Know Thine Enemy
One Month Later
Kal-El parried Chris's thrust and spun around hitting Chris's shoulder blade. Chris yelled in pain and stumbled. "You are fortunate these blades are blunt. I could have taken your arm. Now it is important not to just watch your opponent's sword and to never fight with a low guard. Keep your blade up and mind your surroundings as well." Kal-El said. "Finish training with Ak-Var, I have some work to do." He ruffled Chris's hair and handed the sword to Jon-Tel.
Kal-El went into the library and threw his fur cloak down onto a chair. He was in the large library of the Fortress of Solitude. He untied the laces of his blue doublet before grabbing another one of his father's journals. His father wrote everything of his reign in great detail and there was still a great deal to read.
He put aside another one of his father's journals and rubbed his eyes. He was surrounded by stacks of journals and books of Krypton's history. He had not shaved or trimmed his hair since he arrived. He looked like an overworked mine worker than a king. He could hear Ak-Var and Christopher practicing with blunt swords in the training yard outside despite the cold. Christopher was determined to learn the sword and a true sword, not a wooden one.
Kal-El leaned back in his chair and took a deep breath. The silver locket containing Lois's portrait lay before him on the table. He picked it up and opened it. He grinned down at her and remembered he was not just doing this for his people but for the woman he loved and their children. He closed the locket, kissed it and wrapped the chain around his fingers before picking up the next journal.
An arrow hit just below the center of the target. "Lower your elbow… Good. Now use your mouth as an anchor and do not pull the string so roughly." Queen Selina Wayne mentored young Damian Wayne, Bruce's firstborn son by Talia al Ghul. He had come to live with them the year before. Selina was shocked at first but she could forgive Bruce since he was conceived before they had met. Damian was still struggling living with his newfound family but Selina had taken him under her wing.
Damian followed her instructions and he hit the target dead center. Selina grinned. "Well done, Damian." She said and he simply nodded but she saw the small grin he had made. Then they both heard clapping behind them.
Selina had quickly gone for her dagger and turned around but relaxed when she saw Clark floating about some feet in the air. He stopped clapping and crossed his arms. Selina sighed and put her dagger away. "Good morrow, Kal-El." She said.
"Sire." Damien said and bowed.
"You are the only one of Bruce's children that does not call me Uncle Kal. Why is that, Damian?" Clark asked.
"Because you are the king of Krypton and not my uncle… Your Grace." Damian said. He bowed once more and walked away knocking over the quiver of arrows. Selina sighed.
"And I was making such progress with him… Now what brings you to Gotham this fine morning? No, do not tell me. You wish to speak to my husband on a most urgent matter." She said sarcastic.
Clark chuckled. "Yes, I am afraid so."
Selina sighed. "More problems with Lois, I see." She said under her breath but he heard her and he grinned. She turned her back to him and began walking back to the castle. When she realized he was not following her, she turned around. "Well, are you coming or not?"
"I think it best that I am not seen." Clark said.
Selina rolled her eyes and shrugged her shoulders. "Very well. I will let you into our chamber in a few moments." She said and walked into the castle.
Bruce was sitting at the table in their bedchamber reading some parchments. Selina entered the large chamber. Bruce did not even have to turn around to look who it was. Selina wrapped her arms around him and kissed his neck. Bruce grinned and tried to continue reading. Selina kissed up his neck and behind his ear. He could no longer concentrate.
He spun around and swiftly grabbed her by the waist making her scream in delight. He pulled her down onto his lap chuckling. They kissed tenderly and he caressed her cheek as they kissed. "I thought you were training with Damian, my love." He said.
"Yes, I was but…" Selina kissed his forehead and stood. She walked over to the window and opened it. Clark was floating outside it. He had turned his back to give some privacy. "Kal has another urgent matter." She said. She tapped Clark's shoulder and motioned for him to come in. Selina walked over to Bruce as he flew in through the window. "I am going to go and check on the children. I shall see you later."
She leaned down and pecked Bruce's lips. Bruce stood and walked her to the door. He watched her walk down the stairs before he closed and bolted the door. "I did not expect you for some time." Bruce said.
"Well I finished my half of my father's journals. And you?" Clark asked.
Bruce motioned for Clark to sit at a small table off to the side. The only thing on the table was a chess set with an open game. They sat down to continue their game, which had been going on for three months now. They sent falcons weekly with their chess moves.
Bruce moved his black knight. "I finished the last one you sent me last night…much to Selina's displeasure." Clark chuckled. "Careful. That is my wife you are laughing about." Clark moved his white bishop. He moved his black rook to take Clark's white bishop.
Now the conversation had become serious. "Well, what have you learned?" Kal-El had asked Bruce for help in making a plan to defeat Zod. No one knew people better than Bruce.
"Zod is a most formidable enemy. He masqueraded as the youngest son of Milton Fine III to get close to your father. He joined the Daxam forces at the age of 17, where he made his name known as Dru Fine. Became a knight at 19 like you and was a captain at the age of 20. He was so respected, not just by his men but by nobles as well, that he was asked to join the Red Shard at the age of 21." Bruce said.
"And you learned all this from my father's journals?" Kal-El asked. He moved his white knight to protect his queen.
"After the rebellion, your father thought it best to keep a thorough account of how it came to pass… Zod became a captain in the Red Shard at the age of 23 and by the time he was 25, he was its commander. Then at the age of 28, he was general of the Kandor forces." Bruce continued.
"Most impressive." Kal-El commented.
"Yes…" Bruce said. He moved his rook planning to take Clark's knight. "And Zod had become your father's best friend as well, besides that of your guardian, the Duke of Kansas. They were like brothers but in truth, Zod was patiently waiting for his chance to take the throne… A warlord with a swinging sword and yelling war cries is one matter…"
"But a patient warlord, who gets to know his enemies, their strengths, their weaknesses; and waits until he is most certain of a kill stroke before he swings his sword, is a most dangerous opponent." Clark said and Bruce nodded. They remembered all Carter had taught them. He moved his white rook to take Bruce's black rook. "Anything more?"
"Yes. Zod was the reason why your mother could not conceive for all those years." Clark looked up when he said this. "Faora was once your mother's maid. She and Zod became lovers. They apparently fell in love and in time he told her who he truly was, promising to make her his queen. He gave her an herb to make it appear that your mother was barren. She would put it in her drink every night at supper."
"One day, a Red Shard knight caught her. Faora was then questioned by J'onn J'onzz and she told him everything. The Red Shard went for Zod but he was already gone. Faora was imprisoned and she was with child. She gave birth to her son in the Kandorian prison and he was sent to the orphanage. Zod had by then amassed a large army in Urrika and he even took a wife since Faora was imprisoned; the daughter of some Urrikan noble."
"Ursa…what a vile woman." Clark said. He stroked his chin and then he moved his white rook.
"Yes. The Royal Army was raised and Zod was defeated at the ancient city of Erkol in one day. Jor-El's army was far superior to Zod's. Zod and Ursa were captured and they, along with what were left of their army, were banished to the Phantom Zone for all eternity."
"Beaten so easily?" Clark asked.
"Yes. The Martians in service to your father, crept into the enemy camp before the battle and destroyed all their catapults, sabotaged their bows, let loose all the horses. Then the Royal Army attacked at dawn. But all the Martians were caught and executed by Zod, except for J'onn J'onzz…making him and his niece the last of the Martians." Bruce said stroking his chin. He moved his bishop.
"Yes." Clark said somberly. He moved one of his pawns forward. Bruce then took Clark's queen with his black bishop. Clark sighed deeply and ran his hand down his face. "What do you believe Zod is doing as we speak?"
"As we are doing…getting to know his enemy." Then there were three knocks on the door. It was Selina, most likely with the children. "You best be off."
"This is not over." Clark pointed to the game.
"You have lost your queen, my friend. Logic says that I shall beat you once again." Bruce said plainly and Clark scoffed making both men grin. They stood and gripped forearms giving each other a single nod. Clark went to the window and flew off. He had to return to the Fortress before they knew he was gone.
Bruce unbolted and opened the door. Princess Helena and Prince Bruce "Al" Wayne jumped into his arms. Bruce laughed cheerfully as he spun them around. Selina closed the door. She rested her back against the wall as she watched them. He set the children down. "This arrived by hawk moments ago." Selina said and handed him a sealed letter. The seal bore the hawk, the crest of the House of Hall.
"Hawk means King Carter." Young Prince Al said.
"Yes, it does." Bruce said and ruffled his son's dark hair. "Now, away you two. I need to speak with your mother." Bruce patted their backsides with the letter. Helena then gave Al a small shove and ran out the bedchamber with him close behind. Selina chuckled. Bruce peeled away the seal and read the letter.
Bruce sighed. "What is it?" Selina asked.
"Carter and King Peter ask for a meeting of the League of Nations at once regarding Luthor's new ally." Bruce said.
"What new ally?" Selina asked.
"I have to tell you what has been happening in Krypton." Bruce said.
Lois sat on her throne in the Council chamber. Her face was calm but serious. Her right arm lay on the arm of her throne while two fingers on her temple and another two on her upper lip. "J'onn J'onzz has written that the spies in Daxam have been rounded up but most of them took their own lives in the jail." General Nox-Van said.
Lois rubbed her temples. "And we are still in the dark of the arrival of this army." She said and took a deep breath. "We must hope that His Majesty finds the answers he seeks at the Fortress and that the Royal Army is prepared to fight Zod's."
"There is some good news, Your Majesty. We have amassed enough gold and gems to fund the war for as long as it lasts. Now we only need to worry about troops and weapons." Durkin and flashed a look at Nox-Van.
"Perhaps, your lordship should seek a commission in the Royal Army but then we would need to commission ten more soldiers for one Kryptonian soldier would be far more valuable than ten of you!" Nox-Van snapped at Durkin. Both men stood up. Nox-Van had his hand on his sword grip.
"Enough…! If we fight amongst ourselves, then our enemy has won. No man, woman, or child in this realm wants to see a Zod on the throne once again. They are looking to us for hope, for guidance against this threat. And we cannot let them see us bickering among ourselves." Lois said. Both men nodded once and sat back down. Lois sighed.
"We have more than enough gold, gems, and weapons, Your Majesty. Now we just need soldiers. The whole realm knows war is coming so it may not be easy to commission new soldiers." Nox-Van said.
"How many troops do we have?" Lois asked.
"More than 15,000 strong soldiers…perhaps 5,000 sailors in the navy." Nox-Van said. He looked to Admiral Ser-Dar.
"6,000 brave sailors ready for whatever Your Majesties command." Admiral Ser-Dar said. Lois nodded once.
"Then I believe we are prepared as we shall ever be but we cannot be certain of what shall come to pass if we are still in the dark of the army's arrival and I feel as if we can do better in raising troops. We have plenty of war machines but we shall need soldiers to use them. And I shall write to J'onn J'onzz and ask him to get the information we seek by any means necessary." Lois said.
"But His Majesty frowns upon torture." Councilor Wren-Za said.
"I frown upon torture as well but I am most confident J'onzz possesses some other skills to get this knowledge… I declare this session finished." Lois said and stood. The Councilors and knights kneeled as she descended the dias. They stood when she left the Council chamber with Bar-El right behind her.
She and Bar-El entered the royal chambers. Lois removed her circlet and handed it to Vala. She saw Bar-El standing over the war map. "What is it?"
"Nothing… I just remember all these roads being damaged and abandoned. You had to pay a road tax to travel down the king's road." Bar-El said. "Seyg-El did all that he promised."
"He did all he could for the people until his dying day." Lois said.
"And his son, the first Jor-El?" Bar-El asked.
"He was just as wise and strong as his father. He lived for this kingdom." Lois said. Bar-El grinned.
"It brings me some solace to know that all the bloodshed was for naught. Seyg-El hated all the fighting but he fought for the people and that gave him the strength to see to the war's end." Bar-El said. "Kal-El is the same but he fights for you as well. He loves you more than anything." Lois grinned.
"As I love him." Lois said.
"Your Highness…" Bar-El said.
"Lois, please. We are in private. How are you faring here?" She asked.
"Well. Captain Tam-Or has been assisting me in becoming accustomed to plate armor and the new weapons of war… But it is not home and that saddens me. Forgive me but I must be off. My lady." Bar-El bowed and left the chamber.
Early the next morning, Lois tilted her head back as she soaked in the warm water of her morning bath. She heard footsteps behind her so she stood. Someone put her robe around her shoulders. "Thank you, Vala." She said.
"You are most welcome." A man said. Lois smiled and quickly turned around soaking the hems of her robe in the bath water. Clark grinned at her and hoisted her out of the tub. They threw their arms around each other and kissed passionately. His chin was so coarse from the dark stubble on his face.
"You need to see your barber at once. A beard is not fitting on you." Lois said and he chuckled.
"Yes, my love. But I wanted to see my wife first. Is that a crime?" Clark asked grinning.
"No…but I do know a man that can make it so." Lois said and they chuckled. "I missed you so."
"As did I." He said and he kissed her tenderly. "Where are the children?"
"In their chambers, I believe. Why do you ask?" Lois asked. Clark scooped Lois up into his arms. She giggled as he walked toward the bed. He lay her down gently and lay down on top of her. He kissed her tenderly. She could ignore the beard…for now. "The door." She whispered.
Clark removed his victory ring and put it besides the end table next to her bed. He super sped to the door, barred it, and then super sped back to the bed. In those few seconds, Clark had removed his doublet and shirt. Lois giggled and he grinned. Lois grabbed the waistband of his trousers and pulled him back down onto the bed.
The Phantom Zone
Zod and his wife, Ursa, played chess with a set, which had taken him months to carve himself out of stone, in their large pavilion. "Now, is this Kal-El the son of Zor-El?"
"No. He is the son of Jor-El II." Ursa answered and moved her black rook.
"So his wench finally conceived. A most unfortunate accident but one that can be easily mended…with my sword." He took her rook with his white bishop. "And what of Zor-El, the one brother I did not kill."
"Took the throne when Kal-El was but a child. He died leaving only a daughter. The Duke of Kansas was made regent and lord protector. He died as well and Kal-El took the throne at the age of 19." Ursa said as she thought of her next move.
"19? Still a boy. I am surprised the realm is not ashes." Zod said drumming his fingers on the makeshift table. Ursa stroked her chin and twirled her king in between her fingers. "Will you make a move already!?
"Patience, my love, or you will never win this game or defeat Kal-El for I am told that he is a most formidable opponent. A brave warrior, brilliant politician, and he most loved by the people and his men for he commands his army from the middle flank. He knights common men; he only takes small portions from the mines and the mountain of gold for his treasury, the rest go to... well, to the people: their wages, their protection, building new roads and ports, and other wastes of gold. The people believe him to be a saint." Ursa said.
"Humph. He is weak." She then moved one of her pawns forward. Zod gave her an annoyed smirk. "Is he in a life union?" Zod asked moving his bishop to take the pawn she had just moved.
"Yes. Her name is Lois Lane and they have one child, a daughter, and two wards." Ursa answered.
"Lois Lane…that name is not Kryptonian. Is she of Kansas?" Zod asked drumming his fingers again on the table.
"Of Genesis." Ursa answered and Zod looked at her confused. "Argos is no more. The realm is now called Genesis… Their union was arranged as part of a peace treaty. Krypton and Genesis had been at war since the House of Ross was overthrown."
"By the House of Luthor." Zod stated. His speed increasing as he continued to drum his fingers.
"So you have been readying the spies' reports." Ursa said and moved her knight in the path of his bishop. Zod rolled his eyes. "A Ross now sits on the throne once more and Alexander Luthor resides in Thanagar."
"I am impressed that he took the city so easily. The Thanagarians were always overconfident. And we can use Luthor's cunning." Zod said and took her knight. She then took his bishop with her rook. A move he never saw coming.
"Check." Ursa said. He had been using that rook to protect his king for the entire game. Zod sucked his teeth. "Be wary of his queen as well. She is probably far more cunning than he is; not as quick tempered as well; and the most dangerous animal of all, my love, is a mother protecting her children. And a woman can very well bring up or bring down a man."
"Fine…! Has Luthor has agreed to our terms?" He asked moving his king out of check.
"Yes. Arms, gold, whatever we need and we shall return to him his son, Alexander, to him once the throne is ours." Ursa's rook then took his queen. Zod sucked his teeth again.
"Perhaps. We could always use a hostage of great importance." Zod said.
"Whatever you command, my lord." Ursa said.
"And what do the people say of Kal-El's union with this Lois Lane?" Zod asked.
"There are whispers that she is barren since the prince was stillborn; yet, the people love and adore her as much as the king does. But I hear whispers that he has a mistress and the Council wishes to find a way to break the union." Ursa said.
"Well I need more than whispers." Zod said.
"Of course." Ursa said. She moved her queen. "Checkmate." Zod yelled and toppled the table down onto its side. "And you must work on that temper, my love." She said calmly. Zod was breathing heavily.
He grabbed both her wrists and pulled her close. He crushed his lips down on hers and then pulled back. She had bitten his bottom lip, which was now bleeding. He wiped the blood off with the back of his hand. "More… I need more." Zod said and Ursa grinned devilishly.
Ursa then drew one of the many daggers she had hidden on her. Zod closed his eyes as she cut open his shirt right down the middle. He sighed as she lightly ran the tip of her blade down his pecs to his abdomen without breaking skin. His skin was marked with numerous scars from the civil war that brought him to power in the Phantom Zone. His ancestor, Zod VII, was a worthy opponent.
Zod took off the shirt and let it fall to the floor. Ursa set the knocked over table upright. He held out his left arm and Ursa strapped his wrist down onto the table with a belt. They looked at each other, now wanting the other desperately. Ursa ran the tip of her blade gently down his left arm.
Then she grabbed hold of his wrist and cut deeply into his left forearm. Zod clenched his jaw shut, groaned, and closed his eyes for a moment. Their imprisonment here allowed them to become accustomed to pain and to actually fall in love in their own twisted way.
On another table, was a makeshift bowl filled with fresh blood: Lilo-El's blood. They would bleed her dry soon enough. Ursa brought the bowl over to him and set it down onto the table. She then held out her own left arm and cut her left forearm sighing deeply. She closed her eyes and licked her lips. Ursa leaned over the table so that her lips were less than an inch from Zod's. They could feel the other's hot breath.
Zod leaned into kiss her but she pulled away. He growled and she grinned seductively. Ursa then dipped a rag into the bowl of blood and held the rag over his cut. She squeezed and droplets of blood fell into the open wound. Bar-El's victory ring, which was now on Zod's right ring finger, glow blue for a moment and his cut healed instantly.
Ursa did the same to herself and Lilo's victory ring glowed blue for a moment on her own right ring finger. She tilted her head back and sighed out of pleasure as the cut healed instantly. Ursa then stabbed Zod's hand but the blade shattered on his skin. Zod easily broke the strap and his hand was around Ursa's throat.
Zod pulled her close and crushed his lips down onto hers. His eyes then grew hot and he turned away from her. He focused on a rubbing of the crest of the House of El, which was hanging from a post. Ursa had been using it for target practice for throwing daggers. Two holes then burned into the crest making Zod smirk. Ursa ran her hands up the back of Zod's arms to his shoulders.
"Once we have the crystal, my love, we shall walk as gods among men." Ursa whispered into his ear and kissed his left shoulder. "And we will no longer need to depend on the blood of those blessed by the crystal. We shall have unlimited power and the throne shall be ours."
"Yes. And the heirs of the House of El shall suffer my vengeance. They and all they hold dear shall all kneel before Zod."
Some Weeks Later
The Hall of Justice was first commissioned to be built on the second session of the League of Nations. It also served as the headquarters for the Justice League, a battalion made up of knights from every realm of the league to help keep the peace and justice between the realms. The Hall was built to be grander than any of the castles and palaces of the realms and to withstand any siege.
Its thick walls were made of large bricks of marble and stone and lined with Kryptium, along with the wall surrounding the hall. It great gates were made from Kryptium. Its great doors were made from Kryptium as well. The door had gold carvings of knights on horseback, animals of all kind, and crops, all under a great sun. In the courtyard was a medium sized fountain with a large stone at the center.
The entrance hall bore marble statues of the sovereigns of the league with gold plaques of their names and titles at their base. And the flags of the realms and banners hung from the beams. Knights of the Justice League proudly wore the armor of their realms but with golden capes and tabards with a large JL on the front. On one wall were plaques of the names of fallen knights of the JL under small flags of their realms.
Kal-El entered the meeting hall and stood at his seat. Diana and Orin were the last to enter. They took their places at their seats around the large round table. Only the kings and princess had come to this meeting. Each of their places at the table had the names of their realms engraved in the wood in the common tongue and the language of their realms. Once they saw they were all here, they all place their weapons down on the table and took their seats.
Peter nodded once to Carter, who then stood. "Peter and I have called for this meeting so we can all agree what must be done about Alexander Luthor now that he has found a new and powerful ally."
"Who is this ally that you speak of?" Diana asked.
"His name is Zod." Kal-El rested his elbows on the table and rubbed his hands together. "He thinks himself to be the true king of Krypton and has amassed a vast army to come and dethrone me." Kal-El said.
"He is the enemy you have been preparing to fight these past months?" Diana asked and Kal-El nodded. The table seemed large and empty without their spouses and heirs. "Then why are we just sitting here and talking about it? If Luthor and this Zod have become allies, then we need to strike now!" She said fiercely slamming her fist down on the table.
"Patience, princess. Now may not be the right time to strike. Let someone with a cool head speak." Bruce said.
"A cool head has done nothing to end this conflict. And just what is your plan, Bruce?" Diana stood with both her hands on the table. "Wait until the dust has settled and strike down who is left." Diana snapped.
Bruce slammed his fist down onto the table and shot up too. "Rushing into the heat of battle may win the day but having a cool head and cunning wins the war." Bruce said.
"Are you saying I do not have cunning? Are you saying that we Amazons do not have enough cunning to win a war?" Diana argued.
Kal-El slammed his fist down onto the table. "Enough!" He yelled. Bruce and Diana both sat down glaring at each other. "We must not bicker amongst ourselves. It solves nothing. Now…I agree with Bruce. Will someone with a cool head speak."
"What do you say about all this, Kal? Luthor is only a part of the problem while this Zod is the root, it seems." Peter said.
"Yes but the first rule of all warfare is to cut off the enemy's supplies. And Luthor is the supplier. He must be dealt with at once." Kal-El said and everyone nodded.
"Thanagar is by a large river. I can send warships there at once." Orin said.
"Kal-El has already sent us 40 cannons and promises us more." Carter said.
"I can send my best archers to come and aid you." Oliver said.
"How are you on catapults?" Bruce asked.
"We are now down to three." Carter said.
"I shall send more. You will have them by the end of the month." Bruce said and Carter nodded once. "What can the Amazons offer?"
"More troops but they will do you no good unless you find a crack in that wall." Diana said.
"Agreed. And that is why we need more cannons and catapults. Can you promise me more support when the time comes?" Carter asked.
"Yes… And what can be done for you, Kal? You will have Zod's army to deal with." Diana said.
"Let me worry about Zod. For now, it is a Kryptonian matter. I just ask that you all focus on Luthor." Kal-El said. Everyone nodded once.