A/N: Hello reader! This has been an idea I got one day that just wouldn't leave my mind, a sci-fi rebellion epic AU with my favorite ship to write recently, Kariver. Even if you don't support the ship, I hope you can enjoy the premise itself! Make sure you leave a review and let me know if this concept interests you!
Summary: Krypton never exploded. After the planet was saved, the ambitious General Zod took over the planet, installing himself as Emperor of the planet. The house of El, longstanding advocates of democracy, have risen in a revolution to free the planet of his tyranny. Oliver Queen is just a rich boy on his father's luxury cruiser, but when he gets dropped into a warzone he has to learn to fight, to survive, and to help turn the tide in this longstanding conflict.
Oliver Queen woke up aboard the Queen's Gambit and immediately noticed three things, two of which were common: a pounding headache, a naked female in his bed, and a blaring red alarm making way too much damn noise.
He stirred quickly, shaking his head as he looked for his clothes. This was so not how he wanted to spend the end of his two week long trip to Krypton.
The girl, whose name was completely gone from his memory if he ever even bothered to find it out in the first place, began stirring as well. "What…is happening?" She questioned groggily.
"No idea," he replied as he grabbed his pants, pulling them on quickly. "Guess I'll go find out."
Dressed and out the door, he scanned the frantic crew. He had to find his dad, he'd explain what all this was. An explosion rocked the ship, and Oliver barely stayed upright as it shook violently.
An explosion? What the hell was going on?
After a short walk (with a few more explosion-fueled falls) he ended up on the bridge. Men and women dressed in full uniform were running around frantically. The air was full of tension as the ship rocked once more, this one way more intense than before.
"Dad, what the hell is happening?!" Oliver was scared, not that he'd admit that. He had never been to space before, did it always go like this? Were they being attacked?
"Oliver," Robert Queen looked at his son in shock, before handing off a screen to another crewman and rushing over, putting his hands on Oliver's shoulders. "Are you okay, son? Are you hurt?"
"No, dad, I'm fine. What is happening? Are we being attacked?"
"Shit, I am sorry son. I had thought I'd have more time. Time to explain everything. Krypton isn't what I told you. Truth is, they are a planet at war. A civil war, the people rising up against the tyrannical Emperor Zod. This trip, it's a ruse. One for me to give this," the man pulls out a small device from his pocket. "To the leader of the insurgents, Jor-El. It appears I have been found out."
Oliver was in shock. He was flying into a warzone? This was so much and he wasn't sure how to handle all of it. The shock was taking over, and he stood frozen in place.
Robert led him out of the bridge, through the halls of the ship. The once pristine white interior was chaotic, fires and damage all throughout the corridors. A thick gray smoke began to fill the ship, evidence of all the raging fires. Crew members sprinted to their positions, putting out fires and doing their best to keep the ship operational.
"I understand how hard this must be to understand. I didn't want you here on the ship, in case something like this happened, but your mother insisted. I hate to ask this of you son, but you must finish my mission. It is too important. Son, I have failed you. So many times. All I ever wanted for you was to live a life, whatever you wanted from it. I wanted you to be free of my burdens, my mistakes. You deserve better. Yet, I have to."
They arrived quickly into an area with a bunch of pods. Robert pressed some buttons and the door to one opened. "Take this," Robert handed him a small pill which Oliver grabbed. "It will help you adapt to Krypton's different planetary attributes. And bring this to Jor-El only. Show no one else. I love you so much, son. Live, complete this mission, and go home. Tell your mother and sister how much I love them. I am so sorry, my boy."
And with that, Robert shoved Oliver into the pod. "Dad, no please! Don't go!"
The pod door shut after Robert pressed a few more buttons, blasting off into space. A few moments later, the Queen's Gambit exploded.
"NO!" Oliver cried out, slamming his fists against the glass as he hurtled through space.
The darkness engulfed his pod, and he shook in fear and shock. Gone was the orange glow of the explosion that took his father away, replaced with grey debris and emptiness. Thousands of stars were the only reprieve his view had from the abyss.
His chest felt heavy, as if someone had dropped a tank on his ribs. His throat was constricting so bad the only air he could take in came in ragged gasps. He practically collapsed into a chair as he wrestled with these new developments.
Finish his mission? What mission? Was he supposed to fight in this war? He'd never fought anyone, the closest he got to a fighter was that summer were his archery lessons and although he was good at that he didn't think that would be helpful in a warzone in a technologically advanced civilization.
His thoughts were stopped dead in their tracks when the pod he was in did that exact same thing. An escape pod hurtling hundreds of miles an hour through space suddenly lurched to a halt.
"What the…" he muttered, when he felt his pod start moving again. In the opposite direction.
Kara's slumber had been interrupted by the warning signal of an insurgency meeting being called. She groaned as she rolled onto her back, rubbing her eyes and moving up onto her elbows. Next to her, her lover Mon-El had woken.
"Five more minutes…" he grumbled into the pillow, and she let out a light chuckle.
"Frankly, I am surprised the alarm even woke you. I could blow up a space ship next to your head and you'd still sleep through it. Now come on, this has got to be important."
"Yes, ma'am," he replied sarcastically, dragging himself out of bed and the two dressed in their fatigues.
It was a short walk to the main insurgent chamber, and as Kara stepped inside she scanned the room. Her sister, Alex Zor-El, nodded at her with a smile which she reciprocated as they stood across the table from one another. It was hard to tell that Alex and Kara were sisters, they had few shared attributes. Alex took after their mother genetically, whereas Kara was closer to her father in looks. J'onn J'onzz stood next to her, taking the form of a more Kryptonian looking person with dark skin and short hair. He was the last surviving green Martian, having taken refuge on Krypton long before Zod took hold of the government. He lived with the house of El, developing a close relationship with all of its members, so when they rose in revolution J'onn joined them, and proved to be invaluable in their efforts to break Zod's grip on her home.
Kara's eyes drifted to their leader, standing at the head of the table. Jor-EL was a regal man, his deep brown hair equal parts gray with age and stress. He held a stance of authority, of power. He commanded respect and admiration from the way his body moved alone. Yet his eyes were that of warmth, of comfort. He was a commander, a soldier, but he also felt like a wise father to the members of this crusade.
The final few members of the insurgency trickled in, and then everyone's eyes turned to their leader.
"I am sorry to call this meeting at such short notice. Last night, a ship was supposed to arrive in Kandor from Earth. This ship was just a luxury cruiser, coming to Krypton from its younger cousin, Earth. Or at least that is what Zod was meant to believe. In truth, it was a front for the owner of the cruiser, Robert Queen, to pass on classified intelligence that was to help us turn the tables on Zod."
"Supposed to believe?" J'onn questioned.
"Word must have gotten out somehow, for Zod's defense platforms opened fire and decimated the ship. No survivors. Except for one. Robert sent me a final message warning me that he gave the drive with all this information to his son, Oliver, before jettisoning him in an escape pod."
"That's great news," Alex spoke up. "Do we know where the escape pod landed? We have to get to him first."
"That's the pressing issue. The escape pod never touched down on Krypton. Never even broke the planet's orbit. So, either it was destroyed in space, or, the more likely option, he was taken prisoner on Kairos Station."
The room fell silent. Kairos station was no joke. It was a maximum-security prison to rival Fort Rozz. The station was the setting of many a horror story, and no one has ever been taken prisoner there and walked away. The center of its terror and mystique laid at the feet of the ruthless psychopath at the helm, Non. Just the thought of him made her skin crawl.
"If he's on Kairos station then I'm sorry," Mon-El interjected. "But he's not coming out."
"That may very well be true, but we owe it to him to try. Robert Queen was my friend, and he asked me to make sure his son got home safe. And, more importantly, that data is the break we so desperately need. It gives us the chance to act instead of react, and can put us on the offensive for once in this damn war. So Kara, Alex, and Mon, you three are going to infiltrate Kairos Station and bring him here."
The three agents stood, stunned. They were supposed to infiltrate that monstrosity, by themselves?
"Your task is difficult, and it may even feel insurmountable. But you three are the very best and brightest we have. My hope for this insurgency lies on your shoulders, and only because I have no doubt in my mind you can carry it. J'onn will oversee the mission. You have two days to prepare. Any questions?"
The room was once again silent, and Jor-El nodded. "Dismissed."
Everyone in the room slowly began dispersing, until the four members of this suicidal rescue mission were the only ones who remained.
"This is insane," Mon-El complained. "Even if we can get into Kairos station, which I doubt we will, what are the chances that rich brat Oliver Queen survives whatever it is they're doing to him there?"
"What are the odds that a Daxamite Prince with minimal combat training survives a crash landing and winds up in a Kryptonian resistance army?" Kara countered. "Look, I get it, it's scary. But Jor-El believes in us and says this is important, and I believe in him."
She wasn't sure exactly who she was trying to inspire, them or herself, but she wasn't being dishonest. She really did believe in everything her uncle was doing here. Since she lost her parents early in this war, he became a mentor in her life, one of the few remaining family members she had left. Him and Kal.
"We should begin forming our plan at once," J'onn commented as the stood around the table. With the push of a few buttons a holographic map of the facility opened up.
Well, time to get to work.
He knew he should have gone with Tommy to Bermuda instead. That had been Oliver's original plan, before Mom all but begged him to go with Dad on this trip. It would be a good bonding opportunity, she had justified. And it had been, if he were being truthful.
Well, enjoy the memory while you can, he thought bitterly. The times to bond with dad are all over now.
He couldn't believe it. The shock hadn't worn down yet, it didn't even feel real. At any moment he was gonna wake up from this nightmare at home, eat breakfast with dad, mess around with Thea as she would start one of her impromptu games of tag that she would start (and he would never be able to say no to), before heading out on the town with Tommy.
The cell he now sat in was dark, cold, and disgusting. It had no windows, the door was the same almost black grey color as the rest of the walls, and there weren't even bars so he could see the rest of his prison.
He had found out quickly why his pod had been moving in the opposite direction. He got caught with a tractor beam as he passed what he guessed was a space station. A bunch of soldier guys in really over the top black armor dragged him from his pod without a word and threw him in a cell without saying a word. He tried to get answers, but nobody said anything.
He'd been in that cell for what felt like an eternity, until finally somebody walked in. The man in question was an imposing figure, clean shaven with short hair that was a deep grey in color. The menace came from his eyes, cold and impassive and entirely uncaring.
"Who are you people?" He blurted out in frustration and fear. "What the hell is going on?! Why am I your prisoner?!"
"You tell me, human. You were aboard the human ship The Queen's Gambit. Our records indicate you are Oliver Queen, son of Robert Queen the owner of the vessel. Is that correct?" he spat the question out with venom. Oliver remained impassive, glaring at the man with all the courage he could muster.
The man didn't like that. With a cold fury, the man punched him across the face. Oliver groaned, rubbing his cheek. "What the hell?! I haven't done anything!"
"Your father was a criminal, trading in our secrets with dissidents and rebels. Did he tell you anything, give you anything?!"
Oliver's mind flashed to the drive he currently carried on him, hidden. This guy wasn't who he needed to give the stupid drive to, or even on their side. So, he made a decision. A very, very dumb one.
He shook his head, feigning ignorance. "No, no he didn't say anything. I thought we were just visiting the planet…"
Another punch followed, one far more powerful than the last one. He fell onto his back, and the man was on top of him in an instant, grabbing him by the collar.
"Boy, you are an awful liar. So, I will ask again. Think about your answer. Where is the information?"
"I don't know anything!" he cried out, trying to be as convincing as possible. "My family is rich, has a lot of money, they'll pay whatever you want just please stop hitting me!"
The man sighed, shaking his head as he stood up, letting Oliver go. "My name, human, is Non. Before long the very thought of it will paralyze you in fear. We have ways of making you talk."
After he uttered the words two men walked in with chains. A third soldier came with a cart filled with sharp objects and other tools.
The soldiers grabbed him roughly, chaining both his arms to the back wall. They were raised as high as they could physically be, and it already was putting him in pain. In fact, he thought the chains would dislocate his shoulders if they hadn't already.
"Krypton is far more advanced than your pitiful home planet. Culture, art, architecture, technology. Before I show you our more…advanced methods of data extraction. Allow me to go back to a simpler age."
With that, Non grabbed a large blade. Nodding his head, the two soldiers ripped Oliver's shirt off, exposing his bare skin to the cold.
"Just know, you pitiful child, that this ends when you cooperate." He uttered the words as he touched the blade against his lower abdomen.
Oliver's breath hitched in his throat. Then the blade pierced, and Non pushed. And all Oliver could do was scream.
"Got it!" a voice called out, and Kara turned to see her friend Winn-Scho pump his fist in the air.
"You're in already?" Kara asked in surprise, smiling at him. "I have to admit I am impressed."
"I will try to pretend that your doubt doesn't deeply offend me," he replied with a grin. "Zod really needs to work on his security."
"What have you found?" J'onn spoke up next.
"Everything. Shift schedules, transfers, everything we need to know to form a plan to get on that super prison."
"Shift schedules…" Alex mused, before she reached a realization. "So, we get onto one of those transfer ships…"
"Steal a few uniforms…" Mon-El added.
"Pretend to be guards, get to the prison, and free Oliver Queen." Kara finished. "Perfect."
"Luckily, the time tables align. There is a transfer in three days. It's a small window, getting on to that ship without getting spotted or caught on any of the station's sensors, but if it works it's our best shot on that station."
Kara smiled, patting her friend on the shoulder. "Thank you, Winn. Now, we should get ready. Time for a prison break!"
J'onn shook his head, though the corners of his mouth did slightly tug upwards. He turned, and everyone dispersed to go prepare for their mission.
Kara had been on a few missions with the Insurgency, but she was still newer. This would be her biggest chance to prove herself, prove that she was more than just related to the leaders of this rebellion. And a person's life hung in the balance, someone who needed their help. She wondered what he was like, who this Oliver Queen was and why he was trusted with something so important.
"What's got you thinking?" Alex asked from behind her, and Kara turned and gave a small smile to her sister.
"About this mission. About how there's a person up there who they're doing Rao knows what to, and it's our responsibility to save him."
"The mission is the data," Alex reminded. "I hope he's still alive, he's a young guy who just lost his dad. We can only imagine what he's going through. But the data has to come first, or his dad's sacrifice means nothing."
Kara nodded, attempting to steel herself. "You're right. But I think his dad would view it as for nothing if he didn't protect his son. So, we're gonna get him home if he's alive. We owe him that much."
Alex placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Kara Zor-El, savior of everyone."
She giggled at that, shaking her head. "Alex Zor-El, savior of Kara. I wouldn't be here, much less strong enough to do this, if it weren't for you."
"That's not true," Alex shook her head. "You are the best of us, Kara. The light. I just did my best to make sure you didn't lose that."
"And you did a great job."
"Damn right I did. Now, let's go spar. Need to make sure you can handle this."
"Oh, really?" Kara raised her eyebrow as they headed to the training room. "Well, I have to make sure YOU can handle this."
The two sisters laughed as they stepped into the ring, unaware of just how important this day would be to their futures.