The Last Days of Krypton - Kevin J. Anderson [56]
When they arrived at the estate, Zod wanted to make it seem that he and Jor-El were easy acquaintances who visited each other often. After landing the vehicle, Nam-Ek remained beside it, muscular arms crossed, obviously ready to intervene should he perceive any threat to the Commissioner.
Zod immediately spotted Jor-El and the alien outside working together, engrossed in a complex mechanical sculpture of mirrors, lenses, prisms, and light-catchers they were constructing, like a technological kaleidoscope. Donodon used many of his small gadgets to help with the assembly.
“Greetings, Jor-El.” He bowed slightly. “I am here on formal business. The Council has requested that I come here to observe you and your strange guest.”
Jor-El’s face was smudged with grease and dust. He looked up with a pleased smile. “Commissioner, as you can see we have gotten right to work. We are developing a seismic scanner that can penetrate directly to the planet’s core.”
Donodon stood at his side. “Jor-El tells me we could be on the verge of a means to save your planet.”
Strewn across the purple lawn near an overturned fountain (which appeared to have been dismantled to provide more working room, or maybe a few stray components) lay a dizzying array of pieces. Some of them had come from Jor-El’s laboratory facilities; others had apparently been stored as spare parts on Donodon’s ship.
“Intriguing. I am glad to see you two getting along so well.”
The ancient alien tucked away a few loose tools. “Yes, Jor-El and I have much in common.”
“And how long will you stay here with us, Donodon?” Zod pressed, hoping he still sounded friendly.
The alien stood in a relaxed stance; one of his probes had almost worked its way out of a pocket in his jumpsuit, and he deftly tucked it back in before sealing the seam. “I journeyed to Krypton to study your people, and I am learning everything I could possibly wish to know. I am in no hurry to depart.”
Zod maintained a pleasant tone as he pried for further information. “Are others of your race coming? Does the galactic police force monitor your whereabouts?”
“I am a solo explorer, and I travel my own route. Oh, every few decades I return home to share the information from my ship’s database.” Donodon looked directly at Zod, his face-feelers quivering. “I am fully aware that my arrival presents Krypton with a difficult choice. Will you open yourselves to the rest of the galaxy, or will you remain in total isolation?”
“That is a vital question, but our Council is not particularly swift to act—as both Jor-El and I know, though for differing reasons.” Jor-El looked sidelong at him, as if trying to determine what Zod was up to. The Commissioner realized he would have to be more careful. “You are the first outsider to find us in many, many centuries.”
“I see, yes. But if I can stumble upon Krypton, then others can as well. Will you welcome them or hide from them? I hope you make the correct choice.”
“I fully intend to.”
Donodon turned back to the device, inspecting its framework. He pointed with a thin, blinking cylinder. “We have installed one of my secondary power sources into the penetrating scanner, and I believe it should project sufficient energy to let us visualize deep down.”
Zod looked at the construction, fully aware of the many dangerous things Jor-El had submitted, and surrendered, to the Commission in Kandor. What could Jor-El’s mind and this alien’s concoct together?
“It sounds very powerful, enough to make me concerned.” Zod paced among the components. An idea was already forming in his mind. Yes, many dangerous things…“Is this seismic scanner another device I’ll need to lock away for the protection of all good Kryptonians? Does it pose any risk?”
Jor-El’s eyes flashed, and he tensed. “None whatsoever.”
Donodon nodded gravely. “Every object has the potential to be used for harm, but one should not imagine danger where none exists. Otherwise you will live your whole life in fear.”
Zod