The Last Days of Krypton - Kevin J. Anderson [60]
And that was only in the first few hours.
Next, he would have to restore power in any sections of the city and outlying villages that had been cut off. Fresh water would soon be a problem, so he had to ensure a proper supply. The sheer cleanup would take weeks, the rebuilding would take months. Tens of thousands would be affected by this.
Then he had to worry about food, reconstruction materials, transportation. He’d have to repair the piers and replace the boats, which were vital for Argo City’s food supply. He would make reconstructing and reinforcing the seawall a high priority, because he knew that other quakes and tsunamis would eventually come.
Given the dangerous buildup in Krypton’s core, Zor-El was sure this was only the beginning.
CHAPTER 25
In the fresh early morning light, Jor-El finished adjusting the internal generator and ran a few quick diagnostics of the penetrating scanner before climbing back out of the contraption. He wiped his face, but succeeded only in smearing a grease spot.
The deep seismic probe was ready to test, and he could tell that Donodon shared his excitement. He found it amazing that two people with such vastly different origins could relate to each other in so many areas.
From their first brainstorming, both of them wrapped up in the problem, the two had decided to build the new invention right at his estate. On the purple lawn in front of his research building, Jor-El had dismantled a large ornate fountain to make room for the glittering machine he and Donodon were constructing. Using levitators and magnetic pulleys, he had pulled aside the fountain’s wide elliptical bowl, tipped over the columnar stand that looked like a petrified tree trunk, and stacked them together off to the side to create room for the scanner that would look deep into the heart of the planet.
Unfortunately, despite his supposed watchful interest in the project, Commissioner Zod had decided not to stay for the demonstration. The Commissioner had never been particularly warm or understanding, cordial but resistant to Jor-El’s work…and consequently Jor-El saw the man as a roadblock, an impediment to progress. He didn’t consider the Commissioner to be a fool (unlike several members of the Kryptonian Council); Zod was extremely intelligent, but he simply did not see eye to eye with Jor-El.
And now, even before he could watch the remarkable new seismic scanner in operation, a showpiece of cooperative technology between Krypton’s best science and Donodon’s knowledge, Zod had made his excuses. He claimed “pressing business” in Kandor, and he had left the night before.
No matter. Jor-El had Lara here at his side, and that was much more important to him. He was eager to show her what he and Donodon had come up with.
When he called her for the big demonstration, he wore his best white robes emblazoned with the serpent-in-diamond family crest of the House of El. With a grand gesture he indicated the finished cylindrical machine on the lawn near the large, dismantled fountain. The framework and power source came from the alien’s supplies, but Jor-El had integrated his own focusing crystals and concentrating lenses to add the power of Rao to the machine.
Even silent and motionless, the device looked magnificent. The seismic scanner had waited alone all night long, seemingly impatient to begin its work, but Jor-El and Donodon were forced to delay until dawn’s intensifying red sunlight would let them begin their work.
Lara came out to stand beside them, and Jor-El proudly showed her the completed machine. “Today we will see what’s really changing deep inside Krypton.”
She smiled, captivated by the intricacies of the probe. “I’m sure you didn’t do this on purpose, but by following the mathematical needs of your design, you’ve constructed an amazing sculpture of conflicting angles and reflections.”
Jor-El was both pleased and embarrassed. “You mean I’m an artist now?”
“I wouldn’t go that far!”
He wished Zor-El could have been here