Part 9 (1/2)
CHAPTER 22.
Though uneventful, the trip from Kandor aboard Donodon's vessel was intense, exciting, and brief enough that Jor-El didn't mind being cramped within a tiny vessel designed for a small-statured pa.s.senger. What thrilled him most was the knowledge that this was a real s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p that had actually gone from star system to star system. Kandor aboard Donodon's vessel was intense, exciting, and brief enough that Jor-El didn't mind being cramped within a tiny vessel designed for a small-statured pa.s.senger. What thrilled him most was the knowledge that this was a real s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p that had actually gone from star system to star system.
The small blue alien was truly a kindred spirit. Eager for information and insights, Jor-El had discussed Krypton's isolationism, how he was forbidden from investigating s.p.a.ce travel or trying to contact other civilizations, although he still made extensive studies of the stars with his own telescopes.
Studying the s.h.i.+p's controls, Jor-El asked, ”How do you navigate? How do you deal with emergencies?”
”I have a tool for every emergency.” Donodon proudly patted one of his lumpy pockets. ”This s.h.i.+p is made of discrete components but operates as an organic whole-so sophisticated that even I can fly it without trouble.”
”I want to know more. I want to know everything about the whole universe out there.”
Donodon made a burbling sound of amus.e.m.e.nt. ”You could spend your life finding the answers, and there would still be many, many more questions.” His skin was cool and moist, and he exuded a natural scent somewhat reminiscent of tart fruit.
Jor-El beamed. ”Exactly as I prefer it.”
”I have been to many marvelous planets and wonderful civilizations. My s.h.i.+p's log has a record of all of my journeys.”
”I'd like to see them.”
”That would take years.” The alien's overlarge eyes blinked.
”What could be a better use of my time?”
Donodon displayed items from his s.h.i.+p's database, quickly skimming through a few of the marvelous planets. ”Let me show you the fabulous landscapes of Oa, Rann, and Thanagar.” He called up another sequence of images. ”And the fungus caverns of Trekon, the flying islands of Uffar, the lavender seas of Gghwwyk. It is difficult for me to choose a favorite.”
While sharing ideas with Donodon, telling him of his many other inventions, including the Phantom Zone and the solar-probe rockets, Jor-El grew both relaxed and excited. Suddenly, this alien visitor had opened many doorways in his imagination, made him feel that so many things were possible, that he was not alone.
When he had described his studies of the swollen red-giant sun, Jor-El expressed his concerns about the possibility of Rao going supernova. Instead of the skepticism the Kryptonian Council exhibited, Donodon simply nodded slowly and gravely. ”I see, yes, that is a problem. We must bring in other experts, but my people can certainly help Krypton evacuate, should the need rise.”
”I have drawn up plans for arks.h.i.+ps. Will we have time?”
”Perhaps. Probably. There are certain indicators before a supernova occurs.”
Jor-El could barely contain his exuberance, a long-forgotten enthusiasm coupled with relief. He began to believe Donodon could help Krypton with its many problems.
When he described the instabilities in the planet's core, as Zor-El had discovered, the tentacle-faced alien seemed more uncertain. ”That is not my area of expertise, but with my s.h.i.+p I could possibly acquire the necessary data. By combing through my library and making use of your own technology and equipment, perhaps we can construct a deep mapping probe that can peer directly into your unstable core. It would be simple.”
Jor-El already felt his pulse racing. ”That would require an immense amount of power.”
Donodon shrugged, as if he did such things every day. ”I have traveled across several galaxies, and my s.h.i.+p holds the legacy of hundreds of civilizations. I do not believe that looking through a planet's crust is an insurmountable problem.”
As she painted alone, finis.h.i.+ng the last obelisk, Lara heard a noise in the sky, which seemed overloud in contrast with the quiet of the estate. Glancing up, she saw a glint of silver, black, and blue-the alien's oddly contoured s.h.i.+p coming here, to the estate! She paused in her work, looking up in amazement and delight. Her mind had been filled with questions and worries, but now it seemed that Jor-El must have contacted the alien and convinced the Council. She wasn't surprised.
Lara stepped back as the circling craft landed on the lush violet lawn. When the hatch opened, she saw two figures crowded inside. One was the diminutive alien in his baggy jumpsuit, and the other was Jor-El, as she had expected, wearing a boyish awed grin. He emerged, stretched his cramped muscles, and ran a hand over his tousled white hair. When he saw her standing there, his smile only widened. ”Lara! I've brought us a visitor.”
She stepped forward. ”I can see that. Did the Council send you here?”
He flushed. ”We didn't exactly give them much choice. They're probably still discussing it.”
Donodon's feelers wafted around his face like thick tendrils of smoke as he peered at the unusual scenery and architecture around him. ”A remarkable estate.” He noticed her last painted obelisk even before Jor-El did. ”I see, yes. Kryptonian artwork is indeed superior to much that I have seen from other worlds.”
Jor-El finally spotted her portrait of him, and he stared, speechless. His surprised, even embarra.s.sed expression was all the reward she could possibly have asked for.
CHAPTER 23.
He had already made up his mind that the alien visitor would have to die. Zod had thought it all through. his mind that the alien visitor would have to die. Zod had thought it all through.
Now that the Council had granted him their blessing, he gathered his rarely worn formal robes, donned the insignia of the Commission for Technology Acceptance, accepted a pompous writ of justification from old Jul-Us (as if Jor-El would require such a formality), and prepared his private vehicle for departure the following morning. He wanted to give Jor-El and Donodon enough time to begin their own technological mischief. He knew they would.
In the back of Zod's mind, disturbing ideas leapfrogged each other. The arrival of the alien visitor, the possibility of opening naive and ill-prepared Krypton to a flood of outside influence, had changed everything. He knew it could rapidly spiral out of control.
Zod had spent his whole life pulling strings, manipulating people who believed they were in power, building his position for the good of Krypton. By controlling the Commission, he had remained un.o.btrusive while becoming one of the most powerful men on Krypton. However, if Kryptonians opened trade and interaction among all the populated worlds in the twenty-eight known galaxies, Zod would become an insignificant speck of lint in a vast cosmic tapestry. And that wasn't how he saw himself at all. If the blue-skinned alien were to inform outsiders of what he had found here, Krypton would never be the same.
No matter whether Donodon's intentions were good or evil, the future course of Krypton and the salvation of a clearly crumbling civilization required that the alien be killed before he could leave or before he could cause too much damage here.
And Nam-Ek was the only one he could trust to do it. Looking at the big man as he flew the official vehicle swiftly across the gra.s.sy plains toward Jor-El's estate, Zod smiled to remember how they had become bonded to each other.
After the terrible tragedy in Nam-Ek's youth, the n.o.ble houses of Krypton had remained uneasy about the speechless boy, sure that because something had been irrevocably wrong wrong with his murderous father, therefore the son must be flawed as well. But Zod had taken the mute under his wing, insisting that no child should be punished for the failures of his parents. He had sheltered Nam-Ek, given him a home, teachers, and an ever more important place in his life. Zod never again spoke to Nam-Ek about his irrational, murderous father. No one could understand why Bel-Ek had done what he had done. with his murderous father, therefore the son must be flawed as well. But Zod had taken the mute under his wing, insisting that no child should be punished for the failures of his parents. He had sheltered Nam-Ek, given him a home, teachers, and an ever more important place in his life. Zod never again spoke to Nam-Ek about his irrational, murderous father. No one could understand why Bel-Ek had done what he had done.
Zod was not blind to the fact that inexplicable crimes were happening with increasing frequency. It did not surprise him. The very nature of the Kryptonian race was to soar, to aspire to things, but a rigidly pacifistic society had eliminated all safe outlets for minds and emotions to grow. A society could not survive in peace if the peace lasted for too long.
However, the disruption the blue-skinned alien was about to cause would tear the fabric of Krypton apart. Zod very clearly realized that something drastic had to be done...but he couldn't allow anyone to guess how far he was willing to go.
When they arrived at the estate, Zod wanted to make it seem that he and Jor-El were easy acquaintances who visited each other often. After landing the vehicle, Nam-Ek remained beside it, muscular arms crossed, obviously ready to intervene should he perceive any threat to the Commissioner.
Zod immediately spotted Jor-El and the alien outside working together, engrossed in a complex mechanical sculpture of mirrors, lenses, prisms, and light-catchers they were constructing, like a technological kaleidoscope. Donodon used many of his small gadgets to help with the a.s.sembly.
”Greetings, Jor-El.” He bowed slightly. ”I am here on formal business. The Council has requested that I come here to observe you and your strange guest.”
Jor-El's face was smudged with grease and dust. He looked up with a pleased smile. ”Commissioner, as you can see we have gotten right to work. We are developing a seismic scanner that can penetrate directly to the planet's core.”
Donodon stood at his side. ”Jor-El tells me we could be on the verge of a means to save your planet.”
Strewn across the purple lawn near an overturned fountain (which appeared to have been dismantled to provide more working room, or maybe a few stray components) lay a dizzying array of pieces. Some of them had come from Jor-El's laboratory facilities; others had apparently been stored as spare parts on Donodon's s.h.i.+p.
”Intriguing. I am glad to see you two getting along so well.”