The Last Days of Krypton - Kevin J. Anderson [145]
“Does that make the conclusion wrong?” Zod rose to his feet. “I admire your science, Jor-El—I always have. But you do not see the larger picture. If I pull back all of my manpower right now to work on this theory of yours, then the other city leaders will pounce like carrion dogs! I don’t dare show weakness or hesitation. My glorious plans for our future will go up in smoke if I lose Krypton!”
“If we don’t do something about the comet, we will all lose Krypton.”
“If you’re right.”
“I’m right.”
“You sound rather arrogant and self-assured.”
“I’m right.”
“In that case, do everything in your power to help me achieve a swift and decisive resolution to this civil war. Then I would have no other distractions.” Zod lowered his voice, abruptly changing the subject. “You know something about what happened at the Rao-beam facility. I can see it in your eyes.” He realized he would have to play this carefully. Too much was at stake, and he had too many unfinished projects for which he needed Jor-El’s expertise. While the Commissioner had a host of other scientists and engineers in his employ, none of them could hold a candle to Jor-El.
The ivory-haired scientist didn’t answer, and Zod suddenly drew the obvious conclusion. Jor-El was protecting his brother! Yes, of all the city leaders he had summoned, Zor-El remained among those conspicuously absent. Zor-El knew the installation’s vulnerabilities as well as his brother did. Yes, Zor-El the firebrand…intelligent like his brother, but also a loose cannon, prone to precipitous actions without thinking through the consequences. Destroying the Rao beam was exactly the sort of thing such a man would do.
But Zod had learned not to ask questions when he did not want to know the answers. He couldn’t afford to lose Jor-El. Not yet. “I will be watching you carefully.” He called the Sapphire Guards waiting outside his office door. “Take him back to his quarters. Make sure he and his wife are prepared and cooperative for our presentation later today.”
Aethyr came to wait with Zod in his office as the fateful hour approached. He stared out the window into the plaza where crowds had already gathered. “This is the dawn of a bright new day,” he said to her, as if starting his long-anticipated speech.
Aethyr’s red lips pressed together in a frown. “It would be brighter if Zor-El had come.”
Zod’s expression darkened. “I have already decided that we must deal with Argo City. I am convinced Zor-El is the one who destroyed the Rao beam.”
She was startled but not surprised. Zod straightened his dark uniform. “Come, it is time.” He took her by the arm. Surrounded by guards, he and his consort walked together out to see the noisy crowds in the Square of Hope.
Zod took his place at the foot of the towering statue, with Aethyr and Nam-Ek nearby. The Sapphire Guards had cleared a wide area around the beaten city leaders. Zod wondered how many of those defeated men knew the story of what Jax-Ur had done to those he had vanquished. A smile crept onto his lips.
On cue, Aethyr turned to face him and shouted, “We all bow to Zod.” She bent her knee before him and lowered her head. Nam-Ek followed suit, the massive silent man submitting to his leader.
“We all bow to Zod,” said Koll-Em as all sixteen members of the Ring of Strength did the same.
The Commissioner raised both hands as if dispensing a benediction. “And now, my city leaders, all those who join us in a united Krypton—kneel before Zod.”
Hesitantly at first, ashamed and obviously feeling coerced, the gathered leaders got down on their knees. Like ripples spreading out from a stone dropped into a still pond, all the people in Kryptonopolis submitted, dropping to their knees around the colossus statue.
Zod found it all quite satisfactory. “Shor-Em once sneered that my title of Commissioner was insufficient for a man who would rule Krypton. In this one thing, he was correct. So I no longer call myself a Commissioner, for my Commission is gone. Nor will I take the title of Council Head, for that would serve only to remind