Standing on Venus, once again. For the second time in his life. Same suffocating heat. Same suffocating clouds. Same scorched ground.
And Zod, standing before him, more confident and more proud than ever before. Smiling, in anticipation. In knowing. That Kal could not stand against him. That this was it. Whatever happened here, would be the beginning and the end.
The alpha and the omega.
There was still part of him that did long to join him. Longed for the rebirth of Krypton Zod had prophesied. Even just to be in his presence again. Not alone. Not a hologram. He was real. So, incredibly, terribly real.
"I am glad to see you, Kal-El. So, tell me. What is your decision? Will you kneel before me?"
"The Justice League want me to."
"Yet you will not? Is it pride, that prevents you? I can appreciate that." Kal thought this hesitation would bother Zod, yet he seemed more amused by it. As though he had anticipated it, and would make an exception for him. At least, a small allowance of time, so he added.
"So do my parents."
This, Zod did not seem to have anticipated, and echoed deliberately. "Your parents?"
"A program they sent." Kal clarified. "So I can speak with them… You were right. He does regret it. My father. I asked. He said he regretted not joining with you."
The vindication on Zod's face was a sight to behold. It almost, but not quite softened him. Only for an instant. Then it was only something to use in his favor. To gain momentum. Continuing inertia.
"Then that's perfect, is it not? All the assurance you could ever need, you have. From everyone that matters to you."
"You would think so, wouldn't you." Kal said, more to himself than to Zod, and that was all the allowance of time Zod was going to give him.
"I am losing patience, Kal-El."
"I know, but still, I ask one favor. This is my decision, and my decision alone. Don't reveal their identities. They would have said yes."
"Then why? Why are you taking matters into your own hands?" It seemed he wasn't the only one having doubts. Having hesitation. Just as much as Kal did not want to have to do this, Zod did not want Kal to turn against him.
But it was because the rebirth of Krypton Zod prophesied wasn't real. Not the way he said it. Earth wouldn't be safe. No one would be safe. He wasn't entirely convinced he would be safe, from Zod's wrath.
It was only a dream. A beautiful, wonderful, terrible dream that Clark wasn't buying.
No matter how much it would rip him apart.
If this plan of his didn't rip him apart.
How to explain this to Zod. He couldn't. He would be seen as betraying his blood for his home. That he didn't have faith. Didn't have trust. Even that he didn't believe in redemption. The inherent goodness of those imprisoned in the Phantom Zone.
Yet he knew, in his heart, that Zod would never be satisfied. Maybe at first, he would be. He would let Kal rule Earth as he would, with little interference. But it would not last. He would encroach further, and further, as would the others. Zod cared nothing for humanity. Cared nothing for the other worlds he intended on conquering.
He conquered because he could.
He conquered because he had nothing left to lose.
And neither did anyone else in the Phantom Zone.
So many around him – Bruce, Lois, Diana – considered him naive. Unwise to the ways of the world, yet he felt wise to the ways of Zod. Understood him in a way he had understood no one else in his life. Understood him, because they came from the same place, and had the same blood.
He would not stop.
Oh, how he wished he would stop. That things could have been different. That they could rebuild the Krypton he had read about in records, the one that he could see in Zod's eyes, glimmering far in the horizon; tantalizing, seductive, yet forever out of reach.
It wasn't that he thought Earth was better, it was just… Earth was. Earth was and Krypton wasn't. And Zod could never see that attitude as acceptance. Could never see it as anything but weak. Unimaginative and uninspired.
As a profound lack of vision and ambition.
He so wanted to believe in the good, but in this case, 323 people with absolute power, he was not willing to take that chance, and he pocketed the device his parents had provided for him, that was locking on to the unique signature of the Phantom Zone that hung on and around Zod, that despite escaping from it, he had not been able to shake. The same signature that all the Phantom Zone prisoners would have hanging on them, and the same signature he would use to return them there.
His father had told him the Phantom Zone was everywhere. That theoretically, it should not matter where each prisoner was. That they could be returned simultaneously. As long as he had an enormous amount of energy to fuel the return process. That his father told him he himself possessed, being akin to a living battery, absorbing light for his entire duration on Earth. Energy that he could – theoretically – release in one giant burst.
An immense explosion of power. A solar flare of sorts. All he had to do was set it off, and hope or pray or curse it into working.
"Well, go for it, Superman." A smokey voice, southern in tone interrupted his thoughts. Low and dry and bored. Long red hair covering one eye. A dramatic hourglass figure in a low cut dress. Casual as could be. She and he and Zod forming a dramatic triangle of combatants.
"Who is this woman, Kal-El?" Zod demanded, initially assuming she must be part of his plan, but quickly surmising, correctly, that she wasn't, by the look on Kal's face and by the fact he was too stunned to answer. He had only seen her a handful of times, and never on her own. He just stared.
"Your plan. Do your plan." She encouraged, lazily and regardless of their reaction to her presence, then adding, "You know I really shouldn't be here."
"...Then why are you here?" Kal cautiously questioned, and now she was the one losing patience with him.
"Come on, Blue. I don't like interfering, but what else could I do? My man's fixated on you."
"Who is she, Kal-El?" Zod demanded once again, with more threat than the first time.
"Better do it, if you're going to. 'Cause that man is losing his patience." She suggested, with a limpid flick of the wrist at Zod, who was glaring at her with a growing fury, and everyone was losing patience, and Kal knew she was right.
Had half a mind to tell her to get out of the way, then remembered who he was dealing with. She would be fine, and there was no more time, and there were no more words. Only one final look to Zod, who looked back at him, steady yet uncomprehending.
Felt the energy building, burning, on this already burning planet.
Zod did not run. Did not flee.
Thought himself invincible. As Bruce accused Clark of thinking.
Even tried to attack him, but it was too late.
Because the energy just kept building, charring already charred stone, and the device was activating. He had no concept of whether it was working or not, he had to trust his parents had told him the truth, that they had not sabotaged this effort. He had no way of knowing himself. And now everything was blinding, and he couldn't see anymore.
He had one more thought. Hoping this was not the end, but also wondering if this was inevitable. That it was always Krypton's fate to end in one giant explosion. That he had escaped before, but would not escape again.