Nemesis

Sir Joseph walked his painted horse saddled and out of the stable. "Leaving again, Sir Joseph?" Kara Kal-El asked. She wore a red leather doublet, trousers, and her sword belt. He glanced at her sword hilt and saw that it was the red and silver hilted sword of a Red Shard knight.

"Yes. The queen has another urgent matter for me to attend to: delivering these letters to the sovereigns of the League of Nations. Sending birds is not safe." Sir Joseph said.

"That is an urgent matter. I pray Rao shall grant you a safe journey." Kara said.

"I thank you." Sir Joseph said and bowed his head. Kara turned to walk away. "You should forgive her, your mother." Kara stopped. "She made a mistake and your cruelty pains her."

Kara's shoulders tensed up and she turned around to face him with her arms crossed. "As I have told you once before, the problems between my mother and I are none of your concern." She said coldly.

"I care for your mother. No one is perfect. People make mistakes. Your mother is not faultless and I can assure you neither was your father." Sir Joseph said.

"Do not speak about father!" She quietly snapped at him. She put a warning finger in his face. "You did not know him."

"I knew Kal-El better than you think. And he would be disappointed in both you and Lois." Sir Joseph said. Kara tried to slap him but he easily caught her wrist. She tried to pull free but her hand did not budge. He had a firm grip.

"I am a man hardened by countless battles, princess. I am not called the wounded knight as a slight. I had a daughter once, a wife and two sons. The life I once had is gone now. This war has cost me everything I held dear. And I do not wish for the same to happen to you." Her eyes filled with pity. He let go of her hand and she rubbed her wrist. "Now I hope you shall heed my counsel."

"Sir Joseph, may we speak?" Lois asked as she descended the castle stairs. "Kara." Kara turned and walked away. Lois sighed. Sir Joseph grabbed her upper arm and pulled Lois off to the side.

"What is it?" He asked.

"I do not think saying this will accomplish much but I am so sorry. I believed you were dead and I was weak. But we swore that we would love our faults as well as our strengths. I am not asking you to forgive me but to give me one more chance. I only want you to love me." Lois said softly.

He sighed. "I do love you and that is why your betrayal pains me so." Kal-El said.

Lois put her hand on his cheek. "If I knew you were in the Zone, I would have come for you." She said.

"I know." He put his hand over hers on his cheek and they stared deeply into each other's sad eyes. "I do not blame you. I blame myself. If I escaped sooner…"

"Do not speak like that. The fates can be cruel but we found each other again. And I will do whatever I must to make amends for this betrayal." Lois said.

"Trust takes time." Kal-El said.

"I know." Lois said. "And I shall wait for you as you have always waited for me."

Kara Kal-El watched her mother and Sir Joseph speak in whispers in the courtyard. She glared at them. Sir Joseph then kissed Lois's hand and Kara saw him subtly caress her knuckles with his thumb. He mounted his painted horse and rode out of the courtyard. Lois watched him leave somberly and then went back into the castle.

Kara Kal-El knocked on her mother's door. "Yes? Come." She heard within and she entered the chamber. "Kara…" Lois sounded surprised and happy to see her. She put down the document she was reading and grinned at her.

"How could you do this again? Betraying my father's memory by taking another lover." Kara said upset. Lois's grinned disappeared and she stood. She approached her daughter and tried to caress her face like she had always done when she was upset but Kara took a step back. "Do not touch me!"

"Kara, whatever you think you know, I swear it is not what it seems." Lois said softly.

"Not what it seems." Kara quietly scoffed and ran her hand down her face. "At least you did not deny it with Sir Richard."

"That is not fair!" Lois said.

"The way you are honoring father's memory is not fair!" Kara exclaimed. "Did you ever love him?" And before she knew it, Lois slapped her daughter. Kara was stunned.

"How can you say that to me?! I love your father with every fiber in my being. He was everything to me. Losing him destroyed me but I could only mourn him for one night. One night. I promised him that I would be strong; strong for our family and for the people. I had to become something more than a wife and mother. I had to become a queen charged with the management and protection of an entire kingdom. I would have fell apart years ago if not for your brothers and your sister, and the memories I have of Clark and our years together."

Lois pulled out the silver locket with Kal-El's portrait from underneath her dress. "It has been 10 long years and I still long for him. When I first met him, I thought him to be arrogant and my enemy. But then we spent that month together and I saw him in a new light. We saw each other in new light. And I fell in love with him and he with me. And our marriage was the best years and the worst years of my life: the best when we were together and the worst when we were apart."

"I miss him kissing me every night before we went to bed. Him returning to the palace even if he had only been gone a day. He would smile up at me looking at him out the window and run up into my arms. There are so many things I miss about him. He is the love of my life. And I now know Sir Richard was a mistake and it kills me inside knowing how I have hurt you so. How I have hurt your father's memory. I just want us to be close once more. You are my daughter and I love you. And I know that no matter how many times I tell you I am sorry, it will never be enough." Lois said sadly.

"You are right…" Kara wiped away the tears forming in her eyes. "It will never be enough." She said coldly and left the chamber. Lois closed her eyes and felt a tear roll down her cheek.

Metropolis

Sir Joseph was escorted to the throne room of the Metropolitan Palace by five knights. They wore the silver steel cuirass or blue brigandine armor of Genesis. They entered the throne room, where Chloe Sullivan, Lady Commander of the Justice League, stood before the dias. She stood proudly in her silver hauberk, blue brigandine, trousers, high boots and her sword belt.

At her side was Sir Victor Stone. He had a brown eye patch over his right eye, a full beard, and lines from aging. Chloe's hair was now a pale blond and she had lines from aging as well. The knights escorting him bowed their heads to her and stepped off to the side. Sir Joseph bowed to her. "Welcome to Metropolis, Sir Joseph." Chloe said.

"My lady, I bring news of Gotham." Sir Joseph said.

"I know. Sir Conner keeps me well informed." Chloe said.

"Then I shall be brief." Sir Joseph removed a letter from his person. "From His Grace, King Bruce of Gotham." Sir Victor took the letter and then handed it to Chloe. Chloe broke the seal and began reading the letter.

While still reading, Chloe said, "Leave us." The knights bowed and left the throne room. "You as well, Sir Victor." Sir Victor bowed and reluctantly left the throne room. She finished reading the letter. "Did you truly believe I would not know your face even with that beard acting as mask…? Clark." She whispered his name. He took in a deep breath and his shoulders stiffened.

"Bruce and I once believed you were banished to the Phantom Zone since there was no body but when you failed to return…that is when we feared that you were truly dead. But we were right, were we not?" Chloe asked. All he did was wink and she grinned. "I assume Bruce is in the dark of this." He nodded. "I shall not tell him but we both know he shall find out soon enough… I shall be at the summit."

He approached her and kissed her cheek. "You never lost faith in me." He said.

"And I never shall." Chloe said. Sir Joseph bowed and left the throne room.

Xebel, the capital of the Kingdom of Aqua

"FORWARD!" The Atlantean army marched forward through the island city of Xebel in the realm of Aqua. They marched through the third level of the city. The vanguard led the march with their shields and spears raised to protect the dozen or so cannons being pushed by soldiers behind them. "HOLD!" They reached the gates for the fourth level.

A rider rode passed trebuchets firing at the fourth level of the city and back to one of the defensive towers in the second level. He dismounted and ran into the tower. He entered the chamber at the top of the tower and bowed. "We have reached the fourth level, my king."

King Orin chuckled and patted his son, Prince Arthur's shoulder. "Good. Once we breach the gates, focus all fire on the palace." He said. The rider nodded, bowed, and left the chamber.

"And what if my aunt does not surrender, father?" Arthur asked.

"That bitch was no longer your aunt the day she killed your mother and sister in cold blood!" Orin hissed and pointed a finger at Arthur.

Arthur lowered his gaze to the floor. "Forgive me, father." He said somberly.

Orin sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. "No. Forgive me." He put a comforting hand on his son's shoulder.

A soldier entered the chamber and bowed. "A messenger from Queen Lois of Krypton, my king." Orin nodded once and the soldier let someone in. "Sir Joseph Kent."

"Welcome to Xebel, Sir Joseph." Orin said. Orin's hair, now pale blond, went down to his shoulders and he had a full beard. He no longer had a left hand but a small harpoon attached to his hand. Orin must have seen him glancing at it. "Some men chose an iron fist, I chose a harpoon. Much better to have in a battle and it makes enemy soldiers tremble with fear. Now why have you come?"

Prince Arthur looked like his father did when he was that age: short blond hair, just a few inches shorter than his father in height, a thin blond beard.

"Have you not heard?" Sir Joseph asked.

"Heard what?" Orin asked looking down at their map of the city, uninterested.

"King Bruce has escaped his captors and has taken back the city of Gotham." Sir Joseph said and that definitely got Orin's attention.

"Bruce lives?" Orin asked.

"Yes." Sir Joseph said and removed a letter from his person addressed to King Orin of Atlantis. He handed the letter to Orin.

"It is written in Bruce's hand." Orin said softly to Arthur. He broke the seal and began to read. When he was almost done reading, Orin began to chuckle. "It is true, he lives! And he asks for a summit of the League of Nations by the new moon. That is a fortnight from now."

"It would take us perhaps a day or two to take the palace once we have breached the gates, my king. And it shall take a little more than week to sail to the Hall of Justice. A fortnight if the wind is not favorable. Just say the command and we shall hold off or go on with the siege." General Garth said and Orin stroked his beard. "My king, I will speak plainly… Even if Aqua falls, this war is far from over."

"Garth is right, father." Prince Arthur said.

Orin sighed. "Garth, remain here and continue the siege. Arthur, we sail at first light." Orin said and everyone bowed as he left the chamber.

"You could not have come at a worse time, Sir Joseph. My father is disappointed. He wished to kill Queen Hila with his new hand since she is the cause of him losing it." Prince Arthur said.

"I hope His Majesty shall forgive me when the war is won." Sir Joseph said.

"So confidant of our victory." Prince Arthur said. "Pride like that loses wars."

"Your father has taught you well then. But I do not speak with pride. I speak with faith in my queen. Your Highness." Sir Joseph bowed and left the chamber.

Thanagar

Lex wore a long blue satin tunic and a blue robe. He was leaning on a cane and he coughed into a cloth he held in his hand. He sat down in front of his fireplace and coughed roughly into the cloth. "Shall I fetch your physician, my lord?" His manservant asked.

"No. Just write." Lex said in a raspy voice.

To his most Supreme Highness, it is time we end this conflict between us. We have been allies for 10 long years and we still share a common enemy. The House of El. Fighting amongst ourselves is just what Lois-El wants so that we shall not once again join forces to retrieve our sons from her poisoning influence. I believe we can both agree that with our combined armies, what is left of the Kryptonian line will not hold. And with your gifted personal guard, our sons can be returned to us before the inevitable bloodshed begins.

As a token of my good will, I am sending you a shipment of some 20 cannons. Far better than the ones you possess for these have more power and range and I still have plenty for my own army. I know that you believe that the timing of this letter and these tokens are suspicious so test the cannons if it pleases you. I would do the same. We are both kings made by the sword. Only we know what is it to rule with strength and they call us tyrants. Well it is time they know that only the strong survive. And with our heirs, we shall forever be immortal. If all is forgiven, I shall come to your aid when called. Alexander Luthor, King of Thanagar.

Alexander's hand shook as he signed the letter. His manservant dripped some hot wax on the letter and then pressed Alexander's seal down onto the wax. "Chancellor Waller shall know what cannons to send. Leave me." His manservant bowed and left his chamber. "Show yourself. My servant would not be so careless in leaving the windows open at this time of night." He said. Kal-El stepped out of the darkness and walked around to get a good look at him. Lex was breathing in shallow breaths. He looked far older than he actually was and was sickly pale. "Are you a spirit? Am I dead or just about to be?" Lex asked weakly.

Kal-El stood in front of him. Lex recognized him, even with the beard. He used his x-ray vision to see lesions on most of Lex's organs. "You are not dead. But by the look of things, you will be in a matter of weeks." Kal-El said.

"Clark? I knew you would escape." Lex said. His voice was so weak that he spoke in almost a whisper.

"You knew? You knew Zod banished me all this time?" Kal-El asked coldly.

"I knew he wished to kill you himself but in truth, he is a coward. It was not hard to convince him to banish you instead. I did not want you dead despite what many think. I believed you would be safer in the Zone and would soon escape through one of your family's portals. But I must admit I did not think it would take you this long." Lex said.

"Why? Why save my life and betray your ally?" Kal-El asked.

"Deep down we are all cowards. But men like you learn to overcome cowardice and become as courageous as the knights of old. I told you once that we have a destiny together and I was not going to let Zod destroy it." Lex said and coughed. "You are no doubt curious to why I have sent for you."

"All I know is that you asked for the head of the House of El and here I am. If this is another one of your tricks, I will run you through…dying or not." Kal-El said.

"I see that you have not left the Zone unscathed. You are far more honorable than that. Yet, I hear a fragment of mercy in your words. Cutting me down now shall spare me the great pain I shall endure the closer I come to my death. It is funny. I spent years held up in this city building new weapons to destroy my enemies and these weapons have killed me. My physicians say that my blood has been poisoned from all the years spent in my forge." Lex said and then coughed violently.

"Do you wish for me to pity you?" Kal-El asked coldly.

"No. But it you would be more like Clark if you did." Lex coughed in the cloth. "Knowing you are going to die opens your eyes to all things you have ignored and were blind to. And all I can see is a long road paved with my sins. My life is full of regrets. I can see that now." He coughed again. "Tess, Helen, my father…I killed them. My lust for power took from me everything I held dear, including my son. Tess told me she would never have redemption but she still tried. I never understood why until now. But I do not have enough time to do what needs to be done. You know what I need? Who I need?" Lex said.

Kal-El crossed his arms. "Your heir." Lex nodded.

"Only he can finish what I have begun. He must succeed me or all is lost." Lex said.

"This is his decision, not mine." Kal-El said.

"And that is why I am asking you to speak with him. He will listen to you. You have been more of a father to him than I. You are a far better father than I. I can see why Tess gave him to you." Lex said.

"Tess did not give him to me. Helen did. She asked me to care for him and to guide him. She said that he would be yours and her redemption." Kal-El said.

"Helen." Lex whispered and closed his eyes. Lex removed a handheld portrait of Helen from his robe. He caressed the canvas with his thumb. "After all these years, I still yearn for her. She was my match in every way and I killed her. Not with my own hand but I was the cause for her death. I know that now."

Kal-El looked down, feeling some pity for him. He sighed. "I will speak to him but I make no promises."

Lex nodded. "I do not have long. If there is any chance I can see him… I am told he has become a fine, young man; a good knight." He said.

"That is his decision as well. And yes. He is a fine, young man and a great knight." Kal-El said. Lex grinned.

"Despite all that has happened, I have always been proud of him. And I have always loved him. Can you tell him that?" Lex asked and Kal-El nodded. "Thank you, old friend. Now go. Zod has spies in my court. He does not think I know it but I do. He cannot know of my plans." Kal-El nodded once.

"And the cannons, you are sending him?" Kal-El asked.

Lex smirked. "They shall do what I promised for a short time." Kal-El stood. "Despite it all, it is good to see you, Clark." Kal-El did not even look back. He just flew out the window.

Smallville

Lois paced back and forth in her bedchamber. "No! He cannot have him. He is our son." She protested.

"He is dying, Lois. He has weeks at the most. He needs his heir. This is an opportunity to have Thanagar back as our ally." Kal-El said and Lois scoffed.

"Or this could be another one of his tricks, another one of his lies! I will not risk our son." Lois said.

"I saw his poisoned organs with my own eyes. He seeks redemption and we shall need his forces to march on Kryptonopolis." Kal-El said. Lois still looked conflicted. He took her hands. "I know this is not part of the plan but Zod grows wary. He just sent his best commander to spy on us in the guise of peace. And what is left of Vertigo's forces shall soon arrive to join Zod's own forces. We need to be ready. And it may be time to reveal my true name to all."

Lois sighed but then she nodded. "I shall speak to the other sovereigns and then my war council. Then we shall tell all when the time is right." Lois said and caressed his face. "And I was actually growing accustomed to the beard." They both chuckled and embraced. He kissed her forehead.

Then the door swung open and an upset Kara Kal-El stood in the doorway. "Kara!" Lois pulled out of his embrace.

"Are you two in love, is that it? Do you plan to marry once the war is over?" Kara said upset.

"Kara…" Lois said softly taking a step toward her distraught daughter.

"Do not touch me!" Kara exclaimed. Christopher and Conner then ran into the chamber.

Sir Joseph then began speaking Kryptonese. "Close the door." Chris closed and barred the door. "Kara, listen to me, my precious little star."

"You do not get to call me that! Only my father called me that!" Kara cried. "What are you doing?" Sir Joseph undid the laces of his doublet. "What are you doing?!" He took off his doublet and tossed it onto the bed. Then he began taking off his shirt and Kara turned her back to him. Christopher grabbed her upper arms and forced her around to face him. "Unhand me!" She froze when her eyes fell upon the one specific scar on his chest. She had seen that scar many times as a child when her father was training. "Father?" Kara said, her eyes filling with tears.

Kal-El nodded, his eyes filling with tears as well. He put his shirt back on and Kara ran into his arms. She cried into his shirt and he stroked her hair. "It is alright. It is alright." Kal-El whispered.

The Next Morning

Kara Fine, Kara Kal-El, Conner and Christopher entered the chamber. Lois and Kal-El were standing before the fireplace. "Something has happened." Kara Fine said and Kal-El nodded.

"Alexander Luthor is dying and he wishes to form an alliance with us and pass the throne to his only heir…his son, Alexander." Kal-El said.

"But Prince Alexander is dead, mother. Is he?" Conner asked. Kal-El and Lois exchanged glances. Kal-El approached him and put his hands on Conner's shoulders.

"Con…" He said softly.

"No." Conner pulled away from. Kara Kal-El's eyes widened when she realized what was going on. "I am not a prince! I am a knight of Krypton!"

"Your mother gave you to me when you were a babe. She asked me to care for you; to guide you so you would become a far better man than your father. But now your father, your true father seeks redemption through you. He wants you to take his throne and aid us in defeating Zod once and for all. And if you so choose, you may return the throne to King Carter once the war is over." Kal-El said.

Conner looked at Chris, who was expressionless. "You knew? You knew and you never told me?"

"Mother told me the same day she told me of my true birth. My true name is Lor-Zod, the legitimate son of Zod and his wife, Ursa." Chris said. "That is why Zoners will not challenge me or fight me in battle if they see my face. My father has forbidden it."

"Aunt Kara? You knew?" Conner asked.

"Your mother and father, and I have very few secrets from one another. Kal-El does not judge children for their forefathers' sins. He wanted to give you two a better life than one of war and tyranny." Kara Fine said.

"Conner, the choice is yours. You do not have to take on this heavy burden." Kal-El said.

"I need to get out of here!" He super sped out the door.

"Conner!" Lois called but he was gone. She looked at Kal-El, worried.

"I shall speak with him." Chris said and super sped after him.

"So the boys you raised as my brothers are in truth the children of your greatest enemies?" Kara Kal-El finally managed to find words.

"Yes but they are our children more than they are theirs." Lois said. "We love them for who they are and judged them not for who fathered them."

Kal-El put his arm around Lois. "They are still your brothers, Kara." Kal-El said. She nodded but she was still in shock. "And now we must prepare to depart for the summit."

Conner sat in a tree somewhere in the Burham Woods drinking from a wine skin. "I doubt you can drink all your troubles go away." He looked up to see Chris standing on a tree trunk above him.

"No…but I can try." Conner said and took a large gulp. Chris climbed down and sat next to Conner. "Lor-Zod, huh? When did mother tell you?"

"When we were in Gotham, that assassin came for Kara. When Aunt Selina was stabbed, I attacked him. He dropped down to his knees and called me his prince moments before I slit his throat. My first kill in this war." Chris sighed. "Durkin told me long ago that I was not of the House of Kent. And when mother came for us, I demanded to know who I truly was; who we truly were. She made me promise not to tell you, that she would when you were of age. I think she planned for this war to be long over before she told you." Chris said.

"So both our fathers are tyrants and we were raised by the most merciful king Krypton has ever had." Conner said and handed the skin over to Chris. Chris took a swig. "The gods must be laughing at us up above. We must be quite the entertainment… Was this his plan all along? To use us against our fathers."

Chris then slapped Conner on the back of the head but not hard enough to make him fall out of the tree. "Kal-El loves us like we are his own sons. He gave us the name he wished he truly had: Kent. Why did he do that if he did not love us…? He is our father. He fostered us. He taught us to be men; not barbarians, but men. Hate him if you like but do not deny all that he has done for you."

Chris shoved the skin back into Conner's arms and flew off. Conner was about to take another swig but then he threw it with his super strength with a yell.