The Last Days of Krypton - Kevin J. Anderson [172]
Gal-Eth grumbled, then nodded his head. “Dramatic change has been forced upon us. We may as well make the best of it.”
Or-Om, the mining industrialist, gave a brief and loud burst of applause. “I agree. If I ran my companies the way the old Council ran Kandor, I’d never get anything done. Let’s make a change for the better.”
“I propose that decisions be made by a simple majority on the new Council,” said Korth-Or. “It’s the only way we can move forward.”
Tyr-Us frowned as if the very idea of such a major shift pained him, but he saw the mood in the room and grudgingly nodded. “Are there objections?” No one raised any issues. “So that decision, at least, is unanimous. A simple majority, six votes out of eleven, will decide matters under debate. Now, Zor-El, please join us at the Council table so that we can begin our first session.”
The dark-haired man flashed his brother a mischievous smile. “But I did not accept the position you offered, Tyr-Us. Argo City is more than one man could wish to rule—at least this man. Now that the protective dome has been deactivated, I have five bridges to rebuild, along with agricultural fields that were trampled by Zod’s army, and a whole sea-harvesting industry to restore. Thus, I regretfully decline.”
The new Council members could not have been more surprised. After a moment of uproar from the table and the audience, Zor-El shouted until they listened to him. “But I nominate my brother, Jor-El, to take my place. No one has done more for Krypton in the past tumultuous year than he has. You should have granted him the very first seat on the new Council.”
Jor-El felt a wash of gratitude. Everyone in the audience was looking at him.
Then he was completely taken aback by Tyr-Us’s venomous reaction. “Impossible! Jor-El collaborated with our greatest enemy. He provided General Zod with terrible weapons. You all heard Zod during his trial—without Jor-El, that evil dictator would never have come to power.”
Gil-Ex interrupted the tirade with one of his own. “Jor-El created the Phantom Zone, where so many of us were trapped. None of us can forget that! For that one act alone, he should never be forgiven.”
“And he built the Rao beam that destroyed Borga City, slaughtering hundreds of thousands of innocents!” said another one of the former Phantom Zone prisoners on the Council. “You assisted him, Zor-El, but that vile invention was his own creation, was it not?”
Or-Om added in a low voice, “As I recall, wasn’t he also responsible for the death of the alien visitor in the first place? That’s what set in motion this whole chain of events.”
“Brainiac stealing the city of Kandor—” Tyr-Us began, his face red.
No-Ton interrupted, his voice sounding nervous. “Excuse me, but you can’t blame Jor-El for that. Donodon’s race had nothing to do with the arrival of Brainiac.”
“Can we be sure of that? Zod is the only one who told the story. Who can believe anything he said?”
Zor-El shook his head. “Already you prove my case. If I had any doubts about declining your invitation to join this Council, you have just dispelled them all. Are you delusional? Have you forgotten—”
But Jor-El rose slowly to his feet, gesturing his brother to silence. “I can speak for myself, Zor-El.” He turned to face the Council table, with its prominently empty chair. He took a step closer. “Yes, I was there at the beginning, and I cooperated with Commissioner Zod to save the people at Kandor.” Feeling heat flood his face, he stared at the ten seated members one at a time. “Where were the rest of you? Any of you? Kandor was gone, our planet was under threat of another alien attack, and Zod was trying to save people and defend Krypton. Of course I helped him! Many good citizens came to offer aid in whatever ways they could.
“Donodon was my friend, and his death was an accident. Or maybe not entirely an accident—I found