later, his question was answered by the guard tossing a pitcher of ale on top of him. "What the-" he screeched and stumbled to his feet. The cold liquid saturated his clothing in the stench of ale, and it weighed down the fabric in frustrating ways.
"There, now you look and smell like a Prince of Daxam," the guard said as they laughed and returned to their post.
Mon-El smirked and licked at the liquid dripping from his hair and face. "Oh don't fool yourself, this isn't Zacarian Ale, this is some cheap knock off. But I suppose it's all you prudes can really stand to have, right?"
The guard let out a disgruntled noise before muttering, "Shut up, drunk."
He tried to let the stench of the ale wash away his troubles, but it really didn't work as well as drinking it would have. So he resigned himself to an uncomfortable and dull existence until his parents came to get him. Afterall, there was no doubt in his mind that his parents would come to retrieve their only son from the Kryptonians.
It was nearly dawn when Kara slipped from her room and quickly but silently made her way to where the Daxamite Prince was being held captive. The guards were nodding off against the wall, clearly bored and ready for their shifts to be over. She would only have a few minutes with the prince, but it would have to be enough. She straightened her shoulders and marched forward towards the guards. They stood straight when they saw her and bowed their heads in greeting.
"Good morning, I'd like to confront the prisoner on behalf of the council," she said in her most authoritative voice. The two guards glanced at each other but made no verbal objection before stepping aside to let her through. She stepped quickly through the dark threshold and into the prison celler. There was a guard inside, but which left without argument upon her request.
She was assaulted by the stench of ale the second she stepped down into the room. "What in the name of Rao-what is that smell?" she said, covering her nose and trying not to gag.
"The stench of democracy," was the cold and bitter reply. "Come to throw some more at me?"
Kara stepped forward, and in the dim light could just make out Mon-El's figure, stretched out and leaning against the back of his cage. "The guards threw ale on you? Where did they even get it?" she asked.
"Wait, is that the princess?" he asked, leaning forward and squinting at her. "What in the world are you doing here?" He seemed vaguely amused but mostly astounded at her presence.
"I want to know your side of the story."
"What story?" he scoffed.
"The story that got you into this cage," she said, starting to doubt his ability to comprehend the severity of his crimes. "You know the punishment for murder is death, right? And you being a Daxamite only amplifies their motive to kill you. So if you want help getting out of this situation, I suggest you start talking to me."
He was quiet for a moment, clearly weighing his options in his head. "Well, what can you do to help me anyway? I thought you were just a pawn, and besides that, I thought you hated me too."
"I don't hate you, I just don't trust you," she admitted. "Yet."
"I still don't see why you would risk yourself to help me."
"Because we have to do what's right-for your people and mine." She hesitated before adding, "Even if that means helping someone I'm still suspicious of."
He scoffed and leaned his head back against the bars. "Guess I shouldn't complain if you're gonna actually try and get me out of here. But I still don't see how you're going to manage that."
"Leave that up to me. Now, are you going to tell me your side of things or not?"
"Not sure what there is to say. I slept with that girl, we had a good night, and then she left the next morning - unharmed."
"Were you drinking?" Kara asked, dubious that there wasn't something he was leaving out.
He half surprised her by laughing. "Would it be a good night without some drinking?"
Kara stiffened. "As a matter of fact yes. And you should know that drinking isn't allowed in the senatorial buildings."
He waved a dismissive hand at that. "You prude Kryptonians."
She bristled at his criticism, but moved past it. "How did you find her?"
Clearly she had asked the question he was most dreading, because he shifted and squirmed where he sat. Running a hand through his hair and pretending to be unperturbed he asked, "Why does that matter?"
She just glared at him, not justifying his question with an answer.
He laughed, trying hard to brush his insecurity off. "Gareth found her?" He said it almost as if it was a question for her. Would she buy it? No, she wouldn't. "Okay, it was some advert that Gareth had of sex workers. So shoot me."
"Oh, trust me, I'm tempted to. Bringing a sex worker into the senetorial building and drinking? WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? Oh, that's right, you weren't, you were too busy getting your fill of drinks that rot your brain and passing out with women!"
"They're not always women," he mumbled, amused at Kara's outburst and red face.
Kara shook her head in disbelief and tossed her arms. "I can't believe you aren't taking this more seriously."
He scoffed. "My parents will get me out before anything serious happens, I'm sure of it."
She let out a calming sigh and ran her own hand through her hair. "Look, I don't know how to say this in a way that will make you believe me but… Your parents are not coming to save you. Mag-Num didn't give me all the details, but it seems there's a huge plot to extend this war and your death is apparently at the center of it."
Mon-El let out a bark of laughter. "Sure, princess."
"I'm serious."
He looked her in the eye then, seeming to search her face, and whatever he found there must have convinced him because he let out a broken laugh and banged his head back into the bars. "Well," was all he said after releasing a huff of air.
They sat in silence for a beat, but when Kara heard the guard shift outside the door she was shaken back into focus. "Look, we need to find a way to get you out of here and then to set the story straight."
"Okay, so what's your plan, princess? Because my parents bailing me out was my plan."
She sucked in a deep breath. "I have an idea, but you're not going to like it."
"Of course not," he smirked.
Two hours later, Kara stood in another hall, waiting to file inside with the rest of the onlookers that had come to find out what would happen to the Daxam scum. There were whispers all around her about what vile deed had taken place to lead to this, accusations of how terrible the Daxamites were, and horror stories that people had heard from the battlefield. Some of the rumors were just that: rumors. But some of the stories and whispers about Daxam were ones that Kara had once believed and even spoke of herself, though now she was unsure what to believe or think about the Daxamites. Could one wayward Prince of Daxam really be so evil? Or could he really be that misunderstood? She was so unsure, and it made her head spin. Still, she knew if she did nothing to help the situation, then they would all surely be doomed - Daxam and Krypton alike.
When they all were finally inside the Judicial Hearing room, Kara stood among the other Kryptonians, pushing her way eagerly to the front and ignoring the dirty looks she received. This was more important than etiquette. Plus, she was a consul member, that gave her a sense of priority and duty to see the whole court case from a decent angle - at least she believed so.
Most trials were held in a private chamber, with only the official juror and maybe a group of peers or elders in the room. However, because this was such a high profile, important and public affair, the courtroom was opened to a wider audience. Though they were allowed to be there, and had the right to pose questions throughout the trial, only rarely did anyone ever ask a question from the audience in these trials. They were usually there to observe, not to interfere in it. Kara, however, had different plans this time, and felt almost certain that she was not the only one in the room that had questions to pose.
The room buzzed with motion and talk until her mother appeared in the doorway. Everything fell silent and all eyes turned to Alura as she climbed the three steps to her perch above the room and motioned for the convicted to be led in. Kara watched with bated breath as they led Mon-El into the room, placing him and three other Daxamites that were presumably his guards in a line below where her mother stood, facing them out to the audience. A low murmur of whispers spread throughout the room, and it was clear everyone was itching for a heavy sentence on the Daxam born.
Kara felt a shiver of shame run through her spine. Just a month ago, she would have been of the same mind as these Kryptonians around her. But now, it seemed so vile and cruel to judge them based solely on the rumors that had always been spread about Daxamites. Had any of these people ever actually had a conversation with a single Daxam born in their life? She knew with almost certainty that none of them had. But it was the order of things: Daxam born killed Krypton born, and Kryptonians were above Daxamites, and Daxamites were all thought of as vile beings that enslaved others and were not worthy of Krypton's kindness. But if they didn't give an opportunity to change to everyone, then what made Kryptonians better than Daxamites? Daxamites were raised a certain way, and who were they to damn them all without a second chance at learning to be better? She had to believe that there was some hope for these four individuals to be good people too, or else there was no hope for any of them.
"Now that we have all gathered, we shall hear the deeds that these men in front of us have been accused of," Alura said, gesturing to a man on the side of the room. The man was dressed in common Justice Guild robes, which identified him as an official member of the guild but not a ranking Juror like Alura.
The man stepped forward, clearing his throat before reading from his holocrystal. "The accused are as follows: Mon-El, Prince of Daxam, is accused of raping young Sah Krif-El, and subquential consperecy to murder her. Gareth, Den, and Termin, servants and guards of Daxam Royalty, are accused of consperacy to rape and subsequential murder of Sah Krif-El." The man looked up from the holocrystal and bowed to Alura before stepping back again.
Murmurs trickled through the crowd around Kara. Though the accused was a relative of hers, Kara wasn't sure she had ever even met the girl. House El was huge and there were far too many members for Kara to know all of them. Most were in the Justice or Science guilds, but some were of lower ranks that moved between guilds and were essentially servants to whoever would pay them. From all Kara could tell, Sah seemed like one such servant. Alura tapped the podium in front of her to call attention back and began her own speech about what was right and wrong on Krypton. Everyone in the room knew the laws by heart, but the Daxamites didn't; for they were foreigners on this planet.
The way Alura was leading the crowd, she seemed to believe that the Daxamites should be held to complete accountability. Still, something seemed off to Kara. Normally, when a foreigner commits a crime against one of their laws some leniency was given, considering the foreigner may not have known the laws. But Alura seemed to suggest that no Daxam should be shown any mercy or leniency for crimes committed - on or off the battlefield, it would seem.
When Alura finally allowed the Daxamites to plead their own cases, Mon-El opened his mouth to speak up but his head guard, Gareth spoke first. "Madame, people of Krypton. I apologize deeply for my actions, and for that of my men. Although the Prince is our leader, I was defiant and decided to take advantage of Sah Krif-El. It was my idea to bring the ale from our planet, and to share it with the girl, who could not stomach it. She was drunk after a few sips, and her death was my doing. I was angry and I took it out on her, I am sorry." The guard hung his head in a look of shame.
Kara looked to Mon-El, but the prince was stunned into silence and only stared blankly at his companion. He was clearly unsettled and scared, by Kara's estimation. His man was taking the fall for his own stupidity, and Mon-El was wrestling with himself on how to handle such a notion. Just stick to the plan, she thought, desperately hoping he would.
Alura's anger at the guard's honor in taking the fall was poorly concealed. "But you admit that it was the prince himself who raped and ordered the killing of the girl, yes?" she prompted, looking disdainfully down on the Daxamite.
The guard turned to Alura and bowed in a sign of respect. "Ma'am, I am sorry to say that he had sex with her. But his interaction was arranged by me, and I believe that makes it my fault by your laws. The prince was not aware that what he was doing was wrong, but I did know and should have prevented it. I did not, because I wanted to see my prince injured. However, now, standing before you all, I must admit my crimes."
Whispers circled around Kara as her heart sank. Though the guard was certainly helping Mon-El's case, he was condemning himself completely. His story was fabricated, Kara could tell by the look on Mon-El's face and the extreme loyalty Gareth presented. But, it was a clever tale, for it would satisfy the people's rage and prevent too much outrage from the Daxam Royals. It meant Mon-El's execution was unnecessary, but Gareth's was now inevitable.
Kara could see the struggle on Mon-El's face, for he so clearly wanted to argue. But any attempt to do so in front of the Kryptonians would only lead to all of them being blamed for the full brutality of the crime. Mon-El must have realized this, for he stayed silent, letting his frustration playout on his face instead. There was no saving Gareth now; Mon-El and Kara knew it, there was only saving the prince and making Gareth's sacrifice worth something.
Kara ducked her head in shame when Mon-El looked over to her. Was this your plan all along, his face screamed at her. No, this had not been part of her plan, but she could tell that he was directing his anger at her, and maybe he was right to do so. It might not have been part of her plan, but Gareth's confession certainly helped to buy time for her plan to succeed. She had warned him that he wouldn't like her plan, because this was about more than just one life or one sacrifice. This was about saving both of their worlds from utter destruction and eternal warfare.
"Though normally this would be a time to ask for any questions for the accused, the Judicial Guild has decided to not allow such questions with this particular case. It is to ensure order and clarity for us all that we will avoid such open questions on a group of Daxamites today." Alura spoke with clarity and an air of justice, as if anyone who questioned her was being ludacris. Though Kara had never noticed it before, she now was struck with how quick her mother was to snuff out any questioning with her aura of authority. Kara had always thought of her mother as a wonderful leader, as a fair and just person, but now she began to see her mother as a tyrant that was simply careful with their show of power. Had Kara really followed her mother so blindly before - like everyone else in the room seemed to be doing now, nodding along with Alura's sudden decree.
Alura did a poor job of concealing her disappointment in Gareth's confession though. Clearly she had wanted to blame the prince, as most of the crowd had. "Well, with this truth exposed we shall be forced to render the guards of the Prince of Daxam responsible for this unjust death. Although a wrong is never made right by another wrong, the normal sentence for such a crime would commit you to outlawry and becoming an outcast to all our societies. However, being a foreigner, that will not be sufficient. Thus, it is with a heavy heart that I am forced to sentence you and your men to death. We must do what is right for the universe and all worlds, which is to prevent any other crime like this from being committed. Therefore, tomorrow you three shall be released to Rao." She shifted and looked down to Mon-El.
"As for the prince, we will continue your trial tomorrow," she declared before stepping down and motioning for the room to be cleared.
It felt like hours but could have only been thirty minutes for all he knew, before Mon-El heard Kara talking to the guards outside the cage room. If she thought he was going to talk to her, she had another thing coming her way. Mon-El's last friend and companion was being sentenced to death tomorrow, and she had done nothing to stop it. Was this a part of her plan? Maybe she was just manipulating him, and he was a fool for believing she would risk anything to help him and his people. Kryptonians were loyal to their own, they didn't know anything about loving, they were just cold people with huge egos.
He leaned against the bars and closed his eyes, ready to ignore her when she walked in. "Mon-El, I'm sorry," she said as she came down the steps to see him. He made no acknowledgement of her, and he could just picture her face tightening with annoyance. "Mon-El, I'm trying to help you and your people, and we'll work out some way to save Gareth too, okay?"
He kept his eyes closed but scoffed, "Whatever you say, Princess."
There was a beat of silence, and Mon-El wondered vaguely what expression was on her face-but he didn't care enough to open his eyes yet. "Don't you care that your men are being executed?" she finally asked, and his eyes flew open.
He let his frustration and rage saturate his tone and facial expression. "Why would you assume that I didn't? I don't want to see my people hurt anymore than you would want your people hurt. But the crimes they're accusing us of are all false, and even if they weren't there is no way your court will let us leave this planet again." Hot tears were boiling underneath the surface, but there was no way he was going to show that to this Kryptonian.
He saw a flicker of sympathy cross her face before she put her hands on her hips and stood firm. "Well, then why aren't you trying to do something about it? I'm risking my career coming down here to talk with you and you're fine with just sitting back and not helping!"
"Don't fool yourself that you're doing any of this for me. We both know you're just looking out for your own race, and don't really care what happens to me and mine." Fire and rage flushed Kara's face, and Mon-El smirked at having gotten such a rise from her. "You're not as high and mighty as you like to think you are, Princess."
Kara took a step back and clenched her fists before she responded. "I want to help the people on my home planet be safe and free. I don't care if they are Daxamite or Kryptonian or Martian or whatever else might come. What I care about is that all people are welcome here and made to feel safe by the people they are around. If that is not something you agree with, tell me now and I'll walk out of this room and let you face whatever fate awaits you in the court tomorrow." She paused, putting her hands on her hips and waiting for a response from Mon-El.
His face was set in a hard look, but it was softening quickly as her words started to sink in. Could she really be that caring? Were there really people - Kryptonians even - that wanted nothing but peace and prosperity for the others around them, not just because it was convenient for them? His parents had always taught him that people - especially Kryptonians - only worked to make themselves happy, that you had to fight for yourself in this world. No one was going to help you do anything because it was a man eat man universe. That's why slavery existed, because it was the only way to make sure you were on top and not the other guy. Was a Kryptonian actually showing him a new way of living and existing?
"Fine, forget it," she said and tossed her hands up in exasperation before turning towards the door.
"Wait! Don't go! Please, I just-" he stuttered to a stop, not sure where to go with his plea. He took a deep breath and stood to stand against the bars of his cage. "I just don't know how to be the type of person you are. I've never met someone so set on being good." She turned around with a skeptic look, but the look of desperation or innocence on Mon-El's face must have convinced her because she came back to stand in front of him again. "Please, I need your help; I just don't know how anything can be changed."
She smirked and made a scoffing sound. "That's because you're clearly a defeatist, and I am an optimist," she teased. "I'll show you the way, just don't shut me out, okay?"
He dropped his head and made a bowing gesture. "I am but your humble servant, Lady Zor-El."
That got an actual laugh out of her, and he looked up to see a beautiful light in her blue eyes. He suddenly had a desperate desire to keep her smiling like that for the rest of his life. But the smile faded quickly when the guards made a sound outside that brought them both back to their current reality. "First thing, is we need to find a way to get you out of here," she said seriously. "I'm not sure how we are going to work it, but tomorrow you have to be on your best behavior. My mother will exploit anything she can to convince everyone that you're the real evil in this world."
"Don't need to tell me that twice," he grumbled. "How are we going to help Gareth and the other two guards?"
Kara bit her lip. "I honestly don't know. But I'm open to ideas, because if they are innocent then it's not right for them to be executed."
Mon-El gave her a dubious look. "Not much in this universe is right, Princess."
She gave him an equally skeptic look. "I'm fully aware, but we shouldn't just sit back and accept that. We have to try and make as many right choices as we can, otherwise what's the point? Also, I'm not a princess and you know it."
He shrugged, "You act like one though, so it still suits you."
Kara rolled her eyes.
"I suppose a dramatic rescue at the last minute would be too much to ask?" he joked.
The way she shifted in her stance, he could almost see the lightbulb go off above her head. She grinned as the wheels continued turning in her head, and her eyes darted around. Mon-El repressed a laugh because she looked so flustered and pleased with herself, which was certainly a sight. "Are you going to share your revelation with the rest of us, Princess?"
Kara clapped her hands together and looked directly at Mon-El. "A last minute rescue is exactly what we are going to do!"
He gave her another dubious look.
She waved her hand. "Hear me out, okay?" She began pacing and gesturing with her arms as she quickly explained how she would interrupt the execution and would bring out some new fact - something made up, but reasonable that they would make a stay of execution. And with the execution delayed, people would start to question more why there would be such a rushed trial and the Judicial Guild would be forced to either release or re-try each Daxamite separately - as they are normally required to. The separation of guilt and the multiple trials would buy them at least two more weeks to review; giving Kara and Mon-El time to plan a proper way of getting them acquitted and returned safely back to Daxam.
Mon-El considered her plan carefully. He had to admit, it had some merit, but there was so much still to figure out. "I don't know, it seems risky," he muttered.
"I thought Daxamites loved taking risks?"
He couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. "I suppose that's true. Still, what kind of evidence are you going to present them with that will convince them to stay the execution?"
Clearly he had asked the question she was hoping he would ignore. "I don't know, not yet. I'll go do some research and figure something out before tomorrow morning though."
"And if something changes?" He was desperate to not lose his last friend on this damned planet.
"Pray to Rao that it doesn't," she said seriously.
"I don't pray to Rao."
She raised an eyebrow. "Well, maybe you should start. Or pray to whatever other gods you have on Daxam, that everything goes to plan."
"In my experience, life never goes to plan. It's easier to just never have a plan."
Her hands with back to her hips in a look of annoyance. "And how has that worked out for you so far?" She gave a pointed look at his surrounding cage.
Mon-El let out a heavy sigh. "Whatever, I'm just saying there's a lot at risk."
"You don't need to tell me that twice," she commented. "Look, get some rest, I'll try to come back before the trial but probably won't be able to. I'll let you know if I hear of any changes, though." She waited for him to nod in agreement before she headed back to the stairs.
"Kara?"
She turned at the bottom stair to glance back at him. "Yeah?"
"Thank you." It was a weak response, but it was all he could think to say to convey his gratitude toward her.
She smiled gently and simply said, "See you in the morning," before heading up the stairs.
Kara went to bed late, having fallen asleep at her desk with a holocrystal open. She was awoken by an urgent knocking at her door. She flung herself out of her chair, horrified that she had slept too late and was going to be late to stop the execution. The urgent knocking continued, and she quickly pushed the door open to see Mag-Num standing outside.
"Where have you been, they've suddenly moved up the execution, and won't wait for you," he said with impatience and urgency.
"By Rao, have I missed it?" she said, pushing past him and racing down the hall.
"You better not!" Mag-Num called after her, too old to chase after her.
Kara swore under her breath and sent a dozen prayers to Rao on her race to the execution. The whole process was being rushed so much more than she had ever seen before, and it made her all the more suspicious of what her mother was up to. There was no way they were right in speeding up the judicial process. The only times they ever did that was when there was a proper threat to all of Krypton's existence - like they once had done with Zod and his followers, or so Kara had been told. Mon-El and his guards hardly seemed as dangerous as Zod, even if he was responsible for Sah's death.
She skidded to a halt when she reached a barrier of guards blocking her way to the Execution Hall - a hall normally named for executing judicial decrees, which only rarely included the ending of a life. "Let me through," she said with as much authority as she could, trying to calm her breathing again.
"Sorry, Miss, but no one is to be allowed in. The hall doors were closed several minutes ago," one of the guards explained. Kara usually highly approved of the rule that no one would be allowed to enter the judicial halls once doors closed, because it meant everyone stayed focused on the matter at hand and encouraged people to be on time. However, it now was a rule that seemed utterly ludicrous to her, since there were lives at stake this time.
"Why was the execution moved up, it was not scheduled to start for another three hours," she said, barely keeping the distress from flooding her voice.
The guard shook his head. "It was decided to be a critical matter of safety, for all of Krypton. I cannot tell you any more, as I am not in the Judicial Guild but rather the Military Guild."
Kara clenched her jaw. She knew her mother had something to do with this. "There are people about to be killed in there," she burst out, throwing her arm toward the closed door for emphasis. "How are you not disturbed by this?"
The guard shifted in his stance. "It is not my place to question the actions of the Guild that I am not a part of. Nor is it yours," he warned. "Should I ask your name?"
Crap. The guard knew she was a member of the House of El because her dress had the crest imprinted on it, but she could be anyone to him. Though a part of her wanted to give her name and push through the doors just a few feet away, she knew better. If she tried to force her way through those doors, she and the Daxam born would be toast. Whether she escaped punishment or not, Mon-El and his men would certainly be killed. There was now only one way she could see that might save at least one Daxamite, and maybe Daxam. She would need to keep her head down and sneak the prince out of the capitol, get him back home somehow and then figure out why her people were suddenly being so cruel and hostile during peace negotiations. The guilt of giving up on the Daxam guards fell on her like lead, making her stomach ache and tears threaten to spill out. Still, she squared her shoulders and cleared her throat. She had to pull herself together.
"No, you are quite right, it is not for us to question. Thank you for the reminder, soldier. When are the doors expected to open again?" she asked, trying hard to keep her voice from betraying her anxiety.
"One hour," was the response.
Kara bowed her head in thanks and the guard repeated the gesture. Then, as quickly but as calmly as she could, Kara hurried back down the hall to Mon-El's prison. She had one hour in which the Judicial Guild would have all eyes on the Execution Hall, and no one would stop her from taking the last Daxamite for a little walk. She just had to hope that the prince wouldn't fight or question her until they got him out of the capitol. If anything went wrong in the next hour, not only was the hope for peace to be lost, but Kara and Mon-El were sure to be executed as well.