A/N: I will post two chapters today. Chapters 43 and 44.
Chapter 43
The ground pitched violently and Valia was tossed, facedown, onto the floor. Unharmed, she floated off the floor and waited for the next tremor.
The matter-of-fact computer voice said, "The feedback loop has successfully destroyed the energy cannon."
"Thank the stars." Valia breathed a sigh of relief and brushed a clump of tangled brown hair off of her face. About time, she thought. The Fortress and its shield could not have taken much more pounding from those energy beams. Although, the shield had protected the Fortress from a direct hit, the earthquakes created by the beams had caused some micro-damage to the structure.
"Would you like to target the other energy cannon?" the always pleasant computer voice asked.
"Yes!"
The computer detailed its maneuvers, "Entering new coordinates. Adjusting targeting systems. Initiating feedback loop. Synchronizing shield opening. Locking onto . . ."
An alarm sounded in the Fortress. BEEP! BEEP!
"A new threat has been detected," the computer said.
"What? Computer, explain." Valia's heartrate spiked. Panic hovered on the edges of her mind.
"An unauthorized attempt to access computer systems world-wide is currently in progress."
"State status of firewalls and origin of attack." Valia scanned the more than two hundred computer screens lining the walls of the chamber.
"Firewalls are currently secure. Origin of attack. The alien ship."
Valia was relieved to hear her security measures were holding and she didn't dare breathe easy. Not yet. "Use rotating encryption codes for the firewalls and target the other energy cannon. Now!" Valia waited on pins and needles for the computer's response.
It seemed an interminably long time before the computer pleasantly said, "The target has been eliminated."
Valia exhaled and let her shoulders sag. Her relief was a palpable. However, this nightmare wasn't over. "All right. Now, we concentrate on the computer attacks."
She sank into a chair and scrutinized the data displayed on the monitors. So far the rotating encryptions were blocking Brainiac's access to Earth's computers, but for how long? Valia would have to monitor the situation closely, making modifications as needed. In the last few hours, she had managed to eliminate two threats to Earth and was now working on a third. As she continued her scans, she wondered about Kal-El. Had he defeated Brainiac? She would not rest easy until she knew the answer to that question.
# # # # # #
"Kal-El, my son." Jor-El's voice sounded so close, as though his father was there in space beside him. "You have the power to destroy the Brain-Inter-Active-Construct."
"Father, I need air. I cannot go on." Superman thought the words. "Soon I will be with you and mother."
"No my son, you must destroy the Brain-Inter-Active-Construct. In this, you cannot fail."
"Father, my strength is almost gone." Superman closed his eyes as eternal sleep swept in to claim him.
"Kal-El, look!"
Jor-El's command jolted Superman back to life. His eyes snapped opened. The oxygen mask, still attached to the tube connecting it to the tank on his back, floated an arm's length away. He extended an arm and reached for it. He stretched his arm and spread his fingers. His fingers curled around the mask and pulled it to his face. Air! Life sustaining air filled his lungs.
Brainiac had been distracted by the destruction of the fourth cannon on his ship and the termination of communications via his ship. Without communications, his attempts to access Earth's computers could not happen. Although, displeased by these developments, and wishing to board his ship and fix the problem, he wasn't finished with Superman. He had vowed to destroy the Kryptonian and he would make good on that promise. He spun and set his sights on Superman.
Superman had flown out of reach. His father's words echoed in his ears, "Use the crystal."
Superman released the latch on his belt's compartment.
Brainiac's face, contorted in anger, came into view, speeding up fast. Superman grasped the father crystal like a spear. His body tensed and he waited as Brainiac sped closer. Finally, Superman took a deep breath and heaved, launching the crystal with deadly accuracy. The crystal found its mark and sliced through Brainiac's neck. A firework display of multi-colored sparks lit up the darkness. Superman added his heat-vision, using more power and energy than he had ever used before, to severe Brainiac's head from his body.
With what little strength remained, Brainiac's body writhed and threshed. Superman put his hands together, forming a giant fist, and brought them down on the android's chest in one final, fatal blow. The threshing ceased. Brainiac's body floated motionlessly in space. Superman found the burnt pocket of the android's purple bodysuit, ripped the fabric, and took the crystal it contained. He placed the crystal in the empty compartment of his belt.
Suddenly, several heat beams shot through space, narrowly missing Superman. Brainiac's damaged head was still conscious and intend on destruction. Superman countered with a blast of super-breath, freezing the head into a solid block of ice.
Superman turned his attention to the limp headless body. He grabbed one leg and one arm and held them tightly as he spun in place like a top, building momentum. At the apex of his momentum, he released his grip and sent the body hurling toward the sun. The body traveled at light speed, spiraling wildly through space, covering the great distance in mere minutes, before disappearing into the fiery star.
Superman grabbed the frozen head, tucked it under one arm, and flew to Brainiac's ship.