Justice League: Reign of Zod - 2 (Patreon)

AN: It's back, friends. I think you're going to like the way this saga plays out. It'll be interesting for me to balance multiple harems. Lots of fun to be had - on both sides of the conflict!

-  -  -

“Multiple lifesigns detected. Rapidly approaching. Two Kryptonian. Two Thanagarian. One human. Power battery signature detected.”

The shipboard AI droned on in a flat, synthetic voice. Cold and sterile. No emotion for what was soon to be the opening blows of the war for Earth.

The General, however, was visibly pleased. Lor could see the smile on his father’s face, the anticipation in the man’s hard eyes. And as the war room’s holo-display flashed to life, showing live feed of the visitors approaching the Black Zero’s outer hull, the look on General Zod’s face shifted into one of amusement.

Lor’s father crossed his arms, the dark plates of his armor shifting and clicking together as he did. The older man shook his head, grinning as he took a moment to inspect the group of heroes floating outside his flagship.

“They send forth a pitiful group.” Said Faora. The woman strode up to stand beside the General, her posture firm, proud.

“They have two Kryptonians.” Lor said, the words coming faster than his mind could think.

Silently, the younger man chided himself. He may have been the General’s son, but there was decorum that had to be observed. Faora was his elder and outranked him.

“And we have three.” Faora shot back. “Unburdened by the weakness of human morality.”

To Lor’s relief, a look of slight irritation was the most admonishment he would get. His father then turned from the holo-display, facing Lor and Faora both. He reached out, setting each hand on one of their shoulders. His gaze moved back and forth between them as he spoke.

“We are blessed with true purpose. The salvation of Krypton. Of our people.” Zod assured them, agreeing in part with Faora. He turned his head, glancing at the intruders projected up on the holo-screen. “These champions of Earth… they don’t possess the same conviction.”

“Lifesigns now within kill perimeter. Shall I execute security protocols?” The AI’s droning voice broke through, accompanied by a thrumming alarm.

General Zod breathed in, drawing his hands from Lor and Faora. He stepped forth between them, both subordinates parting to make way for him. The General approached the central terminal of the war chamber, his gaze focused intently upon the holo-map of the sprawling city sitting beneath the Black Zero. For a time, he said nothing. The alarm continued to sound through the chamber, buzzing in Lor’s ears.

“No.” Zod finally answered. “Open the doors to hangar two.”

Immediately, the shipboard AI obeyed. Lor could hear the distant metallic groaning as elsewhere on the vessel, the massive hangar doors were sliding open.

In a rare occurrence, Faora’s face was marred with confusion. Her eyes jumped from Zod to the holo-screen on the far wall. The champions of Earth that were floating just outside those same hangar doors.

“We’re letting them in, beloved?” Faora asked. Her voice had dropped a little. Her words coming from Zod’s lover rather than as his loyal soldier.

Zod turned to her then. For a moment, Lor thought he might rebuke her for that small breach of decorum. Instead, he saw his father smile. And so too did he see the dark intent swirling in the General’s eyes.

“Perhaps they’ve come for an audience with their new master.” Zod let out a low, deep chuckle. Then he turned and started for the door, boots thumping heavily against the metal floor. Lor had no doubt he was headed for hangar two. And his suspicions were confirmed when his father spoke again, calling over his shoulder. “I will give them a strong first impression.”

Lor and Faora shared a look. A quick one, of course. But long enough for Lor to see that Faora now shared his father’s enthusiasm. In her eyes, there was hunger for battle. And the blessed purpose of which his father spoke.

Both turned and followed the General. Lor clenched and unclenched his fists. He steeled his nerves… and prepared for a fight.

-  -  -

Kara floated in the air, high above the towers of Metropolis. Floating with her, ready to fight at her side, were the Hawks, Katar and Shayera, the Green Lantern Jessica Cruz, and Kara’s own multiverse variant, who called herself Power Girl.

Kara Danvers. Karen Starr. Supergirl. Power Girl. Those small differences between them only made the similarities that much clearer.

They were a small band of heroes. But there were no small-timers among them. And that gave Kara a measure of comfort… and confidence.

But that sense of surety was dulled each time Kara set her eyes on target.

Zod’s flagship was massive, a dark leviathan casting a far-reaching shadow over the city of Metropolis.

Kara saw no beauty in its design, no grace or elegance like she’d seen from the vessels at Kandor. The Black Zero wasn’t built for adventure or exploration. It had one purpose and one purpose only. It was a machine built for war.

So when the beast of black metal opened up its devouring maw, not even Supergirl could help but feel a little on edge. Even across the multiverse, General Zod instilled a sense of dread.

The Black Zero’s hull had opened up. A section of it at least. And it just happened to be the part they were approaching.

The heroes slowed to a stop, floating in place. They all felt the same thing.

“I don’t like it. Could be a trap.” Hawkman finally spoke, his voice deep and gruff. His large wings flapped, swiping heavily through the air. Under his gleaming golden helm, Kara could see his eyes narrowing at the open hangar doors.

Beside him, Karen snorted. The elder blonde crossed her arms.

“It’s almost certainly a trap…” She agreed.

Jessica Cruz floated up next to the blonde powerhouse, her green aura shimmering over her slender form.

“But…?” The dark haired woman pried, curious.

“But General Zod isn’t the type to pull something so… obvious.” Karen finished.

“Like I said. I don’t like it.” Hawkman - Katar growled. He hefted up his electro-mace, clutching it tight in both hands. His wife, Shayera, did the same with her own. Any other time, Kara might have smiled. No matter the universe, the Hawks were always itching for a fight.

But even with the strength and courage of their small band, Kara couldn’t stave off the feelings of dread. She was anxious, uneasy. To the point that even Karen noticed.

The elder blonde offered the younger a sympathetic look.

“Hey, keep steady. This isn’t the first time Zod’s pulled something like this.” Karen’s voice was strong, unshakeable. And for a brief moment, Kara felt pride. It was like looking into the future, at the woman she would eventually become. Beautiful, proud, and powerful.

But still Kara couldn’t shake that feeling, that heavy weight in her stomach. That something was very wrong.

“That’s why I’m worried.” Kara admitted, speaking in a soft voice. Like she was afraid someone else was listening in. She floated closer to Karen, but her whole body felt tense. “Back on my Earth… in my universe… General Zod was a bloodthirsty tyrant. Even before coming to Earth, the man was a monster.”

Karen gave Kara a gentle pat on the shoulder, her lips parting as if to speak. But Kara continued, letting out a long sigh.

“I know I sounded all confident back at the Hall of Justice… but this isn’t going to be a cakewalk, Karen.” Kara warned, keeping her voice down.

The elder Kryptonian pursed her lips, then gave a nod. Her expression was one of understanding. But the confidence in her eyes never wavered.

“I get it. But we can do this.” Karen insisted. “Zod’s tough but he’s not invincible. Kal took care of him the first time.”

“Kal isn’t here.” Kara shot back, a bit more bitterly than she intended.

A stunned look flickered across Karen’s face, the elder blonde almost flinching from Kara’s tone. For a moment, the younger heroine felt a knot of guilt tighten in her gut. But before she could apologize, Hawkwoman’s voice rang out among them.

“People coming out.” She warned. The Thanagarian readied her mace, bright arcs of electricity dancing between the metal spikes. “It’s him. And he’s brought friends.”

Kara followed the woman’s eyes and saw. From the open maw of the Black Zero, three figures garbed in dark armor and black capes flew out to meet them. And at the center was the monster himself. His face hard and stern, his eyes cold and merciless, his hair black as night.

General Zod. The Conqueror. The Destroyer.

“Get ready for a fight.” Hawkman warned.

Power Girl, the Hawks, Green Lantern, they all readied themselves. They drew into battle stances, a vain attempt to find stability in the open air. Thanagarian maces lit up with sparks. Jessica’s power ring glowed bright, brilliant green. Power Girl’s eyes lit up in killer red. Even Kara followed suit, raising her fists - though her gloves weren’t made for boxing.

By now, Zod and his party were only twenty or so feet away. A stand off. A showdown at high noon. In the open sky, hundreds and hundreds of feet above the city streets.

The dread in Kara’s gut suddenly weighed twofold. It sank down deep, so deep that Kara feared she’d drop right out of the sky. As the rogue Kryptonians closed the distance, flying slow and steady, the young heroine felt her blood go cold in her veins.

But then Kara found her eyes drifting to Zod’s followers. He had only two. A woman she didn’t recognize, with short black hair and cold blue eyes. And a young man, maybe a little older than Kara herself. For a split second, she was stunned. It was Zod’s face that she saw, she was sure of it. But at the same time… it wasn’t.

The young man was… not at all ugly. Kara would even call him handsome. He had Zod’s stony features, his lantern jaw, and his dark hair. But there were some differences. He was clean shaven. His face wasn’t nearly as weathered, missing the scars his leader wore with pride. And his eyes were… kinder. They didn’t possess the severity of the General.

It wasn’t until the young man met Kara’s eyes did she realize that she had been staring. Kara tore her gaze away, chiding herself for losing focus.

She hardened her face, readying herself for a fight. But that dread in her belly… she found it had been oddly lessened.

-  -  -

The House of Zod flew out together to meet their adversaries, floating high above the sprawling city.

As Lor followed his father and Faora out into the open air, he felt the warm embrace of Earth’s yellow sun. The effect was immediate, his whole body buzzing with a boost of power and strength - and increasing every second. Even after bathing in the nourishing heat of Sol weeks before they even landed on Earth, Lor found the extra vitality more than welcome. The feeling helped calm his nerves.

He wasn’t scared. Not even nervous. But he felt a tension all the same. A tightening within his body. He was ready for a fight.

They were three against five. The Thanagarians were easy enough to spot, with their flapping wings and shining helms fashioned into the profile of a bird’s beak. The Green Lantern as well, glowing bright with the aura of her power ring. And two Kryptonians, just as the AI had said.

Lor noted that most of the champions were women - and even though they opposed his father, he could not ignore their appeal. The female Thanagarian wore armor, but her uniform was snug to her figure - and left her taut belly bare. The Lantern wore a second skin of green and black, revealing every inch, every enticing contour of her slender body.

But the two Kryptonians were an entire world apart from the rest. Both so sure in their beauty, boasting such tempting figures yet possessing the faces of angels. Both had rich, golden hair, though one wore it long and flowing while the other wore it short and straight. So similar they were that Lor was sure they were sisters.

Only one wore the crest of the House of El. The younger of the two from what Lor could see had it emblazoned proudly upon her chest. The elder, however, had no crest. In fact, in the spot on her chest where it would normally be was nothing at all. In its place, there was an opening in her form-fitting white suit. An opening that gave onlookers a tantalizing view to the woman’s ample bosom. Large pale globes, looking so soft and inviting, pressed so snug together to create a deep valley that any man could get lost in. And with her suit leaving most of her long legs bare, the elder blonde provided quite an image to admire.

Lor suddenly found it difficult to focus.

It was only when he caught a knowing glance from his own father that Lor found his way back to a fighting mentality. The General’s eyes lingered upon his son for a moment longer - Lor could have sworn he caught the man grinning. But the look was fleeting. As Zod turned to face their enemies again, his face returned to its usual stony, unyielding expression.

General Zod floated forward into the open space between the two groups, his long black cape fluttering in the wind. In his dark armor, he looked proud, regal… invincible. Lor felt a surge of pride, knowing that he was bred from the finest stock of his homeworld.

“Champions of Earth.” Zod began, his deep voice resounding loud and clear. “Have you come to surrender?”

One of the Kryptonian women, the elder with the lovely figure, floated forth to meet Lor’s father. Her eyes glowed a dark, deadly red.

“Like hell.” She spat.

Lor clenched his fists - but not from anger. Her voice, even simmering with anger, was as much a delight as her body. And now that she was closer, Lor found himself admiring the soft features of her face. A mature woman with a more elegant beauty - her pert, sensual lips stoking even the fires of even more beguiling fantasies within Lor’s young mind.

But even more than her beauty, Lor noted her ferocity, her bravery. She was facing down the mighty General Zod without fear. He couldn’t help but respect that.

“It was really brave of you,” The woman continued, her words dripping with venomous contempt. “Waiting until Superman was dead to pull this stunt.”

Lor’s father chuckled, unapologetic.

“He was Earth’s protector. You didn’t need me when he was alive.” Zod answered bluntly.

“We don’t need you now.” She hissed. Somehow, the woman’s eyes glowed an even deadlier shade of red. For a split-second, Lor thought she might laser his father right back into the hull of the Black Zero. But a moment later, the red glow of her eyes died down, leaving her armed with nothing but a rageful glare. “Thank you for your oh so generous offer, Zod. But no thank you. Earth does not require your protection. The planet is covered.”

There was a short silence. Beside him, Lor sensed Foara growing even more tense. She was more than ready to strike.

Lor heard his father sigh.

“That is unfortunate. I was hoping you would see reason.” Zod’s voice was even and calm, but there was a sharpness to it as well. As if the man’s patience was balancing on a blade’s edge.

But that didn’t matter to the blonde woman. His words only seemed to anger her that much more. Her lovely features twisted into a scowl.

“We’re giving you one chance, General. One chance to walk away.” She warned, her true fury just barely restrained. She floated even closer then, until she and Lor’s father were only an arm’s length apart. “Because if you make us kick your ass again, we’re not sending you to a prison cell. We’re sending you to the Phantom Zone. For good this time. You and your friends.”

General Zod didn’t answer immediately. For a time there was only the sound of the wind and the heavy flapping of Thanagarian wings. Faora fumed in silence at the disrespect shown to Lor’s father, but she remained still - her discipline anchoring her firmly in her spot in the sky. Lor was much the same - though where Faora felt fury, Lor only felt frigid tension. The young man breathed, slow and steady. His gaze, his senses, they sharpened into clarity. He was ready.

Finally, the General spoke again.

“Such surety from someone who doesn’t know… that they’ve already lost.”

Then, off in the distance - the very far distance - there erupted the sounds of battle. And betrayal. Only those with superior senses could hear it, which left most of the band of Earth champions none the wiser. Both blondes flinched, their eyes flickering in shock. The younger of the two turned away, looking off towards the horizon.

“Karen! Something’s wrong!” She cried, drawing the attention of her elder… as well as the rest of her party. “Really wrong! Jump City-!”

General Zod didn’t give her the chance to finish. He was done waiting.

“Attack.” He growled. Then, like a flash of lightning, he struck.

The piercing lance of the House of Zod surged forth into the enemy Kryptonian’s gut - in the blink of an eye, Lor’s father tackled the elder blonde right out of the sky. Lor watched them barrel down, down, down until they struck the planet surface hundreds of feet below. There was a plume of dirt and debris, shooting up from the point of impact. All in the space of a single second.

It was only until the thunderous THOOM finally reached them that the rest of the heroes realized what had happened. But by then it was already too late.

Lor and Faora obeyed the General’s command with cold ferocity. They struck and they struck hard.

Up in the sky above Superman’s city began the war for the future of Earth.

The beginning of the reign of Zod.