The Last Days Of Krypton Part 12

"It will be as soon as I can manage it. Trust me!"

Before they ended the communication, her parents shared their own news, that they had begun exhaustive preparations for their most ambitious project yet: to adorn an entire administrative spire with complex friezes and colorful crystalsilk weavings. Lara was excited to hear their descriptions, but her concentration strayed back to helping Jor-El.

Even with the components of the destroyed seismic scanner spread out on the grounds and catalogued, Jor-El still couldn't determine what had gone wrong, and he worked obsessively to find out. Even though it would not change the guilt the Council no doubt intended to pin on him, still he needed to know. He called up his blueprints, recalculated every possible light angle. Though he could not duplicate Donodon's technology, he even built another prototype of the red sun generator, which operated perfectly at up to three times its designed capacity. It made no sense.

Outside in the afternoon suns.h.i.+ne, they worked together on the problem. Though Lara had an artistic rather than a technical background, she insisted on helping him. "I can't match you in the theoretical arena, but every small task I take out of your hands gives you more time and energy to devote to clearing your name."

Jor-El, however, knew it wouldn't be enough. He needed a much more powerful ally if he were to have any hope of changing the Council's decision.

Commissioner Zod arrived unannounced at the estate five days after the death of Donodon. Jor-El came forward, feeling a knot in his stomach. He could not interpret the Commissioner's motives; at times he seemed to support Jor-El, while other times he seemed intent on destroying him. "Do you have news from the Council?" He wasn't sure he wanted to hear the answer.

Zod waved his hand casually. "They take an interminable amount of time to do anything. Don't expect a decision soon."

Lara remained close at Jor-El's side, suspicious. "Then why did you come here, Commissioner?"

"Why, to help you plan your defense at the trial. You need my a.s.sistance. You must know that I am one of your staunch supporters."

Jor-El couldn't believe what he was hearing. He didn't know any such thing. Though he respected the man for his single-mindedness, he had always disagreed with Zod's entrenched att.i.tude against progress. "That's not like you, Commissioner. As you so pointedly reminded the Council, you warned me time and again about uncontrolled technology. It was my invention that caused this disaster."

The other man shrugged. "Yes, and if I could spin the planet backward and reverse time, I would urge you never to build your dangerous device. But it is too late for that. We must put the past behind us."

"That still doesn't explain why you are on our side, Commissioner," Lara said. She watched the man closely, trying to figure out what political advantages he saw to helping Jor-El.

Zod scrutinized Lara, as if trying to fit her into the equation alongside Jor-El. As if admitting a terrible mistake, he said, "When Donodon was killed, I had an epiphany. When I faithfully censored dangerous technologies to keep Kryptonians from hurting each other, I failed to imagine that we might need to protect ourselves from outside enemies. We may be a gentle and peaceful race, but the rest of the galaxy is not so harmless. Outsiders have noticed us now, and you have a better chance of saving Krypton than anyone else. But the Council doesn't realize it." Zod sighed heavily. "I fear the time is going to come when our world needs your genius, Jor-El. It would be a mistake to lock you away. I intend to speak on your behalf at the trial, for the good of Krypton."

Jor-El looked down at the carefully labeled components spread out across the lawn. "There may be more to this mystery. I just found a foreign residue that seems to be some sort of unstable high-energy chemical. As near as I can tell, it is the same concentrated substance I use to launch my solar-probe rockets. I don't know how it could have gotten into the seismic scanner, but I intend to run further a.n.a.lyses to identify the compound. That may be the key. What if someone tampered with the device? The explosion might not have been an accident."

Zod appeared troubled. "Intriguing. It is best if you give me those samples, Jor-El. If there is indeed some suspicious contamination, then you you cannot be the one to a.n.a.lyze it. The Council will never believe you didn't plant this so-called proof yourself." cannot be the one to a.n.a.lyze it. The Council will never believe you didn't plant this so-called proof yourself."

"Jor-El would never do that," Lara said.

"Of course he wouldn't." Zod gave a meaningful shrug. "On the other hand, the device should never have exploded, either. Let me take your samples back to Kandor. I will have my own experts study the chemical signature. You are not alone in this, Jor-El."

Jor-El nodded slowly in reluctant agreement. "That would probably be best."

The Commissioner turned, looking behind the large estate buildings as another floating vessel approached, this one guided by the burly mute Nam-Ek. On the craft's open flatbed, large objects were covered with thick cloth, draped and shapeless. As if afraid of being overheard, Zod lowered his voice. "I have brought you something, Jor-El-something you must keep hidden for the time being."

Jor-El looked at Lara, then back at the Commissioner. "What is it?"

Nam-Ek brought the floating vehicle and its bulky cargo over to where his master stood. With a flourish, Zod removed the tarpaulin to reveal large components, engines, computer systems, and sleek blue-and-silver sections of hull plating. "My Commission team members carefully disa.s.sembled the alien's stars.h.i.+p, but it is far too valuable to ignore. Regardless of the Council's fears, I simply could not allow Donodon's s.h.i.+p to be ruined."

Jor-El came forward, breathing quickly. "You kept the components intact? I heard you announce to the Council-you said you had destroyed it."

"The Council doesn't need to know." He smiled thinly. "Someday, Krypton will know the wisdom in this-I know you can see it already."

Jor-El brought Lara forward. "His navigation system, his database of planets, his stars.h.i.+p engines. We can do so much so much with this!" with this!"

"Unless the Council confiscates it again," Lara warned.

"We will just have to keep them from finding out." Zod rolled his eyes. "I cannot bear to leave such a technological treasure in their their hands, can you? Until this distraction is over with, we must keep these components safely hidden. I trust that sooner or later we will need you to understand those stars.h.i.+p systems, Jor-El. Someday I may ask you to build a whole fleet of Kryptonian s.p.a.ce vessels to defend our planet. Whom else can I trust?" hands, can you? Until this distraction is over with, we must keep these components safely hidden. I trust that sooner or later we will need you to understand those stars.h.i.+p systems, Jor-El. Someday I may ask you to build a whole fleet of Kryptonian s.p.a.ce vessels to defend our planet. Whom else can I trust?"

Zod walked across the lawn with the big-shouldered mute matching his every step, and Jor-El followed him. He lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "My Commission offices in Kandor are not safe from inspection. Is there a place that we can hide the craft here?"

"I could haul it into my main research building and get to work even before my inquisition...."

Zod shook his head. "Too obvious, and too dangerous. We need a place where no one will think to look."

Jor-El turned in a long slow circle, and finally his gaze rested on the prominent tower with its spiraling pearlescent walls. He paced around the perimeter of the structure, running his palm along the smooth wall, tapping and searching for any indication of an entrance. To Jor-El the enigmatic structure symbolized all the undiscovered things that remained in the universe.

"A long time ago, my father said I would know when to open the tower, when I would make use of what's inside. I can't think of a better time than now." As he tapped with his knuckles, he found a patch that seemed to be made of a different sort of material, thinner, like an eggsh.e.l.l. "Here. We could get mallets and construction hammers from one of the work sheds."

But Nam-Ek simply balled a huge fist and swung, not even wincing as his hand impacted the wall. The pearlescent barrier shattered, and shards tinkled down to expose a doorway wide enough for two men to stand in side by side-wide enough for the small s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p.

Inside, a milky-rose light bathed the tower's main room: red suns.h.i.+ne filtered through the translucent wall. Years ago, before he'd sealed the structure, Yar-El had set up a pristine laboratory with alcoves, tables, equipment-everything ready for use. Jor-El was delighted with the discovery.

When Nam-Ek had unloaded the dismantled stars.h.i.+p components inside the secret tower laboratory, Zod looked at the strange objects with keen interest, then stepped back out of the tower. "Do you have construction resin? We should seal the opening again for the time being, so that the s.h.i.+p remains hidden. I do not want you to work on it...not yet. We need to take care of the Council first."

As a loyal citizen, Jor-El didn't like keeping secrets from the legitimate government, but he certainly understood why this was necessary. The Kryptonian Council's obstructionist att.i.tudes could well bring about the downfall of Krypton-in more ways than one. "Yes, I can keep it safely hidden...for now."

CHAPTER 30.

Only seven days remained before the scheduled inquisition. Jor-El had planned his defense, rehea.r.s.ed his speech so that he might sway the eleven Council members, though he doubted more than a few of them would listen. Nevertheless, he did not intend to go down without a fight. the scheduled inquisition. Jor-El had planned his defense, rehea.r.s.ed his speech so that he might sway the eleven Council members, though he doubted more than a few of them would listen. Nevertheless, he did not intend to go down without a fight.

In the meantime, Zod had sent the samples of chemical residue back to Kandor for a.n.a.lysis, but they had heard no results yet. Jor-El did not know how the chemical proof could help his case, but he very much wanted to know what had gone wrong. He needed to understand.

But another problem presented itself. "We should find someone to marry us." Jor-El turned to Lara with bright blue eyes.

She stood with him inside the main research building where she had first rescued him from the Phantom Zone. "I will not let you face the Council unless I can tell the whole world that we're husband and wife. We will show them our strength together. Just let them try to keep me from accompanying you when you receive your sentence."

Commissioner Zod entered the large laboratory carrying selected excerpts from old Council sessions and citations of archaic pa.s.sages from Kryptonian law. He had stayed at the estate for two days, a.s.sisting Jor-El with his legal defense, finding doc.u.mentation and historical precedents that might allow the Council to change their minds. Lara still wondered why the Commissioner would devote so much attention to the scientist's case, but they could not afford to turn down his a.s.sistance. Zod seemed to be their only powerful ally.

"Forgive me for eavesdropping. You two are to be married? A last-minute romance?" She found something unsettling about his smile. "Intriguing."

"We haven't had the time to prepare," Jor-El confessed. "And time is running out."

The Commissioner seemed to be making mental calculations. He looked sidelong at her, as if he still didn't remember her name. "And would marrying this woman make you happy?"

"Yes," Jor-El said, without a tinge of doubt in his voice. "Lara makes me feel not only happy, but at peace."

Zod's whole demeanor s.h.i.+fted. "Then I shall perform the ceremony myself. I insist."

Jor-El and Lara looked at him in surprise. "I thought we'd find a priest of Rao or, considering the circ.u.mstances, a dutiful civil official."

"As Commissioner, I have the full authority to perform legally binding ceremonies. This wedding will be my gift to you, and I do it because I am your friend. Worry no further. It will be done."

Though she was happy, some instinct told Lara that the Commissioner wasn't quite as altruistic as he pretended to be. But she shook those thoughts from her mind, for Jor-El's sake. They didn't have the luxury of being choosy right now.

The small ceremony would take place at the dacha in the forested foothills, with only a few attendees. Jor-El's mother would host the event, whether or not Yar-El was aware of what was happening around him.

On the morning of the wedding Jor-El sent a priority message to Argo City, briefly pulling his brother away from the salvage efforts. "You know, it's my wedding day, but it seems that nothing is the way I would have planned it."

Zor-El looked haggard, though still fiery-eyed, on the communication plate. His manner was gruff from making snap decisions every hour for the past several days; he looked as if he had not slept in a very long time. "It's not the wedding that counts, Jor-El, but the marriage. Are you satisfied with what you're doing?"

"Lara is the right woman for me, of that I'm completely certain."

"Then I am happy for you. I wish I could be there to stand beside you." He spread his hands helplessly. "The power is still not restored in all areas. Much of the water supply is contaminated. We haven't even tallied the dead-"

"I understand, Zor-El. So many tragedies all at once. Do what you have to. We will get through this."

When they departed for the dacha, Jor-El stroked Lara's hair tenderly. "If I ever get my life back again after this trial, I promise we'll have a reaffirmation ceremony. We will do it right."

She clasped his hand. "This is all we need, Jor-El. I don't need choirs and mirror-kites. I don't need pavilions decked with banners, banquets of fantastic delicacies or a guest list that includes all the prominent personages of Kandor." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "All we need is each other. That's enough."

Charys greeted them on the wooden porch, beaming with an excitement and satisfaction that Jor-El hadn't seen on his mother's face in years. She had strewn the small house with flowers picked from her gardens, and each breath was heady with sweet perfume.

Yar-El sat in his chair, a blanket on his lap. His wife had combed his hair and dressed him in a fine formal robe, and she herself had donned an ornate gown. The old man wore a distant smile, as if he had at least a nebulous grasp of what was happening. Jor-El rested a hand on his father's bony shoulder; he seemed to have much to say to Yar-El, but was unable to say it.

Zod wore his Commissioner's outfit, adorned with a prominent gold sash. Burly Nam-Ek stood outside the door of the dacha, as if guarding the wedding against outside attack. Lara chose her best dress from among the possessions she had brought with her to Jor-El's estate. She didn't know why she had ever packed a clinging lavender gown of the softest ruffled fabric, but now it became a perfect wedding dress.

Lara's mother and father, having postponed their work on the crystal silk tapestries, arrived at the last moment, though they had hoped to decorate the dacha for the wedding. Her little brother looked as if he had dressed hurriedly for the event. All three were very impressed to meet Commissioner Zod in person. They had brought three looping gla.s.s sculptures (handmade) and a bell-mouthed vase for display during the ceremony.

Lara's parents graciously greeted Jor-El's mother, and Lor-Van talked pleasantly to Yar-El. "I don't know if you can hear or understand me, sir, but I must express my admiration for your work. I am an artist, a fairly well-respected one, but you were both a scientist and an artist. The things you created were so very influential...."

The old man gave no sign that he knew Lor-Van was speaking to him.

Ora took her husband's arm. "The ceremony is about to start." A fidgeting Ki sat next to his parents, flas.h.i.+ng a wide grin every time Lara glanced his direction. She stood beside Jor-El in front of the broad windows that let in streams of suns.h.i.+ne. Lara grasped his hand as if she never intended to let go.

Commissioner Zod chose an abbreviated ceremony, getting right down to business. The dacha's skylights had been opened so that even more of the late afternoon's suns.h.i.+ne poured down upon them. "Together you stand beneath the face of Rao. You declare your love to the universe, to your friends and family, and to each other."

"We do," Jor-El and Lara said in unison. They hadn't even needed to rehea.r.s.e.

"Your love is like gravity, a force that pulls you forever toward each other. Let nothing pull you apart."

"Let nothing pull us apart." Jor-El and Lara clasped hands.

To signify the marriage, Lara's parents had brought two pendants they had designed specially for the occasion. Each pendant sparkled with a ruby struck from the same stone; the gems were joined down to the very molecules of their crystal structure.

Now Zod looped one pendant on a chain over Jor-El's snowy head, then placed its identical partner over Lara's. "Let these hang over your hearts, which now beat as one." Zod raised his hands, as if he had just sealed a bargain. "You are now wed. Let me be the first to declare you husband and wife."

Jor-El faced Lara, and she stared into his eyes, finding everything she had hoped for there. Her parents applauded loudly, and her little brother let out a raucous whistle.

With tears in her eyes, Charys squeezed her husband's shoulder. Yar-El stared off into s.p.a.ce while she stroked his hair, then kissed him on the forehead. The older woman looked up at the newlyweds. "And now for a gift from me. From us. You need time alone, even if it's only for a day or two."

"Not now, Mother. My inquisition is-"

She wouldn't be dissuaded. "If not now, then you will never take it. I don't care about your trial or your other troubles or your plans and experiments. You need this, and I have just the place." Her expression became wistful. "When we were married, Yar-El constructed a fabulous palace for us up in the arctic. He called it a palace of solitude, a retreat where we could be by ourselves, unbothered by the cares and stresses of Krypton.

"That palace is still there out on the ice cap. I wanted Zor-El and Alura to use it, but instead they went to the reefs outside of Argo City for their honeymoon. I've waited for you to be married, Jor-El, so that you and your lovely wife-" She reached out to clasp Lara's hand; her voice shuddered, and tears welled up in her eyes. "It is a perfect place for a newly married couple."

Lara was barely able to catch her breath. "It sounds beautiful."

"No, we can't." Jor-El shook his head. "I have to stay here. My defense-"

Zod stepped up to them with a smile, though his eyes seemed troubled. "Your mother is right. No one on Krypton believes the renowned Jor-El will break his word and flee. If you give me your promise that you will return in time, then as Commissioner I grant you leave to go. Be happy while you can."

Lara said cautiously, "That's very generous, Commissioner. But with all that's going on, the preparations-"

"It is the least I can do. You both know that we have done all we can. There are no further preparations, no additional studies, no new evidence. Jor-El will face the Council, and I am confident we will prevail. Remaining here serves no purpose. Once Jor-El receives a pardon, we will have a vast amount of work to do. And if he is sentenced..." Zod spread his hands helplessly and looked at Nam-Ek standing by the door. "Then that is all the more reason for you to take this opportunity before it's too late."

CHAPTER 31.

Zod and Nam-Ek flew back to Kandor at night in an open vessel. They stood side by side on the humming platform with the night air blowing gently around them. The stars overhead were veiled with colorful streamers of auroras, and three bright orange meteors streaked across the blackness like the slashes of a b.l.o.o.d.y knife. to Kandor at night in an open vessel. They stood side by side on the humming platform with the night air blowing gently around them. The stars overhead were veiled with colorful streamers of auroras, and three bright orange meteors streaked across the blackness like the slashes of a b.l.o.o.d.y knife.

His time with Jor-El had gone well, and Zod was sure he had the scientist in his pocket, no matter what happened. He certainly hadn't expected to add a wedding to the activities, but that had tied the bonds of loyalties even tighter. By now the brilliant scientist had seen enough proof that Zod could get things done even when the Council members hesitated. Jor-El also had a pa.s.sion for progress, though of a different sort. Ah, if Zod and Jor-El had the same goals, what things they could achieve for Krypton!

"I am glad Jor-El wasn't killed in the explosion after all," Zod mused aloud to Nam-Ek. "We still need him. Fortunately, everything turned out to our benefit, if only we can convince the stubborn Council to place me in charge of Krypton's defenses." His bearded companion nodded. "I have to be very careful, though. I cannot appear biased during the inquisition. However, if the great scientist is brought low and then I save him, Jor-El will be forever in my debt." So far everything had fallen perfectly in place.

After the wedding, Zod and Nam-Ek had briefly returned to the estate with the happy couple. While Lara packed for the wedding trip to the arctic place, the Commissioner and Jor-El went over a few last details, completing an inventory of the scientist's remarkable and useful inventions over the years. Zod promised to present the list at the upcoming inquisition, sure that it would portray Jor-El in the best possible light. Finally, late at night, Jor-El and his wife had flown away to the north, and the Commissioner began his return journey to Kandor.

Soon the glowing lights of the capital city lit the horizon, like an island of soaring towers, pyramids, and monuments in the middle of the broad valley. Kandor was a cl.u.s.ter of habitation and technology surrounded by sprawling outer settlements, suburbs, support industries, and warehouses. Agricultural fields quilted the flatlands in geometrical patches. Other vehicles and aircraft shot along main thoroughfares, fellow travelers like himself, though he had told Nam-Ek to take a quieter overland path. He didn't want to be near any traffic.

Zod could feel the energy and the pulse of Kandor as they approached. "I'll be glad to get home." He patted his companion on the shoulder. "And you want to see your animals, of course." With a boyish expression of pleasure, Nam-Ek nodded.

As they reached the outskirts of the s.h.i.+ning city, Zod heard a strange humming in the air. Static electricity crackled along his skin, making the fine hairs on his arms and neck stand up. Sensing the disturbance, Nam-Ek also looked around, then turned his face to the night sky.

High above, a dazzling white light flitted about like a rogue spark from a campfire. Zod's brow furrowed. Another s.h.i.+p? Then he felt a cold lump in his stomach. What if Donodon's people had come back after all? As the single bright spot dropped lower, orbiting over the city skyline, growing larger and larger, he felt a thrill rush through him.

Earlier, he had raised the specter of a vengeful outside race only to manipulate the Council. It was a straw man threat to rile the already nervous citizens so they would be willing to consider drastic changes-changes that would benefit Zod. He had never actually believed Donodon's companions would come so soon!