The Last Days of Krypton - Kevin J. Anderson [136]
Jor-El was surprised by the vehemence in his brother’s voice. “There’s a new threat to Krypton, and Commissioner Zod won’t do anything about it. Put aside these foolish rivalries and listen to me.”
“Foolish rivalries? The future of our civilization is at stake. Can’t you see what Zod is doing?” He raised a finger. “Where is Tyr-Us? Gil-Ex? All those who have spoken out against him? Zod made them disappear, probably killed them. And don’t quote that ridiculous explanation that they’ve ‘retired from public view.’”
He had never seen his brother so angry. “Zor-El, what’s the matter with you? Listen to me—”
“What’s the matter? When Tyr-Us warned me about Zod, I thought he was paranoid. I told him to hide in our parents’ dacha. But he vanished. The house was empty, ransacked. I saw blood. He’s gone.”
Jor-El struggled to absorb what his brother was saying. He had known nothing of this.
“Then last night our mother and Alura were attacked by Zod’s fanatics in a failed abduction attempt.”
Jor-El reeled. “Attacked? Are they all right? Tell me what happened. Are you sure the Commissioner’s people were responsible?”
“They are both unharmed. My Society of Vigilance got there in time, chased away one of the abductors while the other one jumped off a bridge. Thankfully, we were prepared.”
The white-haired scientist could not fit the pieces together in his mind. “Then how do you know they were Zod’s men? Why would the Commissioner target our mother or your wife?” This made no sense to him.
“Because I evicted his followers from Argo City. I’m convinced Zod wanted hostages he could threaten to kill if I didn’t capitulate.”
“But if you have no proof, you can’t make these wild accusations.”
“You know it’s true. You can’t be so blind.”
Jor-El drew a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. “In truth, I would not be surprised.” Then he pushed stubbornly ahead, refusing to be sidetracked the way Zod himself had been. “Listen to me. This is science you can’t ignore. Please!”
The other man remained steely and trembling with anger. “What could possibly be more important than a threat to my wife and our mother—”
“This. The end of all life on Krypton!” Jor-El inserted one of the projection crystals into the side of the communication plate and displayed the image of the comet, its jets of outpouring gas, and the deadly intersection of orbital paths. “Look at the orbits.”
On the screen, Zor-El frowned as he immediately grasped the implications. “What does your precious Commissioner have to say about this?”
“He’s more concerned about Shor-Em and Borga City. We can’t rely on him.” Jor-El couldn’t keep the bitterness out of his voice. “While the comet hurtles toward us, Zod rallies his armies. I saw him studying tactical maps. He won’t tolerate the way Shor-Em has challenged him.”
“Are you talking about a military assault on Borga City? Is he mad? My first duty is to warn Shor-Em to prepare his defenses.”
Jor-El was dismayed by his brother’s reaction. “You, too? We’ll all be killed if we don’t stop the comet. That must be our only priority.”
“If Zod attacks now, we will be embroiled in a civil war that’s bound to last much longer than four months. No one will even look into the sky as Loth-Ur’s Hammer comes right toward us. This is happening now, Jor-El, right now. We have to prevent it.” His mood changed, and he sounded more urgent. “Come to Argo City and work with me. I couldn’t save Tyr-Us from Zod, but I will not let him corrupt my own brother any further.”
“Zod won’t just let us leave Kryptonopolis. His Ring of Strength has been watching us carefully.” Jor-El shook his head. “And he may be the only person on Krypton with the resources to save us. If there is even the slightest possiblility I can force him to see reason, or somehow use the tools in Kryptonopolis, then I have to take that chance. We have to take that chance. Everything else is just politics.” He searched his brother’s hardened face. “We used to laugh at people with misplaced priorities like that, Zor-El. Look