Warnings from Ghosts
This was perhaps one of the most powerful computing devices on the planet, and for the most part, there was no monitor or screen or keyboard, or even a terminal. You stood inside of it, and the room itself would act as your computer.
To better grasp this, a hologram of a keyboard hovered in the air, Superman tapping in the correct commands into it. Naturally, it was all in English, because there were some things that took time to learn, like a language you only found out about when you were in your mid-teens. It seemed like this would be a trait he would share with his adoptive human family, that of being slower to learn a new language the older he became.
It was all fine, but neither here nor there. What was was the robot that was the source of this latest mystery of theirs. It rested on a platform that was more solid than Green Lantern's construct, and currently was being scanned by the Fortress' computer.
All around this room, the rest of the League stood about. No one was really sure where to stand, despite the Kryptonian's assurances to the contrary. Basically, they all stood as far away as they could from anything that looked important, not that he could blame them. There were times he still felt that impulse.
Standing a few feet from him, side-by-side, were Wonder Woman and Green Lantern, the latter with his arms crossed over his chest and the former standing at the ready, on guard but relaxed. Standing closer to the damage robot was Flash, the speedster eyeing the process with as keen an eye as he could for the moment. Off a ways was Hawkgirl, her nervous energy showing as she shifted her weight from leg to leg. Further away stood J'onn, the Martian watching but keep to himself, waiting until the first results were uncovered.
Naturally, closer to one of the darker areas of the room was their...consultant. Standing closer to J'onn, than the others, Batman was also keeping to himself, but his gaze seemed to be on the robot as well. They were all accounted for, even as Superman keyed the final touches to the scan.
He wanted to know everything about this thing and would have the data compared to that in the Fortress' databanks. While most of it was primarily Kryptonian, perhaps the last depository of Kryptonian knowledge in the universe, it also contained information on the various alien technologies and artifacts he tended to bring back with him after each and every foray into space. You could say it was a small library on the various alien races and cultures that happened to share their corner of the universe, if not their galaxy.
"So," Flash began breaking the silence that had hung around them all. The scans themselves made no noise whatsoever; you couldn't even hear the hum of processing like you did with any and all Earth-based computers. "Anybody know how long this is going to take."
"Give it a few minutes," Superman answered before there could be any snarky remarks. That, and another needling question from the speedster. "I'm having the hardware, the specs, and anything else analyzed then compared to whatever is saved here in the Fortress. If the computer recognizes anything, it will tell us."
"It should be able to recognize the Kryptonian code, right?" Hawkgirl asked.
"As long as it is Kryptonian and not something similar," the Man of Steel answered, shrugging his shoulders.
"You know, that sounds like it might take a while," Flash remarked. "We might be waiting here for who knows how long."
"Will you get some patience already? You can't rush your way through everything," Green Lantern reprimanded.
"Hey now, no need to be jumping down my shirt, GL," the talkative hero defended himself, standing to his full height while holding his hands up, gesturing as if to calm the dark-skinned male down. "Think about it. If it's anything like the computers we have on Earth—'"
Scan completed.
A feminine tone of voice intoned throughout the room, causing not a few Leaguers to look around, trying to identify the source of the voice. Superman did his best to hide the small smile that threatened to appear on his face. Neither would he admit that he had the same reaction once before.
"I think that answers your question, Flash," Wonder Woman stated, straightening his shoulders.
Results of scan. Brainiac AI program detected.
"Hey, wasn't that the name that robot gave us?" Flash asked, perking up.
"Indeed," J'onn agreed, sparing a look to the speedster before returning his gaze back to the hologram.
"AI program?" Hawkgirl repeated. You could hear her frown in her voice.
The computer, though, seemed to take the Thanagarian's words as an inquiry.
The Brainiac AI program is an artificial intelligence developed by scientist Jax-Ur and introduced to Krypton in Rao Cycle 5398. The program revolutionized Kryptonian society, connecting individuals and organizations together as a singular and collective source of information. Stationed at the Archival Citadel, the Brainiac AI program served to collect all information of and about Krypton, its inhabitants, and the surrounding solar system, and store it for future inquiry and historical records. The Brainiac AI program quickly became integral to the management and maintenance of Kryptonian civilization—
"Alright, alright, I get it," Hawkgirl interrupted, copying Flash earlier gesture and holding up a hand as if to stop the information dump.
"It seems the computer recognized the program," J'onn commented, taking several steps as he moved closer to the decommissioned robot. "It appears that this robot has its origins with Krypton itself."
"So what we're dealing with is from Krypton?" Superman didn't need super hearing to hear the skepticism in Green Lantern's voice.
While he himself held some skepticism, another part was...energized. It was rare to come across another Kryptonian in nature, yet one was feet away from him. J'onn's recognition of the symbols had led them straight to this point, and right now the Kryptonian couldn't help but feel a thrill run up his spine.
"I doubt it. Krypton hasn't existed for decades," Hawkgirl pointed out.
And there was the proverbial bucket of ice water. It was no secret that Krypton was no more; even the last vestiges of Kryptonian technology admitted as such.
"Maybe it got away, you know, before it went boom?" Flash suggested. "I mean, look over there. Superman managed to do it. What's to say something else didn't?"
And once again, hope was making a comeback.
"Can you bring up all the files on this Brainiac AI?" Superman found himself jerking, snapping his head to a side where he found Batman standing right next to him and when had he done that?
Bringing up all files relevant to Brainiac AI program.
A holographic screen appeared in midair and immediately file after file appeared, all listed in an order only the computer itself seemed to know. Well, not entirely; Superman was able to understand some of it. There was...there was a lot. So many files, and according to the screen, it was still retrieving more files. How many were there, not even he could say, but based on the little tidbit that this Brainiac program had become important to how Krypton ran itself, there could be millions, billions, if not trillions of files that involved this AI alone.
Fortunately, they had someone who knew how to handle this kind of thing, and he decided to use his expertise to rephrase his request. "Is there anyway we can shrink what have to go through?" Batman...demanded more than asked. "Any files relevant to the machine we had scanned?"
Searching for relevant files.
And with that, many of the files vanished only to be replaced with more files, but the amount that was being loaded up was at a more manageable pace. Compared to before, there seemed to be less, but the computer was still retrieving more files.
Quickly picking up on how to use Kryptonian computing technology, the World's Greatest Detective continued to refine the search. "What files involve the Brainiac AI program and autonomous, hu—Kryptonoid body structures?"
Now they only had ten files to through.
"Huh," Flash grunted, arms crossed over his chest and his head tilted to the side.
"Open most recent file." To the Dark Knight's command, the computer obeyed. What displayed was a blueprint, one that contained the design of something that did not look anything like the robot they had. It was basic, much shorter and thinner, and it was easy to see this was mechanical. Even the face was flat with two small lens serving as eyes. However, where the forehead would be were three circles, one in a pattern identical to their specimen.
"That pattern, the circles. It looks identical to the one on the robots we faced," Wonder Woman remarked, putting out loud what many of them were already thinking. The connection to Krypton was growing stronger.
"But that design looks...well, it looks like something I would expect from Earth," Hawkgirl stated, before adding, "No offense."
"Were any prototypes of this plan ever produced?" Batman made another inquire. Immediately, another document opened, all of it in Kryptonian. Superman immediately went to work reading it, and while some of the words were too big for him, he was able to get the gist of it.
"That's a rejection letter," he announced. "According to the Science Council, it didn't meet their standards, and the proposal was rejected."
"Were any proposed model approved for production?" Batman followed up.
Instead of another window opening up, the computer responded, No proposed models were approved for production.
"So Krypton didn't build this guy," Green Lantern grunted. "If Krypton didn't, who did?"
That was the question, wasn't it?
"When did the Brainiac AI program cease functioning?" That brought some confused looks Batman's way, but the dark-colored vigilante ignored them. It was an odd question; where was he trying to go with this?
All activity concerning the Brainiac AI program ceased approximately ten Rao orbital degrees prior to Krypton's approximate destruction.
"And the equivalent of that using Earth's system of time measurement would be?" Batman pressed.
Exactly six Earth hours.
The AI program shut down hours before the planet ended? Why did that have any meaning?
"Was the shut down manual or due to external causes?"
"Okay, where are you trying to go with this?" Hawkgirl demanded, taking a couple steps closer to the vigilante.
"Kinda have to agree here. I'm lost," Flash agreed.
Cessation of the Brainiac AI program was initiated by the Brainiac AI program. Multiple attempts to reset the program failed.
"Why would a program shut itself down hours before the planet it was on was destroyed, unless the program knew about its eminent destruction?" Batman finally addressed the others. "Something is not adding up. There's a key piece of information missing and its relevant here. Why did a Kryptonian artificial intelligence shut itself down only to show up on Earth nearly thirty years later? It should have been destroyed along with Krypton."
No one had any response to that, and for Superman, there were implications. If what Batman was suggesting was true, did it mean that this AI was aware of Krypton's fate before it occurred, and if so, why didn't it take steps to prevent it? Something was missing, the vigilante was right about that.
"Something's happening," J'onn urgent voice cut in through his musings. The Martian was looking at a new window that had opened up, blocking all the others. That was odd; this hadn't happened before on this computer.
Then an image appeared on the screen, and Superman's eyes widened as he recognized the frontal profile of Jor-El.
"Wow, that guy looks like—" Flash began.
"If you are hearing this message, then it means I failed you again, Kal-El," Jor-El began speaking. Suddenly, small details, like how haggard he looked, the dark circles under his eyes, and the fact that his tone of voice was not as composed as the AI in the Fortress typically had him.
"What I am about to tell you may mean the difference between life and death. This morning, I had gone to the Archival Citadel with recent measurements of geological and seismic activity. Based on the new data, I learned that Krypton was mere degrees away from its end. You should already know that your mother and I agreed to send you away from our planet, your home, so that you could find another and live a life that we could no longer give to you.
"While I was running the data, I consulted with Brainiac, Krypton's central hub, if you will, for communications and management, everything. Everything runs through Brainiac. I learned from the artificial intelligence that it knew beforehand what was happening to Krypton, how its core was destabilizing. I had attributed it to our mining practices, but then the AI confessed that it had...that Brainiac had deliberately destabilized the planet's core itself and purposefully misled the Science Council into believing otherwise.
"The AI was in the middle of downloading itself into a spacecraft of its own making, and one that has already left. However, there is more to this. For the longest time, I had believed that Brainiac had been the creation of Jax-Ur, but I was wrong. Someone else had made the AI, someone that I think is not native to Krypton. I would have thought this a delusion, except days ago, an unidentified alien ship arrived and destroyed Kandor, Krypton's capital."
Superman found himself swept up in the story, unable to take his eyes off of what was undoubtedly a recorded message, perhaps that last video of his father to ever exist. So much was being told to him, and he found he couldn't question any of it, not until he heard all of it.
"Even now, as I finish preparations on the ship that is to save you, I cannot help but wonder if this alien ship and Brainiac are somehow related. Brainiac mentioned that it had hoped I had been in Kandor during the attack. It's….it doesn't matter anymore. This message, which I pray you never see, I am programing to only activate should you ever come into contact with Brainiac.
"Should you ever see this message, then I have a request of you, as your father. I may not be there for you, to raise you as a father should raise their son, but that will not stop me from trying to protect you in any way I can. So should you ever see this message, heed what I am about to tell you."
The Kryptonian refugee was on eggshells, his breathing coming to a stop, and his ears straining as he waited for the words his father wanted to impart to him.
"Run."
What?
"Run, Kal-El. Run and save yourself. You are the last Kryptonian, and whatever infiltrated Krypton and attacked it is still out there. It is out there and may have found you. Hide yourself, somewhere, anywhere, and continue living. I do not want you to share the same fate as I or your mother. You must continue to live. Please, do not throw your life away.. For your father, run."
The silence in the room was deafening. Nothing could disturb it. Then the image of Jor-El flickered, then turned to black.
The silence remained.
It was awhile before any of the Leaguers could react. How did one after receiving such dreadful news? The urgency Jor-El spoke with was alarming and stomach-churning.
Shayera had fought losing battles before. That she was still standing was a testament to her will to survive in the face of insurmountable odds. Her stint in the Thanagarian military had forced her into battles thought to be lost causes, only for her and her fellow Thanagarians to grasp victory out of the jaws of defeat. She had also stood witness to outright routs that forced her kinsmen to retreat. Comrades had fallen, others taken prisoner. She was fortunate that she was usually in the former rather than the latter.
Jor-El was clearly indicating this Brainiac was of the lost cause variety. Already the redhead refused to give ground, not to some mechanical robot, or artificial intelligence, or whatever it actually was. She would stay and fight.
Glancing to the other Leaguers, she found them reacting much the way she would expect them to. Superman was stunned, his mouth open agape. Diana looked taken aback, surprised. The same could be said of Flash. John was doing much like her, stealing his resolve as his face hardened. J'onn was stoic as always and Batman...Batman didn't look as if he were fazed.
"At least we know what we're facing now," John Stewart spoke then, breaking the uncomfortable silence. The others looked to him. "Whatever this Brainiac is, it sounds like a menace."
"A big freaking menace," Flash retorted. "If what Daddy Superman is saying is true, then it destroyed a whole planet."
"Most likely it's destroyed several planets. It's had plenty of time to do so."
"What makes you say that?" Diana asked.
"This Brainiac decided to actively destroy Krypton," John explained, "and there are numerous ways to destroy a planet. It wouldn't surprise me at all if it's tried multiple ways, why I don't know. Plus, thirty years is a long time not to be destructive. It could've developed a taste for it. Already it's attacked Earth's infrastructure and that was part of gathering intel on us. That wasn't sloppiness so much as it didn't care what damage it caused."
"Undoubtedly it has reported our interference with its intended mission," J'onn pointed out, taking a step closer to the group. "Assuming it did not achieve its main objective, it is likely to send another wave of probes."
A second wave huh? Shayera found one of her hands moving to grip the shaft of her mace, tightening her fingers around it. She could do very well with a second round on those things.
"That's not a good thing," Flash was quick to point out. "I mean, this thing took down an entire planet full of Supermen. Big Blue here is one of the strongest people in the world, if not the strongest. This thing has to be one bad mofo to do that."
That was actually a good point. In all of her travels, Shayera had to admit Superman was the strongest person she had ever met and she didn't even come close. She could only imagine what having an entire planet's worth of people with his powers would do. Krypton had to have a population of billions before it was destroyed, so that meant billions of super-powered people were annihilated.
Except...except Shayera couldn't help but recall her grade school years. Though the military ran those schools and the education tended to reflect on what the military viewed as important, Krypton had been a subject discussed, if only to be used as an example of what not to do to destroy one's own planet. And if she recalled correctly, there had been no mention of Kryptonians with super-strength, super-speed, or flight. In fact, the winged woman recalled just how surprised she had been to find out that Superman was Kryptonian with all of his powers. In addition, the dark-haired man had told her his power came from the sun.
Earth had a yellow sun. Krypton was known to have orbited a red sun. So it stood to reason that perhaps Krypton's population wasn't super-powered.
"That's not necessarily the case," Shayera quickly pointed out, which earned her the attention of the room. "Superman is the first recorded Kryptonian to have powers of any kind. I don't know about J'onn, but I do recall going over Krypton in school and there was no mention of Kryptonians having any of his powers."
"Admittedly, Mars had little contact with Krypton," J'onn added. "So my knowledge on the planet and its people is limited to what I have learned through Superman."
"It's unlikely Kryptonians had superpowers," Batman said. "Their planet orbited a red sun, which stands in contrast to Earth's yellow."
"And it's from the yellow sun that I get my powers," Superman agreed. "So Kryptonians were much like humans in that regard."
"Well, that's a bit of a relief," Flash said. "Maybe with our powers, we can beat this thing."
"We'll need more information on this Brainiac, though," John pointed out. "Maybe the Kryptonian database here can give us more of those answers. It wouldn't hurt to check other sources either."
"Is there anything else that might know of Brainiac?" Superman questioned.
"The Guardians might. They've watched over the universe for a long time, so they should have a lead or two," the Green Lantern answered. "Unfortunately, it'll take me some time to get there and back, but I don't see a whole lot of other options. It's a risk we'll have to take."
"Then go. Find out everything you can."
John's green aura covered his body before he lifted up into the air and took off flying. Though they were thinning their ranks, Shayera knew that John wouldn't leave unless he felt it was absolutely necessary.
Unfortunately, that left the rest of them to pour through the Fortress' databanks and the only person that could do so was Superman. That basically rendered the rest of them useless.
That was okay though. Shayera just had to make sure she was ready for the fight that was coming to them.
Apparently the Fortress of Solitude had a zoo.
There were large glass enclosures containing some of the most exotic creatures and environments Batman had ever seen. A rhinoceros made of stone was munching on broad, blue and red leaves. A six-armed monkey was swinging from branches of an orange tree, stopping to dangle from the hand on the end of its tail at it stared at the vigilante. A tank of exotic fish swam by the glass of another enclosure, colors named and unnamed comprising the school.
Batman had no idea where these creatures had come from, or how Superman had happened upon them. Why he chose to keep them here was also another question.
However, these creatures made noise as they went about their lives, something the vigilante wanted in a place filled with metahumans with super-hearing.
"Brainiac was an unexpected development," J'onn remarked as he glanced to an enclosure, looking at what looked like a towering, blue rubber tree. It suddenly began to twist around and around, then spun back in the other direction, creating a vortex around it. There didn't seem to be a reason it did this.
"Agreed," Batman replied. "Superman seemed troubled by the news."
"This AI was responsible for the destruction of his home world," the Martian pointed out. "Something I can empathize with. And now it is on its way here with seemingly the same agenda."
That did appear to be the situation. Though all the Brainiac probes had done was collect data on the various infrastructure, that didn't preclude it from attempting complete destruction of Earth. Further research into the Kryptonian database would be needed to determine if Krypton was a one-off event, or if Brainiac destroyed everything it came across.
Batman was of the opinion that until proven otherwise, Brainiac was a threat with the intent on destruction. Without a doubt, the Justice League would fight against it to prevent it; however, he wondered at what cost? Would the League end up with blood on its hands, or remain the paragon of virtue it aspired to be?
"Does this not change our plans?" J'onn eventually asked. It was a question that needed to be voiced. "The timeline seems to gbe heading in a direction different from the one you experienced."
"It would appear so," he admitted, "or perhaps this is the first domino. Yes, the timeline is different, but the same stimulus is still viable. What triggered everything was the death of a Leaguer during a crisis. Brainiac could very well prove to be the crisis."
"This is true. Don't forget that death also occurred while the League was reeling from your own. Emotions were high and tense."
"Didn't you see how Superman reacted to that recording of Jor-El?" Batman retorted. "His emotions have been stirred and I have no doubt he'll try to take on Brainiac. It's what he does. However, this isn't just about protecting Earth; it's also avenging Krypton. More than ever, we need to keep an eye on him."
"Or we're reading too much into it," J'onn pointed out. "Both of us have been keeping an eye on the League and thus far they have shown no signs of becoming despots. Have they not earned some benefit of doubt?"
"It's because we've been watching them that they haven't gone down that road. It's been fortunate that we haven't had to take steps, but we can't afford to let our guard drop now."
The Martian was silent for a few moments. "Then what do you suggest we do? This may require more than my own surveillance. You may need to become more involved."
Though Batman didn't like it, his comrade may have a point. "At the very least I do have an excuse to involve myself now. Perhaps it would be best if I continued to include myself on this mission. The others shouldn't object to that."
"Your assistance would be much appreciated," J'onn agreed. "I suppose Superman is the one to keep an eye on, though. More than anyone, this affects him the most."
"Agreed." The two men came to a stop at the end of the strange zoo. "We'll be needing your telepathic abilities throughout this. More than likely Brainiac will go after communications when it begins its attack. We'll need to rely on you to keep everyone in contact."
"As well as monitor their emotional states," J'onn added. "Understood. And what will you be doing?"
"What I do best: investigate."
The chill breeze of the Arctic swept by the Kryptonian as he rested on one of the crystalline structures that made up the outside of the Fortress. He had come out here to clear his head, possibly cool down the emotions he felt raging within him.
The incline surface was incredibly cold, yet the Man of Steel found he could ignore it. With his legs bent and his arms resting on his knees, he stared blankly ahead, seeing and yet not seeing anything.
Only an hour ago had he seen that message, one unlike any he had found in the Fortress' database. Any and all images he had ever seen of his biological father, he was always pristine, not even a hint of lint on his person. Thanks to Kryptonian technology, he could create an avatar of the man, even hold conversations with it if he so wished.
To see exhaustion, stress, and anything that didn't show his father as hale and hearty was very jarring. To hear defeat in a voice that always sounded patient, yet knowledgeable, it was almost world shattering.
The cat was out of the bag now, and there were questions, many questions. The others were probably still debating about what this all meant, trying to figure out their next move. He was not in any mood or frame of mind to be productive, so his presence would be better absent than attending. The dark-haired man trusted the others to come up with a plan, most likely something he would agree to.
That left him with questions that the others wouldn't be asking. Tilting his head back, Superman turned his gaze up to the stars that shown so clearly here. Tiny pinpricks of light dotted a pitch back background, and somewhere out there, his home planet had once been located somewhere out there.
It had never been a secret that Krypton was no more. The same record that had been stored in the very pod his father had mentioned was very clear on this. It had been heartbreaking then to have been told his own people had been responsible for their own destruction, a claim that had later been backed up by Hawkgirl when he had spoken with her about the topic. A morality tale, that's what Krypton's legacy was.
Now, now there was a claim that it hadn't been Kryptonian folly, but a deliberate act of genocide, one that had been years in the making. The source of this claim, in his mind, was impeachable. Someone or something had targeted Krypton with the sole purpose of destroying it.
And it was still out there. Somewhere. Earth was now in its sights, and there could be no mistake that it more than likely intended to do the same to his adoptive world.
Yet, it made him wonder. If...if this Brainiac program hadn't destroyed Krypton, what would his life had been like? What would his childhood have been like had it been under the care of Lara and Jor-El? Would have gotten along with them? Gone through phrases of irrational loyalty and love and intense and rebellious hatred that were normal for children and teenagers? What would he have become? Would he have grown up to be a scientist like his father? A soldier dedicated to protecting the people from any and all threats? Or could he have become part of the Science Council, Krypton's ruling body? Or anything else that wasn't coming to mind right now?
There were so many questions, so many what ifs, that to try to count them all was a lost cause. If Krypton had not been destroyed, he never would have come to Earth, never would have known the Kents, or Lana, or Lois, or any of his teammates from the Justice League. Neither would he have known the likes of Luthor, or the Parasite, or Mannheim and his Intergang...though who knew with Lobo? Maybe there would have been conflict with Despero and the Kalanorians, but again, who knew with that one too?
People he would have known but would never know now, people he knew now but wouldn't have known, so much and so great a difference, it could cause a headache with the enormity of it.
The only thing that was for certain was that he would never know what his life on Krypton would be. Because of this Brainiac. Because something out there had wanted to destroy his homeworld and had gotten away with it scot free.
A hand began to tighten into a fist, and blues eyes began to harden. Resolve began to steel itself within the Man of Steel as he made a promise to himself. Earth was not going to suffer the same fate as Krypton. He wouldn't let it. He would not lose another world, not to the likes of Despero, or this Brainiac, or anything else the universe threw at him.
Because...because he was hope. Hope of his father's that he would bear the legacy of Krypton, and hope of Earth that it would be able to rest easy from all threats both domestic and foreign. Hope...hope of the Kent's who only wanted him to be a good man.
Right here, right now, Superman reaffirmed an oath he had made to himself and to the world, that he would protect it and never let anything harm it. He would fight to the bitter end, and if it meant that he had to sacrifice his life, then so be it.
There was not going to be another tragedy. Not if he had anything to say about it. No matter what, history was not going to repeat itself, not this time. Even if it meant having to leave Earth itself and take the fight to this Brainiac, then he would do it if it meant sparring the people of Earth another global crisis.
He was Superman, the man who was able to do that which normal people couldn't, who faced threats beyond what others could do, and every time he came out the better for it. The world came out the better for it.
The burning sensation in his chest, one he thought might have been rage, would refuse to believe otherwise.
Author's note: It's the new year, and we've started off with a big plot point. A reward for patience, or another bit of sadism, you all decide. Thanks for tuning back in and continue enjoying.
FlackAttack: Can't give everything away, though it is a Fortress so it should have a lot of cool stuff in it. And plans for Hawkgirl, that's something for ShadowMajin to comment on, at a later date. As for Green Lantern and his ring, I will confess I am not one hundred percent informed about all its capabilities. More often than not, I get to see its weaknesses, which may make for an interesting story later on down the line. Plus, let's remember, John Stewart is not Hal Jordan, so how they use the rings will be different. Thanks for reviewing.