Connor Kent and the Revival of Krypton

Chapter 33

Wind blew across the shores of Themiscira, carrying with it grains of sand. The neo-man of steel squinted against the Sandy wind and raised his hand. Instantly, the wind died. He smiled.' I guess being the god of storms has its advantages. I just hope it's enough to help us defeat Darksied.'

Shaking his head, the son of Superman turned to the group behind him, "Are we ready to go?"

Wonder woman nodded, the air from the waves crashing on the shores ruffling her short toga.

The neo-man of steel frowned as he saw her gloved hand slipped to her slim belly.' I knew it was a bad idea for her to put my sister and the crystal.'

Shaking his head, Connor turned to Artemis.

Her toga whipped in the wind and her golden chain mail glittered in the sunlight.

"Are you good?"

Artemis nodded and finished tightening her sandal straps that covered most of her calf.

Connor turned to his father, but before he could even ask the man of steel raised his hand, "I'm good. However, I still don't think they should come," he gestured to his parents, "it's too dangerous, and they don't know Darksied like we do."

Connor turned away from his father and stared at his grandparents remembering back to when his father first met his parents.

CK

Jor-El and Laura looked around. When their eyes landed on Connor they smiled.

Jor-El was the first to speak, "You did it my boy, you save the entire kryptonian race and made it back to your own time. Truly that is a feat worthy of the house of El."

Laura stepped forward, her dark green eyes shining with pride, "You are truly a fine warrior," her brows knit in confusion, "but where are we?"

Connor ran a hand through his hair, you're in the fortress of solitude on earth, he gestured to his mother, "This is Diana, queen of Themiscira and my mother."

Laura stepped forward, her long rust colored hair swaying as she moved. She stopped before Diana and smiled, "You have trained your son to be a fine warrior. You should be proud."

Wonder woman's hand dropped to her now smooth stomach, causing Connor to frown, "I am," the Queen of the Amazons replied with a smile, "I just wish he wasn't so stubborn."

Jor-El laughed, his light blue eyes twinkling with amusement, "That's a family trait," Laura turned to him with a withering glare, causing Jor-El to raise his hands defensively, "what with a statement like that he could get it from both of us."

Laura shook her head and turned back to Diana with pleading eyes, "Where is my…"

"Diana, I'm home." The man of steel called as he landed outside the fortress, his footsteps echoed loudly as he made his way inside, "I have to say I like being the kryptonian god of agriculture. It makes farming a lot more fun."

Superman froze as he saw the occupants in the center of the fortress, "Mother, father," he asked confusion and wonder in his voice.

"Kal-El," Laura choked with tears streaming down her face. She sprinted forward, her long crimson gown flowing behind her. She threw her arms around him and sobbed into his chest, "I'm so sorry we sent you away, we didn't have a choice. If we hadn't the timeline could've changed."

The man of steel slowly wrapped his arms around his mother, "It's all right, I understand why you did. If you hadn't sent me here then my son may never have been born, which means he would have never gone to the past, which means you would've never save krypton, and we would've all died."

Jor-El strode forward and placed a hand on his son shoulder, "Still it was one of the hardest decisions we ever had to make, but I am so proud of the man you've turned into," he looked down and said in a quiet voice, "when this whole mess with Darksied is over I would like to pay my respects to your earthly parents for raising such a fine man."

The man of steel smiled.' I'm glad they're not trying to take mom and dad's place. It will be good to get to know them.'

"I'd like that."

He turned to his son with a frown on his face, "Not that I'm not happy to see you, but I thought Connor wasn't going to bring you back until he had a new krypton set up."

The newly formed trio turned to look at Connor.

The neo-man of steel cleared his throat, "Well, it's like this."

Over the next hour, he filled his father and his grandparents in on everything the monitor told them

. "So, you see, with Darksied's new power I thought we could use some help," he smiled at his kryptonian grandparents, "I've seen Jor-El and Laura skills while I was on krypton there's no one I would trust more to fight by our side."

Kal-El frowned and unwrapped himself from his mother, "I don't like this, they've never fought Darksied before. Plus, they've never use the powers given to them under a yellow sun."

Laura opened her mouth to argue, but Connor cut her off.

"You can teach them how to use their powers under the yellow sun. Both of them were in the kryptonian Army, so there fast learners. Besides, can you think of anyone else to thin the condition to help us right now."

The man of steel looked towards his wife, his eyes widened as he caught sight of her flat belly. They flicked to the crystal with his child inside. He gave her a look that said they would talk later, then turned back to his son.

"You're right, how much time do we have."

"Not much, so you better work fast."

The man of steel's eyes hardened. He brushed a hand over his dark green suit, "Well then, let's get started."

CK

Connor shook his head and looked his grandparents over.

Both of them were wearing skintight suits with silver armor covering their vital spots.

Two blasters hung on either of Jor-El's hips and he cared a long rectangular one in his hands.

"Are you ready?"

The father of Superman nodded.

Connor turned to Laura a belt of daggers dangled from her waist and a large broadsword hung on her back, "Are you ready?"

Laura tightened the strap that held her ponytail in place and nodded.

"Then let's do this," the neo-man of steel removed the remote from his waist and pressed a button.

A vortex of white energy opened up before them.

As one the group stepped inside and disappeared.

CK

Humid sulfurous smelling air blasted them in the face as they emerged from the portal.

Connor coughed, "I see the environment hasn't improved since the last time I was here."

"The environment may not of improved, but the surroundings sure have changed," Artemis said pointing to the ground.

The group looked down to see hordes of crystal soldiers covering the planet surface. All of them standing at attention like they were waiting for something.

Artemis narrowed her eyes, "Is it just me or do those crystal soldiers look different?"

Connor wiped the sweat from his brow with an armored hand.' Man I forgot how much I hated this place.'

Shaking his head, the neo-man of steel pointed to the Army below,"They are different, if you look closely at the joints you'll see there now made a flesh, and let's not forget about the wings. The last crystal soldier we fought definitely didn't have wings."

As if sensing their stares, all the crystal soldiers looked up as one.

"Heads up," Artemis said drawing an arrow and readying her bow, "I think were about to have some company."

"Leave them to me," the man of steel floated forward and stretched forth his hand.

The ground rumbled. Bark began to sprout from the ground and grow up around the crystal soldiers.

Sweat began to form on the man of steel's brow as more and more crystal soldiers limbs became branches or roots. Blood began to drip from his nose as leaves sprouted from their bodies.

"Stop," Wonder woman floated forward and placed a hand on her husband's arm, "that's enough."

Superman's hand dropped with a gasp. He swayed slightly before floating backwards.

While Superman recovered, the rest of the group looked down at his work.

The surface of apocalypse was now covered in at least a hundred trees with the ground turned into rich soil beneath them.

Connor whistled, "I have to say, that is impressive."

"Yes," Laura said with a proud smile on her face, "it is." With a savage grin she drew the broadsword from her back, "Now, what do you say we go do some pruning."

As one the group charged forward just as the remaining para-demons leapt into the air.

The two sides clashed, sending blood and bodies flying through the air.

"You're good," Laura commented to Wonder woman, using her broadsword to cleave three crystal soldiers in half at once, "I'm glad my son married such a fine warrior"

"Thank you," Wonder woman said as she spun out of the way of a crystal soldier and drove her sword through its demonic face, "but to be honest. I love your son and it doesn't matter to me if you approve or not."

Laura smiled, decapitating a para demon with her sword, sending a fresh fountain of blood into the air, "Good, that's how it should be."

CK

Connor danced and weaved through the crystal soldiers, his sword glinting in the fires of apocalypse as he cut down para demon after para demon. He frowned as crimson blood splattered his plated armor, blending in with its ruby color.

Spinning on his heel, the neo-man of steel punted a crystal soldier across apocalypse. While it flew through the air, he took a quick glance at it with his x-ray vision, "That's strange."

"That's strange," Connor said as his back slammed into Artemis.

"What," Artemis asked, taking down three crystal soldiers with a single arrow.

"Darksied merged Brainiacs crystal soldiers with his para-demons. They shouldn't be this easy to kill."

"So why are they," Artemis asked, slinging her bow onto her back and drawing her silver daggers.

"I don't know," Connor said with a frown. His fist flew forward, smashing into a para-demon's skull, sending blood and brain matter flying. Suddenly his eyes widened, "Unless this is a diversion."

"Well there's a pleasant thought," Artemis said jamming her dagger into a crystal soldier's brain then jumping back before another could take off her head with a swipe of its arm, "So, if this is a diversion. Where is Darksied?"

"I don't know, but I'm going to find out." The neo-man of steel raised his hand, a fierce wind gathered around him, picking up the crystal soldiers and slinging them into the nearest fire pit.

Artemis grabbed a hold of Connor, her hair whipped around her face, "Next time you're going to do this," she screamed over the wind, "warn me."

"Hopefully," Connor said lowering his hand, causing the wind to die down, "there won't be in next time."

The neo-man of steel gazed around, his eyes glowing a pale blue as he searched for Darksied.

The rocky Gothic like structures of Apocalypse faded away, and it's fire pits became nothing but sources of heat.

After a moment, Connor shut off his x-ray vision, "Uh Artemis, I have a question."

"What?" Artemis asked wiping the sweat from her brow.

"How could we have missed that?" The neo-man of steel pointed upwards.

Artemis looked up to see the crimson sky of Apocalypse filled with streamers of white energy. Following the energy, she saw that they were all being funneled toward the tower at the center of the city. She turned to Connor, "What are those?"

"When I was looking with my x-ray vision, I didn't see any other life signs besides Darksied and the organic parts of the crystal soldiers."

Artemis's eyes widened, "You mean…"

Connor nodded with a grim expression on his features, "Yes, those streamers of energy are the souls of the people of Apocalypse."

"What could Darksied be using the souls of his people for?"

"I don't know, but it definitely can't be anything good."

Artemis smiled, "Then let's go stop them, I'm itching for a new trophy."

Connor shook his head, "Haven't even been the goddess of the hunt for a week and you're already collecting trophies."

"Shut up," Artemis said with a smile as she lifted into the air.

Before they could get very far crystal soldiers blocked their path.

Connor raised his hands to call down a storm, but to blur's knock the crystal covered para-demons over like bowling pins.

The man of steel and his father floated before them.

"I heard everything, you two go stop Darksied. Will take care of things here."

Connor smiled, "Thanks dad."

The man of steel smiled, "No problem. Just make sure the both of you come back safe."

"Don't worry, we will," Connor called back as he and Artemis flew to Darksied's location.

CK

Darksied stared up at the souls of his people as they were sucked into a cylindrical device holding the Titan of time Kronos.

The machine blazed with emerald light. That got brighter with each soul absorbed.

The Lord of apocalypse stepped forward and stared in to machine through its glass hatch.

Kronos thrashed inside, struggling to break free. His mouth was open in a soundless scream, the veins on his body bulged and were drenched in sweat.

Glancing at a gauge on the machine, Darksied smile grew, "Don't worry, you're suffering will be over soon. You have almost absorbed every living soul on apocalypse," he glanced at the monitors covering the circular walls and watched the invaders battle his crystal covered para-demons.

"Their fighting well," he said turning back to Kronos, "it's just a shame that by the time they defeat my horde it will be too late. I will have already opened a portal to the beginning of time," he shrugged, "it's a shame you won't survive, but that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make."

"He may have eaten his own children, but he doesn't deserve to die by your hands." The neo-man of steel shrugged, "well, that's debatable, but were still going to stop you."

Darksied smiled as he turned, his silver suit reflecting the lights of the torches that lit the room, "well, well, well, I knew Superman was a thorn in my side, but it appears you have him beat. I don't think the kryptonian ever came back from the dead."

Connor shrugged, "What can I say, death didn't agree with me."

The triangle on Darksied's forehead blazed along with his eyes, "I'll just have to give you a different flavor this time." He stretched forth his hand in a wave of force shot towards them.

They heroic duo dived aside and the wall of force struck the wall behind them, covering it in spider-web cracks.

Artemis rolled into a crouch and fired two golden -tipped arrows at the Lord of Apocalypse. Darksied cried out as they struck his shoulder. Blood flow down his arm, dripping off his fingers to puddle on the floor.

Drawing his sword, Connor charged forward. He swiped at Darksied's head, the Lord of Apocalypse just leaned back. The sword flashed across his face inches from his nose.

Flashing his foot upwards, Darksied caught Connor in the chest, sending him stumbling backwards.

In a flash, Artemis took Connor's place, slashing at Darksied with her daggers.

With a roar, Darksied stumbled backwards clutching his face. Blood oozed between his fingers. The Lord of Apocalypse glared at Artemis, one of his crimson eyes dark from a horizontal slash across his face.

His remaining eye glowed. A ruby red beam shot towards Artemis.

Artemis dived out of the way, crying out as the beam nicked her ribs, the smell of cooked flesh filled the air.

"Artemis," Connor cried out. With a roar, the neo-man of steel sent a wave of lightning at Darksied.

The wave of electricity slammed into Darksied, driving him back into his machine. He slammed into Kronos's container hard enough to crack the glass. With his one remaining eye, Darksied caught sight of the full gauge on the side of the tank. He slid to the floor with a smile on his face.

Artemis nocked an arrow and Connor readied his sword. They approached Darksied, ready to end his tyranny once and for all.

Connor raised the sword above his head, "It's over Darksied."

Darksied let out a raspy laugh, "It's far from over." In a flash, he slammed the antilife equation into his chest.

A blast of white energy exploded from Darksied, knocking the heroic duo backwards.

Darksied rose to his feet with white energy dancing around his body. He smiled, "It won't matter in a few minutes, but you cost me an eye. I can't let that stand."

Connor rose to his feet and shook his head to clear his blurred vision, "You're welcome to try and kill me, but I can guarantee you I won't go down without a fight."

Darksied smile widened, "You may not go down without a fight, but what about her?" He pointed to Artemis slumped against the wall.

"You're not going to touch her," Connor snarled.

"We'll see about that," the Lord of apocalypse shot a white blast from his hand.

"No," Connor screamed. Moving faster than he ever had before, the neo-man of steel appeared in front of Artemis and crossed his arms in front of him.

The blast of antilife energy slammed into the neo-man of steel, driving him backwards.' So this is what it feels like when the antilife equation is used against you. I can feel my life draining away.' he glanced back at Artemis, beads of sweat slid down his face.' But no matter what I can't lose her.'

With a scream of exertion, the neo-man of steel forced his crossed arms upward, deflecting the blast of antilife energy into the ceiling, causing a white beam of energy to soar into the sky.

The son of Superman fell to his knees panting, blood streamed from his nose. Rubble rain down around him from the collapsing roof.

Darksied raised an eyebrow, "I have to say, I'm impressed. I honestly didn't expect you to be able to deflect that blast," he shook his head, "but I don't have time to play anymore. I've got more important things to do."

The Lord of apocalypse turned to his machine, "Open the portal, it's time I remake this universe."

Emerald green energy danced along Kronos's prison. The Titan of time screamed as he was compressed into an emerald green vortex with a dark core. Green lightning arched off the portal, cutting deep jagged streaks in the walls.

Darksied rose from the floor and shot into the portal, disappearing in a flash of green light.

Connor staggered to his feet, swaying slightly as he regained his balance, he glanced at Artemis is unconscious form, "I'll be back soon, but right now I have to stop Darksied."

With a flick of his wrist, the son of Superman sent Artemis back to his parents.

Rising into the air, the neo-man of steel shot into the portal after Darksied.

CK

Connor fell through a tunnel of pale green energy.' This is so weird.'

Shaking his head, the neo-man of steel looked around. Darksied was ahead of him, moving at incredible speed.

The son of Superman gritted his teeth.' Oh no you don't you bastard.'

The neo-man of steel pressed his feet together and stretched his arms to his side. Instantly, his speed increased. Within moments, he was at Darksied's feet. After a few more seconds, they were side-by-side.

"Hey!"

Darksied turned, his eyes widened when he saw Connor.

The neo-man of steel drew back his fist and slammed it into Darksied's face, sending him careening into the energy surrounding them.

Darksied slammed into the energy. He cried out and alarm. His body began to fluctuate. One moment he was a gray skinned man wearing rags. The next moment he was the Lord of apocalypse.

' I will not fail. I've come too far.'

The Lord of apocalypse stretched forth his hand and groped for anything to pull himself up out of the energy, but found nothing. Gritting his teeth he pointed his other hand into the energy and shot a blast of antilife energy, rocketing himself out.

He flew out of the energy and straight into Connor's fist.

Blood flew on the air as the two forces began grappling with each other.

"I will not let you win Darksied!"

"It's over I've already won!"

The Lord of apocalypse slammed his knee into Connor sending him into time.

The neo-man of steel began flickering back and forth between his present and younger self. He cried out in pain. He could feel his body shifting, he sells aging and getting younger.

The neo-man of steel concentrated through the haze of pain. He punched through the energy and shot a lasso of wind around Darksied's foot. With a sharp yank he pulled himself out. He slammed into Darksied's back sending them both spiraling towards times end.

Connor wrapped his arms around Darksied's torso, pinning his arms to his sides. "I told you," the neo-man of steel said through gritted teeth as Darksied struggled to get free, "I'm not going to let you win."

Suddenly, both of them were consumed by a white light.

CK

"Connor, Connor can you hear me?"

The neo-man of steel groaned. The smell of sulfurous air assaulted his senses. His eyes fluttered open.

Artemis knelt in front of him with a concerned look on her face.

Connor bolted upright.

"Easy," Artemis said, placing her hand on his shoulder, "everything's alright."

Connor looked around. Bodies of Crystal soldiers lay everywhere and there was a smoking hole in the tower where Darksied opened his time portal. He shook his head, "What happened?"

"That's what we would like you to tell us," Superman said kneeling in front of them. One of his eyes were matted shut with blood, "you just suddenly appeared here."

Connor thought back.

CK

The son of Superman winced as Darksied screamed.

"Let me go, it will not end like this."

The neo-man of steel squinted past the pale light in his eyes. A giant white wall loomed before them. Countless faces shifted inside it, their mouths forever open in soundless screams.

' It looks like this is it. I'm sorry Artemis, but it doesn't look like I'll be back.'

The neo-man of steel tightened his grip on Darksied and locked his legs around his.

Darksied screamed as they slammed into the wall, but Connor had a serene smile on his face. Then his world was consumed by a white light.

CK

"And that's the last thing I remember," Connor said rising to his feet, "the next thing I know I'm standing here with you guys."

Wonder woman turned to Superman, "Does that mean it's over?"

The man of steel turned to her with a smile on his face, "Well, considering were all here and haven't ceased to exist. I think it's safe to say it's over."

Connor smiled and took Artemis in his arms. He kissed her deeply while running a hand through her long blonde hair. When they broke apart, he smiled, "I can't believe it's over."

Artemis cupped his face in her hands, "Believe it baby, we can finally look towards a brighter future."

CK

(One week later)

The cries of a child echoed across Themiscira mingling with the sound of waves crashing upon its shores.

Amazon warriors gathered at the base of the hill below the fortress, waiting for the new Royal child to be presented.

"What do you think it is?" Asked one, straining her neck to try and see something.

"Hopefully a girl," another said, "we don't need a boy with the Queens power."

"I don't know, Connor did okay with power."

"There are exceptions to every rule."

CK

Wonder woman wrapped her whaling daughter in a soft white blanket. She stared down at her face while running her fingers through the small tuft of blonde hair on her head. "She's beautiful," she said while slowly rocking the child. Slowly, the newborn Princess began to quiet down.

The man of steel wrapped an arm around his wife's shoulders, "Just like her mother."

"What are you going to name her?" Connor asked peering over his mother's shoulder.

Diana looked up at her son with a smile on her face, "Hippolyta, after her grandmother."

Connor's lips turned upwards in a small smile, "Fitting, I'm sure she'll be a fine warrior, just like her namesake."

The Queen of the Amazons step towards her son, "Would you like to hold her?"

Connor's eyes widened slightly, "Are you sure?" He asked with a bit of nervousness in his voice, "I mean I've never held a baby before."

"You'll be fine," wonder woman said with a smile, forcing the baby into his arms, "plus it's good practice."

Any protest the neo-man of steel had died when he cradled his little sister in his arms. He stared down at her pudgy pink face and couldn't help the warm smile that spread across his face when she opened her eyes to stare at him, her blue eyes twinkling with an innocent curiosity.' You may be trained to be a warrior,' he thought to her,' but as long as I'm around I promise you will never be in danger.'

A clearing of a throat drew Connor's attention.

"I hate to break up brother sister bonding," Jor-El said, "but did you ever find out what happened to Darkside?"

Connor shifted his sister as she snuggled into his warmth, "According to what I was able to find out, Darksied and I hit the wall of the universe, a wall that prevents anyone from messing with the flow of time and space on a grand scale," he shook his head, "but I still have no idea how I got back on apocalypse after hitting the wall."

CK

A boom tube opened, spewing dust across the now empty planet of apocalypse. Connor, Artemis, Jor-El, and Laura emerged from the boom tube, carrying a giant metal egg the size of a Volkswagen.

"Where does it need to go?" Jor-El asked, straining to keep a hold on such an oddly shaped device.

"According to the fortresses AI," Connor said, "all we need to do is throw it in one of the fire pits."

"And you're sure this earth engine will work?" Artemis asked as the group shuffled over to the nearest fire pit.

"Positive," Connor replied, "the design is based off of what krypton used back in there conquering days. I just added a few of my own ideas to make the transformation smoother."

"On the count of three," Laura said, "one two, three."

As one the group hurled the earth engine into the fire pit. Is scraped the edges of the hole as it traveled to the planets core.

Artemis wiped sweat from her forehead, "It's a good thing that thing wasn't any bigger or it wouldn't have fit."

"yeah," Connor said, "now all we have to do…"

The neo-man of steel was cut off when a white beam shot out of the fire pit and into the sky. The quartet looked up just in time to see the sky change from blood red to pale blue. The ground shook and began to crack.

"Are you sure your machine isn't going to cause the planet to blow up," Artemis ask fighting to keep her balance.

"Pretty sure," Connor applied as white energy burst through the cracks in the ground, blinding the group.

When it cleared, the quartet found themselves standing in one of krypton's major cities.

Connor stared open mouth at the buildings and trace the transportation tubes with his finger, "I can't believe that worked, I was only expecting it to make the planet habitable. I didn't think when I program to the kryptonian cities into the earth engine that it would be able to re-create them."

Connor flew over new krypton as the group had decided it should be called.' Everything's exactly as I remember it.' He inhaled deeply,' even the air smells the same.'

Connor landed in the forest where he and Artemis had arrived on krypton. The scent of wild grass and flowers filled his nose.

Artemis and the others landed behind him.

Laura picked up a strange blue flower with thorns trailing its stem and sniffed it, "You know if it wasn't for the yellow sun, I would say this was krypton."

Connor turned to face them, "So, the earth engine did its job?"

"Better than we could've ever dreamed," Jor-El said with a smile.

"Alright then," Connor pressed an earpiece in his ear, "Jor-El…"

"We really need to come up with a new name for the fortresses AI," Jor-El said cutting him off.

Connor glared at him, "Send the kryptonian's here and put them in the exact same places they were on the original krypton. Millions of beams of light began to dance across new krypton."

With the enhanced hearing the group could hear the cries of surprise and fear.

The neo-man of steel turned to his grandparents, "I'll leave it to you to explain what's going on."

"Wait," Laura said stepping forward, "what are you going to do?"

Connor looked up at the sky. He watched as a bird with black scales and red feathers flew across the sky, "I've killed too many kryptonian's for the population to ever trust me, but I'll be around if they need me," he looked at them, "after all I am the kryptonian god of war, the planets eternal guardian."

Artemis grabbed his hand and turned him to face her, "And I'll be right by your side should krypton ever come under threat."

The two lovers shared a kiss as Jor-El and Laura flew off to explain to their people what was going on.

After a moment, they broke apart panting lightly.

Connor turned to stare out over new krypton.' I don't know what the future holds, but right now it sure does look bright.'