The Search for Kal-El

© The Elves of Alterverse

Chapter 6: House of El

“And it all comes down to this: the courage of the Starchild.”

  - The Hidden Text – The Prophecies of the Sons of Rao

New Oa, the day following Astra’s return – January 2007

Once again, Zoldar cursed at battle plans.

“This is not going to work.”  He admonished his junior officer.  “If we try this, the Green Lantern Corps will be slaughtered.  We have to try something else.”

The junior officer saluted and departed.  Another junior officer entered.

“Sir, we found the comms badge signature your mother requested.  It’s on New Oa.”

Zoldar looked up.

“Find it.  Find the woman who is wearing it, but don’t interfere with her.  She is extremely dangerous.  Go!”

The junior officer quickly shuttled out of the room.

Zoldar activated his comms.

“Sentinel’s Lair, this is Zoldar.  We may have found Mary.”

The Lair answered.

“Dad, this is Elise.  As soon as we have Earth-side backup, we’ll head towards you.  Alan wants to bring a mystic.  He’s retrieving Kent.”

“Elise, I understand.  We’ll do what we can.  I’ll see you soon.”

Nalyd, Oan Senate Quarters

“Krys, I’ve got a problem.”  Alan Scott’s hologram spoke to Krystal.  “Mary is on New Oa.  I need to go find her.  At the same time, I can’t leave the Lair unprotected.”

She sighed.

“Krypto and I are on the way.  I just need to let Diana know that I’m headed out.”

The hologram nodded.

“Thanks, Krys.  I know you’d prefer to have more time before you meet the Wayne family again, but this can’t be helped.”

“Alan, you have a wonderful gift for understatement.”

He laughed.

“Welcome to the family!”

Krystal smiled brilliantly.

“I’m just glad you have room for one more!  On my way!”

New Oa – two hours later – the old city of Grespa

Night had fallen.  They walked down a street in a run-down section of the city.   The foul smell of rotting debris permeated the air.  Alan and Elise stood with Zoldar in front of an ancient and putrid establishment.  Patrons flowed in and out of saloon-style doors.

They watched silently. 

“Well, what do you know?”  A particularly gruesome creature towered over them.  “Two Shantar cuties and an exotic!”  It laughed.

“Back off!”  Elise Zoldar snarled.

“Ho, Ho!”  The creature taunted.  “She wants to play rough!  I like my women that way!”

Alan and Zoldar shrugged.  They stepped back.

“Filthy creature!”  Elise snarled.  Her Xentronium sword appeared in her hand.   “Prepare to die!”

“Shantar meat!”  The creature crowed.  “Always a delicacy!”  Steel claws sprang from its hands.  It swiped its claws towards Elise.  She let it pass.  Then she kicked it hard.  The creature flew through the air.   It landed with a thud.

A crowd began to gather.

She handed her cloak to Alan Scott.  He folded it neatly.  She grinned fiercely.  Then she charged the creature.

“I love a good workout!”  She taunted.

“Then, it will be your last!”  The creature grabbed for her throat.

“I can’t bear to watch.”  Alan walked towards the bar.

“I’ll join you.”  Zoldar insisted.  “I don’t like one-sided fights.”   The creature flew over Zoldar’s head.

Inside the establishment

“Gimme anudder!”  A small woman drank foul fluid at the New Oan equivalent of a bar.  “Keep it cumin!”  Alan and Zoldar walked towards her.

“Mary,” Alan Scott sat beside her, “don’t you think that’s enough?”

“Enuf?”  She belched.  “It’ll never be enough!  I always lose everyone!  I lost my family!  I lost Kira!  And now, Jade has stolen Diana from me!  What else is there to take?  Leave me be!”

“Mary,” he implored, “you can’t keep doing this!” 

“Like hell I can’t!”  She snarled.  “Shay my magic word and I’m a wonderful, sober hero.  Best hangover cure I could ask for!”

“Mary!”

“Oh, screw you!”  Mary howled.  “The Birds of Prey disappear and you write the whole lot of them off!”

“Mary, that’s not true!  We found Selina and Helena.  We’ll find the rest!”

“Will you?”  She snarled.  “You’ve got your planner back!  You and that miserable Batman creature.  You’ve already replaced Kira with that creature you call ‘Krystal’.”

“Mary, you know that’s not true.”  He tried to reassure her.  She ignored him and continued her rant.

“I hate Jade!  That miserable little bitch made Kira look insignificant.  Do you have any idea how hard it was for her?  Daxam has no real history of heroism.  There is no knowledge of how to wage war!  She had to start from scratch.  We still expected her to be an expert from Day One!”

She poured herself another drink and downed it.

“You got to work with the great Jade.  Selina and I worked with Kira.  She tried hard, but she never really had a chance!  Now she’s gone!”  Mary spat at him.

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised!  The whole lot of you is nothing more than ghosts from my past.  LEAVE ME ALONE!”  She slapped him.

He grabbed her hand.

“Mary.  We are leaving now.”

“Like Hell we are!”  She snarled.  

“SHAZAM!” 

The lightning replaced Mary Batson with Captain Marvel.

“You made me waste a perfectly good drunk.  Now, you’ll get the hangover!”  She hit him with both hands.  He flew backwards through the swinging doors into the street.

Earth, above the Sentinel’s Lair

“Welcome back, Krystal.”  Jay Garrick greeted as she and Krypto landed.

“Thanks, I think.”  She sighed.  “How are the Waynes?”

“Having their problems.”  He answered.  Then he brightened.  “Krys, I talked to Dr. Fate.  You don’t have to stay cooped up in the Lair.  I’d like to have your help chasing down a mystery.”

She smiled with anticipation.

“A mystery?  A good old fashioned who-dun-it?”

He laughed.

“You could call it that.  But this is more a ‘what did she do’.”  He breathed in sharply.  “You see: we’ve all been so quick to judge Mary.  But only Diana knows anything about most of her life.  What she’s told me is a tale of horror and despair.  She’s lost two sets of parents, her brother, her husband, and two sons that I know of.”  He looked up.

“We sometimes forget that she lived through all of the most terrible sixty five years this world has ever seen.”

Krystal scowled.

“As opposed to me?  The woman with no past? How many days old am I?”  She quickly caught herself.  “I’m sorry, Jay.  That really wasn’t fair.” She looked at him with an apology in her eyes.  “You’ve done me no harm.  Neither has anyone else here.  Jay, I’ll take you up on that offer.  If nothing else, I’ll get to explore the Earth.”

Jay grinned wryly.

“And you put off seeing Selina again.”

She looked up sharply.

“Not really.  It’s all of them.  I know what I am.  They have enough problems without a pretender claiming to be one of theirs.”  She looked into the Heavens.  “I have a home, but it’s not here.  Let’s get the Hell out of here!”

Jay smiled.

“New York City, here we come!”

“Wait!”  They heard a call behind them.  A winged man landed behind them.

“I’d like to go.  I do no good just waiting here.”

Jay gestured towards the newcomer.

“Krys, this is Dick Grayson.  He’s called Hawkman.  His partner is the Barbara Gordon of this world.  He’s also a native of the New York area.  His knowledge is a little more current than mine.”

Krystal smiled.  She looked at the two of them together.  She felt her curiosity piqued.  A quick glance of microscopic vision told her all she needed to know.

“Welcome, Dick.  This will be an interesting trip!”  And how!  They took off for New York City.

New Oa

“You know nothing about me!”  Mary aimed her fist into Alan Scott’s shields.  “You don’t even know my last name!”

He flew backwards.

“You’re Mary Batson!”  He slammed her with an emerald fist.

“No!”  Her fists pounded at his shields again.  “I’m not!”

New York City – the Statue of Liberty

They stood at the torch.

“This was where Alan’s flame reclaimed Mary.”  Jay gestured to the torch.  “He had lit it to explain what it meant to Alanna.  But Alanna wasn’t the only one who saw it.  Mary Batson saw it, too.  She used it to reclaim her birthright as Mary Marvel.” (Elf note:  Terra’s Revenge – Chapter 2).

Krystal spotted the puzzled look in Dick Grayson’s eyes.

Jay continued.

“But I don’t know anything about her life from 1941 to 2006.  She won’t tell me anything.  She just says she wants to start again.”

New Oa

“Mary!”  The Sentinel pleaded.  “Stop this!  This isn’t you!” 

He barely blocked her next punch.

“How the Hell would you know?”

She punched at his shields again.  He flew backwards through the air.  He felt his ankle twist as he landed.  She charged after him.  She hit him again.  He felt ribs break.  He strengthened his shields.  Green Flame healed him.

The Sentinel flew out of the ancient city.

“Coward!”  Captain Marvel followed him out of the city.

The Sentinel landed by Kent Nelson.

“Are you endangering innocents, Cousin?”  She charged the Sentinel.  She found herself gripped firmly by Green Flame.  She struggled to free herself.

Let’s hope this still works!  The Sentinel cleared his throat.

“SHAZAM!” 

Lightning struck them.  Mary gurgled and shook.   She spasmed as the lightning passed through them.  She fell to the ground, unconscious.

The Sentinel picked her up.  

“I hated to do that.”

Kent shook his head, sadly.

“That shouldn’t have happened.”  He scanned Mary.  “I see it.  I just don’t know how…  Yes, I do.” 

He looked up

“Your hunch was right.  We’ve been attacked.”

The Sentinel’s Lair – transport storage area

Selina followed Bruce Wayne to Kal-El’s rocket. (Elf note:  Terra’s Revenge – Chapter 9).

“Bruce?  Why the sudden interest?”

He climbed inside.

“Something is bothering me about Krystal.”

Selina snarled.

“Outside of the fact she pretended to be Helena?”

Bruce glared at her.

“Save your claws for someone who deserves it.  She’s done nothing to earn your ire!  No.  No, this is something else.”

Bruce walked around the capsule.  He inspected where the matrix had been torn away from its moorings.

Selina shook her head.

“Can you imagine the power it took to pull that matrix out?  Can you imagine how much magic it took to damage Kryptonian metal?”

His grin puzzled her.

He walked through the other compartments of the module.  He stopped at the front windshield.

Selina followed him.

“This is identical to Kira’s rocket.  Kira flew hers to Australia.  She said she had a pretty quiet flight until she got here.  Good thing – she was suffering from Kryptonite poisoning.” (Elf note:  Terra’s Revenge – Chapter 1).

They walked back to the main compartment.  Bruce Wayne closed his eyes.  He concentrated.  An image formed in his mind.  He smiled.

New York City – the Statue of Liberty

Krystal read Emma Lazarus’ poem.  (Elf note:  Terra’s Revenge – Chapter 2). 

“I know how they must have felt.  And now our world seeks nothing more than what Lady Liberty promised.”

Jay smiled.

“Yes.  That’s what keeps us going.  The dream still lives.  Alan believes it.  Mary believes it.  I believe it.  Diana lives it….”

Krystal grinned.

“I get your point.  It drives all of you.”

Jay nodded.  And you, too. 

Dick Grayson watched the conversation.  Who the Hell are you, Krystal?  And why do I feel like you’re the key to everything?

Krystal walked over to him.  Krypto followed her.

“Dick, I’m curious.  Those wings were put together by someone who knew what they were doing.  I know they give you the gift of flight.  They also seem to increase your strength.  How did you come by them?”

He looked puzzled.

“Krys, that’s always been a mystery to both Babs and I.  The area of Newark we patrol has limited resources, but we’ve got it better than a lot of other folks.  Babs’ father, Jim Gordon, tries to keep order in the area.  We decided to try to help the best we could.  We took on the identities of ‘Owlman’ and ‘Owlwoman’.  We only came out at night.”  He smiled at a memory.  “Babs had been quite fond of the idea of Queen Hippolyta’s pet owl.  She felt that whatever happened to the Gods probably wasn’t their fault.  She talked about finding the bird someday.”

“But I haven’t answered your question.”  Dick looked back at her.  “We had just chased marauders away from a small family.  We heard the footprints of a lame man behind us.  We turned and faced an odd looking, but very sturdy man.  He handed us the wings and taught us how to use them.  We asked him why he gave us the wings.  He just said that he knew my family.  He congratulated me for carrying on the family tradition.  When we looked away for an instant, he vanished.”

Krystal smiled to herself.  Hephaestus? I’ll bet he has known your family!  For at least thousands of years!   

“Dick, tell me more about your family.  Are your parents still living?”

Surprised, Dick Grayson eyed her with suspicion.

“My mother passed away several years ago.  My father is still alive.  Why do you ask?”

“Trust me.”  She sighed.  “I’ll explain shortly, I promise.”

Dick Grayson shrugged.

“Sure.  This way!”  He flew down from the statue towards Newark, New Jersey.

New Oa – Military Infirmary

Mary rocked in Alan’s arms.

“All gone.”  She jerked forward and back.  “They’re all gone.”  She kept up her jerking motion.  “All gone.  Because I wasn’t there to save them.  All gone.”  Her mad eyes saw nothing.

Elise and Kent watched from outside the room.  Kent shook his head.

“There’s something she can’t face.  Something she blames herself for.  Ares exploited it.  The spell is so intricate I can’t remove it.”

Puzzled, Elise inquired.

“Why can’t you do the same thing you did for Bruce Wayne?”

Kent scowled.

“Bruce Wayne has no mystic signature.  We could remove him from the magic surrounding him.  But Mary is a creature of mystic power.  She would die without her power.  Mary is the only one who can save Mary.  I just wish I knew how to help.”

Elise growled.

Newark, New Jersey

Another turf war.  Krystal frowned.  Wouldn’t get involved… except…

A determined older man stood between a band of marauders and a handful of terrorized locals.

“Leave them alone.  They have nothing you want.”

The lead marauder grinned.

“We’ll be the ones to decide that.  And we’ll start by making an example of you!”  He aimed his rifle at the older man.  Electricity formed on the older man’s hands.

Damn.  Well, no one is going to die today.  The Kryptonian woman signaled the Flash.  They moved.  Krypto followed right behind her.

The rifle fired.  Lightning flashed.  Wind blew though the crowd.  The marauders found themselves several miles away.  Several found teeth marks.

Krystal and Krypto returned to the scene of the turf war to find three very confused men.  The older man looked at the Flash.

“I don’t understand.  I have your picture.  But it’s older than I am.”

Krystal landed.

“But it’s still him.”

The older man’s eyes widened.

“You’re back?”  He smiled.  “It’s been twenty years, but you haven’t aged a day.  In fact, you look younger than ever!”

“Excuse me?”  Krystal asked.

He rushed to her.

“Thank you for saving my life.  Again!”

The Sentinel’s Lair – the Oracle’s console

“Well, well.”  Bruce smiled.  “So I didn’t imagine it.  She may not be Krystal Wayne, but we still owe her our gratitude.”

Selina caught the look in his eyes.  I’ve never seen him like this.  He’s quite pleased with himself.  Should I feel alarmed?

“You know,” he chuckled, “if Krys wants to pretend to be Helena, she has every right.  Without Krys, Helena would not exist.  Neither would I.”

Selina raised an eyebrow.  She leaned over her console.

“Bruce, are you sure Kent really cured you?”

Bruce grinned.

“This is not fair of me, I know.  I just can’t tell you yet.  But I really need your help.  Here’s what I need you to do.  Look for a string of miracles.  Probably starts near Memphis, oh, say twenty two years ago.  Probably ends just before Alan Scott’s return to this universe.”

Selina felt a shiver.  The Oracle started her research.

Newark

“Don’t you remember us?”  The older man asked.

Krystal shook her head.

“No.  I know your parents, but I don’t think I’ve met you.”

He sighed.

“Forgive me.  My name is Garth Grayson.  My twin brother and I were the sons of Dennis and Mary Grayson.  How have you met my parents?”

Jay watched, entranced.

“Krystal?  What are you talking about?”

She frowned.

“Garth, how long have you had the lightning?  Less than six months?”

He nodded.

“Not quite that long.  Why?”

“Is your brother alive?”  She asked.

“No, he died many years ago.  Why do you ask?”  Garth’s confusion grew.  “And why don’t you remember the Holland Tunnel Collapse?”

“Holland Tunnel Collapse?”  Jay asked.

“It was a terrible tragedy.”  Garth frowned.  “We had been visiting my mother.  We were hiking home.  In the mean time, some idiot angered the Kayzik.  They bombed the damned tunnel with us in it.”  Garth pointed to Krystal.  “She pulled us out, before it collapsed.”

Dick’s eyes widened.

“I do remember you!  It really is you!”

Krystal puzzled.

“But I’m not that old.  I have no memories of any of this!”

Garth nodded.

“That may be true.  But it’s you.  The same bearing.  The way you move.  And the sense of awe I’ve never felt before or since.”

Jay grinned.

“He’s got you there, Krys!”

“Not you, too!”  She smiled.  “Seems I do have a real past.  I wonder what happened.”

“Ares.”  Jay frowned.

“No doubt.”  She nodded.  She caught Jay’s odd expression.  Jay disappeared.  She looked at Garth.  “So, you have two children?”

Jay reappeared.

“Hey!”  An oddly colored bundle struggled in his arms.  “Lemme go!”  It vibrated at high speed.  Jay matched its vibrations.

“I’m not going to hurt you.”  Jay tried to reassure it.  The bundle slowed down its struggle.

“He won’t.”  Krystal spoke with certainty.  “I know what your grandfather can do when he’s angry.  He’s not angry.”

“Grandfather?”  Dick Grayson asked.  The bundle ceased its struggle.

“Grandfather?”  The young girl repeated.  She looked up at Jay.  “You don’t look old enough to be my grandfather.”  He let her go.  She stood her ground: defiant.

“Iris?”  Garth started to ask.

“I don’t know a better way to say this.”  Krystal walked towards them.  “I’m sorry.  But, this is what I know.  There is a gene that only passes from father to son.  It’s called a ‘Y’ chromosome.  And it’s identical in the three of you.”

She sighed.

“Here’s what I can deduce.  Mary Batson was pregnant when Shazam poisoned the lightning.  That was her hidden shame.  What she’s never lived down.”

“What?”  Jay stammered.  “Why didn’t she tell me?”

Krystal drew in a breath.

“Because she was ashamed.  And she did not want to add to your pain.”

“Excuse me?”  Garth broke in.  “We haven’t been able to find my mother since the tunnel fell in.  But even if she were alive, she’d be more than eighty years old.”

Krystal frowned.

“Mary keeps too many secrets.  Mary Batson was Mary Marvel.  The Shazam Wizard imprisoned her lightning and Jay Garrick.  But the man you remember as the Green Lantern has returned.  He freed the lightning and Jay.  She has become Mary Marvel again.  But a dangerous foe has now attacked her mind.”  (Elf note:  The story of the lightning - Funeral for a Friend – Chapter 2).

“Dad, I don’t understand this.”  Iris fumed.

Krystal smiled.

“You will.  Trust me.  We’ll have time to sort it out.  It takes a while to get to New Oa.  Even at my speed.”

Jay grinned.  The Graysons looked confused.

The Sentinel’s Lair Command Center

“We understand Krys.”  Garja Jenna spoke into her comms.  “We’ll have it ready for you.”

Garja walked over to the Oracle’s console.  Selina and Bruce shared a display.

Selina smiled.

“Here it is.  The miracles started twenty-two years ago in Memphis.  They ended just before the Sentinel returned.  How did you know?”

Bruce Wayne smiled wryly back to her. 

“I was one of the miracles.  I did not make the connection until today.”  He lost himself in a memory.

Memphis Tennessee – 1990

Bruce Wayne shook himself awake.  The young boy smelled burning bodies.  He looked up to see a face filled with concern.

“Who are you?  Where are my parents?”

She looked at him sorrowfully.

“I’m sorry.  There was nothing I could do.  I could not save them.”

“The evil aliens!”  He cried.  “They killed my parents!  All aliens are bad!  They all want to kill us!  Aliens just see us as food!”

The strength of his anger startled her.

“All aliens have to die!  I’ll kill them all!”

She frowned and cocked an eyebrow.  She got on her knees in front of the little boy.

“I am so sorry that I could not help them.”  She looked at the ground.  Then she looked back up to him.  “I know what I’m about to say won’t make sense today, but I hope you’ll remember it someday.  Don’t hate anyone just because they are different.  Not all aliens are bad.  Not all Terrans are good.  You have to judge people for who they are.”

“Lady, you’re strange.”  Bruce pulled back.

“I know.”  She nodded. “I know.  But someday I hope you will remember.”

Present day – Sentinel’s Lair Command Center

I do remember, Krystal.  I do.  And I swear that you will, too.  Bruce turned to see Krystal’s party fly past on their way to the hangar deck.  You may not be my daughter, but you have always been my friend. 

He walked to the railing.  Bruce watched as Krystal pulled a small transport capsule out of the hangar.  She flew it out of sight.

Selina stood over Garja’s console.

“New Oa, this is the Sentinel’s Lair.  I’m sending you a priority package.  I need landing space near Captain Marvel’s infirmary room.  Cancel that.  I’m requiring it.  Command Priority.”

The comms squawked back.

“Aye, Ma’am.  We’ll have it ready and waiting.”

Selina relaxed her tone.

“Thank you, New Oa.  We appreciate your assistance.”

“Any time, Lair!  Without you, we’d be Kayzik crunchies.  We’ll keep the travel lanes clear.  New Oa out!”

Selina turned to Bruce.

“Linda’s on her way back here with Diana.  The Boss wants to make sure we’re protected.  In the meantime, I want to see that rocket again.  Bruce Wayne, you are arrogant, egotistical, and usually insufferable.  But you’re also usually right.  I’ve missed something and I bet I know what it is!”  She walked out of the command center.  Bruce followed with a devilish grin on his face.

New Oa

“Thanks for the update Garja.”  Elise Zoldar walked back towards Mary’s room.  She watched Alan hold his sleeping cousin.

“She knows you’re there.  She turns violent the second you leave.”

Alan nodded.

“After all this time, she’s still my little girl.”

Elise shook her head sadly.

“No, Alan.  She’s not.  She hasn’t been your little girl for a very long time.  She wants to be.  And that’s the problem.”

“I know, Elise, I know.  But I’ll always have those memories.  I just wish someone could have saved her family.”

Mary’s eyes opened.

“Couldn’t save Garth.  Couldn’t save Ayla.  Couldn’t save Richard.”  She held on to Alan.

The Sentinel’s Lair – Hanger Deck

“We were arrogant, weren’t we?”  Selina clucked as she walked back through the spacecraft.  She walked to the holder of the missing matrix.  She made a lifting motion where the matrix had been.

Bruce followed her into the cockpit.  She examined the pilot’s chair and the surrounding controls.

“And that’s it, isn’t it, Bruce?”  She shook her head with disbelief.  “We thought the capsule landed in one piece through sheer luck.  But it wasn’t luck, was it?”

“No,” Bruce answered, “skill. The skill of a master pilot.  A master pilot flew this craft though the Kayzik fleet, fought several skirmishes, took a hit during re-entry, and still landed this ship in one piece.  I would love to hear Krystal’s story.”

“I wonder what she did with the matrix.”  Selina ran her fingers across indentations in the pilot’s steering column.  “I’d really like to know how an adult Kryptonian got off that planet.  They were all bound to it.”

“I don’t know.”  Bruce answered.  “I really don’t.  I do know that she is the last native Kryptonian.  And I won’t rest until I know the rest of the story.”

“I used to tease Alan about his talent for recruiting.”  Selina smirked.  Then her eyes sparkled.  “Bruce, this story just grows more and more amazing.  Elise once told me a story of her Command.  The Resistance betrayed them to the Kayzik.  The Kayzik attacked them and killed one of them.  Then… nothing…”

A while later - New Oa

Elise sat with Kent Nelson.

“Our weapons were gone.  They were massed against us.  We were falling victim to the glamour.  And suddenly they weren’t there.  A wall of water washed them away.  We never saw them again.  I’ve seen few things more odd.”

“Elise, I wish we knew more.”

“Kent, it gets weirder.  Part of Mary’s pain comes from the death of her surviving son and his family.  They were in the Holland tunnel when the Kayzik bombed it.  Nothing human could have done anything to stop it.”

Kent frowned.

“I remember that.  I was only a mile away from the New York side of the tunnel.”

Elise nodded.

“Mary was even closer.  She watched the Kayzik destroy the tunnel.  She saw the smoke and fire erupt from both sides.  She knew nothing human could have survived the fire.”

“I know.”  Kent grimaced.  “I tried to help, but I got there too late.”

Elise drew in a quick breath.

“But there was something none of us knew.  Something far more than human entered the tunnel during the attack.  Mary’s family survived.  They were saved by the same person who is bringing them to New Oa now.”

Kent’s eyes widened.

“What?”

Elise nodded.

“Krystal.  She’s lost her memory, but she certainly has a past.  Selina and Bruce are going through the rocket looking for clues.  They do know that Krystal removed the matrix.  Ares didn’t find the capsule until she was long gone.  I’m sure she didn’t just give the matrix to him, if he got it at all.”

Kent smiled with understanding.

“He could take her memory, but he couldn’t take away who she is.”

A short while later – Mary’s infirmary room

Alan held Mary while she rocked.  Jay Garrick entered the room. Dick Grayson followed him into the room with two more people Alan had never met.  Alan nodded to Jay.

“She’s been like this since we arrived.”

Jay kissed her lightly and stepped away.

“Alan, I don’t know how to say this, so I’ll just say it.  This is our son, Garth Grayson, and his children Dick and Iris.”

Mary’s head jerked up.  Awareness filled her eyes.

“Garth?  Ducky?  But….”

Two hours later – the infirmary lobby

Alan stood with Mary by the window.  She looked out into the New Oan sky.

“I lived in terror that you would find out.  Your perfect little cousin was unmarried and pregnant.”  She warmed to the kindness in his eyes.  “And it doesn’t bother you in the least.”

He answered sincerely.

“Mary, that was a lifetime ago.  If the Kayzik had never invaded, the two of you would have married. The date of Garth’s birth would have been a family joke at worst.”

She looked back to where her family talked to the Sentinel’s team.  She watched Krystal.

“I wonder what happened to her.”

“Cousin, I wish I knew.  But I know she’s the key to this mess.  I just don’t know why.”

Mary sighed.

“And the truth shall set you free.  I’ve learned that today.  It’s time to reclaim the lightning.”

Alan agreed.

“I’ll have Kent release the spell that binds it from you…”

Mary smiled.

“No.  Walk outside with me.  Please.”  She led him outside.  Their family and friends began to follow.

They stood alone in the Courtyard.  Krystal floated in the air not far away.  Kent stood off to one side with Garth.

Mary stepped away.  She announced for all to hear.

“I am Athena.  I am the Mistress of the Lightning.  Neither Ares nor my own self doubt will ever keep me from it again.” 

Alan’s intuition flared.  He knew what would happen next.

“Sector Control, this is Sentinel.  Clear the area over my location.  Things will get violent.”

Sector Command answered.

“Aye, Sentinel.  You are clear.”

Alan Scott took to the air.  He floated next to Krystal.

“Thank you.”

Krystal smiled.

“You’re very welcome.”

The skies above darkened.  Storm clouds formed.  They revolved in the air above Mary.  She crackled with electricity.  She held her hands high.  Lightning charged into her.  The air charged around her.  They heard her speak.

“In brightest day,

In blackest night,

No evil shall escape my sight.

Let those who worship evil’s might,

Beware my power, my birthright!

SHAZAM!”

Purifying lightning burst forth from the sky.  It burned through the Heavens.  It charged into her. 

Earth

Lightning erupted across the planet.  Kayzik warriors found themselves under attack.  Invincible creatures found themselves burned.  And other Dark Evils began to recede.

China

Chan Tzu looked overhead.  Dragons are not real.  Are they?

The Island of Avalon, the United Kingdom

An ancient spell shattered.   The Guardian of a dream stepped forth.

Leesburg, Virginia

A farmer and his family felt the madness recede from their minds.  Edna Danvers howled with shame.

Themyscira

A single cry raged from the hills of the Amazons’ home.  We are not done.  We shall be avenged!  Hephaestus, hear our plea!  The sound of a single hammer rang out in response.

The Shade of Hippolyta took physical form.

“Hades!  The Triad is complete!  Act now!  Restore my children!”

Hell

Ares is a fool.  Hades almost smirked.  He forces Athena to face the darkness in her soul.  Once more, he underestimates her courage.  She purifies the lightning and her own soul.  At last I can act.  And I am looking forward to it!

Hades timed his next moves precisely.  Hippolyta, that which was stolen shall now be returned.  He carefully chose three innocuous bolts of lightning to carry his gift.

Outside the Sentinel’s Lair

Diana searched for Helena and Krypto.  Helena had bolted from her when the lightning began to strike.  Diana spotted them in a small cave and ran towards them.

“Helena! It’s not safe for you out here.”

“Diana!  I’m afraid!  Aren’t we safe in this cave?”

Diana stood just outside the cave.

“Not from th…”  The lightning struck Diana.  She staggered and fell.  Moments later, she rose to her feet.

“Diana?  Are you all right?”  Helena ran out with Krypto.

Puzzled, Diana turned her senses inward.  After her self-examination, she opened her eyes and smiled confidently.

“A gift of the lightning.  A gift of power.”  Diana breathed in deeply.  She felt a strength she had not felt in years.  “Mother, I do not know how you arranged this, but thank you!”

She picked up Helena and aimed skywards towards the Lair.  For the first time in many years, she felt the sound barrier shatter.

The Outback, Australia

An unconscious woman lay behind an outcropping of rock.  Lightning seemed to first attack her and then pour into her.  Her terrified horse struggled to break its bindings.  Then, as quickly as it came, the lightning ended.   The horse found itself calmed by the kind, though not handsome, man standing in front of it.  Gently, he repositioned her unconscious form.  Satisfied, he left her several reminders of his visit.  He patted the horse one last time and vanished. 

The woman groaned. 

New Oa

The lightning hit Krystal.  She screamed in agony and fell out of the sky. 

Twin whirlwinds rushed to slow her descent.  On cue, Iris slowed her run.  Jay Garrick stopped and let Krystal fall into his arms.

Krystal shook herself awake.  Jay helped her to stand.  Alan landed next to her.

“Krys?”

She nodded.

“My memories are returning.  Give me a second.”

Mary rushed to her.

“I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Krys stood up to her full height.  She breathed in sharply.  Her eyes burned with anger.

“That bastard.  He has my children.  I will have them back.”

“Your children?”

She frowned.

“My son, Kal-El, and my daughter, Kira Jor-El.”

Alan’s eyes widened.

“Are you Lara?”

She shook her head.

“No.  I’m not Lara Zor-El.  I’m not a member of the El family.  But they are my children.”

“Krys?”  Alan asked.

Krystal searched the heavens with telescopic vision.

“The family of El was one of the great families of our world.  I’m only here because of a peculiarity in my genes.  I should have died with my people.  Please call me Krystal.  My real name has no meaning here.”

“Yes,” Mary emphasized, “it does!”

Krystal’s mouth hinted at a smile.

“Thank you for that.”  She breathed in sharply.  “I don’t know why it matters.  But I’m Lyla.  Lyla Lerrol.”

Alan’s eyes lit with wonder.  Even here.  True love never dies.  It just takes different forms.  And here, Lyla Lerrol isn’t destined to be just a footnote in Kal-El’s history.  Good for you, Lyla, much better for us.  Welcome!

Prologue

Kryptonopolis – six years before the explosion of Krypton

Jor-El watched his readouts.  Pesky readings.  Must be a way to alter our genes.  We are trapped on our planet.  None of our trading partners are trapped on theirs.  Even the Daxamites can leave their world.  But we can’t.  We can go as far as our moons, and that’s it.

He sighed.  He listened to the news.

“In other news today, Authorities state that the computer failure at Kryptonopolis Power was only transitory.  The Kerillian freighter did no damage when it lost control.  Planetary Defense Forces arrived to find that Kryptonopolis Power personnel had the situation completely under control.  No citizen of Kryptonopolis was ever in danger.  Repeat.  No citizen of Kryptonopolis was ever in danger.  All Zencronium radiation remained fully contained.”

I’ll have to track down the real story.  Jor-El looked over to the display.  That is the biggest pile of malarkey I’ve ever heard.

“In other news, the Planetary Defense Force denies that one of its pilots has gone AWOL.”

Jor-El scowled.  Wish I had time to check into that.  He continued his research.

Kryptonopolis – three years later – the Katar Dinner Theatre.

“Ah!  The brilliant Jor-El and his equally brilliant twin sister, Lara Zor-El!  The most brilliant brother-sister research team on Krypton today!”

Lara smiled.

“Flattery will get you everywhere, Ro-nar.”

Jor-El looked around at the dinner theatre.  Rows of tables gradually sloped upwards from the stage.  He held a chair out for his sister.

“Ro?  Why here?  That actress has stolen our family name!  Kara Zor-El?  She’s not a member of the ‘El’ family.  My father should put a stop to it!  She has stolen his name!”  He and Ronar sat down.

“Jor,” Ro-nar smiled despite Jor-El’s hostility, “many actors and actresses choose stage names referring to the Great Houses.  It does no real harm.  Most of the Great Houses just ignore it.”

Ro-nar turned serious.

“But this is just a little different.  There is much you do not know.  I will explain before the evening is out.

Lara fumed.

“Like why you want us to end our genetic research?” 

“Yes.”  Ro-nar turned serious.  “And many other things.”  He relaxed.  “Enjoy the play.  You can see the holovideo anytime, but I find myself in awe of the actress in person.”

Jor-El raised his eyebrow, but said nothing.

Two hours later

“Thank you for coming to see ‘Follow the Stars’.”  The actress known as Kara Zor-El beamed towards the audience.  “We hope you share our dream.  But remember, more than one kind of dream matters.  Treat everyone kindly.  If we can’t follow the stars, then let’s give the stars a reason to come to us!”

The crowd stood and applauded.  The cast took their bows.  They walked back off the stage.  The lights turned back on.  Most of the patrons departed.  Ro-nar ordered another round of refreshment.

“Ro,” Jor-El smiled, “that was a lovely play.  Thank you for inviting us.”

“What did you think of Kara Zor-El?”  Ro-nar inquired.

“Better than I expected.”  Jor-El glanced down at the stage.  “She’s absolutely believable as the PDF pilot.” (Elf note: PDF = Planetary Defense Force).

Lara smiled.

“You know, I could see her flying off to some other world.  She’d set the universe right.  It would be a far better place when she finished.”

Ro-nar looked thoughtful.

“Of all the people born on Krypton, she’s the one who could do it.  She really could fly to the stars.  And she’ll never know.”

“What!”  Lara squawked.  “Why not?”

“Because people fear us and the Daxamites.”  Ro-nar sighed.  “Lead can kill the Daxamites so easily that they are not considered a true threat.  That’s why they almost never leave home.  But Kryptonians are different.  If we were to break loose from this planet, we could rule everything the Kayzik don’t.”

“That might not be such a bad idea.”  Jor-El opined.  “We would have the power to slow the Kayzik threat.  Let us not forget, they are in other parts of this Galaxy.”

“But our trading partners don’t think it’s such a good idea.”  Ro-nar answered seriously.  “We’d be starved to death before we could act.  Remember, we no longer grow our own food.”

They looked over at the stage.  ‘Kara Zor-El’ had come out to talk with a young girl.  She sat on the steps and chatted cheerfully.

Jor-El watched the conversation.

“Who is she, really?  And why is my Father so tolerant of her?  He would have any other actor in court.”

Ro-nar smiled broadly.

“Because that is Commander Lyla Lerrol, formerly of the PDF.  She’s the only reason you’re still alive to fume at her stage name.”

“What!”

The Kryptonopolis Power Plant – three years earlier. 

The small tour group made its way through the power plant. 

“Is it anything like you thought, Starchild?”  Jac-At grinned.

Lyla smiled back.

“Starchild.  I truly wish that’s who I was.”  She sighed.  “Jac-At, I’ve been through several of these plants.  I almost specialized in quantum physics.  But the lure of the stars really is far too strong.  I so wish we could go farther than Krypton’s moons.”

They walked behind the rest of the group.

“Lyla, I understand you’re up for Group Commander next year.”

She almost blushed.

“I’d like to make it.  Then, I could have myself based on one of the moons.  That’s always been one of my dreams.”

They passed the entrance to the core.  The ground began to shake as the freighter collided into the power plant.  She heard a familiar sound of warning.  The plant personnel ran out the exits.

“Save yourselves!  It’s gonna blow!”  They ran past. 

“Come on!”  Jac-At ran with them.  “We can’t help!”

Maybe you can’t.  But I’m a qualified tech.  She marched into the core.

Ten minutes later

Radiation is killing me!   Lyla felt herself stumble.  No fooling myself.  I’m dead anyway.  At least no one will have to mourn me.  She moved towards the console.  Core has been breached.  Have to shut it down.

She walked over to the console on the opposite wall.  There.  I think that’s got it.  This is so damned painful.  She tugged at a panel.  Oof.  Got it.  I can do this.  I have to do this.  She felt her knees buckle. 

Farewell Jac-At.  You’ll be a wonderful Group Commander.  We both know I was your only real competition.    

She struggled to stay upright.  I’m coming apart.  I can’t feel my hands anymore.  Sweat dripped from her brow.  She watched in horror as blood dripped through her skin. 

Don’t think.  Just move. She marched over to a second console and made adjustments.  She made her way to a final console. 

Now.  She pulled the final lever.  She heard the shut down process initiate.  Her legs collapsed beneath her.  She fell to the floor.  She struggled to watch the core retract into shielding.  She lost consciousness.

Two weeks later – Kryptonopolis Hospital Intensive Care Ward

They looked down at the mass of flesh that had been a woman.  The male attendant scowled.

“There’s no way this one’s going to make it.”

The female attendant frowned.

“I hope she does.  Unusual specimen.  Zor-El of the Science Council is very concerned about her welfare.”

“A member of the Science Council?  That is unusual.  Where did she wind up here?”

“Get real.  Where do you think?  That’s Zencronium radiation poisoning.”

He pulled one of her hands and placed it on her chest.  The hand glowed white.  That section of the woman’s chest healed.

“What was that?”

“I don’t know.  But I’m willing to believe in miracles!”  They moved her hand again.  The same healing pattern recurred with each movement.

The Katar Dinner Theatre

“That’s an amazing story.”  Jor-El remarked.  “As stories go.”

Ro-nar pulled out his display.

“This was her genetic print before.”  He flashed a typical Kryptonian gene pattern.  “This is her gene pattern now.  We strongly suspect that she’s immune to the Kayzik glamour, too.”

Jor-El’s eyes widened.

“It’s completely missing.  The gene that holds us here is completely gone!  We’ve never been able to do that.  We couldn’t even remove a fraction of that pattern.”

Lara looked at the pattern. 

“Ro-nar, this is the best fiction I’ve ever seen.”

Ro-nar scowled.

“And her only reward for saving Kryptonopolis?   The Science Council took away her commission.  They won’t ever let her fly again.  Not after what she’s become.”

He looked into their disbelieving eyes.

“You don’t believe me.”  He picked up a knife.  He cut open his hand.  He held up the bloody hand and screamed in pain.

“Call a doctor!  I’m bleeding!”

The actress made it to their table in seconds.

“Let me help!”  She took his hand and placed her own above it.  They watched in amazement as the white light spread from her hand into his.  Seconds later, the white light faded.  He held up his healed hand.

“Thank you very much, Miss Zor-El.”

She smiled brilliantly.

“I’m glad I could help.  But I hope our play didn’t drive you to it.  You really should be more careful.”

She winked at him and walked back to the stage.

“Lara.”  Ro-nar suggested.  “When you get home, check her classified record.  That’s Commander Lyla Lerrol, PDF.  Crosscheck under Science Council Medal of Honor.”

Jor-El and Lara retained their look of shock.  Ro-nar smiled sincerely.

“Do you know how she got the stage name ‘Kara Zor-El’?  Your father took an interest in her case.  He refused to let her be buried by the bureaucrats.  He visited her in the hospital – frequently.  When she told him she planned to be an actress, he gave her the name.  She felt she was not worthy.”

Jor-El nodded slowly.

“Lerrol.  It’s the name of a city, not a person.  That means she is a foundling.  She has no family.  And probably no twin.”

Ro-nar spoke warmly.

“Yes.  Something the rest of us take for granted.  We of Krypton have an elegant solution to our population problems.  Each married couple is allowed one set of twins.  No child grows up alone – except the foundlings – the mistakes of our population control system.”

“Please be kind to her.  She refused the name. But Zor-El insisted.  It was the only reason she took it – she did not want to hurt his feelings.  If you don’t believe me, ask him.”

Jor-El and Lara watched Lyla in stunned silence.

“Yes,” remarked Ro-nar.  “This is awe.”

Jor-El stood up.  He helped his sister out of her chair.   They walked down to the stage.  Lyla looked up to them.

“Can I do something for you?”

Jor-El spoke haltingly.

“We are Jor-El and Lara, the other children of Zor-El.  We would like you to know how very honored we are to meet you…..”

One day before the destruction of Krypton

Jor-El and Lara watched the rocket roar towards Daxam.  Jor-El stepped back from the console.

“Kira is off safely, my twin.  Jakar Tennan will see to her safety.”

“Jor-El.  Fire off the other rocket.  The Kayzik grow too close.”

Jor-El shook his head sideways.

“No.  Not yet.  The rocket is not ready.”

“Jor-El, we have worked in secret for years.  We stole Lyla’s DNA to create the children.  We can’t delay!  Kal-El deserves his chance.  The Kayzik are coming.  We have to fire the rocket, now!”

Jor-El smiled.

“No.  Kal-El will have a chance, but it will be a real chance.  Be patient.”

Lara sighed loudly. 

They heard a door open.

“Jor-El?”  Lyla Lerrol rushed into the room.  “You asked to see me?  Why aren’t you with the rest of your family?”

My brother does have half a brain, after all!  Lara smiled in spite of herself.  Of course, if he’d had a real brain, he would have married her.

Jor-El smiled with a gentle sincerity.  Lara did not miss the strength of his absolute confidence as he spoke.

“We have a job for Commander Lyla Lerrol, the best damned pilot the PDF ever had.  Something only the one true Starchild can do.  ‘Follow the Stars’.  Come, I have something I would like to show you.”

Puzzled, she followed him.

Two hours later

Jor-El held his twin as they watched the rocket roar into the heavens.  Almost immediately, they heard Zor-El, Allura, Ro-nar, and his wife Yana Ro-nar walk into their lab.  Zor-El gestured towards the open sky.

“She’s off!  Good.  Krypton’s legacy will live.”

Lara stammered.

“Father?”

Allura walked to the monitoring console.  Smiling warily, she watched intently.

“She’s past the moons.  She just passed the minor planet Donos.  Ro-nar, you were right.  Pulse rate is good and strong.  No sign of breakdown.  None.”

“That’s it, then.”  Yana smiled triumphantly.  “We’ve won this, at least.  She has her dream.  Follow the stars, Lyla.  Follow the stars.”

The console screen turned bright with new ships on the display.

“Oh, no!”  Allura shouted.  “Those Kayzik bastards have dropped out of Hyperspace!  Thirty ships. They’ve fired on her.  The primary comms antenna is gone.  Switching to secondary.”

“We didn’t make her dream come true after all…”  Ro-nar looked at the ground.  “She can’t best them in battle.  Not at those odds.”

“Have faith.”  Zor-El watched intently.  “She doesn’t have to stay close to Krypton while she fights.  That’s always been our Achilles’ heel.  And you forget who she is.”

“Pulse rate is accelerating.”  Allura remarked.  “Projecting battle diagram.  Odds are 26 to one.”  They watched the eye-straining blurs of the high speed battle.  “20 to one.”  The reflections of laser charges splattered the display.   “15 to 1.”  The battle continued.

“My, my.”  Lara smiled with admiration.  “Best pilot the PDF ever had, Jor-El?  You do have a gift for understatement.” 

Jor-El blushed.

“Six to one.”  Allura intoned.  “Pulse rate steady.”

“Three to one.” 

“One to one.”

“One.”  They started to cheer.

“But she seems to be headed back here.”

The tiny craft flew back towards Jor-El’s laboratory.  At the last moment, it pulled out of its dive and headed back through the atmosphere.  It aimed far above the planetary plane. Engines roared at full throttle.   Krypton’s daughter charged her tiny craft into Hyperspace.

“Complete with a salute to Command.”  Zor-El grinned.  “Jor-El and Lara, you have honored us all with your work.”

“Father?”  Lara asked.  “But you told us to end our research.”

Her eyes widened with sudden realization.

“And then you gave us the keys to the kingdom!”

Zor-El’s eyes sparkled.

“We could only protect your work if we were not part of it.  Thank you for granting us our fondest wish.”

Ro-nar beamed.

“Krypton will end.  But Lyla lives to follow our dream.  Farewell, Starchild.  Farewell.”

Zor-El looked thoughtful.

“We will broadcast our family records to the Shantar tonight.  There is one more entry I would like to add.”

Lara Zor-El smiled warmly.  She activated the communications console.

“Legal records.  This is Lara Zor-El.  I am the senior female member of the House of El…” 

20 hours later

May Rao have mercy on my soul.  Fly swiftly Lyla.  Zor-El pushed a button.  Every Power plant on Krypton went critical with simultaneous Zencronium meltdown.  Three minutes later, the planet exploded.

Elsewhere

The tiny craft passed through the Halo of a yellow sun.  Greenish dust evaporated from the tail of the craft.  The pilot concentrated as she fired on another Kayzik ship. Her fingers indented the metal of the steering yoke as she swerved to avoid the wreckage of the Kayzik craft.  She aimed her ship back above the planetary plane.  With a burst of acceleration, she jumped her ship back into Hyperspace. 

House of El - The legend begins…..

-- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2002 by Eldric

-- and may not be reprinted without permission. 

-- Otherverse and Dark Earth, as depicted in the Continuum Worlds,

-- are original creations of Dylan Clearbrook

-- Alterverse, The Realm and Shadowverse, as depicted in the Continuum Worlds,

-- are original creations of Eldric, John P. and Jason G respectively.

-- Some characters in Continuum Worlds stories are original

-- creations of Dylan Clearbrook, Michael Liebhart,

-- Jake H., Jason Froikin, Eldric, Jason G, or Andrew Shields and may not

-- be used without express permission of the respective author

-- Supergirl, Lar Gand and other DC characters are property of D.C. Comics

-- Rogue, Jennifer Walters and other Marvel characters are property of Marvel Comics