Author's Notes: Some of the events of this episode run concurrently with 3x02.
Mon entered Kara's office in the Metropolis capitol building wearing his ceremonial Insane armor. Kara was at her desk looking over a report. "Uneventful...is how you described the Siege of Jerusalem in your log," Kara said dryly.
"I suddenly have this sinking feeling that this discussion is going to be a waste of my time," Mon deflected.
"Tell me more about what happened. Surely, it wasn't completely uneventful," Kara said skeptically.
"Relatively speaking," Mon replied.
"What I heard from Barney is that you sacked the leadership of Jerusalem, refused to negotiate, baited the Arabs into attacking you, got scores of people killed on both sides, and...you fucked their queen," Kara said angrily.
"I think we can both agree that Barney is a snitch," Mon rolled his eyes.
Kara stood up pissed off. "My mandate for this world is to create peace and harmony for the indigenous species here, not to have them fighting amongst each other."
"I didn't start it," Mon said defensively.
"That's an obscene technicality," Kara told him off.
"I am Insane. I embrace technicalities," Mon smirked.
"You giving me attitude, Mon?" Kara glared.
"Yeah," Mon said completely unafraid and unrepentant.
"You can be a real pain in my ass. You know that?" Kara asked rhetorically.
"I hope so," Mon replied.
"Tell me what you did wrong," Kara demanded.
"Not a damn thing," Mon said argumentatively.
"You think the rules don't apply to you because you're Insane. That's not how this works. That's not how any of this works," Kara told him.
"If you thought that way, why didn't you just kill me when we got to this time?" Mon rolled his eyes.
"Because I saw greatness in you, and, now, I see you don't have any humility," Kara accused.
"You listen to yourself?" Mon asked incredulously. "What would you have done? Oh, wait, you weren't there, because you had a crisis of conscience. If not for me, everyone in that God-forsaken city would be dead."
"Or...or...or...no one would have died, and I would have sorted it out with Saladah one way or the other," Kara countered. "You were supposed to observe this world, not alter its destiny."
"That's boring as fuck. I am the Prince of all Insane, not some surveyor," Mon scoffed.
"That's your problem. You think you're infallible. It's a pattern with you. That rules are for other people," Kara scolded.
"It's worked so far," Mon said dismissively.
"You use your blind luck to justify playing God!" Kara shouted at him.
"You're the last person to lecture me about playing God. You impose this religion you don't even know you believe in on these people. You make yourself a prophetess to these people. You're the one playing God," Mon accused.
"This religion was invented before I arrived on this world. I'm merely following it, teaching it, enforcing it. I'm not perfect. I make mistakes. But I do, occasionally, acknowledge my sins and ask for forgiveness. What do you do? You have no soul, Mon. You have no morality. You do as you please. You have no rules. You never ask for forgiveness from anyone, not me, not God. You're like a wild dog I cannot tame," Kara said to him.
"Your religion is a double-edged sword. As much as it will make you docile and peaceful, it will also inspire you to commit atrocities beyond my understanding. I know you, Kara. Unlike me, you enjoy being cruel and you justify your cruelty with this religion of yours," Mon said.
Kara simply stared at him as she registered what he was saying. "I'm taking this planet away from you, and I'm sending you back to Planet New Mon. If you refuse to comply, I'll kill you and then I'll kill your whole race."
"Listen...," Mon said softly.
"No, fuck you! You don't respect me! You know why? Because you're not ready for me. Now, get the fuck out," Kara ordered.
That night, Mon found himself in a bar conflicted in his feelings. On one hand, there was deep shame and sorrow in leaving Kara and the kids behind forever. On the other hand, he would be welcomed back to New Mon as their rightful king. It was also true that Kara was a crazy bitch, and he would have greater compliance with an ordinary Insane woman. He wondered how he ended up in this predicament in the first place.
Just as Mon was about to flirt with an oblivious young woman, Kara got in between them to cock-block him. "How did you find me?" Mon asked.
"I know you better than you think I do," Kara replied. "When you first came to this planet, you were a bartender in a place just like this."
"Only this place has fewer aliens and sexual deviants," Mon noted.
"There was a terrorist attack in Metropolis, thousands are dead. Buildings I designed and built with my own hands have turned to twisted metal and ash. This is a declaration of war. I need you back," Kara told him. "The truth is...I still believe in you. If anyone deserves another chance, it's you."
"I don't know what to say," Mon said honestly.
"Well...that would be a first. I have an emergency meeting at the capitol. Be there or be square," Kara said and then walked off.
Mon eventually made his way to the capitol building's emergency session. He was less than sober and had low expectations for this meeting. The emergency session was to take place on a high-level floor with plenty of windows instead of an underground basement. Kara sat at the head of a large round table. Included in this meeting were Brainiac 5, Mon, and the top generals and admirals of the planet.
"By now, some of you must have heard what happened in downtown Metropolis. The target was our financial sector. Now it's a God damn hole in the ground and thousands are dead. Our suspect is Khan Noonien Singh. We are certain he did not act alone. He's declared war on the empire and under no circumstances is he to escape this planet. You will run this bastard down and everyone who gives him aid and comfort," Kara said.
"Now, all airports have been shut down, every plane has been grounded, so we know he must not be far. The city is currently being blockaded so no one can enter or leave. So, he must still be in the city. If you come across this man, you are authorized to use deadly force but I want him alive so I can personally teach him some manners," Kara continued.
"Ahem...," Mon said obnoxiously.
"What?" Kara glared at him.
"It's probably nothing," Mon shrugged.
"Spit it out," Kara ordered.
"Why attack the financial sector? Barney has the entire financial sector in his head, it's redundant. This must be only the beginning," Mon said.
"Beginning of what?" Kara questioned.
"Well, I don't know, if I were him, I'd blow up something big knowing all of you fine people would come together in this fine conference room, and then I'd assassinate all of you," Mon said drunkenly.
Suddenly, a hover attack helicopter fired into the windows with rapid green laser fire scoring several instant kills in the room. The humans in the room attempted to get cover as the helicopter fired relentlessly with automatic fire. Brainiac 5 security drones swarmed the room only to be blasted apart instantly. Kara was hit to the gut and dropped to the floor. As she crawled on the floor with glass shards everywhere, she was hit to the chest. Seeing her condition, Mon dragged Kara out of the line of fire. He noticed her wounds were from Kryptonite blasts, she was mortally wounded. Mon then aimed his hand at the helicopter and fired. The beam hit the helicopter and destroyed it.
Mon turned back to Kara who was struggling to breathe. She placed her hand on his face. "Protect Alex's world," she gasped and then passed out.
The next day, Mon met up with Brainiac 5. "I found this in the wreckage. Khan has escaped."
"Where did the bastard go?" Mon demanded.
"He's in Afghanistan," Brainiac 5 replied.
"Well...shit," Mon muttered.
Mon gathered the surviving admirals and generals in a basement facility this time. "Khan is not in Metropolis nor is he dead. He's in Afghanistan having used an instant teleportation device," Mon informed them. "With Kara in critical condition, I am taking command of the empire."
Several holograms of world leaders appeared on the table from India, Iran, Pakistan, and several Central Asian countries that were not internationally recognized. "Metropolis was attacked by Khan Noonien Singh, a disgruntled former dictator that did not take kindly to what happened in Jerusalem. He has ties to India and Pakistan. I wanted all of his family members rounded up and detained. I want the borders shut down, airports shut down, and seaports shut down except for the military which will be given every cooperation," Mon demanded.
"This is in clear violation of international law and the imperial charter signed by Queen Kara," the Pakistani leader protested.
"Queen Kara has been wounded. I am in command now, and I didn't sign anything," Mon informed them. "You will do as I ask, or I'll turn your countries into parking lots."
"The Queen is formidable. She will recover before your operation even begins, Prince Mon," the Indian PM said dismissively. "The Prophetess, peace be upon her, will rise shortly, perhaps, in this very hour," the Iranian PM seconded.
"You will have to go through our territory to get to Afghanistan. We refuse," the Pakistani PM told him.
"You all have a death wish?" Mon asked.
"You have not experienced the last thousand years of violence, depopulation, famine, resource depletion, and environmental decay. Many of our people wish for death. The only hope you have brought to this world is that our deaths be an interesting one," the Pakistani PM said to him.
"Well...fuck," Mon said slightly surprised. He then turned off the holograms and turned to his war council. "I don't care if they wish for death or not, I will still give it to them."
Indian Ocean
Shortly thereafter, Mon teleported onto the USS Enterprise, a navy aircraft carrier. He quickly entered the bridge to take command. "Admiral on the bridge," the bridge crew shouted as he entered. Mon took the captain's chair and eyed the rest of the fleet standing by numbering several destroyers and frigates as well as hidden submarines.
"Open a channel to the fleet," Mon ordered.
"Channel open," the communications officer informed him.
"Attention Fifth Fleet, as most of you know, Queen Kara is in critical condition. The man responsible is hiding in Afghanistan. We are on our way there now. It is essential the enemy detects us. Tensions remain high in the area which could lead to all-out war. Pray, they're that stupid. Pray, we get that lucky," Mon said to the entire fleet.
Mon hesitated as he considered Kara's request vs his own instincts. "When we arrive, I will personally lead a landing party to capture Khan and bring him to justice. Alright, let's get this son-of-a-bitch."
The Fifth fleet came within range of Afghanistan and prepared aircraft for a strike mission. On the deck, Mon addressed his special forces. "You are all from different corners of the empire: American, Scottish, Japanese, Russian, and African. You're here rather than drones so that you may be given the honor of avenging your queen and your fellow imperial citizens. It is the queen's wish that we capture this man. He should be considered armed and dangerous. He may have local support."
"God save the Queen!" they shouted enthusiastically.
The strike team entered a transport plane escorted by several fighter jets. The squadron flew off the USS Enterprise and entered Pakistani airspace immediately. "We will arrive at Khan's location in three minutes. I doubt he will come willingly," Brainiac 5 said to Mon.
"Fantastic," Mon said pleased.
Three obsolete fighters from Afghanistan engaged the squadron. Half the Imperial squadron pulled off to deal with them. "They're ordering us to land. They say they're going to torture us, question us, and kill us," the African translator informed Mon.
"Don't threaten me with a good time," Mon smirked.
The Imperial squadron engaged the Afghan fighters and destroyed them with ease. "We're here," Brainiac 5 informed Mon.
"Let's land," Mon ordered.
Mon's hover plane landed on the rocky ground while his squadron escort departed back to the carrier. The special forces team exited the plane and immediately found themselves surrounded by Afghan locals. The African translator approached the locals and spoke in their native language. "We're from the Imperial government and we're here to help," she said.
The locals gave her a skeptical look. "With respect, there is a criminal hiding in these ruins. He has killed many of our people," she said to their leader.
"Why should I give a shit?" the leader wondered.
"Because you care about honor...probably...maybe...," the African translator assumed. "And this man has none. You and your people are in danger."
"From this criminal?" the local asked.
"No, from him," the African translator said, referring to Mon. Suddenly, beams of light shot up the locals in quick succession. With both of his hands, Mon fired on the locals, dropping scores of them. More locals arrived on the scene and fired on the team. The special forces team, while outnumbered, did their part. The air became filled with laser fire in the ruins. Some of the locals got close enough to engage the team in hand-to-hand combat. Mon went around killing and fighting any local that managed to get the upper hand on his team. Finally, the team apprehended Khan, himself.
"I surrender," he said pathetically.
He was searched and cuffed. "On behalf of Queen Kara, I accept your surrender," Mon said to him. Mon then decided to ruffle up the prisoner a bit with some punches at low power that wouldn't kill a human instantly. After a few strikes, Mon noticed Khan seemed unaffected. Mon punched a little harder to the face, to the gut, and kneed him in the gut without effect. Bewildered, Mon punched Khan as hard as he could to the face getting only a slight reaction from him. Mon finally withdrew from Khan wondering what the fuck was going on.
"Prince," Khan smiled amused.
Mon brought Khan back to the USS Enterprise in cuffs and then threw him in the brig. Mon and Brainiac 5 eyed Khan in his forcefield cell wondering what to make of him. "I punched him as hard as I could and he didn't shatter like glass," Mon said confused.
"Looks like we have a superman onboard," Brainiac 5 said dryly.
"Test him," Mon ordered.
Brainiac 5 went up to the forcefield and then activated a metal circle that created a hole in the field. "Put your arm in the hole," he ordered Khan. "I'm going to take a blood sample."
Khan complied and allowed Brainiac 5 to take a blood sample. "I think you might find my insights valuable, Prince," Khan said to Mon. Brainiac 5 finished the blood draw and then closed the hole in the field.
"Tell me what you find," Mon said as Brainiac 5 left the brig.
"Ignore me at your peril, Prince," Khan taunted as Mon was about to leave.
"You're still alive only because I allow it. So, if I were you, I would shut the fuck up," Mon told him off.
"Prince, you going to punch me again and again until your arm gets tired? Clearly, you want to. Why did you allow me to live?" Khan asked.
"We all make mistakes," Mon mocked.
"I surrendered to you, because, despite your best efforts to convince me otherwise, you are a reasonable man who is willing to hear the truth," Khan said. "Do you want to know why I did what I did?"
"Give me one reason why I should listen to you," Mon said impatiently.
"I can give you seventy-two," Khan smirked.
Mon exited the brig and confronted Brainiac 5 on the bridge. "Clear the bridge," he ordered. Once everyone was gone, Mon turned to Brainiac 5. "Why the fuck are there seventy-two Kryptonians in sleeping pods in your orbital space lab?"
"They were discovered drifting through space, a remnant of an unknown Kryptonian colony from a thousand years ago. Kara and I recovered them and opened one of the capsules. That capsule was Khan. We used the other seventy-two capsules as leverage to gain his cooperation in weapon development. Despite this leverage, he managed to escape to Earth where he then committed a terrorist act in Metropolis," Brainiac 5 explained.
"So that's why I nearly broke my hand on his face," Mon said resentfully. "Why wasn't I told about this."
"It was made classified," Brainiac 5 said simply.
"Classified to me? I call bullshit," Mon said pissed off, and went back to see Khan.
Khan waited patiently in his cell for Mon to return. "Who the hell are you?" Mon asked directly.
"A remnant of a time long past, genetically engineered to be superior, so as to lead others. We were the survivors of our planet's destruction, forced into exile, for centuries we slept hoping things would be different. But as a result of Kara Zor-El's entrance into this time, we were discovered adrift. I, alone, was revived," Khan explained.
"I was awoken by Kara Zor-El to advance her cause. The name Khan Noonien Singh is a stereotypical Indian name used as a smokescreen to hide my real identity. My name is...Kan (Khan)," he revealed.
"Yeah, I don't give a shit. Why would Kara ask a thousand-year-old caveman for help?" Mon rolled his eyes.
"Because I am better," Khan said arrogantly.
"At what?" Mon asked impatiently.
"Everything," he said simply. "Kara Zor-El is a civilized woman with an uncivilized consort. She needed someone like me, my sperm, to design Kryptonian babies. She wanted to exploit our genetic perfection. Kara Zor-El enlisted me to create and design Kryptonian babies to realize her dream of a new Kryptonian Empire. Kara Zor-El used my crew to control me. I tried to smuggle my crew to safety, but I was discovered. I had no choice but to escape alone. And when I did, I had every reason to believe Kara Zor-El had killed every single member of my crew. So, I responded in kind," Khan said.
Mon simply stared at Khan as he took all this in. "My crew is my family. Is there anything you wouldn't do for your family?" Khan asked rhetorically.
"Kara is in critical condition at Metropolis General. Your people are still in cryogenic sleep. Kill the bitch and I'll hand your people over to you," Mon told him.
"With pleasure," Khan smiled.
Mon then released him from his cell. Immediately, security drones rushed toward the brig and began firing green Kryptonite beams at Khan with the intent to kill. Mon and Khan fired back against the drones with their respective powers. Suddenly, the USS Enterprise was hit by a multitude of anti-ship missiles and torpedoes by her own escort fleet. The escort of cruisers, destroyers, frigates, and submarines fired non-stop at the USS Enterprise with all of their weapons. The aircraft on the deck was blasted apart and its deck was unusable. The ship began to sink fast due to all the damage it was receiving.
The escort fleet began to move away from the damaged USS Enterprise at maximum speed as they prepared for what was next. Mon and Khan continued to fight off waves of Brainiac 5 security drones even as the ship continued to sink. "Take cover and I'll teleport us out of here," Mon said to him. Khan moved toward Mon and suddenly backhanded him to the head knocking him out.
"Two birds with one stone, prince," Khan said ruthlessly and then made his exit out of the doomed carrier.
A lone submarine then fired a nuclear missile at the carrier as Khan tore his way to the deck. The missile detonated just as Khan escaped into the air. The carrier was blasted apart by the blast with Mon still inside. As Khan flew off, the escort fleet attempted to fire anti-air missiles at him. He managed to outpace them and sped toward Metropolis.
Khan approached Metropolis and fired heat vision buildings at some of the buildings to create a distraction. As emergency responders and security headed toward the damaged buildings, Khan dropped down and stole a coat to allow him to move incognito. He then made his way toward Metropolis General. Meanwhile, Mon's body rose to the surface in the Indian Ocean.
He wiped the blood off his lip with annoyance. A lone Brainiac 5 drone walked on the water over to him. "When Khan failed to cooperate with us, we leveraged his people against him. He still escaped. It would seem his people are merely secondary to his revenge."
"Can you stop him from killing Kara?" Mon asked.
"Probably not. Her life is now in your hands," Brainiac 5 said.
"She seeks to replace me as consort, seeks to reproduce with those of her own race, and seeks to restore the Kryptonian Empire without me. Why shouldn't I let Khan kill her?" Mon asked angrily.
"Did you expect any less? Is this not the Insane way?" Brainiac 5 asked rhetorically.
"She's not doing it because she's practicing the Insane ways. She truly means to destroy and replace me," Mon said resentfully.
"Is it really Insane to send a Kryptonian off to assassinate her, as she sleeps, as she lays critically injured? Or, perhaps, you should kill her, yourself," Brainiac 5 reminded him.
"Killed by her own people would be a fitting end," Mon figured.
"Kara needs Khan's blood to restore herself. If you kill Khan, it's as if you've killed her. Two birds with one stone, so to speak," Brainiac 5 enticed. "Should I manage to restrain Khan, I'll take his blood, and then kill him. Can you take that risk?"
"I suppose not," Mon agreed. Putting two fingers to his forehead, Mon teleported to Metropolis.
In Metropolis General, Khan fought off Brainiac 5 security droids firing Kryptonite beams at him. Khan fired off heat vision beams and used super-speed to tear through the drones. He made his way into Kara's room where she was sleeping in a coma. Khan disabled the last of the security drones protecting Kara and then placed his hands on either side of her head.
"You should have let me sleep," he said to her as he attempted to crush her skull.
Mon suddenly teleported into the room and kicked Khan off of Kara. Khan went flying through the window and down to the street level. Mon teleported to his position and then chased him down on foot. The two ran down the streets of Metropolis at relatively the same speed knocking pedestrians out of the way and tossing vehicles as they did. Khan leaped up onto a hovercraft with Mon following. The two fought it out on the roof of the hovercraft with Khan having the advantage. Khan beat Mon down to the roof with punches and kicks. Khan then knelt down as he continued to punch Mon without relenting. Khan then grabbed both sides of Mon's head to crush it. Mon punched him back in desperation, but Khan kept his grip.
Mon then teleported out of Khan's grip and appeared standing behind him. Mon raised his hand and fired a few controlled energy bursts at him with limited effect. Khan moved toward Mon even as he was being hit multiple times. As Khan approached, Mon teleported behind him, took his arm, and broke it. As Khan cried out in pain, Mon flipped him over and slammed down on the roof. Mon then got on top of Khan and punched him repeatedly in the face with the intent to kill.
With Khan barely conscious, Mon powered up to Super Insane. He pointed his hand at Khan to kill him. "Two birds with one stone," Mon said to him as he created a sphere of energy in his palm, his golden aura flaring all around him.
"Do it," Khan taunted.
Mon hesitated and then powered down. Khan smirked as Mon couldn't go through with it. Mon gave Khan a strong uppercut knocking him out and then took Khan's body over to the hospital.
Kara woke up from her coma and rubbed the sides of her head. "Why does my head feel like it's been in a vise?" she complained.
"It's a long story," Brainiac 5 said as he monitored her. "Your cells were heavily irradiated by the Kryptonite beams. A transfusion with Kryptonian blood saved you."
"Khan," Kara figured.
"Are you feeling homicidal, power-mad, despotic?" Brainiac 5 asked.
"No more than usual," Kara replied. "How did you capture him?"
"I didn't," Brainiac 5 said and then revealed Mon was in the room as he left.
"You saved my life," Kara said gratefully. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Mon replied, giving nothing away.
Kara gave him a long look and sensed he knew everything. "I'm sorry. Forgive me."
"Kara, you're an emotional being. Where there is emotion, there is motive for violence. I have been and always will be yours," Mon assured her.
Once Kara recovered, she made a speech where the buildings that had collapsed in Metropolis. In front of her were high-ranking human officials. "There will always be those who desire to harm me. To stop them, I risk awakening the same evil within myself. My first instinct is to seek revenge when the people I love are taken from me but that's not what I want to be. So many people in this world have lost faith in living that they charge into battle hoping for the chance that I, personally, will cut them down. So many people only seek a good death instead of a good life because they have lost all hope. It's not bravery that has fought against me these last two years. It's suicide," Kara said to them.
"I'm not here to judge. I've had a lot of dark episodes myself, but I have found meaning in life now. I promise that if you give me a chance, I'll give meaning to your lives as well," Kara pledged.
On the orbiting space lab, Kara, Mon, and Brainiac 5 all visited the tubes of the ancient Kryptonians including a now-frozen Khan. "Their fate is in your hands," Kara said to Mon.
"Is that advisable?" Brainiac 5 asked concernedly.
"Do as you wish with them. Just give me a courtesy notice when you sire offspring with any of them," Mon replied.
"Why do you care?" Kara tested.
"For every bastard you give birth to, I'll sire ten of my own," Mon told her.
"Sure," Kara agreed.
Mon then walked off disinterested in the matter. Brainiac 5 turned to Kara. "If you consent to the operation, we can add thousands of your eggs to the reproduction pods."
"That's alright, Barney. I'm a little old-fashioned but I feel I should parent every one of my own offspring," Kara declined.
"The colony would take care of them," Brainiac 5 reminded her.
"I'm not so sure it's a good idea for there to be thousands of Kryptonians with my genes," Kara said wide-eyed.
"As you wish," Brainiac 5 said, slightly disappointed.
"One last thing. Send Khan's pod into the sun," Kara ordered and then walked off. Not long afterward, Khan's pod was fired off into the sun and became incinerated.