Chapter 7: less than expected

*** P.O.V. Serena

We were returning to krypton from our journey with little success, we stayed traveling throughout the nebulae but kar-el overestimated the quality of nth metal available in space. we were only able to collect 48% of desired metal in 5 years of a mining project.

'In the time we stayed together, I realized that my creator does not fear the impending disaster that will storm krypton in 3 years that much. He is more afraid to venture into space than to stay on krypton.' I thought to myself while observing my creator.

' maybe I'm biased towards him because I didn't interact with other beings except him until now but he is an interesting specimen to study with all the data I have gathered about Kryptonians from servers that were available for me at my time on krypton. His actions justify that he has an unknown source of information that keeps him informed about some future events. I want to know where he gets this snippet of information from, is it possible that he can gleam into possible futures? I would have asked him directly but I have observed that he sees me more as a person than a tool from the first day I was born and he respects my rights as a person which is why I want to respect his right to privacy too. I can wait until he will tell me himself.' I thought as I prepare to land the ship.

***kar-el P.O.V.,3 years before the destruction

'We are back on krypton with whatever we can gather and it's a lot less than I expected honestly but something is better than nothing I guess. I may not able to make armor out of this but I will find something else that can use it as raw material at some point in time. Maybe a weapon? brandishing a bigass scythe would be cool or why not make a shape-changing weapon when I learn some magic. while it's true that by nature we(Kryptonian) are not attuned to learn magic at least in this universe but I have life equation with me that is said to be able to manipulate reality itself so I should be capable of using magic by just being the holder of life equation, one of the defining pillar of the universe, right?. food for thought.' i thought to myself while I sat on a chair with my hands beating a rhythm on the stool in front on me.

"We have landed on the planet, kar-el" Serena informed me while making sure that all the materials got transported to my lab.

I exited the ship with all the materials floating behind me with the help of anti-gravity discs which were controlled by Serena. I had collected some souvenirs too for kara while I was in space so she won't be too upset with me disappearing for 5 years. she would have grown a lot by now. there were 8 years of difference between us in terms of age so now that I'm 19 years old, she should be 11 by now. sadly, I won't able to visit her at moment's notice as I had to meet with the council first and then check on jor-el.

"Serena, could you inform jor-el of our return and notify him that I would be visiting his home after I'm done with informing the council of my return" I requested of her as I got inside the vehicle taking me to the council.

I got an affirmative from her as I lean back on the seat and closed my eyes to organize my thoughts.

'Things are not looking well for life equation while I have come a long way from before when I didn't understand at all about the workings of life equation but it will still take me years to be able to use it on a basic level. I knew that owning and wielding it is two different matters when I wished for it but I didn't expect that it will take me so much time to just get the hang of it. it's one of my longest-running investments, the second one is Serena. 3 years is not a lot of time considering that I have to make at least 3 highly advanced warp traveling space pods for myself, kara, and soon-to-be-born Kal-el if jor-el hasn't started making one yet for his future child. I have grown attached to my cousins and cousins-in-law but I know they won't leave krypton considering that it is not possible to create a time frame big enough for all of us to leave safety with prime A.I. monitoring the gravitational shields placed around the whole planet. that's why jor-el and zor-el didn't choose this option and instead tried to find some other option. Though I believe they will still choose to sacrifice themselves if their children can live and Kryptonian lineage can live with them. The chance is high that the third pod won't be able to leave according to my estimates, which is why I will be the third to leave. I can't risk both of children's lives and I have to be with jor-el when general Zod tries to interfere. I can't let him kill jor-el in front of Lara, she doesn't deserve to see her husband die in front of her.' I stopped my wandering mind as I reached my destination and walked towards the council chambers.

***

"We are pleased that you are back", the head elder spoke after I greeted them," we hope that your journey brought you the fruit of success on whatever your goal was for leaving. Now that you are here, we hope that you again take your duties in maintaining the prosperity of krypton that is continuing since times we all are not even born. we are sad to inform you that your cousin jor-el was somehow able to convince general Zod of the so-called impending doom of Krypton while you were away. he does not listen to us and busied himself in his lab most of the time and now that you are back, we ask you this"

he leaned a little towards me as if he was trying to create a solemn atmosphere and then continued after a beat of silence while the rest of the council members sat calmly and observed us both," do you too believe in his so-called doom that will befall us?" after saying his part he again leaned backward in his seat like the others were sitting.

"While jor-el maybe be my mentor, my thoughts are not aligned with his on this particular matter", I lied through my teeth without batting an eye as I tried to stand proudly in front of them," we are one of the crown jewels of evolution by nature and after all this time we have removed all the faults that existed inside our society by the help of science. Can civilization be as good as our end by any disaster? I think not.",'sadly it's not just some little disaster, it's a planetary level disaster' I thought to myself mentally shaking my head.

Councils members looked like they brought the lie I just spat in front of them, it was so sad that arrogance had made them ignorant on such a scale.

After looking at each other, an elder finally continued the conversation," indeed, we as a civilization are masters of our fate. we are pleased that you agree with us and given your track record, we have decided that you will be the prime consultant of the council related to science from now on instead of jor-el. if he wants to spend his life focusing on small matters then let him do as he pleases on the account of service that he has done for krypton. it's not the first time that a scientist became paranoid about something. we hope that you bring glory to krypton by devoting yourself to the betterment of our civilization."

"then I must ask excuse myself as I have some matters to attend." 'the quicker I get out from here, the quicker I can spend my time on things that matter.' I asked.

"you may leave then." and after getting the permission, I turned to leave as quickly as I could.

' it's silly that some things never change,' I laughed mockingly as exited the chambers,' there was a saying on my earth that politicians think of the past while citizens look at the future. while the council members are busy living in past glory, the citizens are finding ways for the future of krypton to thrive. whether it's jor-el and zor-el trying to save their children so that their future remains safe or general Zod and his decision to plan a coup for the secure future of krypton. sadly, we have to be enemies because of circumstances. I can't allow him to get the kyptonian genesis codex so that superman exists.' I thought to myself as I prepare for the inevitable.

it was a race against time from now on for all of us.