The Last Days of Krypton - Kevin J. Anderson [162]
Aethyr stumbled into the control room, looking drained and terrified. “I wanted to be with you at the end.”
Zod showed his teeth in a bitter smile. “There will be no end. Not today.”
A haloed ball of ice and rock filled the screen, surrounded by a vaporous coma and a long feathery tail. Loth-Ur’s Hammer.
Like precisely targeted arrows, the nova javelins streaked toward the heart of the comet. All fifteen struck within seconds of each other. The combined explosion released five times as much force as the blast that had obliterated Koron. Filters automatically drowned out a percentage of the glare before the screens themselves overloaded. Outside, the distant detonation created a brief new sun in Krypton’s sky.
All that remained of Loth-Ur’s Hammer was an expanding cloud of energized gas and the sparkling residue of the greatest weapons display Krypton had ever seen.
The comet was vaporized, no longer a threat. The world had been saved.
The weapons had been sabotaged.
And Zod knew that Jor-El was the man responsible.
CHAPTER 77
In the confusion and chaos after the missile launches, Jor-El could have escaped from Kryptonopolis. He could have raced back to his estate or fled to Argo City. But he would never leave Lara behind.
Like the ancient philosopher Kal-Ik, who had spoken the truth even though he knew that Chieftain Nok would execute him for it, Jor-El had done what was necessary. Even though he had saved the planet, General Zod would quite likely kill him. This was a betrayal of unprecedented magnitude.
Nam-Ek came for him, his face a thunderstorm of rage. Jor-El had expected a full squad of Zod’s Sapphire Guards and several members of the Ring of Strength, but the burly mute alone was more than capable of hauling him off to the government palace. Unafraid, and proud of what he had achieved, Jor-El prepared to face his nemesis. He would not back down.
Ever since Zod had erected his pretentious statue, the government chambers had begun to take on the appearance of a throne room. Now, that was where the General waited for Jor-El. Zod sat in a squarish, bulky chair on a raised platform with Aethyr at his right hand, icy and beautiful.
Nam-Ek released the scientist with a forward shove, making him stumble. Jor-El caught himself and tried to regain his dignity by straightening his white robes. He touched the curved S family symbol on his breast, drawing strength from a lineage that dated back to Sor-El and the time of the Seven Army Conference. Without a word, he met Zod’s gaze.
Sour-faced Koll-Em entered the throne chamber pulling Lara roughly along, despite her advanced pregnancy. When she saw Jor-El, Lara broke free of the man’s sweaty grip and ran to her husband. He held her, kissed her lips, and buried his face in her amber hair, certain that Zod meant to execute them both.
With a glower, the General curtly dismissed Koll-Em. When the young noble pouted at being left out of this confrontation, Zod responded with a look that made him scuttle away in silence. Finally the General said, his voice a low burn, “I would ask you to explain yourself, but I am not interested in your answer.”
Jor-El was not intimidated. “You’re alive now because of what I have done. Shouldn’t you be grateful?”
“You defied me!” Zod launched himself to his feet as if he himself had become a dangerous projectile.
“I protected all Kryptonians from your criminally stupid decisions.” Jor-El took a step closer to the blocky chair. “And now it’s time for you to be removed from power. I should have done this long ago.”
Zod froze at the audacity of his statement; then he began to chuckle. Beside him, Aethyr laughed aloud, and even Nam-Ek guffawed wordlessly. Jor-El ignored them. “General Zod, your rule is at an end.”
Zod exchanged glances with his two companions, as if one of them could explain the joke. “And how will you accomplish that? I am intrigued. You have always been a thinker, a man of ideas rather than actions.”
Jor-El raised his eyebrows. “Actions? I am the one who destroyed the Rao-beam generator