Lobo and Superman enter the solar system in which Argo lies. This solar system orbits around a red sun. Superman can feel his powers draining.
"You alright?" Lobo asks.
"I'll be fine." Superman says.
"Well, we're almost there." Lobo says.
Superman sees Argo straight ahead. He knows next to nothing about it. All he knew was that it was supposedly a sister planet to Krypton. He had received a distress call from them a few years earlier. There was some sort of alien invader on the planet. After meeting with General Zod, Superman let him go here in his ship. In time, Zod rallied the citizens of this planet to stave off the invaders. Superman had always wanted to make it to Argo, but without his ship, it didn't seem possible. He figures this might be his only chance to get here.
Lobo enters the atmosphere of Argo. His bike is quickly flanked by two ships. A pilot of the ship calls over the comm system.
"Identify yourself at once." The pilot says.
"I'll identify something." Lobo says, as he pulls out his gun."
"Wait-" Superman yells out.
"This is Kal-El of Earth. I am here to meet with Dru-Zod." Superman says.
The pilots don't say anything for a moment. Lobo gets ready to blast them. Superman forces his gun down.
"Kal-El, your request has been granted, please follow us." The pilot says.
"No fun." Lobo says as he puts his gun away.
Lobo follows the two ships. Superman looks down at the planet below. It looks beautiful. He was surprised by how similar it looked to the images he had seen on of Krypton on Brainiacs hardrive. Much more similar than he expected. He even noticed family crests on the citizens chests, not unlike his own. The two ships guide Lobo to a royal palace.
"Is this where Zod resides?" Superman asks.
Lobo's bike touches down. The doors to the palace open, and an attendant comes out to greet then.
"Kal-El, it is great to finally meet you." The aid says as she kneels down.
Superman felt funny about this royal treatment.
"Thank you." He utters out.
Lobo's communication device begins to beep.
"Hey, looks like there's a new bounty out." Lobo says.
Superman looks over to the aid.
"Are there ships here that can take me to Earth?" He asks.
"Oh yes, the Bethgar has plans for you on Earth." The aid says.
Bethgar? Superman thinks to himself. He recalls in Brainiacs files bethgar was a Kryptonian word for ruler. He then realizes it's probably time for him and Lobo to part ways.
"Thank you for bringing me here Lobo, but I think it's time we go our separate ways." Superman says.
"I think it's time I get back to work. Booze doesn't pay for itself after all." Lobo says.
"You know Lobo, you're not so bad." Superman says.
"Aw shucks, don't go around sayin' that, I've got a rep to protect. But if you're ever on the planet Bolo, meet up with me for a drink." Lobo says.
Superman extends his hand to shake with Lobo.
"And Lobo, stay out of trouble." Superman says.
"Always Supes." Lobo says.
Lobo gets on his bike and takes off.
"This way Kal-El, the Bethgar is most eager to meet with you." The aid says.
Superman again questioned to himself what this bethgar business was about. As he is lead through the palace, Superman takes time to study the art in the hallways. It looked more Kryptonian than he had ever expected.
"We are here, the aid says.
Superman stands at the door to the king's chamber. The door opens up and on the throne he spots Zod.
"Zod?! You are bethgar now?" Superman asks.
"Of course Kal-El, after fighting off those invaders I began reconstruction efforts on the planet and now I would like to formally welcome you to New Krypton." Zod says.
"New Krypton?" Superman reacts.
"Yes, you can look around. I am not sure how much of our home world you remember, but it has been my effort these past few years to make this place feel a much like it as possible." Zod explains.
"And the civilians of this planet were okay with that?" Superman asks.
"What choice did they have, it was my military brilliance that saved this world." Zod says.
Superman was so thrown by the situation; he didn't know how to react.
"Where is Jax-Ur?" He asks.
"In his lab of course. I am sure he will be thrilled to see you. Though truth be told, you're looking rather rough." Zod says.
Superman had been on a long journey through space. His tights were ripped and his shirt was the poorly stitched one the child Warzoon had gifted him.
"Aid, have Kal-El fitted with some traditional Kryptonian wear." Zod says.
"Right away my king." The aid says.
The aid holds up a scanner to Superman. She scans him from head to toe.
"Measurements are entered. I shall have it tailored right away." The aid says as she runs off.
"So, Zod, tell me, this enemy-
"The battle was epic Kal-El. Have you heard of Parademons before?" Zod asks.
"I have." Superman says, he thinks back to what J'onn had told him before. These Parademons were the ones that attacked Mars, causing their population to go extinct.
"These creatures had invaded the planet, if I got here any later, the battle certainly would have been lost. I was able to rally the remaining troops and battle these creatures off world." Zod says.
"What did they want?" Superman asks.
"Come with me." Zod says.
Zod takes him through the gardens. Superman takes a look around. He sees the area laced with a beautiful substance.
"What is this?" Superman asks as he studies it.
"It's a Kryptonian element, quarillium, ten times more precious than your Earth's diamond." Zod explains.
The two head for Jax-Ur's lab. Superman spots Jax-Ur inside. He notices that he now had some sort of mechanical eyepatch.
"Kal-El! It has been too long." Jax-Ur exclaims.
"Hello Jax-Ur." Superman says.
"Look at you, you look like you've encountered some battles recently." Jax-Ur says.
"I've… been on a long trip." Superman says.
"Well welcome, how are you enjoying your stay on New Krypton?" Jax-Ur asks.
"I'm, adjusting to it." Superman says.
"The red sun. It's probably difficult for you, having spend your whole life in the orbit of a yellow one." Jax-Ur says.
"So, these Parademons." Superman begins.
"Yes, vile creatures." Jax-Ur says.
"What did they want?" Superman asks.
Jax-Ur sighs. He heads over to a vault and opens it. He takes out a box. In it is another box. The box glows purple.
"We believe they were after this." Jax-Ur explains.
"What is it?" Superman asks.
"Truth be told, we don't know.
"Somehow I was able to tap into the power of this box to reinvigorate the soldier's spirits during battle." Zod explains.
"Yes, but we don't know how, nor has it done much since the end of the war." Jax-Ur says.
Superman studies it for a moment. It looks vaguely familiar to him. He had seen a glow like this before, but where? Then it hits him. This box glows similarly to the way Black Adam's eyes glow. But the glow in Adam's eyes were yellow. Could the two be connected? He wondered.
"This war, it seemed it was on such and epic scale. How is it that New Krypton looks so prosperous now?" Superman asks.
"There are a few reasons for that." Zod begins to explain.
"The first is that this is New Kryptonopolis, capital of the planet. There are still many ravaged parts of the planet. The second is that we are much more efficient than Earthlings. When we have a project to complete we do so at a much accelerated rate than what I have studied of Earth." Zod says.
"Can I see these ravaged battlefields?" Superman asks.
"You may, though I'm not really sure what for." Zod says.
Jax-Ur preps his ship and takes Zod and Superman up in the sky.
"I realize this isn't how you're used to flying." Zod jokes.
The three fly out to the more war-torn parts of the planet. Superman looks down and sees civilians working in these areas. He spots all kinds of civilians: men, women, children, elder adults.
"Who are the workers?" Superman asks.
"Whoever. We send them out here to work just as instructed." Zod says.
"They have no say in it?" Superman asks.
"No, if they want a nice place to live, they have to work for it." Zod says.
"And you're okay with this too?" Superman asks to Jax-Ur.
Jax-Ur says nothing.
"It's just the way things are here Kal. There is much to be done." Zod says.
The three make their way back to the palace. Zod's aid approaches them.
"My king, Kal-El's wardrobe is ready." She says.
"Excellent. Try it on Kal." Zod says.
"I will take you to your quarters." The aid says.
Superman is taken to a large room. It was very fancy and more than he felt he deserved. He couldn't help but think of those civilians working in the war-torn parts of the planet. They should have spaces like this.
He begins to put on his new clothes. He looks into the mirror. He looks like his father, Jor-El, or atleast the few images he had seen of him. Superman then heads to Zod's royal chambers.
The door to Zod's chambers open up.
"Kal-El, you look excellent!" Zod exclaims.
"Thanks." Superman says.
"Come, for a toast." Zod says.
"Zod and Superman take drinks being served by another one of Zod's servants.
After finishing his drink, Zod places the glass back on the tray. The servant loses his balance and drops the tray, smashing the glass on the ground.
"Idiot." Zod barks.
"I'm sorry my king, I'll clean it up at once." The servant says.
Superman bends down to assist.
"Don't bother yourself with the help." Zod says.
"It was an accident." Superman says.
"And he will be sure not to do it again." Zod says.
Zod heads over to look out the window.
"So tell me Kal-El, what are your thoughts of New Krypton?" Zod asks.
"You've, build, a very… impressive society." Superman slowly states.
"I knew you'd see it that way. Earth could be this way too you know." Zod says.
"Earth has its problems, but it doesn't need anything this radical." Superman says.
"Radical? I simply want security for my people. And I was hoping you could help me expand." Zod says.
"What are you getting at?" Superman asks.
"I have been preparing for the day you would arrive here, come with me." Zod says.
Zod takes Superman to a factory. Inside there are thousands of workers, building weapons of war.
"What is this?" Superman asks.
"These are the greatest architects and construction men of the planet. The have been building an armada for our invasion of Earth." Zod says.
"Your what?" Superman reacts.
"Don't you get it? The power us Kryptonians receive on Earth, it is the perfect spot for an empire." Zod says.
"Zod, you can't." Superman says.
"Why not, I have the power. I was actually hoping you'd lead this charge." Zod says.
"Me?" Superman reacts.
"The people of Earth look up to you. You could guide them into a new age. First Argo, then Earth, the Kryptonian heritage could dominate the cosmos." Zod says.
"Zod, please don't do this. The people you have collected here, these are the ones that should be working on those war-torn areas, not creating even greater instruments of destruction." Superman says.
"I am a warrior Kal-El, it is what I was bred for. And I will conquer all I need to for the security of my people." Zod states.
"Then I'm afraid I have no choice, I challenge you Dru-Zod to Jo-Mon." Superman says.