New Krypton Vessel BlackWind. Geosynchronous Orbit above New Krypton
The voyage from Earth to New Krypton took four weeks. During that time Clark was trained in the culture, history, and deportment of his fellow Kryptonians, especially the ruling class. Not a day passed when one of the trio didn’t correct his accent or his body’s stance, which must be military perfect in order for him to be accepted by the people of New Krypton. With his powers gone, he tired more easily and so the physical exercises and combat training he did with Ching and Zara pushed him to the limit. At the end of each ship’s day he staggered back to his quarters and collapsed into the sumptuous bed.
Clark understood that they did not wish to be so demanding, but there was far too much at stake for him to present himself as anyone less the image of the perfect Kryptonian, than Kal-El, son of Jor-El and Lara, future husband of the Lady Zara and the true First Lord of New Krypton.
‘Future husband of Lady Zara’. Those words gave him pause. Although promised in marriage to him as a child, Zara did not love him. Clark could see that her feelings were only for Ching. It was baffling to him that such an advanced civilization relied so strongly upon out-moded traditions. Then again, that was ultimately the reason why this war had begun in the first place.
Twice during the voyage, at both language and fencing lessons, Clark had tried talking to the taciturn soldier, assuring Ching he would not stand between the lovers. Sadly, on both occasions an embarrassed Ching had rebuffed him, insisting that his relationship to Zara was as her protector and nothing more.
Lois had told him about the stolen glances and physical attraction, between them which made it painfully clear the two cared for each other deeply. Trey had explained that although Ching was a fine soldier and much respected with the nobility, his bloodline was not grand enough to marry a woman of Zara’s status.
It was unfortunate that their future happiness was to be sacrificed to this war as much as his and Lois’.
But amidst the underlaying tension, Clark poured himself into the training. The language classes were the most intriguing. They unlocked words and phrases buried deep in the subconscious mind that he must have heard as an infant. As he practiced, the ship moved ever closer to his new home planet, and he knew that his ability to embrace the full depth of his mother tongue would be put to the test upon landing on New Krypton.
***
Clark stood in his quarters, having just finished packing his few belongings. He watched from the viewscreen as they first approached from the planet’s night side. New Krypton gleamed backed at him like a glittering black marble hanging majestically in the depths of space. Vast arrays of illumination from the twelve provinces and their respective capitals could easily be seen. Fainter lights from the smaller land collectives and holdings of lesser nobles stood out against vast smudges of agricultural land where the bulk of New Krypton’s grain, vegetables and meat were produced.
One hundred million inhabitants, a fraction of Krypton’s original population, called this planet home and the populace was determined to make a success of their efforts.
In geosynchronous orbit were several large space stations. Pirouetting around them were numerous satellites, used for communication and defense. Trey, in his lectures, had explained the need for both uses. Clark certainly understood the ones used for communications; magnificent circular constructs the size of Earth’s common delivery trucks that moved gracefully through space. But he didn’t accept the defense satellites as readily. Sadly, he watched as they went about their grim task. In many ways they reminded him of larger versions of the satellites Earth’s government had launched and the memory made him wince. He could see them bristling with missile silos and what looked like laser cannons.
He prayed in the time that Zara and the others had been on Earth, Nor and his followers had not wrested control of the government. With the nearby satellite in view, the terrible possibility of missiles raining down death from space upon this sphere so reminiscent of Earth, was truly horrifying.
Clark studied the three-dimensional monitor, as the ship moved towards the daytime side and the sphere that had become the new home world of the Kryptonian people came into view. It was a fertile world with an atmosphere crowded with wispy cloud coverage. Three large oceans hugged the coastlines of four major continents which consisted of rich green, crimson, and brown flatlands separated by vast mountains. An impressive mountain range seemed to be the main feature of this planet’s topography.
At what he termed the North Pole, there ran from east to west a Transarctic mountain range blanketed in ice. In that region of the globe, dense clouds piled up in heaps of picturesque disorder and rolled over the impressive chain in stark contrast to the light wispy clouds above New Krypton’s equator.
During his days as Superman, Clark had lovingly observed another planet, now several thousand light years away. His mind caressed the delicate sapphire and emerald jewel hanging in space that had once been his home and hopefully would soon be again.
For the unforeseeable future, this mysterious planet was going to be his new home. His musings were interrupted by a tiny chirping sound of notification that someone was at his door. He sighed heavily. Apparently these last moments of privacy were to be denied him.
“Come.”
Zara entered the room and said, breaking the silence. “Impressive, is it not?”
His lips pulled into a reluctant smile, “It takes a little bit to get used to.
“Kal-El …” She began hesitantly.
“My name is Clark.” He said stubbornly, “Clark Kent.”
She bowed her head and responded kindly, “Please forgive me. It is understood that calling you Kal-El suggests that I am denying your Terran heritage. But this is a new world, hugely different from Terra and the people upon it are frightened. As the First Lord, one of your responsibilities is to draw them together against the common enemy. In order to do that we …”
Zara seemed to think again before continuing on in a determined tone. “you must assimilate as many attributes and accomplishments of a Kryptonian nobleman as possible.”
He looked down and said, “You have asked so much of me already. My true name is Clark. Despite everything I have learned during this voyage Zara, I am still a man of Earth.”
Zara lowered her eyes and said with a tenderness he had never heard before, “Would it be enough if in private the three of us agree to use the Terran name of Clark?”
“Yes.” He sighed and his lips moved into a tight grimace. “Why are you here? I asked to be alone for a while.”
“There are preparations to be made before meeting with the council and … your grandmother.”
Startled Clark said, “Grandmother? I thought only my Uncle and his immediate family remained of the house of El?”
Zara’s expression was composed as always. Yet Clark had gotten to know his Kryptonian bondmate better over the past month or moonround, they had been onboard the BlackWind He could now detect when she struggled to maintain a calm exterior. She rubbed the thumb and forefinger of her left hand to keep it from trembling and Clark recognized the tell.
Clearing her throat, she said calmly, “You have a grandmother, Lady Polara Lo. She is the maternal head of her house.”
Surprised, Clark said, “According to everything I have been taught, Kryptonian women cannot hold positions of authority.”
She stiffened. Many of the ancient traditions of old Krypton were repugnant to her, and this was one of the most painful. “This is one of the reasons that our new world is in the midst of a civil war. Lady Lo is technically first born of her house. There were no sons and she only had one child, your mother, Lara. In such a situation, the woman is made head of house until a suitable male can take her place. When Lara wed your father, he was already the First Lord, and he became the head of the house of Lo.”
“But since his death, she rules the house and the government? In a provisional position until a male heir can be found?”
“In a manner of speaking, yes. For years, Nor has worked in the background to usurp her role, to legally break the bond between you and I, to marry me himself. As far as he was concerned no male heir existed. Lady Lo used statecraft against him at every turn, but, unfortunately many noblemen chaffed under the rule of a woman. Even if it is only provisional.”
“Which is why you and the others went looking for me?”
Zara nodded stiffly, “Exactly correct.”
Clark was thoughtful, it sounded like his Kryptonian grandmother was a force to be reckoned with, like Martha Kent and Lois. “What kind of person is Lady Polara?”
An actual smile lit Zara’s face. The warmth radiated from her expression that lit her features and made her pretty. “Capable. In her youth she was a soldier, not to mention a very accomplished swordswoman.”
Clark turned to her in disbelief. “A swordswoman! Kryptonian science has advanced far beyond such weapons.”
“True. But we still use them in …tournaments.” Her voice faltered.
“So, my … grandmother … ah Lady Polara … still participates in such tournaments?”
Zara nodded, “Oh yes, she still holds a champion’s rank. I have no doubt she and Ching shall begin your training immediately.”
“Why?”
With a shrug she replied, “Do not all Grandparents wish to pass on something of themselves to their progenies?”
He sensed there was more to this than Zara was willing to admit but decided to let it pass for now. “From the sound of it, she must be in terrific shape if she is going to teach me how to wield a sword!” A thought stuck him, and he asked slowly. “Zara, what is the average lifespan for Kryptonians? On Earth, I often thought under the yellow sun if I would continue to age normally, but here …” He waved his hand to the image of New Krypton on display.
“In Terran years Trey is over one hundred and fifty. The average Kryptonian lives to be close to two hundred years of age. Those of Trey’s generation witnessed much emotional upheaval; many of them have aged prematurely. Your grandmother is the definite exception to that rule.”
“I had no idea you, that is to say, we Kryptonians age so differently from …”
He was going to say humans, but wasn’t he human? What about Lois? Were they only to share fifty, maybe sixty years together before the normal human aging process separated them through death? Clark’s heart felt dull and sad, how he wished he had never discovered this aspect of Kryptonian biology.
“Lois …” her name tumbled between his lips unbidden.
Hearing Lois’ name, his bondmate slipped back into her usual cool composure. “Lady Polara is anxious to meet you. When you are ready, join the others at the main airlock. I shall join you later. I need to handle the final landing maneuvers.” With those words, Zara turned on her heel and departed his quarters, leaving Clark to contemplate their conversation.
Over the course of studying, he had learned much about Kryptonian culture, and he felt a sense of accomplishment to know more about his heritage. Yet some of it felt more like forced indoctrination. Several times already, he had caught himself saying Terra rather than Earth. And the insistence that he use the name Kal-El rather than Clark Kent especially chafed. It would be crucial for him to maintain a part of his Earth identity. Touching the silver chain which held Lois’ wedding ring, it acted as a physical anchor of who he truly was. New Krypton was the home of his parents’ people, and he would do right by it. But on Earth, a certain beautiful, intelligent woman with fine brown eyes waited patiently for his return.
He stood watching the view screen while BlackWind made the final approach towards the planet and then entered its atmosphere. It was time to join the others.
