It's been forever since I've been able to spend any time on the boards, let alone writing. But I've hit a fog in RL and could use a pick-me-up. What better to help than L&C?!

Be warned: this is very... not unusual considering a lot of other stories out there. It is Elseworld. And I don't have a name for it yet. Any ideas would be appreciated. Let me know what this first part looks like and if I should keep posting.

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Silence engulfed the dimly lit space as pure agony invaded his very soul. Eyes drifting closed, he awaited his fate. He'd already witnessed the life force drain from his precious wife's body; he would welcome the dull void to soon come. Flashes of his life created the images that he would carry over into eternity. And save the crippling ache he felt for the innocent ones left behind, he couldn't regret a moment…

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Krypton: Year 2101 in the third cycle (or March, 1960-Earthtime)
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Jor-El paced the sterile corridor, trying desperately to calm his frayed nerves. Today was the day he'd present his findings to the Council. Countless hours, a few laughs, and even tears had been spent inside his laboratory studying the stars in hopes of finding life on another planet. Eight long years had been spent doing numerous evaluations. Thousands of probes had searched the vast expanse of space in hopes of producing the results Jor and his team would give anything to realize. They'd thought they'd found other life forms just months before, only to be disappointed when the surface of the red planet was proven to be uninhabitable. But not this time. This time there was no mistaking what they'd discovered.

The chamber doors opened and Jor was summoned insife. He briefly thought it odd that he had to ask permission to speak during Council, considering he was the leader of the entire planet...

"… studies suggest that these creatures are completely compatible with us. Physically, they could easily be thought to be a fellow Kryptonian. Emotionally, they are young in their beliefs--a relative new world just as ours is. They are more apt to make decisions based on sentiment rather than logic. Technologically, they are light years behind us, but they exhibit untold promise. Biologically, our only difference lies in the way their bodies metabolize their yellow sun and ours metabolize our red sun, though I am certain this difference is only minimal.

"I feel these people would benefit from a relationship with our world. Their planet has an abundance of natural resources the likes of which are unseen here on Krypton. I believe, that given time to establish relations, our worlds could co-exist in profitable harmony."

The confident leader paused in his speech to allow time for those assembled to digest what had been said. He glanced around the expansive room at the few men curiously awaiting what he would say next.

Jor pressed the button on his remote to produce another hologram. "The inhabitants call it simply… Earth."

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"There it is, Milord," the strong feminine voice said softly into the charged air as she approached the portal window where a tall, handsome man stood.

"Yes, it is, Milady," the man replied as he reached out to pull the woman to his side so they could witness this moment together.

The tiny speck before them slowly became a mass of blue and green hues through the thick glass pane. This moment was years in the making for the man who'd spent the last decade of his life devoted to his scientific studies. Those studies had paid off and today, Lord and scientist, Jor-El, along with his partner and mate, Lara, were about to realize their dream.

Their's was a journey that had started in Jor-El's youth. Jor had always been interested in science and had greatly excelled in that field, even though his birth would someday make him the leader of his people. His training to become Lord of all had always been priority during his formative years, but Jor had been blessed with parents who allowed him freedom in his educational choices. So, Jor had been trained extensively as a scientist, a study most of the greater of Krypton deemed unnecessary for the heir to the Throne. However, Jor's father, Zor-El, recognized his son's passion for the sciences and did not stand in the boy's way to learn.

The esteemed heir had not wasted his gift, using all of his spare time to learn as much as he could about any and everything scientific. At only fourteen years, Jor's dream had been born. He'd begun to study the stars as part of a course his professor had initiated. During a lecture, Jor began to wonder about the tiny sparkles that twinkled in the blanket of solid black hovering above his planet. The wonder turned into a burning desire to discover as much as he could about his world and the possibility of any others existing.

Jor's curiosity was often met with confusion and misunderstanding from his fellow Kryptonians and especially from the Council of Elders. Kryptonians were an advanced race of people, highly intelligent and extremely technologically superior beings. They were also a logical race, making the most expedient of decisions in all things. For that reason, it wasn't until Jor grew into adulthood that he could spend countless hours researching the galaxies the way he wanted to in his youth. And his ultimate journey took him ten years to complete.

Now, as he stood with his wife and awaited the arrival of his ship to a brand new world, he considered all of his work and effort to have not gone wasted.

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It had taken two more years of deep probes after Jor's findings had been present before the Council had finally agreed to his requests to make contact with the people of Earth. And as he and Lara had stood peering through the portal of their ship as it approached another planet for the first time, Jor had been overwhelmed. Admittedly, when contact had first been made with the planet a galaxy away from Krypton, the immature world hadn't wanted to believe there could be life calling them from beyond the stars. Talks had taken many months until the people of Earth felt comfortable enough to allow aliens to visit. That visit had started a wonderful friendship, just as Jor-El had predicted.

That is… until the day someone discovered his scientific secret about their new friends and the little world that had been dubbed 'the sister planet'.

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"Do you think everyone will buy this, Jor?"

He stopped the process of filling a syringe with a small bottle of vaccine he'd developed and looked up at his anxious wife. "They've already bought this, Lara. No one will question me because so little is known about Earth. The Council believes what I tell them about our findings. They do not doubt what I've led them to believe about this toxin." Again, he lifted the syringe and finished filling it before turning to administer the shot to his wife. "If I tell them a toxin must be administered to enable our bodies to metabolize the yellow sun, they will not question it." He rubbed Lara's arm with the sterile swab, then turned so she could inoculate him. "Just think how deadly it would be if someone was to find out that Kryptonians could be invincible on Earth."

"You're right, Jor," Lara agreed as she finished with his shot.

"Of course I am, my dear." Jor cupped her face gently and smiled at her. "This story has to be told or there would be pandemonium on our hands."

"Yes, Milord." Lara smiled as she leaned forward to press her forehead to Jor's in a display of affection rarely seen being shared by Kryptonians.

That conversation had taken place just before the arrival of the royal transport ship on Earth for the very first time. Over the next several years, ships would visit the new world often. But soon enough, the pleased couple that had stood looking through a small portal with huge expectations of a bright and successful future with their new friends, would see horrific tragedies before eventually meeting their ultimate fates.

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Krypton: Year 2107 in the second cycle (or February, 1966)
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Jor-El had taken the Throne as First Lord in the Year 2096 when his father's aging heart had failed him. Though it was extremely rare for Kryptonians to experience physical failures before the age of seventy or eighty, Zor-El's taxed heart had stopped working properly in only his fiftieth year. Jor was forced to lead his world years before he'd anticipated. He used his position as a positive though. His time as First Lord afforded him much needed lab hours to devote to his passion of discovering another world. After all, the Council was responsible for most decisions concerning his world.

And now, with so many things going well for the Royal Couple, they were about to present their first child to the people of Krypton. Jor and Lara had chosen to wait to bring a child into the world until their late thirties. They felt their younger years and energy would be better served trying to establish changes for their world. One of the things they'd so wanted to change was the practice of birth marriages among noble families to insure strong alliances in the ruling classes. Jor had never understood exactly why men felt they had to be more powerful or important than the other, but he'd also recognized the essential need to have strong, just leaders. It was also a decidedly difficult undertaking to make such drastic changes; Kryptonians feared and resented any kinds of change that might upset hundreds of years of tradition. The Lord and Lady had finally decided that their children, instilled with their values and morals, would best rule their world someday. They also felt those children would be Krypton's best hope for change.

Jor lifted the small, dark-haired baby high into the air as they stood on the platform in the Palace courtyard. "My subjects, I give you your heir… my son, Kal-El."

"Kal-El!" the assembled audience shouted back at their Lord, then bowed deeply.

Yon, noble head of his house-the House of Ra, stepped forward to present his daughter. "And I give you the heir's bride, Zara."

"Zara," the crowd shouted again.

"In accordance with the laws of our world, I bind these individuals, chosen as mates because of their order of birth," Jor began to recite. "Their union will ensure a strong alliance for our people. May Zor bless and watch over them as they grow to take their positions some day as our First Lord and Lady."

Shouts rang through the air as Jor concluded the marriage ceremony that bound his son to an infant girl, the parents of whom he knew only from their standing in the noble line of their world. Yon of Ra was head of the western hemisphere and held probationary station as ruler. That meant that in the event of the ruling El's inability to produce an heir, rule would fall to the House of Ra. Allegiances between the two houses would ensure that one or the other house would always reign. The leader of Krypton hated saddling his baby boy with such a responsibility, but felt he had no choice. He only hoped Kal grew into a man that could understand and fulfill his responsibilities with dignity suiting the House of El.

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Jor and Lara took their positions as parents just as seriously as they took their role as leaders of their world. Kal was attended to with all the care and love possible from any species of being. Many people, including Jor's brother Ti, always took a moment to point out to the First Lord that showing such emotion while rearing the heir was foolish and illogical. Jor would smile and tell them not to worry. Everything would be fine.

For a time, life was good for the ruling family and their people. Kal-El grew into a toddler while his father established a strong relationship with the sister planet. Krypton was peaceful and prosperous because of their leader's efforts. And in all the excitement, Jor and Lara welcomed another son.

"Look at him, Jor," Lara told her husband. The newest edition to their family slept peacefully in her arms.

"He's beautiful, My Lady." Jor kneeled beside his wife's chair to get a look at his son.

"I see! I see!" came the voice of a very excited toddler. Kal-El peered into the blanket surrounding this strange new visitor to his world. "Baby," he crooned as his tiny fingers smoothed over his brother's cheek.

"That's right, Kal. This is your brother, Ching," Jor told him.

"Ting!"

The adults laughed at their son's interpretation of the name chosen for the new Lord.

+

From the doorway of the royal chambers, Ti-El watched the small family in contemplative silence. For years he'd been anticipating the arrival of an heir so that he could set into motion his plan to be the power behind the Throne. His schemes, however, were taking much longer than anticipated because of Jor's incessant need to form relations with that backwards planet. Meantime, another child had been born into the royal household.

No matter, Ti thought. That only meant there would be two Lords he could shape into the perfect molds. He turned and hurried down the corridor to his chambers. He needed to make some preparations. There would soon be another El at the head of the royal house.

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Jor-El was utterly speechless as he looked out across the destruction and devastation before him. Concrete heaps remained where once tall buildings stood. Everywhere fires burned and smoke was so thick it threatened to choke the life from the few bodies still scurrying around, attempting to make sense of what was going on.

And death… Everywhere there was death.

"So many gone," Jor whispered.

He'd hardly been able to believe his ears when he'd gotten the distress call from the White House. Earth had been attacked by Kryptonian forces two days before. Thankfully the Royal Transport Palace had been on approach for a scheduled political conference that would take place at the end of the week. Jor had ordered their ship to warp speed and arrived as soon as possible. However, it had not been soon enough to save Washington and several other large cities around the world from mass destruction.

Jor wanted to die. These people had put their lives into his hands and such tragedy had taken place. He turned when one of his soldiers approached. "What has happened here?"

"We are unsure, Milord. I have spoken to witnesses and they say… they say…" the man stammered.

"They say what?!"

"Well… Sir, they say that two men flew into the city and began to destroy the buildings… with their bare hands." The young soldier's expression showed clearly the apprehension he felt at having told his Lord such a ridiculous story.

But Jor knew it wasn't ridiculous. He knew it was very possible… if someone had discovered his secret. His hand covered his mouth and he turned again to survey the damage. Dread washed over him in waves as he stood helpless in the aftermath.

"Jor-El?"

The First Lord turned back to see Jen-Mia, chief enforcement officer on Krypton. "Yes?"

"I have orders for your arrest, Milord." Jen-Mia held out the scrolls to the Lord.

"My arrest?! On what charges?" Jor demanded as he took the scrolls in disbelief.

"Information has come forth that this attack was ordered by you. The Council has sent communications ordering your arrest until a full investigation can be conducted."

Jor read over the scrolls for a moment before lifting his eyes back to the ruin that was once the capital city of the United States. His head hang low as he was led back to the transport by Jen-Mia. He might not have ordered this attack, but there was no denying he was in some way responsible for all this devastation.

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Jor-El's eyes watered as his memories faded. It had taken two weeks before the Council had regrettably reached their decision over his case. Jor had been shocked when his very own brother had stepped forward and testified against him.

Ti told the Council that Jor had known about the incredible abilities Kryptonians would have without the inoculations being administered. He alleged that as Jor and Lara were the only ones with this knowledge, apart from himself, and since he was innocent, then sadly his brother and his brother's wife must be at fault. With the corroborating testimony of Lord Nor and Ti siting law after law, Jor and Lara's fate was sealed.

Nor told Council that Jor had deliberately chosen him for the task he wanted completed. The toxin was withheld, he was sent to Earth under the pretence of scientific research until his powers developed, then ordered by the First Lord himself to attack and destroy those cities. Because Jor had kept the discovery of the effects of the yellow sun on his fellow man secret, it was hard for the Council to discount the stories being told or to believe anything Jor said in protest. Lara adamantly stood by her husband, insisting that Jor had always held his people's best interest close to his heart, a statement that unwittingly helped seal their fates. Sentiment had always been deemed illogical in Kryptonian eyes. 'Had Jor-El used logic and common sense, this tragedy might not have happened at all', argued Ti-El, and was backed by several others who agreed that the First Lord was entirely too emotional to rule his world, that conclusion proven by the Lord's very illogical behavior over the years.

Ti went a step further and pointed out the contents of Krypton's legal proclamations. Declarations were in place to protect less advanced worlds from attack or manipulation by Kryptonian forces. By invading Earth, Jor had broken that proclamation. Though the Council hated to admit their leader, who had proven himself to be a just and mighty ruler despite his sentimental nature, could have done something so treasonous, the law was clear. Though it could not be conclusively proven that Jor had ordered the attack on Earth, he 'was' First Lord. Thus, indirectly responsible for the actions against the weaker world. Those actions constituted treason, and the punishment for treason was separation and dissolution of the molecules.

So, Jor waited for the moment he would leave his world for the last time, heartbroken that his beautiful wife had also suffered due to his failure to prevent his brother's treachery. He longed to be with her, and yet he feared for his sons. With his and Lara's deaths, the lives of his boys now lay in the hands of his brother.

'Zor, protect them,' he prayed silently. 'Deliver them from Ti-El's evil.'

One last deep breath, a single turn of a button, and the First Lord of Krypton was no more.

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