The Last Days of Krypton - Kevin J. Anderson [173]
“For what possible reason would he do that?” said Gil-Ex in a scornful voice.
“To throw the old Council into a panic so that he could more easily seize power.” Jor-El began to address their other accusations, one by one. “Yes, the Rao beam was my own invention. My brother and I used it to relieve the pressure in our planet’s core. I could not prevent Zod from seizing it as a terrible weapon, but I did sabotage the Rao-beam generator and stop him from ever doing it again. Where were the rest of you?
“Because I could not make Zod see the threat of the oncoming comet, I reprogrammed the nova javelins to destroy Loth-Ur’s Hammer, rather than Argo City or any other city on Krypton. Thus, I saved our planet yet again.” He found he was shaking with anger. “And still you doubt my motives? I am the one who brought about General Zod’s downfall. I set the trap to imprison him in a force field, allowing the rest of you to take Kryptonopolis.” He let the moment of silence hang and then said, “Therefore, I accept the nomination to become a member of the new Council. I will continue to devote myself to the betterment of Krypton. As I have always done.”
Zor-El applauded as his brother walked defiantly toward the last empty seat at the Council table. No-Ton also clapped, and a smattering of applause rippled through the audience. Or-Om, Gal-Eth, and Korth-Or, who had accompanied Zor-El on his march against Kryptonopolis, shrugged and also agreed.
Tyr-Us and Gil-Ex looked decidedly uncomfortable as the ivory-haired scientist sat at the long table. Finally the new head announced, “Very well, this Council is in session.”
CHAPTER 83
The day after the new government was formed, Zor-El bid farewell to his brother and Lara. Jor-El said, “Are you sure you won’t stay with us until the baby is born? You’d be perfectly welcome back at the estate, far from all this turmoil.”
“That’s more tempting than an offer to sit on the new Council, but I must decline.” He let out a good-natured sigh. “Our father asked us to have children, remember? How am I ever going to have a son or a daughter if I never spend time with my wife?”
Jor-El laughed. “I trust that’s a scientific problem you can solve for yourself.”
When the Council called its first official meeting, all the people of Kryptonopolis were encouraged to attend in person, or to watch the proceedings projected on the facets of the giant crystal towers, to which Jor-El and No-Ton had restored power.
Determined, Jor-El took his seat at the end of the long table, though he still felt awkward and unwelcome there. At least half of the Council members looked askance at him, especially those who had been imprisoned in the Phantom Zone. He could understand their resentment: His own ordeal in that empty dimension had been extremely disorienting and unpleasant, and he had been trapped there only a few hours. These others had been lost in the void for months.
And General Zod would spend the rest of eternity on the other side of the singularity. Zod was the one to blame, not Jor-El.
Lara arrived early enough to get one of the front seats so that she could see her husband. Even with her extremely rounded abdomen, she remained graceful and beautiful, though the hard bench seemed uncomfortable for her. Giving him an encouraging smile, she squirmed to find a better position.
Jor-El had already requested a leave of absence from official business so that he could take Lara away to the estate. She was due very soon, and the doctor, Kirana-Tu, had offered to be available for the delivery.
Jor-El realized he hadn’t even been given an agenda for this session, but Tyr-Us began the meeting, sounding ponderous. “To take the first step forward for a new Krypton, we must sweep away the ashes of the past.” He looked around him. “Five members and I propose a symbolic gesture, but symbols are important. The Phantom Zone is a dangerous object, and it must be destroyed so that it is never misused again.” He seemed very pleased. “Six of us have