Krypton spacecraft.
Squeak...
An unpleasant sound of grinding steel suddenly echoed.
In the main battle control room, a crack abruptly ford in the wall of the cabin. A pair of white, jade-like hands pierced through the hull, tearing it apart on both sides.
Chaos instantly erupted within the cabin. The gravitational pull of outer space surged in like a vortex. Wind howled violently as small instrunts and loose items were sucked toward the breach, whipped into disarray.
It was as if this rupture were the mouth of the abyss, forming a hurricane that drew everything into it.
Hael's eyes narrowed, staring intently at the pale hands.
Those hands pulled again, widening the breach further with a loud, grating twist of steel and tal.
Through the tear, Bardi's imposing figure erged. Behind him was the vast, brilliant starry sky.
He was dressed in white, a sneer on his face. Like a giant overlooking ants, he ripped open the hull from the vacuum of space and stepped inside.
"Enemy attack!"
The crew in the control room, all enhanced with Kryptonian genetics, remained unaffected by the vacuum's pull due to their powerful bodies.
Hael's expression was complicated. Guilt flickered in his eyes. He raised his hand to calm the tense, hostile stance of the surrounding Kryptonian soldiers.
"Bardi..."
Hael said with bitter emotion. Seeing the brother he once knew again, he was montarily at a loss for words.
The hem of Bardi's white coat whipped violently in the suction of the vacuum. His clothes clung tightly to his muscular body, radiating a dominant power as he stood tall before the stars. His hair was windblown, his face firm and resolute, and a cold smile curved on his lips.
Boom, boom, boom...
Near the torn opening, small items such as lockers were pulled violently toward the breach.
Then, the wind stopped.
Bardi's windswept hair settled quietly, and from his hand, a grotesque severed head appeared. He casually tossed it forward.
Zod's muscled head rolled to a stop at Hael's feet.
"General Zod!"
Several soldiers gasped. Their expressions stiffened in shock. They stared at the severed head, holding their breath.
Even after his transformation into the second Doomsday, Zod's features were still recognizable.
The cabin fell into tense silence. The Kryptonian soldiers surrounding Hael now looked at Bardi with grim expressions.
"Hael, are you planning to stand against too?"
Bardi's voice was cold.
Hael had disappointed him deeply.
Back on Krypton, Bardi had sought to use Hael's brilliance to help develop scientific and technological breakthroughs, launching a revolutionary movent.
But Bardi had always regarded Hael as a brother. Aside from Faora, Hael was the one he shared the deepest bond with. They ca from Cando University, each excelling in their respective fields. They weren't just comrades but shared nearly a decade of brotherhood.
Never had Bardi imagined that, all because of Hael's idolization of Jor-El—whom Hael acknowledged as a father—Hael would betray him by revealing his secrets to the El family. That betrayal led to Bardi's complete downfall, forcing him to flee Krypton.
It had cut too deep.
Of course, Hael never intended for things to go so far. Even when he learned that Jor-El had plotted to kill Bardi, Hael still pleaded for Bardi's life.
But Jor-El, while appearing to appease Hael, secretly planted a bomb to kill Bardi.
Had Bardi not possessed secret technologies unknown to them, he would have died in space before even reaching Earth.
When Hael finally realized the truth, he was consud by guilt. Unable to let it go, he broke ties with Jor-El and left the El family entirely.
But Bardi never knew any of this.
Even if he did, it wouldn't have changed the outco of Hael's betrayal.
From the start, Hael never truly stood by Bardi. The mont he accepted Jor-El as his father and chose the El family, the brotherhood between them was already fated to end.
"No. Not at all."
Hael shook his head bitterly. The overwhelming guilt in his eyes kept him from relaxing.
"You all leave."
He turned to the Kryptonian soldiers around him and gestured for them to retreat.
"General Hael! General Zod left orders for us to protect you."
A soldier spoke up hesitantly, unwilling to retreat.
Zod had entrusted everything to Hael, including the title of general.
Among the remaining Kryptonians, Hael now stood as their supre commander.
It was, by all accounts, the easiest rise to general in Kryptonian history—because there was simply no one else left to take the role.
"It's fine. He's my brother. Step back."
Hael's tone hardened, his face stern.
Kryptonian society held a rigid class hierarchy. A general's order was absolute, and no subordinate could disobey.
"Yes, General."
With solemn expressions, the Kryptonian soldiers gave the standard military salute, then exited the control cabin like a receding tide.
Once all the Kryptonian soldiers had left the room.
Silence.
The only sound was the occasional suction through the breach, drawing faint currents of air with a soft exhale and curl.
Hael stood in silence, guilt still in his eyes as he faced Bardi. For a mont, he had no idea how to face him, or what to say.
"General. You may be the Kryptonian who earned the rank of general with the least effort in our planet's history."
Bardi said coldly, his voice void of emotion. His expression was detached, as though looking at a stranger.
For Zod or Bardi to earn the title of general on Krypton, they had to overco countless trials, outcompete many elite candidates, demonstrate excellence in military strategy, and display unwavering obedience to Kryptonian command.
Hael's appointnt, however, ca without contest. Zod had simply handed him everything.
"You know I'm not suited for this role."
Hael took a deep breath and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, the guilt in his gaze had disappeared.
Now was not the ti to be overwheld by remorse.
"Bardi, I don't want to oppose you."
Hael said, "Releasing Kara… that was my way of making peace."
"You should've known by now."
Bardi's eyes flickered with confusion.
"Kara?"
He had no idea what Hael was talking about.
Back on Krypton, Kara had been one of his combat training students. Her father had invited Bardi to serve as her instructor. Through that relationship, Bardi had convinced Kara's family to support his cause.
But in the end, everything fell apart because of Hael.
Was Kara still alive?
(To be continued.)
***
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