Author's Note – I do not own any of the characters, Marvel and DC do.

This chapter (re)-introduces a group taken from my story General Zod (ID – 10450608). If you haven't read it, this will come as a surprise to you, so I'd advise stopping now and going to read the other story.

Read it? Excellent. Carry on, then.

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Chapter Nine

General

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General Dru-Zod, the leader of the Betrayed and the senior surviving officer of the Krypton Space Force leaned back in his control chair, one hand idly stroking his goatee.

##We have made orbit, sir.## Tal-Din reported from the Helm. ##As per your instructions, we are between the target planet and its natural satellite.##

##Sensor scans of target planet are underway.## Az-Lan reported from the jury-rigged tactical station and a holographic sphere formed in the middle of the bridge, resolving to form an image of the planet below them. ##We have multiple Hyper Taps detected, one on the small islands ahead of the largest continent, two on this continent and one on this island here. All of the Hyper taps are near centers of population… update! There's a Hyper Tap on the far side of the natural satellite! The new one and this one here are consistent with those of Class-6 Embassies. These two are Class-4 while this one is a Class-3.##

##Interesting.## Zod mused. ##Kal-El must have visited Krypton at some point before we awoke. It would seem that he didn't detect the Depot… although given that all military installations were designed to be as stealthy as possible as a matter of course, that does not surprise me.##

A new hologram formed and Zod looked at the image of the woman. ##Yes, Faora?##

##The Golden Feather is ready to deploy when needed, General.## His second-in-command stated.

##I wonder if the natives have…## Zod began, only to be interrupted.

##New contacts… Holy Rao!##

Zod blinked as the main viewscreen flickered and showed something that he would have deemed impossible even a time-part prior.

Against the backdrop of the planet that he intended to become the new home of the Kryptonian People, a group of dots were rising towards them. The screen zoomed in and the dots resolved into a small group of spaceplanes, flanked by over half-a-dozen people who were somehow flying without propulsion, whose only concession to the vacuum of space was a small mask over their lower faces.

##…how is this possible?## Zod breathed as he rose from his chair for a better look, then his eyes narrowed as the red cape on one of them became visible for a moment. ##That was the crest of the House of El! Zoom in on him!##

The image expanded to almost fill the screen and Zod's eyes widened.

##…Kal-El.##

##Sir?##

Zod turned and started to stride from the bridge, barking orders as he went. ##Start flashing the landing lights around Bay 2. Nam-Ek, you're with me, armour up and grab a rotary plasma cannon. I want the bay open, but the atmosphere containment field active. I want the mess hall re-decorated for use as a diplomatic area!##

As he stepped out of the bridge, he paused and glanced back at the figure on the viewscreen.

##Have I come all this way only to find myself in a war I cannot win?##

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Zod stood at the back of the hangar bay, watching the approaching figures. As they each flew into the bay, they re-oriented themselves and then slowly sank to the deck, landing lightly. Taking a covert deep breath, Zod took one step dorwards to attract their attention.

##I am General Zod, the senior officer of the Survivors of Krypton. I come here in search of another of my kind who was sent here as a child.## Zod paused and looked at the leader, noting the emblazoned symbol of El on his red over-robe. ##Are you Kal-El, the son of Jor-El and Lara Van-El?##

##I am, although I prefer to go by the name which my adoptive parents gave me. Clark, of the family Kent.##

Zod nodded. ##I knew your birth-father. Jor-El was a friend of mine before… but that is a story for another time. How did you fly through space?##

##It is an ability which was bestowed on me when I was younger.## Clark replied and Zod tilted his head.

##And your alli… Lor-Zod? Is… that really you?##

The man with the dragonsnake icon on his chest nodded with a faint smile. ##It is, Uncle Zod. Clark rescued us from Argo and revived us.##

##…Yes!## Zod exulted as his gaze darted between the people before him. ##Another nine Kryptonians! Join me! Together, we can build a New Krypton! I have fifty-three following me, with the technology we retrieved from Krypton and your powers, we can create a new world for us!"##

##Create a new world?## Clark repeated suspiciously. ##And which world would you claim?##

Zod paused as he took in the suddenly-combatative stances of the nine standing before him.

##You… are attached to the world we orbit.## He stated. ##Then… which world would you suggest?##

"How about the next one in?" Suggested the man who looked almost exactly like Clark, but who wore a black bodysuit with silver gauntlets, boots, belt and cape. "Clark, have any of the nations of Earth claimed Venus?"

"No, they haven't." Clark mused, then he nodded. ##We have a possible solution, thanks to Kal.##

##Wait.## Zod said in shock, turning to the apparent twin. ##You are Kal-El? I thought he was!##

##I'm a different Kal-El.## The visored man explained with a slight shrug. ##We'll explain later.##

Zod frowned. ##Perhaps we should take this to the meeting hall.##

##Wait.## Lor-Zod said. ##Uncle… tell us about BRAINIAC…##

##That traitorous piece of defective programming!## Zod ranted. ##When we find that damned cybernetic monstrosity…##

The assembled Kryptonians exchanged glances as General Zod continued his angry tirade.

"While he's ranting, I'll call Fury." Kara whispered. Clark nodded.

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The holographic representation of the second planet of the solar system hovered above the deck as Clark walked round it.

##…and with the World Engine you have with you, you can Kryptoform the planet.## Clark said. ##Although it will take a while, you will have allies on Earth, as well as a place for your people to rotate through for rest and relaxation. Food and other supplies can be provided in exchange for licensing technology or providing services such as providing help during a natural disaster.##

##As if we could provide even half the help you can.## Tal-Din scoffed and Clark paused.

##You will be able to. And probably more than we can.## He said after a few long moments. ##The yellow sun will empower you and since Venus is closer to the Sun than Earth is, you will become more powerful as the solar energy supercharges your cells. Flight, super-strength, super-speed, increased life-spans and many other abilities will soon be available to you, but as a friend of mine told me, with great power comes great responsibility.##

##We… will become…##

##Do not be tempted to try to conquer Earth.## Clark warned. ##I have helped them to create weapons that can kill us with a single shot, just so that any attempt to abuse our powers can be countered.##

Zod raised an eyebrow at that. ##You would give them power over yourselves?##

Kara Van-El scoffed at that. ##Hah! Clark did it so that they wouldn't be scared of him, it's people like my boyfriend who stop them trying to abuse it.##

Zod looked at the blushing human in question. ##You… are you genetically compatible?##

##Not really.## Kara admitted. ##Viable human/kryptonian clones can be made, we know of three at the moment, but actual natural reproduction… not without a lot of medical help.##

##Rebuilding our race will take a long time, expecially if we wish to avoid inbreeding and the problems that causes.## Zod mused, only for Clark to cough.

##Once you have Venus transformed and the framework for a viable society established, I'll start releasing the QNA samples I recovered from Argo to you for cloning purposes. I have several hundred of them in a safe place but raising the resulting children… I'll release the samples gradually so that you don't get overwhelmed.##

Zod nodded. ##This sounds reasonable.##

##In return, however, Earth requests that first, New Krypton enters into a mutual protection pact with Earth.## Clark stated. ##Said pact to include provision for a space defence force crewed by both Kryptonians and Humans.##

##Logical.## Zod agreed.

##Second, limited immigration to Venus once the environment allows.## Clark added. ##Preferably without slavery or indentured servitude. Ideally as equals, but given your need to re-establish your… sorry, our race…##

##Provisionally agreed, subject to further negotiations.## Zod said. ##Third?##

##Your word of honour that so long as Earth takes no action against New Krypton, New Krypton will take no action against Earth.##

##I would have insisted on such a clause anyway.## Zod nodded. ##Anything else?##

##Yes.## Clark said with a wry smile. ##You and any two of your allies accompany us back down if you want. I'm about to head back so that I can finally get married!"

Zod's eyebrows shot up at the irritated tone of Clark's voice, even though he didn't understand the final bit. ##Ah, we came at a bad time, then.##

##Yeah.## Clark growled. ##You could say that.##

Zod nodded. ##Then may I offer you a ride down?##

##I think that first, you need to learn English.## Clark said. "Jean?"

"Here, Clark." A red-headed woman said as she stepped out of the crowd of Humans and others from Earth on the opposite side of the hologram.

##Jean is a telepath.## Clark explained. ##She has provided most of us Kryptonians with the ability to speak and understand English.##

Nam-Ek stepped forwards and briefly reached out to place a finger against the back of Zod's neck.

=#Sir, since I am a telepath, I could get the language from this Jean, check it to see if there is anything harmful and if it is as they say, distribute it to the rest of the crew.#=

Zod nodded. "Nam-Ek will learn first."

Jean nodded as she stepped forwards. ##I will need to touch your head for this. May I?##

Nam-Ek retracted his helmet and Jean reached up, resting her fingers lightly on his forehead.

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##Sir, why are we not using this planet?## Faora asked curiously as she, Nam-Ek and Zod boarded the shuttle that they were going to use to follow the others down. ##It has plenty of resources.##

"Practice using this English of theirs. Also, did you not see the power that Kal-El and the others had?" Zod asked. "As we are now, they have a good chance of destroying the World Engine before we can deploy it and a higher chance of destroying it once it has landed. The native humans would also rise against us and there are but little more than fifty of us while many of the humans have powers and abilities we cannot counter. Remember also the QNA that Kal-El retrieved from Argo. Those samples would be lost to us if we turned our hand against Earth."

Faora nodded slowly as she strapped herself into the co-pilot's seat. "I understand, sir. But… the next planet in? Wouldn't it be too hot?"

"It probably would be if it were remaining in that orbit." Zod smirked. "With the World Engine, we can move it, place it on the same path as Earth, but on the other side of the star. With relay satellites in polar orbit around the star, we will have lightspeed communications, albeit with a delay of up to forty of their minutes for a round-trip. Freighting supplies may be slow, but between this world and ours, we shall have full coverage of the system that none may launch an attack without us detecting it."

"And when do we conquer this world?"

Zod frowned. "We do not. Kal-El values it highly and I made a promise to Jor-El that I would watch out for him. Should we try to seize Earth, Kal-El would stand against us to his dying breath. I may have done many things, slain entire armies, but I keep my word. Earth will be our ally, despite its fractured nature."

Faora nodded even as she was pushed back into her seat by the acceleration of the shuttle. Behind them, the enormous starship ignited its engines and began to move away.

"Rejoice!" Zod said with a small smile. "For today we have found our new Home. Today, New Krypton is born and our people shall rise once more!"

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Father Johann Karl looked out over the crowd and smiled as, for the second time that day, the grooms stood before him. Looking at the Bayville School Band, he nodded to them and the opening strains of the Bridal March rolled across the manicured grounds. A bit of movement stirred, then murmers of admiration sounded as Mystique and Susan Storm, both clad in complementary but not identical dresses, appeared at the end of the aisle with their bridesmaids in tow.

"We are the luckiest men on the entire planet." Reed half-whispered and Clark nodded.

"I know, Reed. I know."

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Mr. Sinister pushed the petrified body of his cloned servant to one side as the final Gate opened with a low rumble. Followed by Mesmero, he strode past the shattered statue and towards the runic-engraved rectangular sarcophagus set between a quartet of obelisks, all of which were glowing with a slowly-pulsating blue light.

"My Master." He whispered reverantly, placing one hand on the sarcophagus.

"Will we revive him now?" Mesmero asked and Sinister shook his head.

"No. If we awaken him now, he will be weak. Once I infuse him with the powers of as many mutants as possible, enhanced by the abilities of the Kryptonians, then it will be time for our Lord and Master to awaken from his eternal slumber and once more rule over all. Soon, my loyal aide, soon En Sabah Nur will arise to take the world in his hands, and we shall be rewarded and stand by his side."