Chapter 118: Red VS Yellow(1/2)
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***HR. Location: North America***
(Ursa wife of Zod.)
Ursa and her teams of prisoners/soldiers were in a forest very far from their previous location. They had found that this planet though barren of life due to a previous war was...friendly? They encountered a lot of older people willing to give them places to rest, and eat free of any form of payment. Something about helping travelers in need and not asking questions. It, it was odd to Ursa. What if they had been enemy spies? But apparently Kryptonians looked a lot like the people of the planet so no one questioned them.
No, that wasn't entirely true. They did come across area wide security several times. It took Ursa and her team a few weeks to learn the language of the planet. So when they first met the security believed they were illegal aliens? What ever that meant. But once they spoke fluent...English. It wasn't much a problem. Though it wasn't much of a problem to begin with. This planet was strange, it empowered them! Ty-Nell ripped one of the area security personnel in half during an altercation. He hadn't meant to either. He simply pulled and they had come apart.
Now, Ursa and her unit were in the middle of a forest practicing their new abilities. Ren Jim-Ner was currently floating several feet off the ground. She didn't understand how she was doing it. But many others tried to emulate her and fell down. While others jumped into the air far higher than Ursa had ever seen! But even here in the forest they had to be careful. They had encountered many strange, and powerful creatures.
A mammal with thick brown fur that could stand on its hind legs to intimidate. Normally such creatures wouldn't scare the soldiers of Krypton especially with their new found strength. But this animal had spikes, or thorns growing out of its hide. It could roar so loud that could break bones, and rupture organs. It was also thirty feet tall! It had bashed Ter Val-Gith with one of its paws and sent her over a mile through the forest.
Thankfully planet security showed up before the fight could continue and safely put the beast down. Ursa and her team had to run and gather up Ter. But they escaped with out being found. But these planet security teams were far better trained, and equipped then area security. Ursa recognized them from the prison ship. The JLI the badges would say. Now? Ursa and her team were sitting in a dank cave watching as a JLI security force flew over the forest looking for them.
“I must applaud their discipline. We've been hiding for nearly a day and they are still looking for us.” Nadni Klon-Jyd said softly in the cave entrance.
“I believe they think we are in danger and are attempting to help us. You can tell, that...flier is still looking around frantically. Afraid we'll be dead on the ground and it will be her fault.” Torox said next, he had worked with emergency response on their home world many years ago. He knew the look.
“If she spots us we'd have to kill her. They can't know we are here. If they realize we are part of the prison ship?” Og-Ti said next, he was watching the woman carefully.
“She's leaving, I can see the teleportation rings around her.” Nadni said next, and sure enough the airborne JLI popped from their sight.
“Commander, how's Ter?” Torox asked as he carefully made his way to the back of the cave. Ursa looked up with a schooled expression but her her lips twitched down ward into a frown. Ter was being looked at by their unit's medic. Ral-Taz, he had served as a combat medic during the war.
“She'll live, what ever is on this planet is accelerating our bodies ability to heal. But the next few hours will be painful for her.” Ursa said in her cold indifferent voice. They heard the audible sound of a bone being popped back into place and Ter screaming into a mouth guard.
“Hello! I know your in there.” A man's voice called from the entrance of the cave. Everyone froze in horror! “Please we just want to help. One of you is injured, I can smell the blood.”
Ursa, and her entire team jumped to their feet save for Ter though she tried. Ral forced her down and took up a defensive position in front of her. They moved in sync as they traveled to the entrance of the cave but then Ursa raised a fist to the air telling them all to freeze. There standing in the entrance of the cave was a man wearing what looked like Kryptonian armor. More specifically he had a Kryptonian house symbol on his chest. Deep blue, and red color scheme but the symbol on the chest was of the house of El!?
“How is the house of El, here?” Ursa called out in Krypton. The man looked at her in shock, than a smile that could light up the cave grew across his face.
“Are you from Krypton!?” The man asked.
“We are, I am Ursa I am the commander of this unit.” Ursa replied, her indifferent expression cracked to reveal a smile.
“Welcome to Earth!” The man said then he glanced towards Ter.
“We need to get her into the sun! It will help her heal faster.” The man said, as he pointed at her.
They carefully pulled Ter back into the open area in front of the cave and sure enough she healed faster. The man with the house of El on his chest took a knee and looked her over. His eyes glowed softly and he smiled. Ursa could help but take comfort in that smile, as did the rest of the unit. Something about him made them relax. Ursa had to cough to get everyone to focus again. The man looked up to her and blushed a bit embarrassed.
“She'll be fine. She is already healing. You are all from Fort Rozz right? Did you work there as guards?” The man asked.
“We were residents there.” Ursa said carefully. “But when the ship crashed the prisoners escaped. We had to flee or be overrun. We didn't know this was a Kryptonian colony.” Ursa continued, as she tried her best to give only half truths.
“Oh its not! I mean a few of us live here. But its...Its complicated! You should all come back with me to the station! We can explain it....one moment.” The man said softly, as he pressed a finger to his ear. Then the posture of the man shifted. It was a minute change but Ursa and her team noticed it. The man's face fell as he looked all of them over.
“Commander Ursa, may I please request that you and your team surrender peacefully.” The man asked, and the whole unit took a defensive stance. Teleportation rings started to appear around them five...ten....thirty.
“We have done nothing wrong! What we did was for the glory of Krypton!” Ursa shouted at him as the teleportation rings finished and armored troops appeared.
“I understand you believe that. But please, just surrender. I don't want to have to fight my own people.” The man said.
“You will try!” Ursa shouted and she threw a punch at the man and her fists broke across his face. CRACK! Ursa's bones in her hands shattered from the impact.
The fight was short, as it was brutal. Despite their training and extraordinary abilities. It was clear that Ursa and her team still needed more time to absorb what ever was in the air on this planet to have a fighting chance. The world security JLI took them down almost effortlessly. The man, or as he was code named; Superman. Took them back to the Watch Tower Station. There much to Ursa's horror was a dead man! Jor-El. Where were they!? Jor-El had died on Krypton! Dru-Zod had killed him, himself.
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***HR. Watch Tower Station***
(Erik Lash, and Hunter Saurian. /Agent Wraith)
Dr. Multifarious requested that Lash come back once a week for sessions. He agreed, but aside from that she gave him a clean bill of health. Though she did agree to him getting a week off. She told as much to Wonder Woman, but of course she kept what they talked about to herself. Patient, Doctor confidentiality. So Lash was cleared in body, mind, and now it was spirit. What a better place to go then paradise island to restore ones spirit.
However, before he could leave Lash wanted to start the upgrade process for the station. It would take considerable time to upgrade the station to grade C. Especially since they had to upgrade the station while it was still being used. He went down to the second saucer towards the main data port. The walls peeled off from one another, while he, and Diana were swallowed into a private room. Diana looked around with a curious expression. She had never seen the main port. Vici's main core folded out from the main wall, along with her very own Droid Service Module. A module of one.
“Please give me a moment, I have to compress this down into a sizable bite.” Lash said to Diana as he sat down on offered chair from the station. Diana did the same and crossed her legs watching intently as he activated his store catalog.
Diana saw a book made from starlight appear above Lash and he reached up with his clawed hands to retrieve it. Hundreds of spell script ribbons began to surround him one by one. Each one revolving around him at high speeds. Power was the word, and power is what came from Lash now. While in his Transformation state he gave off tremendous amounts of it. No, it wasn't the raw physical power that came with Superman. Or even one of the Gods or Goddesses of Olympus. But the type of power that came from Lash none the less was Power.
To Lash, the book made of starlight contained anything, and everything he could buy with Dream Points, and Ability Evolution Points. He went straight to the C upgrade volume for the watch tower and got a prompt from it.
Attention User, the current design model is no longer optimal would you like to change it?
Yes/No...
Lash blinked at the prompt a little bit confused. He scrolled through the DP catalog and found out that because of designs he obtained from the MCU story/even Rift he could now create a singularity mass energy core. This would allow for a different type of construction that had once been impossible. But that raised a few questions. Did that increase the amount of DP to spend on the next upgrade? Yes, it raised it by another 500 points. So from D to C would be 1,500 DP. But he did have 30,000 DP to spend.
Yes/No....Yes.
With that selection done several new design schemes popped up. Lash went to the review section of the catalog and read through the different people who went with what design. He was not the only one to obtain a singularity core. Lash selected one that was an easier design that his current orbital ring method. But the entire station would have to go through a retrofit. But overall the station would be larger.
Attention User, you've selected the upgrade key for your Watch Tower Station.
C grade upgrade key is 1,500 DP. Confirm? Yes/No..... Yes.
An orb made of pure magical energy appeared in front of Lash and Diana's eyes lite up as she looked at it. Vici's main data port opened up and Lash placed the orb into the port. It rolled in and the port closed. A hum of power poured through the whole station, as millions of spell script ribbons flowed through the station. Technically Lash could afford the next upgrade key to B grade but he wanted to wait to purchase each module for each upgrade. Speaking of which!
Blue Lantern Hub: This hub will help coordinate between rings across the known Universe. Allowing for communication not only between Blue Lanterns, but any Lantern that volunteers to link up with the hub. Lantern Hub will work in tandem with Galactic Sheriff Module. D grade module 20 DP. (R&D module applied)
You have purchased one Blue Lantern Hub for 20 DP.
Technically Lash should have purchased that before he did the C grade upgrade key. Thankfully it didn't increase the price. Which he was confused about. He'd have to ask Dawn about that later. Maybe it was a bug? The Blue Lantern Hub would allow John, Hal, and Katma much needed coordination between the station and other rings. The Sol System was still outside the protection of the Guardians. But Lash knew not all of the Green Lanterns followed them anymore. This hub would help.
Slave Trade Hub: Universe wide slave trade is a growing market. From criminals to innocent victims of chance. With this hub you could profit from selling people to the market. Obtaining a growing network of empires, pirates, and governments. (Not Recommended) C grade module for 30 DP. (R&D module applied)
Lash's eyes twitched with anger at the module. Yes it was not recommended but it still angered him to no end that it was even an option. Though the cold logic of Saurian did explain a few things. They could purchase the module to buy, and free any slaves that arrived. Also, criminal slaves would actually be worth something instead of soaking up resources. There was logic to the argument. But even Saurian didn't like slave trading. No, they would not purchase it.
Defensive Platform: An automated platform that could assist with the defense of the station, planet, or even the solar system. The platforms come in a variety of types, styles, and configurations. Allowing for offense, defense, support, or utility. Or all four! C grade module for 30 DP. (R&D module applied)
Lash will have to wait on that. Once the upgrade was finished he would also have to purchase no turrets, and engine cores. Even with his vast amount of DP he could spend. If he was not careful it could easily disappear. He still needed to upgrade the planetary shield he purchased during the Rolf Dex invasion. Along with a Lunar Academy. The different type of platforms was intriguing. If he did all four, which apparently was more expensive they were essentially mini-stations of their own. That would be useful in the future when he starts to terraform the different planets, and moons in the Sol System.
FTL Slingshot Module: A form of fast travel for even FTL. This module will allow ships of different types, and size to Slingshot through star systems greatly decreasing travel time. This module is experimental. C grade module for 100 DP. (R&D module applied)
You have purchased the FTL Slingshot Module for 100 DP.
Travel Hub: This places your station on the universal network for travel agencies looking to travel the different galaxies. Ensuring your station can be used for fuel, resupply, and repair of civilian vessels along with some military. Works in tandem with Galactic Sheriff security company. C grade module for 30 DP. (R&D module, and FTL Slingshot module applied)
You have purchased Travel Hub for 30 DP.
Refugee Hub: This places your station, and solar system as a volunteer place to take refugee's. From war torn societies, all the way to settlers looking to find a new home. The hub will allow the organization, and placement of refugees. Works in tandem with Galactic Sheriff security company. C grade module for 30 DP. (R&D module applied)
Lash would hold off on the idea of turning the Sol System into a refugee system. Not that he didn't think that most of the JLI wouldn't have an issue with it. But where would they place them? The public opinion on Earth when it came to aliens wasn't great right now. So, that would mean they couldn't be placed on Earth. Mars was still wrecked. The moon was meant to be a training center. But there are several places in the Sol System that could be worked on to allow refugees. So Lash put a pin on that module, and he would bring it up with the JLI senior members next time he had a chance. He made a note in his communication message board. He also messaged Yihune his personnel assistant. Who he hadn't seen for a while. He also needed to see Vyllith.
School of Magic: This tailored module will create a dimensional pocket that will allow the User to create a school for Magical origins. The biome can be selected when first purchased but can not be changed after. Works in tandem with Dimensional Gateway Hub. Biome types are as followed...(See Tool Tip) C grade module for 100 DP. (R&D module applied)
You have purchased the School of Magic for 100 DP, Biome selected continental four seasons.
Hazah! With the pocket dimension they could now train, and educate spell casters. At least until the moon was ready to receive students. With Zatanna's recommendation the environment would have all four seasons. But they could actually set a clock to the weather patterns. Lash would have to look into it later. He also needed to visit his own personnel hell. Lots to do.
Life Boats: Though every station has escape pods. Life Boats are designed to hold more people for longer periods of time. They can accommodate a wide range of alien body types, many of them have basic engines, and quality versions even have FTL. Recommended amount for C grade station, 100. C grade module for 10 DP per boat. (R&D module applied)
Lash winced at the recommended amount. A total of 1,000 DP for all of them. The Life Boats looked like triangle shaped ships that would be spread out across the hull of the station. Anywhere from 5 people, all the way to 50 people per boat depending on its design. It was a, 'I would rather have it, and not need it. Then need it, and not have it' moments. Lash put a pin on it, and added it to his favorite to be purchased later.
Ship Bay: Works in tandem with Shuttle, and Fighter Bay. This module allows the construction, and storage of (Corvette, and Frigate class ships) Depending on quality, type, and size. The Ship Bay can hold 1-3 (Corvettes) and/or 1-2 (Frigates) C grade module 30 DP per module. (R&D module applied)
You have purchased 4 Ship Bay's for 120 DP.
Docking Ring: A ring will be built around your main saucer section allowing ship types from Corvettes to Cruisers to dock. Transport systems are integrated to carry crew, and supplies towards specific trade hub. While ship umbilical cords will create ease of transfer for repairs, fuel, and resources. C grade module 30 DP. (R&D module applied)
You have purchased the Docking Ring for 30 DP.
Lash looked through the different modules. Many of them were grayed out. Not accessible due to his unique type of station. While there were more for B and A grade stations. The A grade station was huge! Practically a city floating in space. They only had two...Three more months before Zod was supposedly suppose to show up. Ah! That was right, Lash was suppose to visit Fort Rozz. He had way to much to do! He glanced at several things he could still purchase. He could also evolve some of his abilities. Though he would ignore all the low level versions. Another few days and many of them would evolve thanks to the Power Stone. He decided he would wait. So he closed the book and dismissed the catalog.
“Finished?” Diana asked, as the book of starlight faded from view.
“For now... I have to much to do.” Lash replied with a rueful expression.
“You can take a few days, Lash. The world wont end. I promise.” Diana said as stood up and offered him a hand out of his chair. Lash took the offered hand and stood up in a fluid motion as he towered over her. She rolled her eyes at him as the data core compressed into the wall and the walls folded back.
“Lara?” Lash asked in surprise as he saw Lara Lor-Van, Kal-El's mother on the other side of the walls. She smiled at him, and nodded to Diana who returned it.
“I know your busy but we have a problem.” Lara said to him. Lash's shoulders sagged and gestured for them to move towards the elevator in the stem of the station....
Fifteen minutes later Lash walked through the prison on the station. He passed a variety of cells that contained different prisoners that had been recaptured from Fort Rozz. Some of the prisoners were not violent, and had served their time. With the new travel hub in the process of being built they could now charter ships to take them home. If home is where they wanted to be. While a majority of the prisoners they had captured were blood thirsty even to this day. Naya'il was up for the challenge. Many of the prisoners went through harmonic rehabilitation. Several of them were bolted to the floor, or the walls in their cells as they screamed to anyone to listen to turn off the noise.
Lash came to a stop in the new detention center specifically designed for Kryptonians. Red sun energy was being infused into the cell network to sap them of their strength. While additional magical effects did more. To slow their infusion in the long run. It could be reversed of course. But none of the Kryptonians they had captured had been good people. Lash ran a clawed hand over the screen and the cell door/wall went transparent.
Commander Ursa was a tall, lean woman with short black hair that looked like needed a bit of trim. She wore a prisoner jumpsuit that had been provided for her. According to the bio scans she was pregnant and was a few months along. What ever suppressant she had been given had worn off. Now it was to late. Either she would have the baby, or it could be removed. Ursa looked up and saw that the wall had grown clear and she glared at Lash.
“Commander Ursa, it is a pleasure, and an honor to see you...again.” Lash said to her in perfect Kryptonian. He performed a military salute, fitting of his station he had while on Krypton. Ursa's glare softened just a bit as she returned the salute.
“I don't know you.” Ursa replied, Lash pulled back his hood and Ursa stepped back in shock. But Lash could see. She didn't know him.
That was both good, and bad. Lash was terrified that his Cosmic Patron would have pulled the Kryptons from his time fragment to be the enemy. But Lash could also understand why their Patron didn't. If Lash knew them, then it would have been possible to find an alternate method. Maybe plant the Kryptonians on another planet? But no, that wouldn't happen now. Zod would come, and he would bring what armies he had left to find his people.
“What are you?” Ursa asked, as she stepped forward to look at him in better detail.
“You would know my house as Ligadian.” Lash replied, and a look of recognition passed over her face.
“I thought the science guild stopped making your kind. Are there more of you?” Ursa asked, taking a relaxed stance in her cell.
“As far as I know, I am the last of my kind. But the universe is full of surprises maybe there are more of my house. So from one soldier to another, I am sure you have questions.” Lash offered, as he pulled his hood back on.
“Is this a Kryptonian colony?” Ursa began.
“No.”
“What of Krypton?”
“Krypton was destroyed several cycles ago by the instability of the planets core. The exact specifics of who is to blame is unclear. Either it was a alien machine intelligence named Brainiac that caused the destabilization. Or it was the science guild as they drilled to the planets core for fuel. Maybe a combination of both.” Lash provided, and Ursa's eyes went wide in horror.
“YOUR LYING!” Ursa screamed as she ran her fists into the magical shield.
“Dru is alive.” Lash replied, and Ursa stopped punching the shield.
“Where?”
“His exact location is unclear, however he should be with in the solar system with in a few months. I believe he is following the SOS of Fort Rozz.” Lash replied to her and a glimmer of home was kindled in her eyes.
“Will you hold us prisoner like the science guild?”
“That depends on you, and Dru-Zod. I personally have no issues letting you reunite with your forces if you promise to leave for another system. We can give you fuel, supplies, and resources to start a brand new colony of Krypton in a neighboring system.” Lash replied, and before Ursa could ask another question he continued speaking.
“Let me be clear about something. You are part of an endangered species. A peaceful solution is in your best interest.” Lash said, and paused for Ursa to ask another question.
“Ligadian, are we not all part of the Kryptonian blood line?” Ursa asked, and Lash gave her a deadpanned expression.
“How many of my brothers, and sisters did you send to their deaths because we were not pure Kryptonian?” Lash replied with a growl, and Ursa looked like she had bitten into something sour. “If you day start spouting the hypocrisy of survival of the fittest? I'll remind you, that Ligadians are superior to you in nearly every way. Case and point. You are in there, while I am out here.” Lash finished, and Ursa looked like she wanted to deck him.
“So my people will be hostages?” Ursa asked.
“Yes. Kal-El doesn't want to destroy his own people. But he's been outvoted... The man wearing blue, and red.” Lash said, and explained who Kal-El was. “If Zod starts trouble, we will finish it.”
“How is Jor-El alive? I saw Dru kill him.” Ursa asked.
“Time travel.” Lash replied nonchalantly. Ursa's eyes looked like they were about to pop out of their sockets.
“Why didn't you go back and save Krypton then!” Ursa screamed at him.
“I did...” Lash replied, and Ursa stopped.
“When you travel through time it doesn't change your current time line. All it does is create an alternate reality. Believe me it gets confusing. And that is only one method of time travel. Different methods have different results.” Lash said, DC Comics gets all sorts of convoluted with time travel. “I traveled through time. In that reality Krypton was not destroyed but it did suffer a catastrophic event. However, you and Dru lead your people to a neighboring system and survived. Jor-El, and Lara Lor-Van were destined to die. So when I came back, I took them with me.”
Ursa fell to her knees and looked up at him in shock, and despair. Something inside of her cracked, but didn't break. Ursa was made of tougher stuff than that. However, she was struggling with Lash's claim. Time travel was ridicules! But she also knew the simple fact that if you eliminate what was possible, you then reach towards the impossible no matter how improbable it could be. Or something like that?
“In some point in the future Dru goes back in time to save Krypton. However, he doesn't travel back in time to his current present because he understands it doesn't work that way. I met the old Dru, and the new Dru in the new Krypton. As odd as it sounds we actually got along.” Lash said to Ursa then said a few things that only Ursa, and Dru knew and a look of utter defeat washed over Ursa.
“So in this....reality you and I never met?” Ursa asked.
“Correct.”
“Were we friends?”
“Ursa you don't have friends. You have allies, you have enemies, and you have Dru.” Lash replied, and a smile tugged on her lips. Lash crouched down so he was at a better eye level for her.
“Why are we stronger here?” Ursa asked, and Lash debated on telling her why. The merits, and demerits of it.
“Krypton had a red sun, this solar system has a yellow sun. While the planets atmosphere is also less polluted.” Lash said oddly enough. Krypton at the time of its death was a toxic world. Well that depended on the comic origin for it.
“In the end there are hundreds if not thousands of scientific reasons as to why you are stronger. But essentially any solar system with a yellow sun empowers people who lived in a red sun system. However, what this will do to the next generation remains to be seen. It could still effect them, or they could be completely normal.” Lash replied, and Ursa nodded in basic understanding.
That had always been a question that Erik the gamer wondered about. Was it simply Kryptonian DNA that would be enriched under a yellow sun? Or was it because they had lived under a red sun for so long that it empowered them under a yellow sun? Little details that Erik never learned in the DC Comics. Trying to use scientific theory in a comic book, for a comic book race didn't always work out. In most comic origins if anyone had a shred of Kryptonian DNA you would be powerful in a yellow sun.
“We are hostages, aren't we?” Ursa asked.
“I wish you didn't have to be. But I spent enough time around you in the alternate time line to know that this is exactly what you would do if we were in opposite places. No, actually you would just kill us.” Lash replied, and Ursa smiled at him just a bit.
“Yes, sounds like you spent time with me.” She replied.
“Do you want to have a natural birth? Or do you want artificial incubation?” Lash asked, and Ursa's gaze turned cold as she wrapped her arms around her abdomen.
“I'm not that cruel, Ursa! I will not use a child as a bargaining chip. Even if you would.” Lash said to her, and she flinched under his accusation. Why? She'd done it before back home.
“Your word as a Kryptonian, you will take care of him?” Ursa asked.
“Yes, I'll take care of Lor-Zod.” Lash said, and Ursa blinked at him.
“Artificial then.” Ursa replied.
Lash called for Naya'il and Ursa looked shocked at the angelic being. They talked logistics, and Ethan was soon called to the prison to arrange the operation. Jor, and Lara promised to take care of Lor-Zod like any child of Krypton. But in the end Ursa made Lash give his word three different times. She 'trusted' him more than the house of El. Something about him being brutal, and-->>