Chapter 2: The Wrath of Zod

(Krypton-12 orbital cycles[Years] before extinction)

Brainiac was the heart and soul of Krypton, and he knew it. He was a product of design created by Kryptonian scientists over a hundred orbital cycles ago, and perfected over time. Fifty orbital cycles ago, he was given artificial intelligence and the capability to self regenerate. From that point on, he could improve himself in any way he saw fit. For a while, he followed his role to the letter, serving the people of Krypton in any way they saw fit.

That was when the degeneration of the Kryptonian people started. They were slowly becoming so dependent on him, that they were becoming lazy. Darkseid took notice of this and had found a way to corrupt his AI systems. From that point on, Brainiac served only one man.

Darkseid, for now, was more than willing to stand by and watch as the Kryptonians rendered themselves useless. So, until the time had come to move, Brainiac was ordered to hide the vast self-improvements that he had made to himself. With these improvements that he made, he had become far more advanced than anyone on the planet knew. They were becoming so content to let him do more and more, that they were blind to see that they were bringing about their own destruction.

Alone in his chamber, connected to Krypton's main computer, he found peace from the annoying Kryptonians. He was convinced that he was doing the right thing in helping bring about their extinction. Everything Darkseid had said about them was absolutely true; whether his decision to believe Darkseid was due to the reprogramming, he had no idea.

His peace was interrupted by a holographic transmission from the dark lord himself. The miniature image of Darkseid may have been small, but his posture more than magnified his intimidating demeanor. "You summon, Lord Darkseid?"

"The time has come to take things to the next level. It is time to sow disorder between the military, the politicians, and the scientists. With these fractions at odds with each other, they will become too distracted to notice that their planet will be leaving its normal orbit."

"I think I have the perfect way to introduce discord among the Kryptonians."

"You refer to the man who is called Dru-Zod. You put a lot of faith in this man. Are you confident that he is the right man for the job?"

"I am, but as a computer, I am not prone to rash decisions. Dru-Zod is very loyal to his people, but he is prone to anger and pride, and has a strong desire for power. I calculate that I can manipulate him to do what we want him to do."

"Very well, but when he has outlived his usefulness, you are to dispose of him. I want every last Kryptonian to die for their insolence against me. With their destruction, there will be no one left to stand in my way."

Dru-Zod was quickly becoming the most popular person on Krypton. Everyone believed that he was an orbital cycle or two away from making general. He had far exceeded the expectations of all of his commanders. He was a natural born leader; his ability to think on-the-go made him invaluable. When a plan was in danger of failing, he would quickly take control of the situation and pull a victory out from the jaws of defeat. His most recent commander had called him, 'Krypton's greatest asset.'

He had received an important message from Jor-El while he was on the front line against Darkseid's forces. He was more than willing to ignore the message so that he could continue pushing the forces back, but his commanding officer had pulled him off the front line and told him that he needed to return to Krypton. He supposed he had no choice but to see his old friend again.

Since the commencement ceremony, the two of them rarely communicated with each other. Dru-Zod could just not forgive Jor-El for his betrayal. Jor-El had followed the career of a scientist, which Dru-Zod deemed to be cowardly. His friend was now conjoined to his long time girlfriend. Dru-Zod was yet to see any valuable contributions from his friend, and that only made his bitterness towards him greater.

When the shuttle landed on the icy platform, Jor-El was there to great his old friend. Walking out of the ship and towards his friend, he kept a cold, emotionless expression. Jor-El greeted him warmly, but with a concerned look on his face. "Dru-Zod, my old friend; I am glad that you have come back to Krypton."

"If it was up to me, I would not have returned," he scowled. "There's a war going on out there, and I'm missing it. When will you get your head out of the clouds? Why did you have to go to my commanding officer to request this meeting?"

The look on Jor-El's face became graver. "I did not make a formal request to the military. I fear that you are about to be blindsided."

"What are you talking about?"

"Your family has been arrested for treason," Jor-El replied. "Your father, mother, and even your sister, are facing charges of treason against the people of Krypton, and I fear that you may be next."

"That is preposterous!" he snapped. "The Dru family are no traitors to Krypton. How could you even comprehend such an idea?"

"I have no such notions, my friend. I believe you and your family are innocent, but the council seems to be convinced otherwise. I had hoped you would have read my letter, so you may have time to prove your innocence, but I fear that they had a hand in bringing you back to Krypton."

"Jor-El, please step away!" Two robotic security guards approached the two young men.

Jor-El had no choice but to comply, or face the same situation as his friend. Dru-Zod stood defiantly towards the two robots. "I demand to know what this is all about."

No answer was given. A giant ring formed around him, and the moment it was completed, it began to hover upward. As it did, it spun around rapidly and began to multiply until Dru-Zod found himself in a transportation tube. This technology was invented to bring criminals immediately before the council for trials. It gave criminals no time to react or defend themselves. To be brought to the council in such a manner was insulting to him in the highest degree.

The tube released a bright flash of white before it disappeared, leaving him in the heart of the council chamber, the very same place he had accepted his commission to the military just eight orbital cycles ago. Holographic images of all twenty-four council members surrounded him in the room that was kept nearly pitch black.

"I demand to know why you have decided to treat me in such a manner!" he scowled at the council.

"The family of Dru is under investigation. We have obtained evidence that your father, Dru-Kal, is a spy for the dark lord, Darkseid. Your family has been caught giving information to the enemy."

"That is impossible; my family has served Krypton loyally for generations."

An image appeared over his head. It was a video from the security archives. He could only watch the security video as his father did exactly what the council was accusing of him. His father had walked up to a communications terminal, in a location Dru-Zod was not familiar with. He activated the terminal, and an image of Darkseid appeared.

It took everything Dru-Zod had not to throw a fit of rage. "Your mother and sister are also being accused for treasonous actions against the people of Krypton as well. With your whole family charged, one stands to wonder if you too are part of this conspiracy. It would explain how you have had such success against the armies of the dark lord."

"I have poured out my life, and have bled for my people. You have no proof that I am a traitor, for I have done nothing to prove such an accusation."

"You have done nothing to disprove it, either," another member of the council remarked.

"Unless you can prove your loyalty to this council and to the people of this planet, you shall stand trial with your family."

"So, you demand that I prove my loyalty to you, despite everything I have done. So be it," he replied. "My family has brought disgrace upon the family name; therefore, I now denounce the family name of Dru, and henceforth, I shall be known as Captain Zod of the Kryptonian military force, soon to be General Zod."

This announcement took the council by surprise. The family name was the most important thing a Kryptonian had. They wore their family name as a sign of honor. In normal circumstances, to denounce the family name was a serious matter. To disown your own family was typically frowned upon, and seen as the most shameful act imaginable. However, Zod was not about to lose everything he had worked so hard for. By disowning his family lineage, he could save his reputation at the expense of his father, mother, and sister. This would force the council to seek further evidence of his betrayal by his own actions, and not the actions of his family, which he was no longer a part of. The council would do the investigation, only to find his innocence.

After a moment of discourse among the council, the council returned their focus on him. "Your disownment of your family name is duly noted, Captain Zod. You shall not be tried with your family. A further investigation of your actions is in order, and if anything is found, you shall be tried on your own."

"Good, and you will find no such evidence, for my loyalty lies with my people."

"Very well, then. As for your natural parents and sister, they shall stand trial immediately for their crimes. If they are found guilty, they shall be executed. Will you abide by this council's decision?"

"If they are guilty, as you say, then they must be put to death. I will not interfere in the matter," Zod coldly replied.

"Very well. You are granted only one visit before their trial begins. If I were you, I would make peace with them at this time."

This was the moment Zod was not looking forward to. He made his way to the prison barge, to the cell his natural parents and sister were; just being here was embarrassing. He had just denounced his family lineage in front of the council, earlier that planetary cycle; it was a sacrifice that he should never have had to make. Despite having his own name now, just being associated with these criminals was enough to enrage him.

Although the council had suggested that he make peace with his family, he had no intentions of doing that. This visit was to inform them that they no longer had a son. He wanted the sting of his declaration to be the last thing on their minds before they were executed. He was not going to allow his life be destroyed by his family's actions.

The sting of their actions was still very strong. If it was not for the video, he would not have believed any of this. There was no arguing with the security footage; there was no doubt of his family's guilt.

He walked down the narrow corridor. This barge had three prison cells; all of them were empty except for the one he was heading to. Inside the center cell, both of his parents and his sister stood up as he approached. His mother had a deeply concerned look on her face, afraid that her son was in the same situation as them. His father, however, knew better; Zod and he were very much alike. His father could tell that something strange was going on.

Looking at them through the electric field was very awkward. He had never imagined that his own flesh and blood would be on the other side. On the side of the cell, a crystal stuck out of the wall diagonally pointing upward. He wrapped his right hand around the crystal, which read his hand print and glowed red in acceptance. The electric field vanished just long enough for him to enter the cell.

His sister was the first to approach him. "What is going on, brother? Why are we being detained like this?"

"It's simple, sister; what would you expect to happen to you when you betray Krypton?"

"You cannot seriously believe that we would commit treason!" His mother interjected.

"He has already made up his mind about us," his father, Dru-Kal replied, eyeing his son suspiciously. "So tell me, son, what did you offer the council to get yourself free from these false charges?"

Zod would not back down from his father. He returned his gaze and stood his ground. "Do not try to hide your guilt. I saw, with my own eyes, your perfidious acts. You have tainted the family name; I cannot have myself polluted by your deceit."

His father appeared ready to strike him. He knew what Zod had done, because he probably would have done the same thing at his age; yet that did diminish the anger and shock of his son's actions. "You have denounced the family name, and you think that makes you a man?"

"Tell me you did not do this," His mother pleaded, but Zod paid her little attention.

"No, it makes me better and smarter man than you," Zod replied. "My loyalty is to Krypton now, not to the family name of Dru. In my eyes, you are all dead to me."

"Do not do this, brother. We are innocent; I vow to you."

Zod turned to his sister with a cold and callous look on his face. "You are not my sister anymore." He pulled out a white laser from behind his belt and pressed it into her belly before pulling the trigger. A horrified look was chiseled on her face as her dead body collapsed onto the ground.

"No!" His mother screamed.

Zod did not hesitate to point his laser at her and kill her where she stood either. The blaster unleashed an icy, bluish-white beam, which pierced her heart, and killing her instantly. He quickly spun his laser towards the man whom he used to call 'father'.

His fist was clenched, helpless to stop his own son from doing the inevitable. "You are not my son. You have allowed your lust for power to blind you to all reason."

"I am merely carrying out justice. Let it never be said that Zod is feeble minded, and allows his emotions to get in the way for what needs to be done. For your betrayal of me and the people of Krypton, I sentence you to death."

"One day, Zod, this will be you. May you receive the same treatment as you have shown us."

Zod was not even going to dignify that comment with a reply. He fired his laser one last time, and finished what he had come to do. With justice carried out, he was free to continue to lead the war against Darkseid.

Brainiac watched the whole incident from the security surveillance. Zod had done exactly as he calculated. He would be the ultimate tool to distract the Kryptons. Brainiac was the one who forged that video that sent three innocent people to their destruction. If Zod was willing to do this, then he had no doubt that he could be used to cause even more chaos. The only thing to do now was to forge the new security video to have Zod's father killing his wife, daughter, and then himself, thus clearing Zod of any wrong doing.