Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Life Equation

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 23:

Kara looked up in the sky with her X-Ray vision. Though Metropolis could not see the cloaked ship, she could and saw the soldiers scrambling, preparing to blow the Kryptonite core out of the cyborg or simply blow his head off.

“Don’t kill him! We need him alive for questioning!” Kara shouted up from her spot next to Clark, the two crouched behind a wrecked vehicle as Kryptonite energy blasts flew into the car and over their heads.

“We need him for questioning?” Clark asked, slightly amused and a bit worried that was her only motivation.

“They are Red Shard. Explaining we don’t want to kill because it isn’t our way is not the best argument!” She told him. “I’m a bit disappointed in their response time to be honest… some guards. Anyway, you have fought one of these things before. I suspect it has a metallic exoskeleton, correct?”

Clark nodded. “It’s strong. The last time I had a readily available source of lead to contain the core.”

Kara nodded enthusiastically, not really thinking things through. “Great idea. I’ll draw its fire and you find lead.”

Before Clark could stop her, Kara stood up to find the cyborg had moved closer and its green core was glowing. She dropped to the ground quickly, the blast barely missing her head.

“On second thought, you’re the head of the House of El. You draw fire and I’ll get the lead.” She stated bluntly.

Despite the situation they found themselves in, Clark couldn’t help but smile. He lifted the car in front of him and threw it at the cyborg, knocking the man back.

“Keep throwing cars at him.” Clark told her. “We need to knock him into the water then freeze it around him. He still relies on a brain and the sub-zero temperatures will slow his thought processes.”

Kara saw that this ‘Metallo’, as Clark called him, had already ripped through the car and was approaching again.

“His brain is about to be dust.” Kara commented, looking towards the invisible ship above her, seeing a Red Shard trooper prepared to drop the man, the glowing red light on the barrel showing it was not set to stun. “As much as it hurts my pride, we have to use another resource if we want him alive.”

The blonde looked to the sky and shouted, “Hey! Brightest day, darkest night! We need Green Lantern light!”

Immediately, the cyborg was surrounded by a new type of green energy forming a perfect cube around it and compressing inward, forcing Metallo to the ground. Hal Jordan landed in front of the cousins, his ring focused on the now trapped enemy.

“I was just waiting for your word, Lady Kara. Want me to take him to Watchtower, Boy Scout?” Hal asked, no humor in his voice that would have been present in the past. The man looked tense and angry.

“Radiation room.” Clark agreed. The cousins followed Hal Jordan in the air as he dragged the captured Metallo in the glowing cube that had him lying prone.

By the time Kara and Clark made it to Watchtower, the Kryptonian Scout Ship was hovering, cloaked over the tall building.

“Damn it.” she whispered. “I bet Mother and Uncle Non are on the ship.”

The two cousins and Hal landed on the roof quickly to avoid being seen and entered the base. Kara followed Kal to the tenth floor where Hal stood in cell-like room with Diana and Bruce, promethium binders holding the cyborg down in a prone position on a table. A piece of lead was being welded to the man’s metallic sternum by Bruce Wayne.

She instantly felt better, no pain remaining from the Kryptonite. It was just as well because her guards were suddenly surrounding her and Kelex was already scanning her body.

“Relax, Kelex, I’m fine.” the girl told her sidekick.

Kelex continued to scan regardless. “You need to be brought to the scout ship’s med bay. I need blood samples, tissue samples, more in-depth radiation scans…”

“I’m fine!” Kara snapped. “Kal is fine, too.”

Kal nodded his head. “It was synthetic Kryptonite… the radiation feels a bit different than real Kryptonite. I wasn’t aware of another lab that had the ability to create one of these men after all the labs Lex once owned were shut down.”

“Kara!”

Kara closed her eyes and turned, not wanting to see the look on her mother’s face as the woman practically knocked her over with a hug, obviously not wearing a red sun cuff.

“I’m fine, Mother.” Kara tried to reassure her.

Kelex interrupted. “I need more tests to determine if the radiation has done any lasting damage to her body. She refuses to go to the med bay of the ship.”

Kara opened her mouth to object again when a red blur moved past her, and she felt red solar rays on her wrist.

She turned to her right and saw Wally West who showed his hands apologetically. “Sorry, but your Mom is scary.”

Frowning, Kara moved to unlock the cuff until she felt a pin prick her neck. She turned quickly and saw her Uncle Non with a syringe in his hand.

“ Uncle Non! That hurt! I don’t… I don’t… wow that feels good. That feels really, really good. Did you know there were Kangors on this planet? One is right behind you. I’ve never seen one with purple spots before. I wonder how he got here all the way from Krypton…” Kara said before losing consciousness.

Non caught her in his arms and cradled her, taking her to the scout ship’s med bay, Kelex and Alura following close behind.

Within a few minutes, Non had returned. “Kal El, I would not do to you what I just did to her, but it would be beneficial if you were examined too.”

“I have been examined before after this sort of attack, General. I assure you, I am fine but appreciate your concern.” Kal said.

Non nodded his head. “Then perhaps you could allow Kelex to scan your body so we can assure Kara’s readings match yours and she has not reacted differently?”

Clark had many questions he wanted to ask this new Metallo but admitted the General’s logic made sense.

“Of course, General.” he agreed and moved back to the roof.

Non was left alone with Hal Jordan, Alura and the Red Shard unit.

“General, Lady Kara asked for time to take him alive and question him. You ordered me to follow her lead. We were close to eliminating the target regardless, but she called for the Green Lantern’s aid.” Zol told him.

Non nodded, regretting his commands now but could not find fault with Zol. “You did as I ordered. I will deal with her when she wakes. Please prepare a second bed. I just received word that Kell Ur is being brought in by Oliver Queen in a helicopter.”

“Sir?” Zoll questioned, puzzled at the order.

“A tiny rock is embedded in his shoulder and needs to be removed. Once that is done, remove the cuff, let him heal, then replace the cuff, give him a blood transfusion if necessary, then sedate him again. I will deal with him when he wakes as well.

“In the meantime, Commander, I need you to stall Kal El as long as possible on the ship.” Non finished, in a whisper. The man saluted his General and hurried off.

As he made his way to where the prisoner was being held, Non grasped the hilt of his standard, laser-rimmed blade all Kryptonian soldiers carried and pulled it from its sheath.

“Time to get answers.” the man muttered, the blade clenched tightly in his fist.

Non walked into the room where Diana and Bruce were interrogating the prisoner. Diana had some gold lasso on the cyborg’s neck. Non had yet to meet her but liked what he saw so far.

“I like the idea of strangling him, but I have questions I need answered first.” he happily told the woman. “Then please hang him from the rafters.”

Non stood over the cyborg who was frantically looking everywhere but at his captors and examined him with his X-Ray vision. Metallo stopped moving when Non bent over him, his wide eyes locking onto the General.

“I am General Non, Commander of the Kryptonian Battle Cruiser Flamebird . You have attacked my people unprovoked and by Universal law are now my prisoner. I have questions that you will answer.”

“Kryptonian military… there are more of you?” the man asked, eyes wide.

“There are many more of us, but I am the one you should be concerned with now. I can hear your heartbeat, your blood pumping through your veins. I can see that muscle surrounds your metallic exoskeleton. Every lie you tell me, I will cut a muscle from your body. This blade will cauterize the wound so you will not bleed out no matter how much you wish to. Am I understood?”

“Yes,” the man answered immediately.

“Who are you?” Non asked.

“Dr. Greg Gilcrist. I formerly worked for Lex Luthor as a scientist in an organization called Cadmus. After Corbin was defeated, I was given the same surgery and placed on stand down until I was needed. After Lex Luthor’s escape, he contacted our organization and told us to resume our mission. I was placed into service and told to draw both Superman and Supergirl out in the open and kill them.”

Non raised an eyebrow, curious and slightly puzzled. “That was very specific.”

“He has no choice.” Diana told the General. “The lasso compels him to speak the truth and any resistance will cause him great pain.”

Non looked at the now glowing lasso wrapped loosely around the man’s neck.

“Magic?” he asked warily. Diana nodded.

“Huh… well, that certainly takes the work out of interrogation.” Non said resigned, then stabbed the man’s thigh with his knife.

“I told the truth!” Gilcrist screamed, the sizzling in his thigh continuing to burn.

“I know.” Non pulled the blade out, wiping it off on the man’s pants then sheathing it. “That was for daring to harm my niece.”

“So I can ask him anything and he has to tell the truth?” Non asked Diana to be sure. The woman nodded.

“No physical pain needed?”

Diana shook her head.

“Not even a little?”

Diana shook her head again, a small smile playing about her mouth.

“Fine then, no torture. ” Non said, somewhat disappointed. “You say Lex Luthor wanted you to kill Superman and Supergirl after his escape. Did he activate any other protocols? Are there any other monstrosities like you with the same goal?”

“Not that I know of. We were not told of other’s actions, operating as independent cells, only given orders by two people.” The man said.

Non gestured with his hand to keep going, his other hand resting on the hilt of his blade. “Am I really going to have to ask you everything? Talk.”

Not wanting to push his luck, the cyborg answered, “We receive orders from Lex or Lillian Luthor.”

Kal El walked into the room having heard everything from outside. He asked, “Where is Lillian Luthor?”

“I don’t know. Only Lex contacted me. I have been at Cadmus Headquarters for the past two years. Lillian visits, performs diagnostic checks and maintenance on my system, then leaves.”

Non asked, “Where is this headquarters located?”

“It’s at 44th and Vine, building 301 in Gotham. There is a basement with an elevator that leads to an underground laboratory the Government missed when it seized Lex Luthor’s accounts and holdings.”

Non nodded and looked at Diana once again. “My congratulations on such an effective interrogation tool. I will send some of my unit to destroy the place at once.”

“I’ll send Lanterns to assist.” Hal told them.

Superman spoke up again. “Does Lena Luthor have any knowledge or affiliation with your group?”

“Not that I was told.” The cyborg admitted.

Non gave Clark a confused look but shrugged it off for the time being looking back at the prisoner.

“Why would you allow such an organization to turn you into this thing you have become?” the General asked, genuinely curious.

For the first time, Non saw a bit of fight in Gilcrist’s eyes. “Because I hate aliens!”

“We aren’t fond of you either.” Non laughed and turned to the Green Lantern. “I believe we have all we need. Hal Jordan, will you be taking him to the prison on Oa?”

Jordan shook his head. “There is no need. We have a doctor that can remove the core and the police have a special reinforced cell that he will not be able to break out of. He will have to be hooked to a life support machine because synthetic kryptonite is an unstable power source, he won’t live long with it unless it is maintained. Since we won’t be letting Lillian Luthor work on him obviously, an artificial heart machine will have to keep him alive.”

Non walked out, the Justice League members following him.

Once they were in the control room, Batman addressed the group. “Brainiac had no interest in killing Kara and Clark. He was testing them. He had Luthor’s knowledge and most likely activated the protocol as a distraction, a test or both. He now knows that a Green Lantern is following Kara at all times.”

“Did we pick up any indication that this Gilcrist was transmitting?” Clark asked.

“No.” Bruce told him, then asked, “Has there been any indication from Kara’s ship that Brainiac’s ship has entered the galaxy?”

“Not before we recalled it,” Non said looking thoughtful. “I made a mistake, a simple one. Brainiac would not need to watch the battle simply for a test. I assumed that only one parasite was sent to Earth but there could be any number of humans under Brainiac’s control watching everything, simply to spy for him. All he would have to do is come into the galaxy for only a few seconds, download the information from his human hosts and be gone.

“But we still have an advantage. Thanks to Hal’s timely intervention, Brainiac does not know other Kryptonians are on this planet. We have to assume an attack can come at any time from anyone.

“Kal El, I am afraid you are going to lose your crime fighting partner. I haven’t decided whether to send Kara and her idiotic mate back to Argo or keep her in hiding here for the time being. Either way, she will not be placed in the public spotlight again.”

“I fully agree, General.” Clark told him immediately.

“I will send Kara’s ship back into space and we will regroup at the Lake House.” Non decided, dismissing the impromptu meeting.

In the scout ship sometime later, Kara woke up. She found herself lying on a hard bed.

No, this was an examination table and she was restrained to it by her wrists, a half circular cellular scanner was running over her body. She attempted to break the restraints but was unable.

“This is not good.” Kara said to herself.

“No kidding. I’m not in any better shape. We are in the scout ship med bay and have red solar light restraints on us.” Kell’s voice said. “The ship isn’t moving so at least we aren’t on our way home.”

Kara turned her head to her right and saw Kell in a similar state as her, only his shoulder was bandaged, and he had a line running into his vein Kara knew was providing blood.

“Kell! What happened to you… what are you wearing?” she finally asked, realizing the man was in a suit similar to the one she had seen Oliver Queen wearing, only red in color.

Kell shook his head. “I was shot. This outfit has body armor but the rifle… it’s a long story.” the man admitted.

Kara instantly became angry. “Apparently we aren’t going anywhere! Tell me now! You told me you would wear your armor! Nothing on this planet can pierce our armor! So why are you wearing that ineffective outfit?”

“I wanted to blend in! It was fine… a little tight in certain areas but fine. We were busting up some gang trying to sell something… I’m still not sure what we were doing but the fighting was easy enough. Then I saw a glint of a sniper rifle a block away on top of a building. I assumed it wasn’t aimed at me so I pushed Oliver down so neither of us would be hit. Only I misjudged the velocity of the shot and was hit in the shoulder.” Kell told her, admitting his error. “It hurt. The bullet was buried under my collar bone. If I had taken the red cuff off, it would have healed over the bullet, so Oliver and Dinah packed the wound and… next thing I knew, I woke up here. Next to you.”

“If you had worn your armor this wouldn’t have happened! What were you thinking?! You wanted to play dress up with the human vigilantes?” Kara was so angry, she wanted to hit something… only she couldn’t because she was strapped down, so yelling would have to do.

Kell looked at her in disbelief. “Says the woman who flies around in a red cape! What are you doing here? Were you hurt?”

“No!” Kara shouted. Though when she thought about it for a moment, she realized that wasn’t entirely true. In a little softer voice, she said, “Not really. There was this cyborg who had some sort of Kryptonite core that emitted these high energy blasts. Kal El and I were struck but it was no big deal. Hal was there to help us.”

Kell shook his head and looked at the ceiling. “So… you were hit by a wave of deadly energy. That’s much better. I thought you would be protecting humans, fighting injustice, that sort of thing?”

She didn’t miss the sarcastic undertone in his voice.

“At least I had my powers and didn’t nearly die from blood loss!” She yelled, fear driving her anger. “That is an infusion line in your veins! You told me you would wear your armor!”

“It would have stood out!” Kell screamed back.

“And a red leather suit doesn’t?!” Kara asked loudly.

“It works for Oliver! The body armor was quite comfortable. I thought it would be fine against human weapons! Bad call, okay? Now can we talk about you getting hit with a deadly burst of radiation?!”

Kara clenched her fists and looked at the ceiling. “No, we cannot. I’m not the one bleeding. I was fine!”

“So that’s why you are being held in the med bay restrained next to me?” Kell asked, disbelief at her argument evident in his words.

“No! I was wrongfully incarcerated when no one would believe me when I said I was fine!” She said very loudly.

“Sure you were,” Kell said.

“You’re an idiot.” Kara told him, unable to come up with a better insult.

“You’re an idiot.” he responded childishly.

Non walked out of the shadows at the far end of the room, arms crossed and obviously not in a good mood.

“You are both idiots.” the man told the pair as they looked up, chins on their chest to get a look at the General.

“You drugged me!” Kara said in an accusing tone.

“Be thankful this ship isn’t on its way to Argo City right now!” Non exclaimed. “Since you have both deduced the other is an idiot, we can talk without me needing to point this out again. Lay there and shut up, both of you!”

The two laid their heads back simultaneously, bracing for the worst.

Non walked between the two tables. First, he looked at Kell.

“You were nearly killed saving a human. You were given permission to participate tonight and told to wear your armor. Has Kryptonian battle armor changed in the past few hours, Kell?”

“No, sir.”

“Then why did you disobey an order?”

Kell closed his eyes and tried to swallow only to find his throat was very dry. “You told me to make sure I was prepared for any fight I might find tonight and to have my weapons on me. I was… I never thought you gave me a direct order, more of a suggestion… I did have weapons… I wasn’t good with a bow but the crossbow pistol I found to be extremely accurate. I thought my regular armor may not help me blend in, you see…”

“Black Kryptonian lightweight armor would not help you blend in at night, but red leather was much more stealthy?” Non asked, effectively shutting down his argument before Kell buried himself any deeper in the hole he was digging.

“He was being an idiot, wanting to dress like some superhero…” Kara began.

“Quiet! I will get to you in a moment… Supergirl.” Non said forcefully.

Kara tried to swallow as well but her throat was as dry as Kell’s.

“Kell?” Non asked, still waiting for an explanation.

“Sorry, sir.” he said. “I didn’t plan to get shot. I was trying to ensure neither of us was shot but… it didn’t work out so well. Could I have the cuff removed? My shoulder is still a bit sore.”

“Deal with it. Until your blood pressure is up, the transfusion continues.” Non told him before turning to Kara. “Now… Supergirl, why did you not call for Hal Jordan immediately?”

Kara tried to shrug her shoulders but couldn’t because her wrists were bound to the table. Thinking quickly, she tried deflection which usually worked on her mother. “First of all, I want you to know I forgive you for drugging me. It was rude and to some, it would be unforgivable, but I love you so much Uncle Non and I know you love me…”

“When Kelex tells you to be examined, you will be examined, and I will sedate you if that is what it takes to get you to comply!” Non’s eyebrows rose as he practically shouted. “You told the Red Shard squadron not to fire because you wanted him alive for information, yet you did not ask for Jordan immediately. Any reason why?”

Kara thought of the best answer that would make him happy.

Unfortunately, her uncle knew her too well. “Stop thinking of an answer that would make me happy. There are none. I know the truth. I want you to say it.”

Kara sighed, defeated. “Kal and I had a plan to take him down. I was going to…”

“To do what?” Non asked. “Distract the cyborg with the deadly radiation intent on killing you while Kal did what? Searched for lead? Did you even wait for him to tell you that was a bad idea and listen to his plan?”

Kara lifted her chin again to look at her uncle. “He told you that, didn’t he?”

“He told me that you thought of drawing fire while sending him on a hunt for lead and moved before he could stop you. You were almost struck again!” Non said.

“That was dumb.” Kell whispered.

Non looked sharply at Kell who diverted his eyes away.

“I realized the flaw in my battle plan and told him to draw fire after I was nearly hit. Unfortunately, I knew members of my guard were about to disintegrate the enemy we needed to interrogate and was forced to call in Hal Jordan. Kal El didn’t want to but I put my pride aside…”

Non held up his hand. “Kal El informed me that in situations like this he immediately calls for backup. That is why he is part of a team. Teams cover each other’s weakness. You had a powerful asset and instead of using it immediately, your pride stopped you until you had no choice but to ask for help. That is what happened, correct, Supergirl?”

Kara tried to nod her head, uncomfortably in her position. “I don’t like the way you say ‘Supergirl’.”

Non laughed. Kara didn’t hear any humor in that laugh. “Don’t worry about it because your days as ‘Supergirl’ are over! Your mother has been crying nonstop, watching medical readings she has no hope of understanding. Does that make you happy? Do you enjoy making your mother cry?”

Kara let out a long breath. “I hate your guilt trips.”

“Answer the question.”

“No, I don’t want my mother to cry.”

“Kell, if Kara had seen you in the state you arrived in, covered in blood and passed out, do you think she would have been upset?”

“Yes, General. I would like to think so.”

“Is that the kind of husband you will be? You like seeing your wife upset?”

“No, General.”

Non took a deep breath. “It has taken a lot of convincing, but Hal Jordan has agreed not to tell the Guardians about the incidents and Alura has agreed not to tell Astra about this. Do you know why I don’t want my wife to find out what has happened tonight?”

“Because you don’t want to take us back to Argo City?” Kara asked hopefully.

“Because she would confine you both to your quarters which I don’t mind, but I would be stuck sleeping alone on the Flamebird for months… perhaps years! If I send you back now without a reason, she will be suspicious, and we are all in trouble. I would have to tell her! She may well find out one day regardless!

“What am I saying… of course she will find out! She always finds out! I had hoped the two of you may curb each other’s more reckless tendencies but apparently when separated, you are even worse. From this point on, there will be no more capes, Lara El designed or inspired outfits, red leather hooded outfits, no more heroics or stupid blunders! If you go out, the two of you will be in civilian disguises, surrounded by soldiers and accompanied by Alex Danvers and Hal Jordan at the very least! Do we understand each other?”

“Yes, sir.” both of them said immediately.

Non seemed satisfied at their tone. “Good. Kara, luckily there is no sign of radiation in your system, so you’ll be released shortly. You will be checked by Kelex once a day for the foreseeable future and if I have to drug you again to get you in here, I will send you back to Argo City and we can all be at Astra’s mercy. You will apologize to your mother and assure her you are okay. Kell, your blood pressure is rising so you should be released soon as well. We will be moving to the Lake House as soon as you are both up. Any questions?”

Kara and Kell looked at each other, then looked back at the General and shook their heads.

Non walked out leaving the two alone.

After a moment of silence, Kell spoke. “That could have been worse. At least we aren’t being sent back to Argo, right?”

“You’re an idiot.” Kara told him.

“You’re an idiot… A twelfth level idiot.” Kell responded with a hint of fondness in his voice this time.

“I love you.” Kara finally told him.

“I love you, too.”

“Don’t do something so stupid again, okay? I don’t need another man I love dying.”

Kell closed his eyes. “If I am ever in battle, I swear I will wear my armor.”

His tone was sincere, giving Kara a bit of peace.

“If we ever have children, I hope they aren’t as reckless as you.” she muttered.

“Are you serious right now?” he asked, disbelieving. “As reckless as me?”

Kara admitted to herself that she could be a bit reckless but wasn’t going to say that out loud. Changing the subject, she asked, “Want to check out the Rocky Mountains in a few days? I thought we could camp under the stars.”

“That sounds fun.” He agreed, then said, “So… we should put the costumes up for a while?”

“You look ridiculous in red.” she grumbled. “But yes, until we have a better grasp of what is going on, we should probably maintain a low profile. The timing of the attack on me, this new Metallo, a copy of the one Lex Luthor made… I know Brainiac is behind this and he won’t hide forever.”

Kell did not like the sound of this but said nothing. His thoughts finally getting the better of him, he asked, “What happens when he does make himself known?”

“I’m going to use math to destroy him.” Kara told him confidently.

The next day at the Lake House, Non was learning a new hobby… fishing. He, Clark and Kell stood on the shore casting their artificial lures into the water as Kal El had shown them, not having any luck but enjoying the beautiful weather regardless. Krypto has been watching, sitting by Kell and finally falling asleep.

The sounds of nature surrounded them, Non finally relaxing after the previous day he’d had, and the wilderness was beautiful.

The quiet atmosphere was broken by Ogal, as he suddenly appeared and formally addressed his commander. “Sir, Lady Kara is in the workshop behind the residence and there are five guards surrounding it at a distance. Commander Zol wants to know if it would not be wise to plasma bomb the bottom of the lake or at least set high intensity sonic waves into the water to ensure no predators will attack.”

Non dropped his head in frustration. If there was one thing every Kryptonian knew of their old home, it was to be wary of bodies of water… everyone except Zor El, that is.

“There are no predators that can harm us here. No need to scour the water of life.” Non told him, repeating what he had told Zoll earlier in the day.

“We researched possible threats and alligators could be a concern.” the man argued.

Non stared at him for a moment, wondering why Rao decided he had to deal with the people in his life at times. “Ogal, have the soldiers become used to their powers?”

The man nodded, showing his wrist devoid of a red solar cuff. “All of us… Shyhla still gets a bit of vertigo when she uses this X-Ray vision and Kin can’t hold a beverage glass without breaking it, but they are coming along. The rest of us are prepared to use every new tactical advantage our bodies give us.”

“Then why are you afraid of predators on Earth?” Non asked, genuinely wanting to know.

The man looked embarrassed, obviously not having thought of this. “Uhm… they are predators after all and have many large teeth and are scaly… and we have been trained to destroy creatures like that before they kill us. Are you sure an alligator can’t harm us? Have tests been conducted?”

Non shook his head, frustrated. “No one will be scorching this body of water. How am I supposed to catch fish if all the fish are dead?” he asked.

“Well, sir… we could prepare the tractor beam and settle the ship over the water. We could pull in as many live fish as you would like from a safe distance, sir.” he suggested.

“No! Continue training, continuing studying, continue watching my niece before she leaves you all behind again to look like fools! Go!” Non ordered.

The man gave a Kryptonian salute and hurried off leaving a chuckling Kal El. “I suppose Kara wasn’t exaggerating when she said bodies of water were dangerous on Krypton.”

“You certainly didn’t want to go near one without a weapon.” Kell agreed. “I admit I was frightened to enter the ocean but once Kara did, I couldn’t very well stay on land.”

Non sighed. “There are no recordings of Kara in a bathing suit that Kelex may have, are there Kell?”

Startled by the question, Kell stuttered, “Sir? I believe Kara told Lady Alura that…”

“I know what Kara told Alura.” Non said. “I also know that Alura prefers to live in denial at times. I am a realist and very aware of my niece’s penchant for… disregarding Kryptonian traditions when it suits her. Please tell me she was not wearing a two-piece suit.”

Kell shook his head. “I can tell you she was in a very modest… very tight…”

“That’s enough,” Non told him, seeing the man’s eyes glaze over in remembrance.

Clark held back a smile, continuing to cast, using his vision to realize no fish was coming near their lines but enjoying the outing regardless. He could have never imagined after his Dad died that he would go fishing again, much less be standing on a lake shore fishing with two Kryptonians. It was an amazing experience and he felt no trepidation being among them, even the soldiers.

“General…”

“Please call me Non, Kal. You are family.”

“Non,” Clark corrected, “Kara has mentioned a few times… she has said I am the ‘Head of the House of El’. What exactly does that mean?”

Clark did not like the almost evil looking grin on Non’s face. “It’s a very high honor to be the Head of any House, especially the House of El.”

“Why do I sense a ‘but’ in there?” Clark asked hesitantly.

“It is also a great responsibility. For instance, when you move to Argo, you will be expected to attend diplomatic functions, balls, public celebrations, and if Krypton was still in existence, you would be responsible for the family’s finances.”

“Finances?” Clark asked, cautiously.

“Oh yes. The House of El had a vast fortune. Your father was responsible for it. I wouldn’t worry though, it will be many years before we have a monetary system in place and the economy starts growing for this to be an issue.”

Clark nodded as that made sense. He asked, “So he decided who received what money?”

Non shook his head. “Oh no. The women decided that. Jor El was responsible for paying everything your mother, Alura and Kara wanted, their bills, additions to the compound, the groceries, replacing equipment when Kara or her father blew something up in their lab, or his lab, grooming bills, replacing and fixing Kelex units, buying and maintaining skimmers, that sort of thing. There is a reason your father never smiled much. Alura and Lara could be quite expensive and that doesn’t include your Uncle Zor and his crazy experiments, Kara’s private tutors… you get the idea. As I said, it was a great responsibility. Now it falls on you.”

Kal took this in and realized being the Head of the House of El wasn’t the position he thought it was. “Would I be on the Council?”

“If you were Head of the Military, Head of the Science Guild or Chief Justice. Those titles belong to Astra, Kara and Alura. Your House is respected, so you will have a great advantage running for one of the open Council spots… though once the economy is settled on our new home, you would probably have to pay for the election campaign as well.”

Kal El shook his head. “So basically anything Kara and Alura want, I would have to pay for.”

“Yes. Also Astra and I since we live in the compound. Don’t worry about us though. Our needs are small.

“Alura and Kara however are a different story. Those two can be quite expensive, between Alura’s love of fashion, art collecting, jewelry and Kara’s love of accidental explosions. Also, don’t forget about Lois… I can’t imagine her needs will be small either.”

Kal thought about this for a moment. “Am I able to have a budget in place?”

Non nodded. “Yes, but they won’t follow it. Good luck telling them ‘no’. The equipment and materials Zor El needed to make Kara’s mini particle accelerator cost… I would guess thirty million dollars by US standard currency. That was a special occasion though, her birthday. Once, Zor El wrecked four skimmers and those cost about one hundred thousand apiece, not to mention two shuttles that served as field labs. You don’t want to know how much those cost.”

“Oh…” Kal responded.

“On New Krypton, you will be responsible for organizing materials needed for our new compound. Don’t worry about that though. Kara and Alura will tell you exactly what you need but you must procure it from those who can use our new natural resources to build the homes. Also, Kara has started a science academy to educate those with potential for the Science Guild. I am certain you would be responsible for procuring whatever she needs for that project. She has already made headway in Argo City but will most likely expand once we are settled.”

Kal drew his line in, and stood for a moment, taking all this in. “Do I get to make any decisions about the future of Krypton?”

Non shook his head. “That’s the Council’s job.”

Kal had a hard time coming to grips with this. “So it sounds as if my only task as ‘Head of the House of El’ would be to give the members of the family whatever they want, and I would have no actual legal influence on the future of Krypton.”

Non nodded happily. “Now you are getting it.”

Kal El let out a deep breath. “Are there any benefits to having the title?”

Non shrugged his shoulders. “You get a really nice crystal plaque with ‘ Head of the House of El’ engraved on it. You can also get one for your desk and you will need a desk to organize all the paperwork.”

Kal El let out a deep breath. Being the ‘Head of the House of El’ wasn’t as exciting as it had first seemed. “Can I decline being the position? Surely Kara would be more qualified.”

Non shook his head, a gleam in his eye, dashing Kal’s hopes. “Afraid not. Your father was Head of House and now it falls to you. Besides, Kara is too busy with the Science Guild and her new appointment to the Council and Alura is basically the leader of our people. Just keep telling yourself what a great honor it is and have fun with it.”

Krypto stretched and stood up, shaking his head to wake up from his nap. Non laughed at the dog’s mannerisms. “I’m surprised Kara let Krypto out of her sight.”

“She was quite insistent I bring him with me today.” Kell informed his general. “She said she was working and didn’t want him around. I suppose she needed to concentrate because she wanted the guard a good distance away as well.”

Non felt a chill in his body and visibly shivered. Lowering the fishing pole, he looked at the younger man. “You say she wanted to be alone while she worked?”

“Yes, why?” Kell asked, not seeing the big deal. Perhaps Non was worried that Kara would go into one of her… episodes.

The three men turned towards the house when they heard the noise, Krypto barking in surprise. Behind the house, where Bruce Wayne’s workshop sat, a small beam of blue light burst straight into the sky, followed quickly by a large explosion.

The three men moved at superspeed to the workshop in question or what was left of it. The soldiers had surrounded the fiery remains and Alura and Alex had rushed out of the house.

Kelex was on the ground, soot covering his small body.

“What happened? Where is Kara?!” Non asked the robot.

“I’m fine, General, thank you for asking. I told her the promethium could not handle the power output, but she went ahead. This is not my fault, as usual.”

Kal moved quickly, using his freeze breath to knock down the flames until they were gone and only rubble remained.

In the middle of the rubble stood Kara, her Kryptonian pilot suit smoking, her now dark hair a mess and her face covered in soot.

She turned towards her family, looking a bit embarrassed, face covered by dirt and ash. “I really thought that would work. The emitter inhibitor wasn’t strong enough and the Promethium metal gave, but the experiment was a partial success. A couple of tweaks and I will have it.

“Kal, you’re the Head of the House of El. Could you call Bruce Wayne and apologize, maybe rebuild his workshop?”

Non stepped between a speechless Kal and Kell, patting both men on the back, a huge, knowing smirk on his face. “Welcome to your new lives, my boys.”