Argo City
The darkness of the inner space was deep and cold, quiet and vast, but not omnipresent. Floating nebular lakes and dust clouds of countless colors swam graciously in the endless emptiness. Far beyond one of many invisible clusters of gravimetric currents laid an ocean of colored gas shaped in the form of a gigantic deformed eye; if Jupiter would have been a cloud, it would look much like it. But the power that conquered that infinite solitude, that starless emptiness was not the mighty and scarce phenomena that inhabited it, but a woman flying marvelously in the darkness. The girl was flying and dancing gracefully in the void, soaring towards the near storming cloud, irradiating beauty and kindness.
Her angelical face was her most notorious feature. Her eyes, full of innocence, shined in an inhuman aqua blue color and displayed a beauty and youthfulness that was capable of conquering every heart; two living sapphires set in a perfect female face. Her lips were rich, full and pink, emphasized by a triumphant smile. Her long, smooth blond hair cascaded almost to her waist, shining in the darkness like a golden flame. Her nose was cute and her ideal high cheeks had a wonderful natural blush. She was wearing a perfectly elastic and intelligent white full body-suit emblazoned with the symbol of her family in mirror silver, the crest of the House of El. The suit's beauty and complexion was beyond anything humanly conceivable, whose beauty was only exceeded by the perfect female that molded it. She was fit and toned, slightly muscular. Her shoulders were broad and her long legs were perfectly proportioned. Her generous breasts stood proudly on her chest and stretched the shiny symbol above them perfectly. Her abdominal muscles were defined and clearly visible in the tight suit. Her waist was ideally narrow, preceding a pair of perfectly proportioned hips and idyllically defined legs.
Everything about her was angelical… She extended her arms like two mighty wings; like years ago, when she conquered the blue skies and swam across countless white cotton clouds of the beautiful blue world their inhabitants called earth. She flew downwards and to her right for a few seconds, then straightened her course and hugged her extended legs and spun like a tornado, displaying a matchless flexibility. She broke the movement suddenly, straightened her body and shooting upwards in a mighty vertical ascension. Twenty stunned pairs of exited little eyes watched her without pause, holding their breaths has her protector continued with her hypnotic cosmic ballet; conquering their admiration. The little boys and girls where all of similar ages, athletic and witty, all wore a similar bodysuit but less showy than hers. Each one smiled elated and cheered her trough their mental link. Kara was, as they kept repeating to their parents, the most wonderful teacher in Argo.
Kara Zor-El executed a perfect barrel roll and flew back to her place in the disciplined flight formation of her entrusted students. Their trilling little faces where shining joy, their hearts wishing for her to teach them how to fly in that marvelous way. She went forward and to the center.
"Kara, where did you learn to fly that way?" Asked the youngest kryptonian girl in Kara's learning conclave; more than hungry to learn her teacher's secrets. Her teachers answer was the same again; the vault from Kara's exiting tales and secrets.
"Earth" She smiled and blinked at the little girl, giving her another alien gesture she learned in that fantasy world as they continued their short trip.
The storming nebula was close now, spiting random eruptions very similar to powerful solar eruptions, but distinctively more violent, blending their warm colors in swirls.
Kara stooped at a prudent distant of one of the inner space's class B storm nebula. This one was relatively close to Argo, and curiously near the jump point she used years ago to travel to earth in Zaltar's spaceship. She then turned to her class and began to explain the science behind the constantly changing nebula and the forces inside it, while the kids mentally commanded their Nexus bracelets on their left wrists to harvest and process all data from the phenomena, and also to store Kara's mental knowledge.
The Nexus bracelets where one of the many superior examples of kryptonian's marvelous technology, merging all necessary functions to serve and protect the user in all needs from the biologic to the mental spectrum. Each bracelet produced a holographic data bubble around the user, only visible by him or her alone, displaying marvelous and vivid images and oceans of data as well as feeding their minds with all information directly, without relying on the subjects senses.
Kara explained about the astonishing eruptions that blasted out from time to time and instructed the kids to get near her; another part of her marvelous field adventure was about to take place. They were going to approach one of the coordinates her Nexus bracelet indicated as an upcoming eruption and observe it closely; as close as safety would allow them to.
The kids took their hands and gathered around Kara in guild formation. The young kryptonian teacher drifted towards the exact point in the morphing nebula, close to a vortex of blending colors. Still…there was a beautiful harmony in that seemingly contradictory chaos of forces and extreme visible and invisible energy emissions; it was like watching a blasting cocoon from where a beautiful energy butterfly would suddenly arise. Everyone was watching with great concentration, focused on the information their Nexus bracelets were feeding their minds with, and keeping their young innocent eyes into the growing mound in the cloud.
Booomm!
The eruption blossomed with such force that the group was blown backwards dozens of miles. More than an eruption, it was like a witnessing the birth of a firestorm, a storm where waves upon waves of dancing energies and matter where propelled to the outside with the strength of a nuclear blast.
The kids laughed and screamed in sweet joy with nothing but pure excitement filling their faces. Kara laughed too, and hugged the group around her tightly. The colorful blast engulfed them like a tornado swallowing a formation of intrepid birds, taking them in a powerful and unforgettable ride.
The forces around them where vast, spinning and shaking the group rapidly and powerfully, but at that distance the strength of the blast ad already dissipated enough to pose them no harm. When the explosion finally dissipated in the dark infinite, and the group managed to stabilize, the kids could not contain they joy and gratitude. Everyone was laughing and talking about how awesome it felt, and the incredible lights and forces that surrounded them; and of course, about their teacher's wonderful idea.
"Thank you Kara! This was amazing; you are the best teacher in the universe! The little kid, the youngest male, hugged her defined waist in a gesture of pure gratitude. Then the others started a cute symphony of gratitude that blush her dedicated guardian. Kara returned each gesture and thanksgiving with her own ones. She formed the group from the oldest to the youngest, and then she noticed it.
"Where is Ral?" She looked at the group to check again each little face, and then everywhere. "Did someone see Ral? Did he return without us?"
Cir, the youngest one denied with her head and spoke before anyone else.
"I didn't see him returning, Kara."
"None of us did." reassured Jhan-Ar, the oldest of the group.
Kara mentally contacted Argo's conscience and requested aid to locate her missing student. The answer was practically instantaneous, and guided her piercing blue eyes to a specific point; dangerously close of the nebula.
Ral stood before the monstrous phenomenon's chaotic light opera, closer than her teacher and the rest of his fellow students had dared to be. He was afraid, but the excitement and the curiosity in his heart were much stronger than his fears; so he observed and waited, counting the last instants before the mighty eruption than will give him the ride of his life; as he was expecting; a moment to be proud of and to remember for the whole eternity. His nexus bracelet went wild with readings and warning pulses, jelling at him in its special psychic language, showing him a world of information and data that only his mind could see.
Kara spotted him and her bracelet's mind warned her intermittently about her student's imprudence and the dangerous consequences of his disobedience. She called him again through the mental network, with a more severe tone, and flew towards him as fast as she could. He didn't answer, and scared or not stood still anyways, modifying parameters and settings with his bracelet; hoping that he could…
Booomm!
Ral opened his eyes wildly, like never before, as the enormous detonation literally swallowed him completely before shooting outwards with him in its entrails. Kara halted her futile rescue attempt as close from the magnificent waves of the explosion as she could. It was too late...
Ral screamed and spun out of control in the stomach of the blast, his figure distorted progressively until it dissolved into nothing; disintegrated by the powerful waves he foolishly tried to defy and enjoy.
Kara stood still and released a long and deep sigh from her angelical lips. Above her, all the remaining students were laughing loud and making jokes and funny comments about Ral's stubbornness and failed experiment. She let the matter go and flew back to her class; the day was only beginning and she already received a terrible problem to deal with. How would she explain this to Ral's parents? They would definitely be very unhappy about it.
The return flight back was always special; as one of their poets who made the trip said: "There is no emotion, no sensation as marvelous and appealing as contemplating the majestic shapes of Argo City growing from a small shiny dot, like a distant star to a luminous gigantic city, bright and majestic like a perfectly shaped diamond". Argo City was not just a modest kryptonian city resting peacefully over a floating chunk of its home world anymore; breaking the unbreakable void with warm light and life. Not just a humble refuge that once almost experienced extinction years ago when one of the four Omegahedrons that powered her was lost, but a much larger, completely developed inner space city. She now floated in the darkness with pride, like and eternal monument, breaking the unbreakable void with warmth and life. And today she was not more surrounded by four photonic satellites that provided light and warmth, but illuminated by a true small artificial red sun, reduced to fit the city's natural light needs.
Argo City, Kara's home, became Krypton's lifeboat for a practically nonexistent margin. It was once the most modern kryptonian city, envisioned as an advanced research and development center on the planet. Now, the pure atmosphere that filled it completely was constantly filtered and reprocessed. The new dome was not the old clear plasti-steel dome that covered the small community when she was 18 but a new heavy resistant crystalline shield reinforced by a dimensional barrier that covered it completely. After the disaster, and the miracle of their salvation, life came back to normal; as normal as it could be. In the new shielded artificial sky, the glow of the artificial red star that surrounded the more developed and elegant city gave the night a magnificent kryptonian twilight show. Life always goes forward...
Kara led her class to circumvent the small red star in a close formation, to experience the blessing of the sun's hot red radiation first hand. They laughed and spun, delighted with the tickling sensation of the countless solar energies bathing and passing through them. Then, finally, the star of the show: Argo City; their home…
The crystalline metropolis at already reached full standard development two years ago and now could expand and reshape with safety and according to its inhabitants needs. Kara was the first to approach one of the many potential airlocks that could be manifested around the octagonal belt that surrounded the city. Each student closed the smooth and shiny crystalline wall that in some segments appeared to be a fusion between crystalline and metallic matter.
She requested the ruling conscious to create airlocks for each of them, and like a father granting a wish to her daughter, the frictionless crystalline surface gained life; opening like intelligent water and assuming the correct shape, with living kryptonian ornaments and symbols around the opening. Kara smiled elated and concentrated one more time; her figure started to vanish, like vanishing mist, reshaping into a small bright crystal as big as a small refrigerator, with elegant curves and symmetrical edges; an inner space mental probe. All children turned into identical crystals that entered the mighty floating city in perfect formation and coordination. The airlocks closed behind them, becoming part of the huge reinforced perimeter wall once again. All probes rested in their correspondent nests and morphed into their fundamental forms, all but Ral's one; pulverized by the might of the inner space storm he dared to challenge.
Kara was floating in mid air, in the center of one of the academy's gravity pools, surrounded by her class. Kryptonian academies where like huge futuristic cathedrals dedicated to the accumulation and distribution of knowledge. It had its own mental laboratories and amusement centers, and was not only the place where kryptonians gathered to cultivate their minds, but also their bodies. The gravity pools where special environments where all could exercise and link their minds with probes and AI researchers to travel trough the universe for study and discovery.
All eyes opened while smiles and giggles blossomed in every face; the mental fusion between the class and the crystalline probes had ended.
To meld your mind with a research probe was a speechless experience; it was like living your body to assume another one, to become a new creature; with new capabilities and possibilities.
The artificial conscious ruling the class's physical forces lowered them to the shiny crystalline floor softly, gently turning them to gravity's grip once again, and vanished the inner space's perfect illusion softly; revealing the marvelous celestial hues of the gravity pool's structure.
Ral was nowhere to be seen; he ran home as soon as his mind fusion with the probe's AI was broken; unable to bear the weight of his insubordination.
Disobedience was a serious sin on Krypton; a crime almost as bad as murdering and severally punished among adults in case of committing it.
Kara felt the urge to look for him him, to tell him everything was fine, to forgive him and work it out for his wellness. But she couldn't do it now, she had other responsibilities left. She thought about what the academy's overseer was going to do about it and talked to him mentally trough the collective mind. She explained her version briefly but convincingly. The overseer agreed to let her handle the matter on her discretion; she was, after all, the savior of Argo. Every last kryptonian would have been death right now if it weren't for her.
Kara thanked Rao for the power and the influence she had been empowered with since her returning and remembered herself again never to abuse it, and only use it on right moment.
Huge 45° tilted crystalline pillars flanked the edges of the pool, two of them reshaped to form a beautifully ornamented exit. But they were not ready jet; there was one more exercise before the last part of the class.
Kara adjusted the settings for the gravity field that would be affecting each one individually. Each setting according to the kid's strengths and endurance, and commanded the pool to increase the power of gravity. Her setting was notably high, as high as a kryptonian athlete would use to train if there where athletes in krypton.
For the kids the training routine was simple and efficient, consisting on synchronized jumps, short runs and a slow dance that required an elaborated effort of each body part to be perfectly executed, and perfect it was; with an emphasis on complex positions and balance. Kara hover, used a radically different training routine than any other kryptonian; a unique and attractive combination of a traditional kryptonian dance and a human discipline called gymnastic. It was very chic and eye catching; it took the kids as much strong will to perfectly execute their exercises than to avoid being distracted bay Kara's wonderful jumps and her astonishing strength display.
Kara's training became vigorously intense in the last part. She was almost constantly in the air, with only momentary contact with the floor. Her final move could only be described as fascinating: she spun and rolled in the air five times, making her body behave like a wild cyclone, and finally landed in a loud thud, extending her arms in a perfect salute, like she saw a human girl make on TV, back on earth.
Her shining teeth reflected the brightness of the light around her. The kids were watching every last move, completely hypnotized by the speed and strength of her movements. No one else in Argo jumped or moved like her; Kara was in all senses a unique person, full of surprises and beautiful secrets.
Nim-Ar was bold enough to approach and ask the question everyone wanted to make.
"How… How did you do that?" babbled Nim, with his mouth still wide open.
Kara approached him and caressed his hair. Nim always liked that a lot.
"Would you like to do the same?" Her adorable smile was encouraging and perfect, growing only affection and trust in the heart of Nim.
Nim-Ar grinned ear-to-ear and nodded vigorously. Kara sat on her knees and kissed his forehead.
"But only if you promise to teach it to everyone who wants to learn it too. And it will only be possible if you put on it all your will and one big secret…"
"Which is?"
"Time and love, Nim. Everything you want to do well need these two things".
"I will never forget it Kara!" Nim-Ar hugged Kara with a heart full of joy. Kara lifted him and looked at her class.
"Ready for the most important part?"
"Ready!" shouted back all kids simultaneously, with excitement.
The group exited the gravity pool and each one of them, from Kara to the youngest, stepped over an octagonal shaped disc in the floor near the pool. Yellow, red and blue shiny symbols glowed powerfully on its surface and a pillar of light surrounded each one. In an instant, the body suits disappeared and everyone was wearing their respective domestic clothing. Kara's all day body-suit was white and her robe bright pink, emblazoned with the symbol of the house of El over her chest. The kids used a similar garment, with the color motif of each family's house and the respective symbol. They walked to a crystal chapel with crystal pillars as high as skyscrapers and huge bright walls that shone with a pleasant light. There was a huge altar in the center of the chapel and a representation of the kryptonian sun god Rao floating over it; it was essentially a huge crystalline sun, bright as the brightest diamond, with a touch of red in the right proportion to give the perfect effect.
Kara and the kids formed a circle in front of the altar and sat in the floor.
Cir-Ur was more eager to know more about her new teacher and her adventures than to praise her god, and couldn't wait to ask.
"Kara, tell us what is earth like. Tell us again, please…"
Kara smiled graciously. She took the young little girl at her side and sat her on her lap.
"It is a beautiful place, Cir. The sky is majestic and blue as your eyes. At night it is full of scintillating stars and there is a silver moon that shines almost every day. The sun is very bright, magnificent and yellow. When the sunset comes, it turns gold and finally red; just like Rao was back at krypton and like our artificial sun outside. There is so much life on earth that you could spend hundreds of years studying each amazing creature, from microscopic life forms to animals the size of a house… The landscapes are more than breath taking; each is unique and remarkable wonderful, like an ideal musical were each instrument and voice had been perfectly chosen and placed.
"I want to visit earth!"
"Me too!" another kid jumped in delight.
Kara smiled and looked at each one's eyes with a tender smile.
"Sadly, not everything is perfect. The vast majority of the people who lives there is not as civilized or good earthed as we are. Humans are very selfish, and do bad things to each other, many times without remorse; even to the ones they love..."
"Why?" another girl in the group asked, whit her sweet and tender voice.
"I believe because almost always they care more about themselves than they do towards their fellows, Nira. They all need each other as we do, but strangely... Most times, they act as if they didn't."
"Did bad people hurt you when you were there, Kara?"
She didn't want to spoil the precious fantasy the kids were starting to dream about earth; "The beautiful earth." she though. But then... she remembered her tears and pains, and decided that the truth was always better than a false dream no matter how pleasant it where.
"Yes, darling. Bad people hurt me back there. More than once."
"Why?"
Kara caressed Cir's chin and looked at her innocent aqua blue eyes, staring curiously into hers.
"It is difficult to understand, Cir. Human motivations are strange, confusing and sometimes… scary and dark. But remember that there are many other races in the universe that act in a similar way. And worse…" Kara smiled again and stood up. The day was beautiful, and she wanted to give the children the happiness and security she felt in them before the sad part of her tale. "And that's why there is no better or more beautiful place than home!" She walked to the center of the circle.
Every one raised their hands and began the praying ritual, dancing and moving their hands gracefully in the air, in a soft and enchanting routine. Cir-Ur was the chosen for the loud prayer gift today. She prayed loud and delicately, harmonizing her words and movements with her dance.
"Great Rao, we are your children forever. Remember us every day and night. Look upon us with mercy and keep us safe from the darkness beyond your light. Keep us together forever, feed us whit your generous hand and show us your perfect will day after day. Keep us from disobedience and write the eternal words of your laws in our hearts. Do not let us fall in sin and selfishness. We obey you forever, praise you forever, and follow you forever."
The kids held each other's hands around Kara and looked up, their eyes closed and minds focused. Each prayed personally for his family and Kara. At the end of the ritual the kids hugged Kara and wished her a magnificent day, full of blessings and joy.
Kara gave the children a heart touching good bye and went to the small crystal grove at a niche in a far wall and extended her hand. The grove shined and sang a pleasant combination of marvelous musical tones. One of the protruding crystals detached and flew to her hand. She picked it and watched as it changed its long octagonal shape to the well know symbol she was wearing proudly on her chest, the crest of the house of El. She issued a mental command and the small crystalline gem flew to her waist and held position one millimeter at her side, like held by a invisible, but without touching her. She then allowed herself another sigh and looked at her god's tangible representation.
"I will need all the help you can give me, mighty Rao…" After a silent praying she left the academy and summoned her inner strengths for the task ahead: to save one of her student's present, and perhaps even his future. Ral-Ta had a somewhat difficult temper for kryptonian standards, and that had cost his parents a god night of sleep more than once. They were constantly fearing that their son might develop the same terrible and dangerous behavior patterns of the few but never forgotten criminals of Krypton. He had disobeyed before, but never a direct authority empowered by the science council like her; he was now dangerously close to cross the thin tolerance line his people had over sin. And if that was the case, he would be separated from his parents and held in a special installation for study and treatment; for the first time in many decades. So she had only one last card to play right now: to become his personal mentor. A position that 'The Savior of Argo' could request and get with relative ease due to her very strong influence. But that would mean that their relationship from that point on was going to be close to a mother-son like with special obligations for her; she would be directly responsible for all his achievements… and failures. The law would treat her as his conscience, his second soul and could even punish her severally for his mistakes. And if that were not enough, she would have to invest a considerable amount of time in him.
The temple's breath taking entrance was enormous, and the crystalline stairs that lead to the temple's gardens and finally to the street shinned like transparent gold under the red light that flooded the beautiful kryptonian sky above. She looked at the artificial star and the awesome illusion of the long lost sky of their death world; it was simply perfect… It looked exactly like before the cataclysm, a way to help the inhabitants to remember their glorious past and be more comfortable. As she walked past the gardens filled with notorious statues and kryptonian bizarre flowers she received countless request to join in several mental networks, and even a special request for a mind meld from the city's conscious. All information was transmitted in real time among everyone so the information known by one was also known by the group; the where especial safeties to protect each ones privacy and personal information. But even so it could become overwhelming at times.
She avoided the teleporting pads at the entrance of the gardens and entered the main crystalline circulatory system of the city; she was one of the few ones who preferred to walk from one place to another, using the teleporters only when necessary.
The city's main circulatory system was a series of tubes, tunnels, roads and air ducts that formed an interconnected network within the city. Curiously, there were no vehicles moving around the broad and perfectly clean crystalline streets but many probes and robots that flew at a prudent altitude and everywhere you could see; taking care of the city's wellness and all necessary tasks. Kryptonian streets where not only different than human's ones but very special on their own way; all where equipped with vast amusing areas full of interesting places and refreshment areas, gravity sofas, virtual reality floating crystals that interacted with they Nexus bracelets and teleporters statically design and placed according to their location to mention a few of them. They streets could be better described as amusement parks that connected the different sectors of the city. Each one was unique and remarkable; with enormous structures, statues, sculptures and floating data crystals, as well as shrines where people could pray as desired to a smaller version of their deity; shaped as a perfect sphere; beautiful as a pearl, appealing as a diamond, attractive as a star. A few hundred yards away was the most crowded part of the city; she saw her beloved art malls with many of Zaltar's works, museums, music laboratories, wedding temples, more recreation parks, crystal conception and research chambers, universal cartography chambers, geneticall vaults, biological research and generation centers and much more.
Beyond downtown was the long and high "Bridge of Hoppe", stretching over the holographic kryptonian horizon. She crossed the amazing crystalline bridge made of thousands of floating octagonal disks that chanted tones and changed their color according to the person stepping on them to cross over the only lake in the city; more than a lake, it was the place where kryptonians could simulate and remember the destroyed krypton's aquatic ecosystem, where they could swim large distances and interact with holographic versions of their destroyed aquatic life forms.
She looked above, tears of joy caressed her young checks; above and beyond was another little but breathtaking kryptonian landscape to help the people to remember their past, it looked more than real; the red sun was high in the artificial sky, the colors where the very much like the ones she saw at earth during the sunset. She continued her long walk almost alone, like if she was one of only a few souls in the city; most of her fellows preferred to use the transporters instead of walking like a few exotic kryptonians like herself.
Kara crossed another relatively shorter and smaller bridge from where she could delight her eyes with a huge abyssal crystalline canyon. she could see the citadels and temples that where carved within the crystals and the stark white terrain of jagged frozen plateaus, stretching broadly around her. It was also an illusion, of course, but it was still beautifully realistic and a memory to treasure and never forget. Tomorrow, another illusion was to be projected and everybody, including her, where already exited and couldn't wait to see what it would be; but in her brief joy another more urgent matter struggled for her attention and won it: Ral… She noticed a Lysis crystal common to the residential area and knew she was close to Ral's home, close to the moment of truth. Part of her wanted to turn around and go home, letting Ral and his parent solve his dilemma themselves; after all, it was their responsibility, not hers... It was justice...but not mercy, and she wanted to give him mercy.
She lost her toughs on the flying crystal again synthesizing in her sharp mind its essence; Lysis crystals were a special digestive crystalline apparatus, generally spheroid in shape. Their name meant 'dissolution' or 'destruction'. These protective crystals were crystalline organelles that flew around the city serving many functions, from hygiene to recycling duties; due to the various tasks they were expected to accomplish they had different shapes and sizes, but shared common characteristics, both esthetically and geometrically; their main purposes were to dissolve or transform damaged or worn out crystals and matter into energy they delivered trough dimensional channels directly to the Omegahedrons, destroy viruses, bacteria or any unwanted organic or inorganic mater. They could fuse whit other crystalline entities to rebuild and change the damaging crystals. Other functions included digesting foreign components (or other forms of waste) that invade the city and help repairing damage to the crystal membrane by serving as a fast patch, sealing the wound in the shield. She cleaned her mind and sighed deeply, looked forward and kept her pace.
Entering the residential zone was like entering a fantasy town, whit houses of several sizes and stiles, shapes and functionalities, all molded to suit every families needs and numbers, all notoriously well design and separated: small families had smaller houses for their required lees space and resources, larger ones,had larger houses of course; their were so specialized that even the scientist had specialized micro laboratories in their respective houses, just like the artist had their own private space, workspace and gallery, and so on. Ral's house was a small one; and the reason was as sad as evident for the community; it was somewhat difficult to have secrets in Argo. Ral was the only son for reasons well known around the family circles; his random manifestations of stubbornness and disobedience produced enough fear in her poor parent's hearts to reject the idea of adding a new life into the family. A fear more than justified considering the strict way of her race to deal with criminals or potential criminals. And right now, with her kind slowly recovering their normal liefs after their planets destruction, tat thin tolerance line became even thiner; specially after Zaltar's imprudence.
Kara was unsure about how would she handle it. She hesitated again at the door, but then she remembered the Phantom Zone, the dimensional hell she was thrown into once. She remembered her suffering and desperation in that horrible place and her doubts vanished. She called Ral's parents mentally.
The door vanished and a elegantly dressed young couple bowed before her. The Savior of Argo returned the kind gesture and requested permission to enter. Ral's father gestured to the athletic blond girl to enter and join them in their family ring. They were expecting her, perhaps the … told them she was coming, and by the looks in their faces she knew they were expecting the worst.
Kara sat in the over comfortable gravity chair prepared for her and waited; she wanted to be the first to talk, but couldn't; their tears wouldn't let her. After a tense silence Ral's father courageously spoke.
"This is a very difficult moment for us, Kara. And we understand that Ral did something terrible today, something we wish he had never done; from the bottom of our hearts." he stresed, almost sobbing in the process; his eyes became humid. "But what is done is done, and we..." her wife rested her crying face on his shoulder "will accept any decision the academic council takes regarding our son". His last words barely came out.
She couldn't take it anymore; she was crying inside too.
"That is very noble and comprehensive. I simpatize with all your toughs and wanted to said from the beginning that the … gave me complete powers regarding Ral's education from this point on And I have decided to become his … (mentor).
"What?" Ral's father almost fell of his chair. He could not believe what he was hearing: to become someone's … (mentor) meant literally to risk your future and reputation for someone else (to become someone else's father or mother). Very few kryptonians did that in the past, and more than one went trough a terrible experience for such a decision. Kara was literally risking a lot for his son. "But Kara..." Ral's father wanted to thank her, to warn her, to understand her; but didn't now what to do first. "Why?"
Kara took one of her tears with her left index. "Because I believe in love. I believe that anyone can change and that Ral can change too. If he needs all my attention and time, then I am more than happy to give it to him. I want him to become the great man Rao wants him to become; if a sacrifice must be done for his future, then I want to do it."
Ral's mother was literally out of the city, submerged in a deep shock. His father stood up with his face covered in tears and hugged Kara, his wife followed them shortly. Kara allowed the gesture and shared her own tears with his.
"I would like to give Ral the news personally if you allow me."
Ral's father nodded and hugged her wife thigttly. "Of course, Kara, we will be more than honored if you do so."
Ral-Ta was sitting in the floor next to his bed, with his face marked by warm tears. He didn't want to speak to anyone, and had been crying since his arrival. He was just a kid, but even at his young age he knew very well what was expected from him, and the consequences of his fresh disobedience. Now, the weight of his sin was all over him, and he was deeply repented. But he knew very well that it was too late.
Kara entered his carefully ornamented room, stood in front of him and waited. Both sets of glassy blue eyes stared at each other, looking for something. Ral's face was defined of sadness and fear, but hers was defined by a soft but encouraging smile.
"Are going to take me to …?"
Kara's throat knotted. She shook her head.
"No, Ral. I came here to tell you how important you are for me, and that I have decided to become your mentor."
Ral's mouth opened a little as he embraced those marvelous words, a little numb from shock.
"What? Why?"
Kara paused for a brief second and then changed his life forever.
"Because I forgive you, Ral; we all do." she extended her hand. "Please come back with us, everyone is waiting for you, especially me." Her smile was powerful and heart touching, her eyes giving away nothing but the truth in those wonderful words.
"Kara!" Ral jumped up and hugged her muscular legs tightly.
Kara sat down with him and hugged him like a mother. Then something she had never expected happened, something wonderful.
"Thank you, Supergirl!" thanked Ral, with all his heart.
Kara froze for a moment as distant memories took her mind far away. The mentioning of a part of her she tough (she would never hear again) was lost (gone) forever awoke powerful feelings in her.
"Where did you hear that word?"
Ral looked for her eyes.
"Your mother told mine once; she said that it was an important name for you. I was close by and I listened. I believed it meant a lot to you..." He just wanted to homage her savior with something that meant a lot for her.
"Thank you, Ral."Kara caressed his hair with pure gratitude; no one had called her that way in years. Kara hugged him maternally one more time and stand up, cradling him in her arms. She laid him down on his bed and asked him to sleep until tomorrow, when she would come to pick him up for a new day. With a swift tough she commanded his bracelet trough hers to render him in deep sleep until the next morning, so he could rest physically and emotionally as well.
A brief talk and a promise where all she needed to conclude her visit. Her soul was pumping in joy and she didn't hide it; a beautiful and contagious smile accompanied her all the way out and trough the next walk home.
Love and hope had prevailed again.
Kara passed trough the marvelous crystalline arches that distinguished her house from all other, the only gift she accepted to keep as the Savior of Argo; as for her, she was only being responsible for her actions. She mentally commanded the door to open and entered home with a large grin plastered on her face.
"Mom, I am home!" called the gorgeous girl with joy and hope. "Mom?.."
Kara looked everywhere but she seemed to be the only soul in the house. She tried with her parent's bedroom.
"Mother..." called again. The room was essentially empty except for a large gravity armchair floating in the air with an elegant and beautiful woman sitting on it; her mother.
Alura seemed asleep, but still sitting in a perfect posture, like in a deep meditation. A small shiny morphing crystal that floated a feet above her head was illuminating her body with a cascade of misty light, adding more beauty to the perfect environment.
Kara came closer and her smile quickly vanished; her mother's body was sitting in front of her but her mind was far, far away. She was deep inside again; in another reality; a perfect virtual world where krypton still existed and lived as she remembered. The artificial reality was so perfect than many citizens practically lived there constantly, only returning to the real world to participate into specific family and community matters. It all started as a small amusement a year ago, but soon too many became addicted to a noble man's attempt to create a brief escape for his nostalgic spirit. (People nicknamed the addicts, The "Dreamers") There was even a formal request from the avid kryptonian group that practically lived in that fantastic krypton to put each and every citizen of Argo in suspended animation after reshaping the city to become a self sustained, fully automatic and evolutive colony. Essentially a giant incubator that will take care of each one's care, including birth and recycle, to allow them and the newcomers to exist into the virtual universe they have created; for the addicts, it was much better than reality, and the place everyone deserved to be. The ruling scientific counsel resolved to study the request and to provide the addicts the means to leave reality if they wanted so only under the condition to return to the real world if the council itself or their family authorities requested so. They agreed, and sadly, her mother was one of them... Alura tried to convince Zor-El and her to join them into the virtual universe, Zor-El refused first, telling his beloved wife that even if the virtual world was as realistic as the real one they have lost, he would always know it wasn't real. And that he preferred to fight for the future instead of escaping reality. Kara was in the middle of a family storm for the first time, both postures had their arguments well based, but even after hearing from her mother that "My dear, you now that the reality is actually the place where your heart is..." she was not convinced, somehow, she knew her father was right, and with eyes in tears she turned down her mother's request too. Sadly, Alura didn't resigned to her dream in favor of the normal development of their family life and kept submerging herself regularly into the virtual krypton; each week she passed more and more in there; sometimes even days without interruption.
She resisted the impulse to bring her mother back to reality to greet her after thinking it briefly; the last time she did, Alura went mad and they had a very unpleasant argument. She went to her room instead, walking down the short hallway to her bedroom with a melancholic expression; she already had enough problems to deal with and didn't needed to ad her mother's temper to it. She had a happy life, but her hearth also troubled her from time to time with wishes she knew she couldn't make real.
Kara entered her room and ordered the over relaxing and stunning VR landscape of a kryptonian dawn to vanish; this one was within one of the most treasured places of her gone world. Her room was a pretty and comfortable kryptonian woman suite with ample space beautiful furniture. She ordered all furniture to melt within the room's ornamented walls and floor except her gravity bed, shaped like a huge ovoid sliced diamond; she sat on it. Her Zaltar's Nexus bracelet commanded the crystal bed and the gravity field to acquire the most comfortable configuration for her, as well as the atmosphere. Kara sighed and lost her eyes and thoughts in the ornamented wall across the room. She had her own dreams; different and often beyond consideration. She concentrated on the beautiful looking wall while gently caressing Zaltar's bracelet. A touch and a wish and the crystalline wall became alive; an intense light dot in the white surface surged and expanded from the inside out as if were a solid wake pushing the wall`s crystal like water, turning the resulting crests into ornamental vines that delightfully enhanced the spectacular view of one of Kara's most beloved treasures; her Supergirl uniform.
The tight suit was worn by a crystal statue identical as her; a carefully crafted crystalline reflection of her powerful self from years ago. The majestic symbol of the house of El glowed with a light of its own and the reds and blues of the uniform were shiny and clean, like if the fabric was made of microscopic stars.
A wish and the crystalline statue gained life. It walked towards her with natural steps, stopping near her and posing for her. This costume held special meaning for her. The first time she put it on, a magical feeling swept over her.
Seeing it again made her heart jump joyfully, her smile arouse beautifully. The day she arrived from earth everyone was speechless, everyone cheered her and named her their savior. Also, everyone thought that her mythical flying powers came from the uncommon, yet hypnotically attractive costume she wore. She never told them, she never needed to; she was back, the Omegahedron was back, Argo City was saved; that was everything that mattered. She continued with her normal life and hid the reality of her powers until she didn't need to anymore; it didn't take long. The first 2 days after her arrival were the most special days; she was constantly receiving gifts and thanks from every citizen, gifts that she gently refused; except the arc in front of their house's entrance. But she enjoyed more her secrets flights in the inner space; those moments were unique…
Kara approached the empty probe airlock, quietly and discrete as a soft breeze, floating in the air towards the door to avoid any noise. Inside the chamber, she taped a symbol on the wall that became alive, transforming into many other perfectly enlighten symbols and icons that sprang out and floated around her. The inner door materialized and the decompression began; she smiled innocently, her heart was screaming with excitement. A few more second, and the outer hatch dematerialized, opening her the way to the yet barely explored inner space. Kara took her time, and walked gracefully outside, over the void, like a princess entering her kingdom. Her bracelet communicated her mind that her wish had been granted and her smile arouse; for the city's sentinel conscious she was just one more probe going out on a brief recognizance mission, and nothing else; nothing that could reveal the wonder of a kryptonian doing the impossible. She even took the precaution to go out in the moment were all other probes and recognizance crafts were being evaluated and reformulated.
It was pure delight… She was walking over nothing, like stepping over invisible bricks. The magnificent lights and the glow of her home's walls behind her created an iconic environment that, together with the glow of a relatively near storm nebula, produced an enchanting moment. Kara closed her mighty fists and flew forward, straight towards the storming nebula ahead. She reached the uncanny inner space phenomena and smiled delighted. She kept her eyes open and with her marvelous power plunged inside it, diving inside a fresh eruption that could disintegrate an asteroid the size of Australia in a nanosecond. The sensation of submerging into the blast and flying straight to the center of the most powerful singularity of the inner space was unspeakable.
She spun, rolled and danced graciously deep inside the singularity, enjoying and laughing about the colossal forces around her that could only amuse her. A moment latter, her curiosity emerged and she couldn't resist the impulse to analyze that energy beast like no one could do it before. Using her superior kryptonian mental abilities she began to decipher and understand the nature and behaviors of the forces bathing her. Satisfied, she relaxed and simply closed her eyes, falling asleep.
Kara opened her eyes and stretched among the destructive forces around; it was time to return, for more than obvious reasons she didn't wanted anyone to know. Kara left the nebula and called her Zaltas's Nexus bracelet backup from its dimensional vault. The wrist jewel regenerated itself, carefully following the perfect contour of her left wrist, ornamenting it elegantly. She ordered the intelligent jewel to perform its concealment trick again. The bracelet amazed her yet again and cleverly masked her dimensional signature to hide her from the city's conscious. Zaltar's little present was not just a nice looking bracelet that reacted near a kryptonian power source but a fully functional Nexus bracelet; Zaltar was working together with the team that developed the technology before his imprudence.
Kara sighed and closed her eyes; her delicious rides didn't last as much as she wanted: the third time she got outside something terrible almost happened to her. A sensation already forgotten invaded her suddenly, in the middle of her sweet flight, the sensation of being out of air. And if that wasn't bad enough, she felt the sharp coldness of the inner space stinging her body while battling not to lose conscious during her sudden return. She barely made it back and it was scary enough for not to try it again.
The deep silence of the main living room was broken by the unmistakable hum of the house's transporter. A well-dressed male figure materialized slowly in a blend of colored swirls; Zor-El. He was one of the most prestigious members of the ruling scientific council in Argo City, Kara's father and brother of the even more famous Jor-El, Kal-El's deceased father.
(Zor-El) The brother of Krypton's greatest scientist was experimenting with a new way of transporting matter and energy trough dimensions when the nightmare happened. Memories of his meetings with his deceases brother rained over him from time to time, drowning him in a sea of guilt where there was no island he could rest on. His world's destruction was so contradictory and tragic at the same time. He wasn't sure about his blotters claims; he did several tests himself, and Rao, although an old star, still had several million years ahead. He never believed in him, he couldn't... Who could? But even so…it happened. Just like Jor-El predicted: an impossible catastrophe.
That old puzzle still troubled him in his dreams sometimes; how could Jor possibly know that Rao was going to explode? When all and every possible scientific evidence was pointing to the opposite direction! Maybe he had a vision…or something like that. He mourned and prayed in silence to his god, requesting him to tell Jor, wherever he might be, to forgive him for not believing his words. If he only have had more faith in him… Then perhaps both would have found a way to save krypton from the cataclysm. But the best place for the past was in the past itself, so he let it go again.
The house's conscience sensed his arrival and saluted him, sharing with him everything he needed to know or requested about his home at a speed only a kryptonian could assimilate. He sensed her daughter's strong emotions and sadness flowing through the family mental ring; she had forgotten to block them with a privacy wall. "Her mind must have been troubled" speculated Jor. He went to his dormitory first, knowing his wife was there, following the strict kryptonian family code. Alura was present but only physically; her mind was still in the virtual Krypton. He bowed his head and resigned to ask her to help him with the melancholy of her daughter; after the last time, it was pointless.
The scientist turned away from the odd sight of her mind absent wife before him and head towards her daughter's room. The house's conscience already alerted Kara that her father was on his way. She cleared her face from the tears and waited.
The crystalline door dissolved and Zor-El entered her dormitory, walking with elegance and softness. He didn't say a word and sat next to her daughter. Zor-El caressed her long smooth hair while staring at the teenage crystalline version of Kara, dressed with the flashy blue and red uniform.
"It is hard to let beautiful things go. Isn't it?" asked Zor-El, a little awkwardly.
Kara nodded, feeling her sadness emerge. Despite her outward discipline and her notable position she was still a normal person.
Being raised as a kryptonian had its struggles too; she had learned how to maintain an impeccable appearance like everybody else and to dominate her feelings; but sometimes they wanted to emerge and shout! And right now she was sad, nostalgic and a bit depressed all at once.
Glancing at her father, Kara had to fight the desire to ask him to let her visit earth again. But she let it go, like many times before. She knew her place was in Argo, among the survivors of her civilization. Much was expected of everyone. And if there was a still a future for Krypton, then that future laid in her, in all of them. Kara decided not to let her father or herself down; no matter how much she liked the power she had before, no matter the sacrifices she had to do.
"It doesn't really matter, father. There are more important things than my dreams..."
"Do you miss earth?"
"Yes and no. It was like living a fairy tale... Like being a mighty princess in a fantasy world full of richness and beauty (beauty and treasures) to discover and enjoy. It became even addictive for me because...there was just so much I could do and see. However, at earth people yell to each other, hurt each other, offend each other, and treat others bad so often... I never heated anyone or anything in my life but there…I learned to hate. And it scares me father.
Zor-El reclined her daughter's head on his chest and kissed her shiny golden hair. She opened him her toughs completely.
"Kal's world is the kingdom of contrasts, father; there is unspeakable beauty and goodness, but also so much evil and suffering. In Argo City everyone talks sweet to each other. Our home is always nice and peaceful, and I won't change that for any power in the universe, any feeling or any fantastic world."
"You have a very noble heart Kara... Keep it always safe."
Zorl-El lost his gaze on her uniform again, with hundreds of questions he never asked before.
"For a few days you where the most powerful woman in the universe. How did it feel?"
"It is indescribable, father. You can accomplish so much..."
"What about your thoughts?"
"I was confused at some point and... I must confess you, father, that I was afraid; afraid that it was too much power for me. That I could lose control over and be unworthy or irresponsible with it."
"If those where your thoughts, my Kara, then you were in the correct path. We are far from being perfect, even belonging to the most advance living beings in the universe; our limitations can misguide us, and ignorance can destroy us. The only way to stay in the path of perfection is by constantly and wisely question our thoughts and decisions; as well as the principles that rule our lives."
"But my questioning can fail me too, father."
"That is why we have the word of God to warn and guide us, my dear. Perfection is necessary for any successful development and progress. No life, or system, can be successful built nor rest on imperfection; because if that where the case, sooner or latter those foundations will collapse and the consequent damage may be irreparable. My dear Kara, never rest your confidence neither decide the path of your life based on thoughts or philosophies others then the path of God. Logic is perfect there, and you cannot fail.
"You are right, father; you always are."
Zor-El laughed a bit.
"Not always, my beloved daughter. Well..." he caressed his chin a bit "Maybe 98% of times. What do you think?" father and daughter smiled contagiously, until a the last long suppressed desire stole most of her recently recovered joy; strong feelings of selfishness washed over her and she felt the urge to let it out of her system; once and for all.
"I became a hero back there; and part of me wanted it to last forever, father. It was so beautiful... But I knew it wouldn't last. Still, I have dreamed many nights with it again." she looked deep inside her father's blue eyes. "Forgive me father. I shouldn't be talking about this; about dreaming to be a hero again. I am so selfish."
"That depends, Kara... If you are eager to be a hero for the sake of others then a hero you are, and a hero you should be! Real heroes are the ones who sacrifice themselves for others, the ones who give themselves to others expecting nothing in return. And you sacrificed yourself for all of us when you went trough the unimaginable to retrieve the lost Omegahedron; so you are a hero."
Kara shook her head.
"Maybe I was a hero back then... But now, it is different; Supergirl is gone. I am not her anymore"
But Zor-El was determined to give her daughter the truth her heart was desperately needing (starving for).
"Why not?"
"Supergirl was an extremely powerful woman, father. With enough strength to knock planets out of orbit. Now, those powers are gone. I can't help anyone like I did before." she gazed down.
"Kara... A hero without powers is a hero nevertheless, just like a musician is a musician with or without his instrument. And even without his tools, a true musician always finds a way to express his art, just like you have expressed your heroism without your powers."
"What do you mean?"
"You don't need those extraordinary powers to be a hero, Kara; the truth is that no one needs them. Powers are simply tools, they don't make you a better person or a worst person, they don't make you a hero or a villain; it is your heart that makes you a hero or not. An I can tell you that the moment I saw you fly away in Zaltar's spaceship to retrieve the Omegahedron to take responsibility for your actions, I knew there was a hero in you. And now you have saved Ral's future. Yes, the academy's overseer told me what happen. So, as far as I can see, you are a real hero, my daughter. And I am more than proud to be your father. That suit belongs to you because it is the visible sign, the vivid expression of your heart; the heart of a true superwoman. Please ware it again, for me, for Argo, and for you...
"Father!" Kara hugged her father as her crystal clear tears illuminated the special moment. She cried in happiness on her father's chest, knowing that his father's words were nothing but the truth.
Zorl-El stood up and took his daughters hands, making her stand up too.
"Now come with me, my daughter. There is something important I want you to see."
Zor-El led Kara to the house's transporter and invited Kara to step on it with him. Rao was long gone in the horizon and the eye catching artificial sky was already dressed with countles of elegant stars, inviting every one of the city's inhabitants to rest for a new day.
"Father, where are we going?"
"You told me many times that you just love to visit the council's main lab whenever you can. Don't you?"
"Yes, but..."
"Well, then allow me to grant you a special visit; just you and me. I promise you will love it!"
"Are you sure?
"98% of times, my dear."
Father and daughter shared a warmth hug as their figures vanished slowly in the air.
Argo City's core was like a city within a city; elegant and large temples, ruling halls, vast crystalline libraries, art vaults and historical museums where part of it. The science council ruling chamber was within a floating crystalline sphere whose only access was a special teleporter illuminated by a cylindrical pillar of light, that shoot down from the bottom of the sphere, falling like a light waterfall over the impressive device 1 mile below.
One level below the ruling chamber was the Smegahedron chamber. A special place with a very special meaning for Kara. It was the first place they visited. Kara asked for permission to hold in her hand a very particular one, nicknamed Selena. Zor-El called the power source and the spinning orb flew from her crystalline nest to the opened hands of Kara.
Zorl-El took Kara directly to the center of the core
The city's core contained most of the city's data crystals, organized in multiple perpetually growing crystal grove. The data within these crystals were the city's nuclear genome. Among the functions of the core was to maintain data integrity and consistency, also to create and maintain the mechanisms for the data to interact to the various specialized crystals that would be used for different purposes; also to control all of the city's activities by regulating data expression and reproduction. The main structures making up the core were the Nuclear Vault: a double crystal membrane that enclosed the entire nucleus and separated its contents from the city itself and The Crystal Flow: a floating liquid crystal meshwork within the nucleus that added physical support.
They arrived to the councils main lab; a true labyrinth of floating holographic data and morphing sections that would turn every being's mind crazy; except the trained mind of one of krypton's greatest scientists, Zor-El.
Zor-El started to play with the flying symbols, icons and object in a away only he could understand. "I have a surprise Kara. Something the science council had been working on for a while; something for everyone." exclaimed the scientist, smiling all the way. He touched a holographic icon and waited. "Brace yourself, my beloved daughter."
The crystalline floor at the center of the room opened like a blossoming flower. Enchanting tones resounded across the room as one of the councils vaults opened and revealed a tiny shiny crystal that slowly floated upwards and froze a yard above the ground. She knew what it was, a fundamental solar crystal; but for what purpose? Could... could it be?
Zor-El reshaped the symbol in his hands and the crystal started to shine brighter and brighter, until exploded in an orchestra of sounds, colors and forms, showing a future taste of a yet not mature reality. A brilliant kryptonian sunrise blasted the unusually clear horizon in an explosion of colors revealing one of their home planet's unforgettable landscapes. Kara couldn't hold back her tears and neither her father. They were standing over one of her most beloved places of her destroyed home, the road of the thousand temples; a valley among breath taking mountain peaks where silver-crystalline roads led to thousand magnificently beautiful temples that spread trough the most famous mountain chain in Krypton. It was summer, so there where flowers and some alien looking vegetation blossoming in carefully crafted niches at the sides and within the road.
Zor-El hugged her shivering Daughter as both opened their hearths to each other. He cried in silence holding her close to him, feeling her warm heart. "It is not completely ready, and we estimate one o two more cycles before Krypton II can start growing. It will be exactly as before, our home, where we belong!"
She looked at her father eyes with her glassy ones, her cheeks were soaked in tears. Zorl-El took her daughter's tears without worrying about his own. And turned to delight himself again with the still imaginary kryptonian sunset; where tears met with old dreams that where going to become true very soon.
"I can't believe it, father! How did you...?"
"With a lot of time and love, Kara; the key for many things." He smiled again at his daughter's angelical face and turned towards the sunset, to let the red light bath his elegant features. "The crystal is in its final stages of gestation right now. And tomorrow, the council will make it public. A present for all kryptonians. He hugged her tightly. "A new home; like the one we lost. And this time we will be staying here, in inner space, away from the madness and the chaos of normal space. Our artificial sun will be accordingly augmented and carefully controlled, so that no tragedy ever reaches us again. We may even rebuild our entire solar system if we want... There will be a new future for us, my Daughter. Instead of wandering through the universe to accumulate knowledge, we will be the artists of a new universe inside the limitless vastness of the inner space; we will craft planets, moons, nebulas, galaxies... So that one day, when we are gone, they become the homes and sanctuaries of those that will come after us.
"It is such a blessing..." she bowed her head slightly. "It is so sad that where are the only ones that will enjoy this present and not all krypton..."
Zor-El remembered his lost beloved brothers and sisters briefly, and with a gesture, terminated the virtual reality simulation. The fundamental crystal that showed his still developing treasures descended to the vault again, where it continued to sleep and grow.
The vault closed.
"It is a strange moment we are living in, Kara. There are sad memories and shines of new futures everywhere, all competing to win our hearts.
"Which one do you think will win, father?"
"The one we feed most, Kara."
Karas eyes shined with new hope; there was a way to get her mother out of the virtual world, to save Ral's future. To give everyone…a new tomorrow.