With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)

[Mr Zoat]

Universe 191
22nd May 1954
01:53 GMT

"…proliferation of such devastating weapons to more countries."

I nod. "Japan will obviously try to develop fission bombs. They have absolutely no reason not to and every reason to do so."

"To what end?"

"To ensure that the United States won't attack them." I make a circling motion with my right hand. "As things stand, there isn't anything to stop the Untied States sending a carrier with heavy bombers on board across the Pacific and levelling Tokyo other than the diligence of the Japanese navy. And without the British and Confederate navy helping them, the United States can out-produce them by a colossal order of magnitude. The only reason why they haven't done so is because the Japanese basically ceded the Pacific and because the people of America don't have the same animus towards them that they do towards the Confederates."

"But if the United States has no intention of going to war with them, why would they need such a destructive weapon?"

I smile. "You answered your own question, there. If they start looking like an easy target, someone in the War Office will eventually suggest that your diplomatic corps lean on them. 'Why not finish the war?', they'll say, 'It's not like they can stop us.'. And the only way Japan can be sure that that won't happen is if they have a weapon that would let them return the favour. If the home islands disappear under mushroom clouds, so does the western seaboard. And as long as the American government believes that will be the result… They won't do it."

"That's… Mad."

"Yes. Mutually Assured Destruction. Each party knows that any war will result in mutual annihilation, so neither party dares attack the other. Take Britain, for example. Sure, the Germans probably aren't happy that we've got a space-based strategic weapon, but how does it actually change their calculations? They're going to maintain their fission bomber wings just in case, to retaliate in case we attack them… But we're not going to, because we can't reliably intercept the bombers that would survive our first strike. And we certainly couldn't stop the ones America would send afterwards. Likewise, even if they snuck fission bombs into every city in Britain and detonated them, they couldn't stop our astronauts retaliating once they found out who did it. So they won't."

"And you believe that if Japan doesn't get their own superbombs, war is inevitable."

"I'm not completely sure it's not inevitable anyway, but…" I nod repeatedly. "Yes."

"So you don't see the point in the treaty."

"'We're allowed these horrible weapons that can destroy entire cities in one blast, and you're not, and you're morally obliged to accept this state of affairs'?" I shrug. "Who can afford to accept something like that? I suspect that Mexico is frantically searching for any Confederate nuclear scientists who dodged the O.S.S. and didn't come here, and I suspect that Brazil is doing something similar. They have to. Anyone who doesn't have a strategic deterrent will inevitably become dominated by those who do. Any expansionist nation needs one as soon as possible. Any non-expansionist nation will need one within a decade… Two at the outside."

"Mister Talwyn, that sounds almost exactly like the alliance block philosophy that caused the Great War to spread out across the entire world."

I wiggle my right forefinger. "No. The difference is that dropping a fission bomb is so-. Darn easy when compared to mass mobilisation. It only takes a handful of people. And because it only takes a handful of people, it can be hidden so much more easily. When the Russian Empire mobilised at the start of the Great War, the Germans had months of notice, during which they could do the same thing. While trying to find a peaceful solution to the dispute." I shake my head. "That's not where we are anymore."

I tilt back my head slightly. Might as well steal all the memorable lines that I can.

"Hah. 'I don't know what weapons will be used to fight the Third Great War, but the fourth will be fought with sticks and rocks'."

"What about all of the countries that have signed up so far?"

"That wasn't a sign of the direction of travel. That was them accepting that they're either too backwards to have a nuclear program at all, or that they don't think they could get away with it before someone -probably Germany- forcibly stopped them. Or it's a play for American or German help with something or other."

"Don't you think that's a little pessimistic?"

"I literally had representatives from America and Germany in my office two weeks ago demanding that I sign." I lean forwards slightly. "They haven't been back since they found out that it was too late."

"The treaty only restricts superbomb production."

"No." I shake my head. "No. Read the full text. The enforcement mechanism involves letting representatives of America and Germany go where they like in a signatory's country, interrogate who they like, demand whatever information they like. Any country that signs becomes a puppet to their new overlords whenever those overlords demand it."

"So that's where you see the world going? A handful of powerful nations that dare not attack one another, and their puppets?"

"Mmm." I think for a moment, then nod. "Basically, yes. The United States will obviously dominate North America when it eventually beats revanchism out of the former Confederates. If Mexico has any sense then they'll ally with Brazil. If they don't, the United States will get them as well, otherwise Brazil will. Brazil gets South America, Japan gets Asia and Australasia, Germany gets Europe -except us- and no one wants Africa. And I say 'except us', but I imagine that we'll see an uptick in trade with Germany as the decades pass."

"Do you think that the alliance between the German Empire and the United States of America will remain in effect?"

"On paper? Yes. There's no real reason for the two of you to fight, and you're both busy consolidating your territorial gains. In practice, without strong enemies to be allied against it's going to lose significance. Neither country really needs to trade with the other, and neither country can really help the other with their internal problems."

"But the relationship won't turn hostile."

"I don't see why it would. Although…" I shrug. "Britain and the United States spent eighty years at loggerheads despite sharing a culture, economic system, language and religion, and having no competing territorial claims, so I suppose anything's possible."

"One last question before we wrap up for the evening. Do you really see no way to ensure lasting peace? No… Worldwide brotherhood of men?"

I think briefly about the second alien fleet drifting through the void towards us, lightly armed but carrying all of the equipment needed to begin a new colony.

"I think that the only thing that could do that would be a threat external to all of us."

"Such as?"

"Men from another world. Men with the patience to cross the vast void between the stars and come here with conquest in their weird alien hearts. I think that if the world was threatened with such an invasion, we would find all nations cooperating to protect human control of our homeworld. And with a little luck, that would stay in place when we made preparations to send a fleet to their homeworld in return, to ensure that they could never threaten us again."

"Men from Mars?"

"No, no. Mars is a frigid desert. I'm talking about further afield. Faster than light travel doesn't violate the laws of physics as we understand them, but even without that there are dozens of types of animal who can hibernate, or even survive being entirely frozen. We can't do that with humans yet, but there's no reason to assume that we're the most advanced species in the galaxy."

"Mankind's only hope for peace and unity is a war with men from another star?"

"Yes."

He works his jaw for a moment, and then for the first time in the interview risks a small smile. "I think the chances of something like that happening are a million to one."

I reach into my pocket and pull out a coin. "One silver dollar. Pre-war." I hold it out to him. "I will take those odds."

"Maybe, but my bank account won't. Mister Talwyn, thank you for speaking to me."

"Thank you."

 

[Mr Zoat]

Motivations

12th August 2013
15:12 GMT

I nod at Superman.

"Magic probes revealed that everyone was under the effect of an intelligence suppressor, from about the time that Dru-Zod appeared. The only exception was Amon, which was probably because his magic protects him from things like that automatically."

He nods. "And your ring doesn't?"

I shake my head. "My heavy armour does, there's a… Thing in the helmet. But do you remember that thing a few years ago with Bane?"

He thinks for a moment. "He used Doctor Psycho's brain as a telepathic weapon."

"Just so. I tried it with M'gann and it's possible to work around telepathic intrusion with a power ring, but it's not something… Not something I could keep up full time."

He nods. "I'm the same with the theta wave state. People who master it are supposed to be able to leave it running as by that stage it's completely instinctual, but I'm not quite there yet."

Jordan nods. "Any idea where it was coming from?"

"No. No sign of any sort of device that could have that effect on the Xenon base, no teleport residue, nothing. No sign of a curse or implant on anyone who was there. General Dru-Zod claims to have had no idea it was going to happen and that he just took advantage of circumstances." I shrug. "Which was a pretty good show of initiative on his part, but is completely credible as an answer."

Jordan sags slightly. "Great. The trial of the century is happening in my Sector and my brain can get turned off at any time."

"Well, on the plus side, sir-"

His eyes narrow. "Watch it."

"-this isn't technically your Sector, so it's really Lantern Stewart and Lantern Savenlovich's problem."

"Arisia wants to go, and there's no sense sending more than one Green Lantern." I frown-. "Fully qualified Green Lantern."

Arnus looks pensive. "Do you have any idea how to prevent it from happening again?"

"A full mind shield system should do it. Everyone would have to wear full body armour because there are ways to get in via the peripheral nervous system. I can put something together for everyone inside an hour."

"That would be… Militaristic."

"Yes."

"And therefore inappropriate for a civilian tribunal."

"Xudar is a good deal more sane in its technological development than Earth is. They're laying on extra security and screening all visitors. And we know everyone on Earth who has interstellar capacity. Other than asking Amon to stick by the prisoners every step of the-."

"Hey, guys!" William Batson strolls into the meeting room in Captain Marvel mode. "Osiris told me about the brain drain ray."

We all perk up slightly, Superman nodding. "Are you free to attend the trial?"

He winces. "Ah, no. Sorry. But Mary Marvel can. That way, Osiris won't have to try staying awake all day."

Jordan smirks. "You can do that, can you?"

William looks awkward for a moment. "Yeah, but it's not a good idea."

Jordan nods. "Tell me about it."

"I'd… Rather not. It was pretty embarrassing, and-."

"No, I mean, I did the same thing when I got my ring." He shrugs. "It wasn't easy working two full time jobs, so I tried cutting out sleep. Not a smart thing to do."

"Oh." William looks reassured, his eyes drifting towards me.

"No. I am a paragon of flawless judgement and am offended you would even think that."

"Ah…" He looks thoughtful. "That brain drain ray isn't still affecting you, right?"

Superman clears his throat. "What have you told Mary's parents?"

"That we're going camping, with my uncle supervising us."

"And if they check..?"

"We're in a cell phone dead zone with no reception. And we're actually gunna be there." He shrugs. "It'll only take us a few seconds to fly back to Fawcett each day, and my Justice League communicator will still work."

Superman nods. "Okay, good. Does she know that if he's found guilty, he'll be executed?"

"Um." William looks confused. "Did you think we didn't see people die after the Anti-Life happened?"

Kal-El sags slightly. "Ah. No, I suppose not."

"At least this time he deserves it. Ah, not that I want to prejudge the trial. If he did it, I mean." He turns to Arnus. "Has he said anything about that?"

"It would not be appropriate to discuss my client's defense strategy."

"Oh. No, okay, I-. I guess you've got a point. Is Lar-On okay?"

"Yes. Unless Superman wants to volunteer for further studies-"

He shakes his head. "I don't."

"-then I'm as sure as I can be that he won't transform again. The red kryptonite samples are in subspace, so-."

Superman frowns. "Why didn't you just destroy them?"

"Well, because in the long term I think red kryptonite should be studied in case it can be used to do something useful. And I can't think of anywhere I could put them that's more secure."

"Can't you just get more from Krypton?"

"Yes, but werewolves have rapid regeneration. You saw what happened whenever you hurt Lar-On. These flakes could save someone's life."

He doesn't look happy, but he does nod. "Okay, that's a good point. Just keep it away from me."

"Would-?"

"Unless I'm dying. Then you can expose me to it."

"I will bear that in mind. So, ah… If there's nothing else, we can transport the prisoners to their holding cells on Xudar?"

Jordan shrugs. "What happens if we get ambushed on the way?"

"Xudar can try the survivors as well. Dru-Zod didn't have a lot of supporters, and anyone who might have been sympathetic died when Krypton was destroyed. The people who hate him most have approved the trial. I can't think of any reason anyone else would want to intervene."

Jordan and Arnus look at Kal-El, who nods.

"Then let's get this show on the road."

 

[Mr Zoat]

12th August 2013
16:01 GMT

"The Doomsday."

Dru-Zod regards me levelly as I enter the detainment area. I'm wearing full armour in case intelligence suppression is the result of some sort of Phantom Zone magic or something. It turns out that while kryptonian marines did wear power armour, it was slimmer and usually not worn on board the ship. The corridors are just about large enough for me, but it's a close thing, and if someone's coming the other way it's a decidedly awkward dance back to the nearest side corridor.

"It's nearly worth it just to see it active once more."

"I'm glad that you're enjoying it."

"You look like us, but you're not one of us. What are you?"

"We're called 'humans'. Forgive me if I don't want to give someone with your record other information about my species."

"Are you a party to my 'trial'?"

"I facilitated it. I'm not a judge, jurist or witness."

"My 'counsellor' advised me not to discuss my defence strategy, and he struck me as the sort of being who would do his best for his client regardless of other concerns. But if you're not taking part, is there a reason not to explain myself to you?"

"I'm a little surprised that you're prepared to talk to an alien this freely."

"The Kryptonian Empire ruled over dozens of alien-inhabited possession worlds. Do you think that at the height of our power we acted like the sterile biddies of the Science Council? No, we interacted with them freely, as you have no doubt seen in Karsta Wor-Ul." He sighs. "Oh, I wish she could have been there for the uprising. We would have rallied so many more people." He shakes his head, eyes downcast. "Do you realise what would have happened if I'd won?"

"You would have begun a wave of shipbuilding and taken kryptonian society back to the stars."

He looks up. "Yes! Exactly!"

"Depending on how you went about it, that might have resulted in the entire Sector teaming up against you-"

"Pshah."

"-and since the overwhelming majority of your population would have still been on Krypton and since I doubt that you'd have listened to Jor-El, the destruction of your homeworld would have had a similar result to what actually happened."

"That's just it; I did believe Jor-El."

I pause, blinking. "You did? Because he never tried to take over the planet."

"Did you ever think about what would have happened if he had?"

"No. But I suppose that if he… Hacked some Eradicator androids and held the Science Council incommunicado… There wasn't any way for him to actually save the planet, but he could have begun shipbuilding and send out a general call for help. Since he knew Tomar-Re, the Green Lantern Corps would probably have been prepared to assist with relocating a lot of the population, if not all of it. Heck, they might have ended up settling the same planet as we're putting them now. It would have been a major loss, but your civilisation would have recovered."

"So why didn't he try?"

"Not knowing him personally it's impossible for me to say. Because he believed that they'd eventually come around? Because he didn't think it would work? Because despite everything he was inclined to obey the rules-?"

"YES!"

And there's the maniac I thought we were getting.

"Because he might have found out what was going to happen to us, but the only person he cared to save was his own son!"

"And his niece."

"What?"

"Yeah, ah, Zor-El believed him, and they assembled an escape pod thing for Kara Zor-El. They didn't get it away in time and she ended up stuck in a radioactive asteroid for a few decades, but she did survive."

"House El had access to more resources to work with in constructing their small spacecraft, and their access to our data networks was less closely monitored than anyone else. And yet I'd be astonished if you found any other such pods."

I shake my head. "I checked. As far as I can tell, there were no other launches."

Dru-Zod nods. "Of course. That was where Har-Zod went wrong. He assumed that people were intelligent. That if you put information in front of them, they'll take it in and make a rational decision."

"Well that's obviously not going to work."

He nods. "It didn't. It left the Science Council free to talk complete nonsense while he didn't challenge it. And do you think they did the same thing when they came to power?"

"Indoctrination, censorship, active suppression of alternate viewpoints?"

"Jor-El had to hold public rallies!"

"How primitive."

"That's what we were reduced to: shouting the truth on the streets like a deranged alien demagogue!"

"'We'?"

"Who do you think was ordered to suppress them? Do you think the councillors-" He gestures upwards and to his right with both hands. "-came down from their crystal towers to do it? No. They left it to what was left of the Military Council. Guild. They even changed the name! Centuries of bringing order to the entire region with our blood and strength and they called us tradesmen!"

"So did you..? Not suppress it?"

"I did the bare minimum I had to. He wasn't an actual threat, and I needed to find out if he was actually telling the truth. I made contact with Non-Du, and asked for a copy of Jor-El's original research."

"How were you going to check it?"

"We don't all follow the paths set out by our family history. There were people -trustworthy people- I could show it to and find out if it was plausible."

"And they said yes?"

"I had to pretend it was a theoretical exercise before they would even consider it. Some… Alien world we had to evacuate. With… Ships we didn't have. And they finally said that he was probably right and.. that the intelligent thing to do was to not risk any sort of rescue. And then I went back to Non, and eventually found him in an alley with that bleeding cut on his forehead."

"Someone working for the Science Council?"

"I assumed, but…" He raises his hands. "I was never able to confirm."

"And Timaron?"

"A distraction. I hoped to lure the council guard away… Or perhaps to motivate the council to build more ships out of fear of what the other aliens might do. In the end I achieved neither, and Jor-El foiled my putsch attempt."

"That was a lot of people to kill for a distraction."

He stands alert, back straight, arms by his side. "I existed only to protect Krypton. That is the sole purpose for which I was born. And every action I took, no matter how violent or how cruel, was for the greater good of my people. I might have saved everyone, but for the Council and Jor-El. If these aliens execute me, then I will die knowing that I did everything I could."

 

[Mr Zoat]

12th August 2013
16:30 GMT

"The Prime Minister will see you now."

I nod and smile politely as I rise from my construct chair and follow the Principal Private Secretary towards the Prime Minister's office. A little young for the role, really, but given the root and branch 'reform' that the British Civil Service underwent there's a lot of that going around. At least he's not terrified either of me or his employer.

He knocks smartly on the door, then pushes it open. "Mister Grayven for you, Prime Minister."

Geoffrey nods to me. "Yes, I know who he is. Does this need to be a private meeting?"

"No." I glance at the P.P.S.. "The lad looks reliable."

"He is. Come on, come on, sit down-" He gestures to the… Large reinforced chair just in front of his desk. "-and tell me what this is about. Had that thing dragged up from the basement for you."

"Much appreciated." I stroll forwards and sit down as P.P.S…. Timothy Sotheby, takes up position on a chair at the side of the room, ready to take notes or offer information which may have slipped his master's mind. "So, to put your mind at ease-"

"Hmn."

"-I'll start by saying that there isn't a disaster that requires immediate attention, legal or otherwise. No criminal conspiracy or anything like that." After all, we're not criminals. "It's more of an… Offer."

"That sounds dubious, but keep going."

"Some people I work with like to get together every few months to coordinate our efforts in improving the world. I suggested that you might be a good addition."

He doesn't look impressed. "Is this my invitation to the Bilderberg Group?"

"HAH!" I raise my right arm, forefinger extended. "Yes! None of the others got the joke!"

"What are you talking about?"

"I booked a room at the Bilderberg Hotel for our first meeting just to make that reference. None of the others got it." He regards me levelly. "We're not part of the actual Bilderberg Group. I'm not, anyway. The others might be, but they haven't told me if they are. We're exclusive, not exclusive."

"Has this group been meeting for long?"

"Coming up two years. We started just after I got back to Earth from my little field trip."

"Did they advise you on your actions towards the former British government?"

"No, that was more of a me thing."

"This whole thing smacks of the sort of secret society bullshit that we worked together to purge."

"The main difference is that we're not doing this to gain power."

"You took over Africa."

"No, I forced the governments of the most corrupt parts of the world to stop being corrupt. I forced hilariously biased police forces to actually enforce the law in a fair and even handed manner. And aside from the private security company which is doing it turning a small operating profit -and having an excellent end-user satisfaction report- I haven't benefited financially at all."

"You use telepaths, Grayven."

I flap my right hand. "You can mind control some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time. You can't mind control all of the people all of the time."

"Telepaths in law enforcement."

"Yeah, and it works really well. Are you telling me you wouldn't have liked something like that when you were in the force?"

He snorts. "I would, at that."

"It's not practical to probe everyone in the country, but you can protect against unnecessary usage by requiring warrants, or allowing an independent review if it looks like someone's overusing it. Plus, it's done wonders for the economy, and communal violence is at an all-time low. But -to be clear- use of that facility is in no sense compulsory. There are other options, or perhaps you're happy with the criminal justice system just-"

He actually smiles. "Heh."

"-the way-. Hah! Yeah, I can't finish that sentence. But-. Look. There are exotic options that aren't in widespread use for a variety of reasons, and… My friends and I got tired of waiting. We've got a project coming up that we think you could help with, and in return there are things that we can do for you."

He nods. "What happens if I say 'no'?"

"I have to try talking Jon into it. Or possibly the Chinese. Suboptimal either way. Or we twist arms in Africa until they federate and get the new president to demand a U.N. Security Council seat." I sigh, shrugging. "It's a lot of extra work either way. You're the better choice."

"And if I'm interested, then back out and shout what I know to the rooftops?"

"I read a comic a while ago. There was a… Bit in it about an arms company. They'd been bribing senators to get contracts, then bribed them more to hush it up when the substandard weapons they sold didn't work properly. And one of their former P.R. people talked to a C.I.A. new hire about it, and the rookie asked why there wasn't a bigger fuss about it. And the P.R. guy says, 'because it's not a secret'. Talk to anyone on the street about the military-industrial complex, and they'll know what you're talking about. They know it's happening, even if they don't know the details. And they don't care. You think John Smith of Nottingham can get a copy of the Justice League's minutes? You think he cares?"

I sit back slightly.

"Yes, the extra public attention we'd get for… Maybe two weeks? Would be a bit of a nuisance… But that's it. 'Powerful people meet, talk'. Heck, you were the one who mentioned the Bilderberg Group. It's not news, except in the specific."

"And if I'm at least curious?"

"Then you pop along to the next meeting and say 'hello'. They all know about you of course -the publically available information only- and you've probably heard of some of them. And… If you think there's something they can help you with, ask. If you want to know about their objectives… Ask."

He raises his right hand slightly, indicating his ring. "Am I expected to leave this at home?"

"No? I don't leave mine behind, and everyone else brings their exotic equipment. But… I don't know what you're imagining, but we're all friends. Two of us are even married to each other."

He thinks for a moment. "Is it your horse woman?"

"No it's not.. Luna. She thinks Cluedo involved an excessive amount of sinister plotting. And we're not married.. yet. That's actually… Part of what this is about."

"You're assembling a secret sinister cabal to… Plan your wedding?"

"No. There's a problem I have which means that I can't get married yet, and my colleagues are helping me deal with it."

"I think you can get a pill these days."

I glower faintly. "I don't have trouble sustaining an erection, thank you."

"No, I thought you were talking about the clap."

I glower harder. "No."

"Hm. Alright, fine. Give me the date and I'll put it in the diary. But to be clear: I was happy to die striking a blow against the former government. My attitude towards evil has not changed."

I smile. "I'm glad to hear it. I'm sure you'll fit right in."

 

[Mr Zoat]

12th August 2013
16:22 GMT

"Aren't you going to ask anything?"

"No."

I'm sitting cross-legged on the floor outside of Ursa Dou-Ka's cell. She's sitting cross-legged on the floor inside of Ursa Dou-Ka's cell, and she had been ignoring me.

"Then why are you here?"

"I was going to wait for you to finish, then ask you some things."

"Go ahead."

"You're sure? I don't want to interrupt. Torquasm-Vo?"

"You know it?"

"I'm not a practitioner, but I'm friends with a few kryptonians who are. Telepathy is one of an empowered kryptonian's few weaknesses, and the theta wave state is an obvious way of countering that."

"A little less spiritual than how my former instructor would have put it, but substantially true. Hm."

"Mm?"

"I grew up during isolationism. The idea of an alien knowing a kryptonian well enough to refer to them as a friend seems strange. I suppose it was common in earlier times."

"I rather got the impression that it wasn't common, but I suspect that it happened."

"What do we seem like to you?"

I shrug. "You're so physically similar to us that I don't usually think of you as being something different. Kal-El has spent almost his entire life on Earth, so for the one kryptonian everyone on Earth knows there isn't much of a cultural difference either. And despite his powers, there's nothing that he can do that some rare superhuman can't do nearly as well."

"I would have thought that it would have made more of an impact. I didn't think your world was advanced enough to have warriors enhanced to our level."

"Our… Species produces a small number of exceptional geniuses who can create things centuries in advance of our technological mainstream. And a bunch of other weird things happen that just randomly give people those abilities. Did you see the young man in black with the yellow lightning bolt on his chest?"

"Yes. He fought Lar-On. Excellent reactions, though I'm surprised that he survived the experience."

"He's as strong and as powerful as a kryptonian under a yellow sun due to being blessed by a group of our gods. That's actually the sort of fight that he prefers."

"Is that common?"

"There are about three top tier superhumans per billion humans. Kal-El easily makes it into that bracket."

"How will that change with the other prisoners? Aren't you worried that they'll take over your world?"

"They're being helped to establish a colony elsewhere. No yellow sun. And while empowered kryptonians can fly in space, they can't fly faster than light and need to breathe eventually. They're not much of a threat if they're not in the same system."

"And I suppose there weren't any scientists in the phantom zone."

"Well, Jax-Ur, but we're not letting him out. And most technology relies on having a civilisation's worth of infrastructure to support it. Knowing how to program crystals doesn't help if you don't have the machines required to create those crystals, or the materials necessary to make them or a power source that can fuel them."

"It's a prison."

"An open prison. I imagine that they'll like it better than the phantom zone."

"I know I would. It's strange. I always thought that my death would be quicker than this."

"Why?"

"I thought that one of the Kryptonian Empire's enemies would come for us. If an enemy abandons their weapons and territory, surely finishing them off is the sensible thing to do."

"The human political philosopher Machiavelli held that while a ruler should seek to be both loved and feared, he should choose fear if forced to choose between them, but only if he could cause fear without causing hatred to arise. If I had to guess why people never came for the heir of the Kryptonian Empire, it was because even those who disliked or feared it never really hated it; or at least didn't in sufficient strength to want to poke the sleeping bear."

"That's even more disappointing."

"Oh?"

"Not only did we rule a vast swath of space, those we ruled over apparently liked it. Why did those idiots ever give it up?"

"'Those idiots' in this case being not the Science Council, but the vast preponderance of the kryptonian species?"

"Yes."

"I-." Oh. "Huh. I don't know, but if I went to the Rao System and meditated, I could probably find out. The best guess I have now is the lack of integration."

"Meaning… Most kryptonians never saw an alien. We didn't need them as labourers, or to provide us with resources. And because they never interacted with them, they saw no need for anyone to interact with them." I nod. "Is that it? We all died because most of us never left the cradle?"

"That's my best guess. If most kryptonians saw aliens being around as normal, then they wouldn't want to change things. As it was, only the military really-."

"That's-!" She stands, fists balled, unable to entirely contain her anger. "Of all the stupid-!" She closes her eyes, forcing herself to relax. "Will you make certain that the new colony does not repeat that mistake?"

"I… Think that Karsta Wor-Ul will, but I'll keep an eye on them. I do need to talk to you about that, actually."

"I don't see how it concerns me. I'm not going to be acquitted."

"No, but… The kryptonian inclination towards criminality appears to conform to the patterns it has in humans. That is to say that criminals are overwhelmingly male."

"You think you can get me a stay of execution for breeding purposes?"

"No. I was going to ask if you'd mind donating a few eggs." I shrug. "Even if we end up using an exo-womb, it's still additional genetic variety."

"Then I suppose it's my last duty. Does the Doomsday have an infirmary?"

"No, but I can extract them by ring here. You won't feel a thing."

"Oh. Very well then, get on with it."

"Alright, I-."

Ohhhhh… Heck.

"Ah… Or maybe not. Um."

"What? Why?"

"Congratulations. You're pregnant."