After Mara had been retrieved and placed in a special prison and after an assessment had been made of Mysa's attack, Kara, Mon, and Brainiac 5 had a chat in the Palace. It was night with Kara staring into the fireplace. "Status on Lemnos and Mysa?" Kara asked.

"They've disappeared without a trace. We know that Elysion survived and rejoined Lemnos," Brainiac 5 said.

"I can't publicly persecute a religion, so I want you to covertly assassinate anyone associated with the Church of Scientificity no matter how low their rank is," Kara ordered.

"As you wish," Brainiac 5 replied.

"How did this happen?" Kara asked dismayed.

"Lemnos has the ability to manipulate memories. It's possible he was able to manipulate Mara's memories to make him look more favorable than you," Brainiac 5 theorized.

"Unless...of course, he didn't," Kara frowned.

"I will continue to question Mara on what she knows," Brainiac 5 assured her.

"And what to do with Kon?" Kara wondered.

"What do you mean? He accomplished the mission," Mon said although he was secretly dismayed the fight was even close.

"He beat his sister nearly to death without remorse or regret. He's a damn psychopath. At least, you pretend to be crazy to satisfy your Insane heritage," Kara said to him.

"Pretends?" Mon scoffed.

"Kon is like a school shooter with the power to destroy an entire planet," Kara said horrified. "How can I trust someone like that to not kill entire civilizations? How can I trust him to lead? What if this monarchy business is a mistake?"

"You can govern the Galactic Federation however you want but Kon is the rightful male heir to the Jin-Saiyan home world," Mon said resolved. "No matter what."

"Mara can be rehabilitated," Brainiac 5 said hopefully.

"The fuck is this?" Mon asked outraged. "She's the one that committed treason against us all by joining Lemnos and Kon did his duty to retrieve her back alive. Who's the bad guy here?"

"Mon, maybe we are the bad guys? I mean, who would Alex have allied with?" Kara asked thoughtfully.

"Holy fuck," Mon said dumbfounded, and then threw his hands up in the air.

"I have a plan that will satisfy us both. It's important you do not interfere and let the Vindicators handle it," Kara said finally.

Vindicator Academy, Japan

The Vindicator Academy was a basic training/boot camp for would-be Vindicators. Each actual super-hero was the tip of the spear, in charge of a company or platoon of men. These men were trained in engineering, communications, explosives, weapons, medical, operations, and other functions. Their job was to ensure the individual Vindicator was ready for action. With roughly twenty-five S-class and A-class Vindicators, it amounted to several hundred men.

The Vindicator Academy was a circular structure with high walls all around it, a high tower in the center, barracks, training facilities, mess halls, gyms, and so forth. It resembled that of a typical military base.

Kara assembled the Vindicators in a hall, thirteen captains and thirteen vice-captains. "I know the ranking system and organization of you guys is constantly changing but bear with me. I'm putting you into squads arbitrarily numbered. But before we do that, I want to give a shout-out to Jo Nah, our Ultra Boy. Since his power is any power, I'm making him our medic guy," Kara began.

"Here is the list of captains and vice captains in squad order. Sound off when you hear your name," Kara said and then proceeded to go through the list:

Squad #1: Wildfire, Sun-Boy (Command Operations)

Squad #2: Phantom Girl, Bouncing Boy (Assassinations)

Squad #3: Mon-El, Starboy (Civil Affairs)

Squad #4: Ultra Boy, Light Lass (Medical)

Squad #5: Projecta, Element Lad (Counterintelligence)

Squad #6: Cosmic Boy, Color Kid (Legal)

Squad #7: Timberwolf, Colossal Boy (Animal Trainers)

Squad #8: Saturn Girl, Insect Queen (Psychological Warfare)

Squad #9: Shadow Lass, Triplicate Girl (Military Intelligence)

Squad #10: Dream Girl, Wind Girl (Human Resources)

Squad #11: Eltro, Ol, Dax, Laurel (Infantry)

Squad #12: Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy (Science and Technology)

Squad #13: Lightning Lad, Karate Kid (Military Police)

Once everyone was teamed up and arranged correctly, Kara continued. "This academy holds a very special prisoner in the central tower, Princess Mara-El. She's been placed in a Kryptonite cell, is handcuffed with Kryptonite, and is also under guard. Members of the Church of Scientificity or some other group may attempt to free her. You are here to make sure she does not escape and to defeat anyone who tries," Kara said.

"This assignment will last until...Saturday when Princess Mara-El will be executed by fire," Kara revealed. "This is the due punishment for treason against the royal family, the Vindicator Corps, and the Galactic Federation. I will not even spare my own daughter so do not think I will spare any of you."

Some of the Vindicators were stone-faced, others were uncomfortable, and some held WTF looks. "I'm going to see the prisoner one last time and then we won't meet again until after the execution has taken place," Kara ordered. She then departed the room.

Kon soon arrived all by himself and landed near the entrance of the base. He was wearing a blue jacket, a sword on his back, a casual black shirt and pants, and boots. As he was in the air, a giant forcefield was created that formed a dome over the entire base. It would be difficult even for Kon to penetrate it. Kon looked back and saw Japanese housing and traffic.

Gim was guarding the entrance as the dome came up and quickly recognized Kon. "No one's allowed inside without a permit," he told him in his giant form.

"You must have forgotten who the fuck I am. I'm an Insane prince and I go wherever I please," Kon corrected.

"All I see is an arrogant brat," Gim told him off. "If you want to get through this gate, you'll have to go through me," he said and then stomped the ground for emphasis. The ground buckled up creating a shield of pavement and rock between him and Kon. Gim then revealed his large-ass ax perfect for his size.

Kon casually took out his sword. Gim swung his ax down on Kon with all of his strength. The ax shattered on impact as it hit Kon's sword. Gim fell on his ass from the blow and slammed into the gate. "What the fuck?" Gim wondered dismayed. "Was it really necessary to destroy my beautiful ax?"

"Yeah," Kon said obviously.

"Look, even if you got through the gate, you're just going to get your ass kicked by the even stronger Vindicators inside," Gim warned.

"I'm aware of that," Kon said with a deadly stare. "You can either open the gate for me, or I'll kill you and blast the gate open."

Gim frowned and then opened the gate himself. What Gim didn't realize was that Mon-El was on the other side. "The fuck you doing, Gim? A gate guard isn't supposed to be opening the gate for the unauthorized," Mon scolded.

"I know but he's a prince, the son of the Supreme Leader, your son, and he just broke my ax," Gim excused.

Mon casually fired on Gim slicing off his arm. A shower of blood fell to the ground as his arm came off. Kon gave a slightly surprised look at his father's brutality. "Holy shit!" Gim shouted in pain. "Come on, if I lose, I have to open the gate. That's the rule, isn't it?"

"If we're talking about Insane rules, a failed gate guard is merely executed," Mon replied.

Kon went past the gate and immediately attacked Mon with his sword. Mon blocked his sword with his forearm. "What the fuck is going on? Executing Mara? Is this some kind of joke? A test?" Kon demanded.

"Your mother and I made the decision. Mara is a traitor, a heretic, and an enemy. The royal family must be an example to the galaxy," Mon told him. "Now, go home," he ordered.

"Fuck that," Kon refused.

"There's no need for apprehension, Kon. Just because your sister is being executed doesn't mean we'll turn on you next. Quite the contrary. You will be made Crown Prince and your spot as the heir to the Galactic Federation throne will be ensured," Mon said.

"Maybe I want the extra competition," Kon smirked.

"If you betray the family as well, I'll execute you, too. It's too easy to create a new pod and wait a couple of years. Don't make yourself expendable," Mon told him.

"Is that how it is? Then, maybe I should kill you and Mother to gain the throne for myself," Kon said ambitiously.

Mon smiled amused. "You'll die trying. Go home, boy, and plot your next move against me. In time, you may be able to overthrow us." Mon then blasted Kon and Gim out the gate where it closed behind them.

Outside the gate, Kon was on his back deep in thought. Gim was passed out from his injuries. The walls were now being guarded with human soldiers creating an effective human shield. If Kon tried to blast through the wall, it would kill quite a few of them and he would immediately be intercepted by a Vindicator or two. Kon considered testing the defenses of the walls at various points to see what kind of reaction he would get. He then looked up at the sky and considered a new plan.

Taking to the air, he rose above the forcefield and then shot right toward its center, the weakest spot in the forcefield. Kon fired on the forcefield and then slammed his body into it. The entire forcefield was energized as it was hit in that spot. The entire base was lit up by the forcefield discharge. Kon forced himself through the forcefield and shot down to the ground like a meteor. The center of the base was hit with an explosion as Kon impacted.

As it happened, Kon landed close to the Insane barracks. Ol and Dax immediately confronted Kon. "Well, lucky me," Ol smirked with his sword out. "Go inform the others Prince Kon is here," he said to Dax. "I'll fight him, myself."

As soon as Dax left, Kon immediately engaged Ol in a swordfight. Ol got a hit on Kon's right side of his face near his ear and felt his own blood. Ol's sword was black-star alloy, capable of cutting even him. Kon's cut instantly healed.

As the fight continued, Ol couldn't help but compliment Kon's skill. "You have excellent reflexes and fierce attacks." Kon quickly overpowered him with strength and power causing the nearby buildings to shatter with their sword impacts. Kon then sliced through Ol's sword down his chest. Ol continued to resist even with his broken blade. Kon sliced him across the chest again, dropping him.

"You're strong. I'll give you that," Ol spat and then passed out.

Kon searched Ol's gear and found his first aid kit. He immediately put a healing paste on Ol's wounds. Ol awoke as he was able to breathe normally, his punctured lungs healed. "Dude, you awake?" Kon asked.

"What the hell? Why did you spare me? Why are you still here?" Ol asked.

"I have some questions," Kon said darkly.

"Shit," Ol realized.

"Where's Mara?" Kon demanded.

"In the tower. It's protected by guards and Kryptonite emitters," Ol told him. "Did you save me just to get information?"

"Partially," Kon admitted. "But it was also to shame you into taking my side during a critical moment."

Ol scoffed at that. "You're up against your father and all the Vindicators. You're going to get your ass kicked."

"Yeah, maybe," Kon said unconcernedly. "One might call it even Insane to try."

"The fuck?" Ol said in wonder.

"I'll be off now," Kon said casually and walked off.

Ol was taken to the infirmary where he was interrogated by Brainiac 5. "Prince Kon didn't give his goals or where he was going?" Brainiac 5 doubted.

"That's right," Ol lied.

"And you didn't tell him anything. You simply...lost," Brainiac 5 asked.

"Yeah," Ol said humiliated.

Eltro and Laurel then entered the infirmary. "Leave us," Eltro said to Brainiac 5.

"Are you okay? I was so worried," Laurel mocked as Brainiac 5 left.

"I heard you got your ass kicked," Eltro said. "How strong is he now?"

"He didn't even break a sweat or power up. He's very strong," Ol warned. "He's headed to the tower to rescue his sister. He's bound to run into other Vindicators. If you want a crack at him, you'll have to move quickly."

Kon evaded the Vindicators by entering the underground tunnel system. Using his X-ray vision, he reached the base of the tower and went to the surface. There, he was confronted by Ulu Vak, Color Kid. "Long time, no see," he said resentfully. "Do you remember my face?"

"I remember everyone but not because I see them as important to me; it's just my Kryptonian super-memory," Kon mocked.

"Well, this is as far as you go. No one is stopping the execution," Ulu told him.

"You going to paint me a picture and kill me with its beauty?" Kon mocked.

"No, I can change the color of the light around us," Ulu said as he made everything red light around them. "You're powerless now under red sunlight. How do you even hope to free Mara if you can't even get past me? Even if you defeat me, there are thirteen squads of Vindicators."

"I'll defeat anyone who gets in my way," Kon said confidently. Kon slashed across Ulu's chest severely wounding him before he could even react. The color of the light around them went back to normal.

"How?" Ulu asked stunned.

"It's called reserves," Kon mocked.

"This is all your fault!" Ulu whined.

"Say what?" Kon wondered.

"You should have allowed her to escape with Lemnos. Then this wouldn't be happening right now," Ulu cried. "I thought Mara would be safe within the royal family but now I know she's just as expendable as the rest of us. In my shame, I ask that you...save Mara!"

Ulu then passed out on the ground from his injuries. "Thanks...for the encouragement, dude," Kon said appreciatively and then kept moving.

Ulu was found and brought to the infirmary as well. Rokk came back to supposedly check up on his subordinate. Jan and Thom were also present. "How the fuck did this happen?" Jan asked shocked and appalled.

"If I was there, I would have joined the battle," Thom said obnoxiously.

"Let's get the 4th squad over here," Jan suggested.

"There's no need. Throw him in jail," Rokk ordered. "There's no reason he should have lost."

"With all due respect, Prince Kon is quite formidable," Jan reminded him.

"It's a legal matter now and I'm in charge of legal," Rokk shot him down. He then left the room.

"Wow, what an asshole," Thom remarked.

Nura then walked in. "How did this happen?" she asked.

"Wait, don't you know the future?" Jan asked confused.

"I know the future, not the present," Nura scolded.

"Wait...what the fuck?" Thom wondered.

"He got his ass kicked by Prince Kon who has gone rogue," Jan explained. "Why are you here?"

"Just to give you all some friendly advice," Nura smiled. "Watch out for Prince Mon," she said darkly.

"Well, I'm his subordinate so I guess I'm fucked," Thom sighed.

"And watch out for Thom as well," Nura said to Jan and then left.

"Fuck is that supposed to mean?" Thom asked offended.

The tower was surrounded by a maze of buildings and corridors. Kon cautiously navigated these corridors while keeping a low profile. Suddenly, he felt an intense power level nearby. "Prince Kon, I've come to fight you to the death to decide who is the worthy heir to the throne," Eltro said to him.

Kon glowed slightly to meet his power level and then went for a killer strike. The sword sliced through Eltro's uniform but not his skin. Kon's wrist, however, was bleeding from the impact. "Is that really all you got?" Eltro asked incredulously. "You were a lot stronger on Arrakiss. Show your power."

Kon hesitated to do so and give his position away. He powered up slightly more and sliced Eltro across the chest, a superficial wound. Eltro powered up more and engaged with Kon on an equal level. Laurel watched the fight from a roof with amusement. Eltro finally sliced through Kon's heart, dropping him. "Is that it? What a buzzkill," Eltro said disappointedly.

Kon's heart and chest healed instantly. He got back up and powered up with a reddish aura. In a flash, Kon sliced up Eltro all over his body. "This is going to be fun after all!" Eltro said excitedly as he powered up as well. Kon continued to slice Eltro up making him a bloody mess. "You really want me to kill you? I'll do it but fuck," Kon said to him.

"With you, I think I can fight at full power," Eltro said and then started glowing gold. His aura was gold, but his hair and eyes remained dark, a false Super Insane transformation.

Kon went Super Insane proper for just a second and engaged Eltro in a final clash. The two created an explosion of energy as they impacted. After the light and dust faded, Eltro fell to the floor near dead.

Laurel then jumped down onto the scene and looked over Eltro. She gave Kon a little bow. "Thank you. I've never seen Eltro so happy during a fight."

"Glad I could be of entertainment," Kon said dryly.

Laurel smiled amused and then picked up Eltro on her back. She then flew off to get him patched up.

The Death Row Tower was adjacent to a large plateau of rock that resembled the Devil's Tower. A bridge existed linking the top floor of the tower where Mara was housed and the top of this plateau. The execution was planned to be held on this plateau overlooking the base and the Japanese city surrounding the base. Kon discreetly arrived at the top floor of the tower and knocked out the human guards within a split second. He pondered the door for a moment and then slashed it to pieces revealing Mara standing around in a white prison uniform.

Kon looked around and noticed the Kryptonite emitters. He cautiously went inside and felt a sudden drain of his power. "Why are you here?" Mara asked scornfully, still peeved and humiliated by their fight. Around her hands with Kryptonite cuffs.

"I came to save your ass," Kon said obviously.

"I've resigned my fate. There's no point in getting yourself hurt or killed on my account," Mara told him off.

"I didn't rescue you from Lemnos with the threat of breaking you only so you could get executed," Kon argued.

"Except that's exactly what you did, Kon. You broke my body and got me killed. Maybe you should have let me go with Lemnos. Then, you wouldn't feel so guilty about my death," Mara said bitterly.

"If I knew...if I knew this would be the end result, I would have let you go," Kon said honestly.

"Then, you're just a fool," Mara rebuked. "How could you be so naive about mother and father? Once we were of age, we both knew it would be this way. Our parents would pick the worthy successor and kill off the failure. Well...I was that failure."

"Bullshit," Kon doubted. "We will rule this galaxy together."

"I am going to be executed and if you keep this up, you'll be killed as well. Do you think I want that on my conscience?" Mara asked.

"This is more than just about you," Kon told her. "It's about my Insane pride as well. How am I supposed to live with myself knowing my parents executed my sister? Just play the game, wait for the right moment to strike them both down, and rule all by myself?"

"Yes, Kon, because that is our way," Mara told him. "We were conceived to be genetically superior to all beings in the universe, half-Kryptonian-half-Insane, capable of destroying entire worlds and civilizations. We were given infinite wealth and power over others. We were given every privilege that exists. But with all of these advantages comes a cost."

"Yeah, fuck that. You're coming with me," Kon ordered and then forced her out of the cell.

Kon was immediately confronted by Rokk who was standing on the bridge as if anticipating this move. "You looking to be my next opponent?" Kon mocked and then charged him.

Rokk evaded Kon and sliced him deep across the chest shoulder and back. Kon was instantly devastated. His power had not yet returned to normal after being in the Kryptonite cell. "Be gone. My sword was not meant for killing brats like you," Rokk insulted. "Now, leave," he ordered.

"Like I'm going to leave like some kind of coward. That's not the Insane way," Kon told him.

"Then I apologize I didn't hit you harder. To satisfy your Insane pride, I'll make sure you don't walk away alive," Rokk promised.

"What's your deal, asshole?" Kon asked taken aback by Rokk's resolve.

"I was assigned to legal, and this is how we do things," Rokk said as he scattered his sword into thousands of tiny blades. The blades surrounded the already injured Kon and sliced him up from every angle. Kon fell onto the bridge floor a bloody mess.

"Please, stop," Mara requested.

Rokk ignored her but then Garth showed up on the bridge. "I think that's a bit much," he said to Rokk.

"What is the meaning of this? I'm legal, you're military police. You're supposed to arrest the criminals and I sentenced them," Rokk said annoyed. "Only, in this case, I'm doing both your job and mine."

Rokk was about to take Kon out when a figure instantly appeared between them all. "Salu Digby, the Shrinking Violet," Rokk identified her.

"Move aside, I'm going to kick his ass," Kon said, still on the bridge floor bleeding profusely.

"Idiot," Salu rolled her eyes.

"Are you here to interfere in legal matters?" Rokk asked accusingly. "If so, I'll have you arrested."

"Like you can catch me," Salu scoffed. She touched Kon and they both shrank to the molecular level out of sight.

On the molecular level, Salu and Kon were practically immune to even powers above them. "Hurry up and heal yourself," Salu ordered.

Kon did just that and then took Salu by the throat in a flash. "Why did you take me away from the fight? I totally had him."

Salu beat him down. "First, I'm as strong as you in this realm. Second, Rokk would totally have killed your ass had I not intervened. Even if you could get past him, there's your father and the rest of the Vindicators. Time works differently down here so we're going to turn the three days we have until Mara's execution into three weeks to train."

That night, Kon and Salu materialized a distance away from the tower. "You're fucking high if you think I'm going to train non-stop for that long. I'm ready to kick ass, right now," Kon said to her.

"We have company," Salu pointed out.

Brainiac 5 and Reep aka Chameleon Boy approached them. "You're on your own," Salu said to Kon and then shrank down.

"Surrender, Prince Kon-El," Brainiac 5 ordered and then gestured to Reep to attack. Reep extended his arm into a tentacle to get at Kon. With his sword, Kon sliced his arm off. Reep quickly regenerated the lost limb.

Kon fired several times at Reep with his index finger, but he managed to quickly evade Kon's fire on the rooftops of the nearby buildings. Brainiac 5 then leaped up and tackled Kon while Reep sliced through Brainiac 5 and Kon with a poisonous stinger that used to be his hand.

"Too easy. Like breaking a baby's neck," Reep smiled as he returned to his default form.

"The fuck?" Kon wondered.

"You're sweating badly. It must hurt really bad, yet you don't even whimper. Impressive, Kon. However, you'll soon be paralyzed as Reep's poison will sever the neural connections that transfer mobility signals from your brain to your limbs. It's also quite painful," Brainiac 5 said to him.

Kon hissed and then cried out as he felt the worst pain in his life. Despite the pain and difficulty moving, Kon stood back up. "Kon, surrender now. Don't give in to your Insane pride and hurt yourself. I've lost one of you. I'll not lose the other," Brainiac 5 said.

"I thought you were my friend, an uncle to me," Kon said pissed off.

"Is that what you thought? I was merely studying you. Over the centuries, I've met a few Insane survivors. I studied them with mental and physical stimuli, opened their brains, chopped up bodies, ground bones to dust, and studied them until they were mere lifeless limbs. And all the while they went on and on about their Insane pride. But after one stab from my neural toxin, it was all over," Brainiac 5 said. "Then, after selecting the right Durlans to be Vindicators, I got them to replicate the neural toxin."

"Well...in that case, I swear on the pride of the Insane, I'll kill you both," Kon said as he powered up to Super Insane and charged up an energy sphere in his hand pointed at them.

"You've found a way to get past my neural toxin through your Kryptonian-Insane physiology. Very interesting," Brainiac 5 said impressed.

Kon fired on Reep which he narrowly avoided. Kon then took to the air and blasted Reep in an explosion. When the dust settled, Reep was fucked up with a blasted-off left arm, bleeding left side, and head injuries on his left side. "That fucking hurt. This is the end for you," Reep said angrily and then morphed into a weird-ass alien monstrosity.

Kon eyed a giant caterpillar-looking creature with a baby's head. Right underneath its chin were retractable blades. "I will kill you," Reep said with a baby voice.

"This is so fucking weird," Kon said as Reep quickly moved on him. Kon fired through Reep's head and down his body. The monstrous creature split in half spilling blood all over the street. Reep then liquified into green blood and poured down a drain to later collect himself.

Kon walked tiredly around the base, exhausted and feeling the effects of the poison. Salu then appeared right next to his side. "Train in my realm and you might have a chance to save Mara," she said seriously.

"Well, okay then," Kon relented.

Author's Notes: This chapter follows the anime Bleach allowing me to show Vindicator abilities and Kon's mindset. While I don't necessarily approve of Kon's everything, I don't think he's a total monster either. There's certainly an argument to be made that 6-year-olds accelerated to grow up to fifteen-year-olds shouldn't be child soldiers but that's exactly what happens in nearly all action animes and American superhero comics.