The House of El

Legislation chamber, Kandor - Krypton3rd person POV...
"Do you not understand? Krypton's core is collapsing. We may only have a matter of weeks!"
While normally a man well in control of his emotions, Jor-El could not help but fume with frustration as he glared at the Council of Five. Beside him stood his brother, Zor-El, whose fury was equally visible, overpowering the anger originally born out of their feud which, given Krypton's fate was now certain, was no longer relevant.
"I warned you, harvesting the core was suicide," Jor-El continues to say. "It has accelerated the process of implosion."
"Our energy reserves were exhausted," Lor-Em states with stern irritation. "What would you have us do, El?"
"Look to the stars. Like our ancestors once did!" he admonishes.
"In the Era of Expansion our empire spanned entire galaxies!" Zor-El adds. "We had many allies: Asgard, Andromedans, you name it. There are bound to some we can reconnect with. We can begin by using the old colonial outposts."
"Are you seriously suggesting that we evacuate the entire planet?" High Eminence Ro-Zar scoffs in disbelief.
"No. Everyone here is already dead," Jor declares firmly.
The Council of Five gape at him in a mixture of confusion, outrage, and disbelief. Jor meets their gaze with stern confidence.
"Give me control of the Codex," he requests earnestly. "I will ensure the survival of our race. There is still hope. I have held that hope in my hands—"
A sudden explosion from the entrance of the Council chamber interrupts the meeting. Startled and confused, everyone turns to look at the commotion. A volley of blue plasma bolts shoot through the smoke to eliminate the guards and a group of armored figures emerge from the smoke. Jor-El looks on in dread and disbelief as he sees none other than Zod leading them with an erupting storm of pure rage hidden behind a mask of cold, calculating eyes. Jor and his brother both share a look, equally panicked.
"This council has been disbanded," the Kryptonian General declares.
"On whose authority?" Ro-Zar demands, her shock outweighed by fury at Zod's insolence.
"Mine," he retorts calmly.
Without skipping a beat Zod raises his weapon and fires a shot that hits the High Eminence directly. Ro-Zar gives a short cry of pain and then slumps over lifelessly in her throne, her helmet clattering to the floor, while the rest of the Council members silently look on in terror.
"The rest of you will be tried and punished accordingly," Zod states, his anger barely satisfied.
He looks back at his second-in-command, Faora, who nods in acknowledgement and moves with several soldiers to apprehend the remaining council members. Horrified, Jor-El storms up to Zod, his brother right behind him.
"What're you doing Zod? This is madness!" he exclaims.
"What I should've done years ago," Zod scoffs, glaring at the council. "These lawmakers with their endless debates have led Krypton to ruin!"
"In case you forgot, Krypton is dying!" Zor-El snaps at him angrily. "A coup solves nothing!"
"What we need is action!" he retorts. "And if the Council won't act, then I will!"
"And if your forces prevail? You'll be the leader of nothing!" Jor admonishes him.
"Then join me, Jor. Help me save our race!" Zod pleads with him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We'll start anew by severing the degenerative bloodlines that led us to this state."
Jor-El looks at the hand on his shoulder before slowly returning his gaze to Zod and stares directly into his eyes, bitterness and calm rage building as he glares at the man he once called a friend.
"And who will decide which bloodlines survive Zod?" he asks quietly. "You?"
Zod narrows his eyes at Jor and drops his hand, growing tense.
"Don't do this, El. The last thing I want is for us to be enemies," he says.
"You have broken the principles that bound us together. You have taken up the sword against your own people!" Jor snaps back at him, and Zod's eyes harden with anger. "I will honor the man you once were, Zod. Not this monster you've become."
Zod glares at Jor for a few moments and then turns away from him bitterly, hurt by Jor-El severing their friendship but resolute in his quest.
"Take them away," he orders his soldiers.
----
The two brothers are led by three guards out of the legislation chamber in the direction of a landing pad. On the way they're approached by a service robot; Kelex.
"Sir, is everything alright?" Kelex inquires.
"Out of the way!" one of the guards orders.
Jor-El signals to Kelex with a faint nod and shuts his eyes, and Zor does the same.
"I said—" the guard continues.
A blinding flash of light erupts from Kelex, stunning the guards, and the brothers leap into action. With an opportunity to finally vent some of his anger, Zor-El viciously head-butts a guard and slams him into the wall while Jor-El knocks aside the rifle leveled at their heads, just barely avoiding a blue bolt of plasma as the guard shoots on instinct. Zor-El grabs the arm of a guard and slams a fist into his unprotected side, causing him to cry out in pain, and Jor grabs the arm of another and interrupts his aim as he shoots, hitting the guard Zor struck instead.
Grabbing the mans rifle Jor wrestles for control of it while Zor attacks the third guard, kicking him to the floor and shooting him with a stolen rifle, whilst Jor wins his contest and slams the butt end of his weapon into the soldier's head, knocking him out cold. Panting for breath Jor-El turns to Kelex.
"Get me Lara!" he says.
Kelex's liquid geo morphs into Lara Lor Van's face and she looks at him in surprise.
"Jor— behind you!" she cries out in alarm.
Jor whirls around but Zor was already prepared, shooting down two soldiers that had heard the commotion.
"I got this," he assures him, staring down the hallway.
Jor nods and turns back to Lara.
"Lara, you have to ready the launch. I'll be with you as soon as I can," he tells her.
Lara lowers her head, a multitude of questions clear in her expression, but not great enough to distrust her husband.
"Stay safe," she pleads.
"I will," he assures her.
Lara's face vanishes from Kelex and Zor turns to face his brother with the call now ended.
"What about the Codex?" he asks.
"I'll get it," Jor tells him.
"You sure?" Zor asks, uncertain of this course of action.
"We have no choice now. Zod will try to claim it himself," Jor points out.
Zor nods in grim understanding but still lets out a scowl of frustration over what's happened.
"Unbelievable," he growls, cursing Zod's name.
He then holds a hand out to Jor, who readily accepts it with a firm look.
"I'll see you back at the citadel," he says, and Jor nods.
----
House of El citadel, Kandor outskirts - Krypton
While Jor-El raced to retrieve the Codex from the genesis chamber, Zor flew back to the House of El citadel astride his own mount. Upon arrival he rushed inside, already aware that Lara was prepping Kal-El's ship for launch.
He doesn't go to aid her though, having a ship of his own to prepare.
Rushing into the citadel's secondary chamber Zor is greeted by his wife, Alura In-Ze, and their daughter, Kara. Not biologically, for only Kal-El was ever born through natural means, but through assigned adoption like all Kryptonians; new infants born in the genesis chambers were assigned to a family within their caste as it has always been their way. However, Zor always yearned to treat Kara as if she were his own flesh and blood, a sentiment which his wife strongly agreed with.
Their House, the House of El, has always been rather different from the rest of society in this regard. Jor-El merely took it a step further.
As Zor-El enters the citadel's secondary chamber he's immediately greeted by his daughter and wife. The teenage girl rushes up to him with wide eyes full of confusion and unease.
"Dad!" Kara exclaims.
She hugs her father and he accepts the embrace for a moment. Alura approaches him and he hugs her as well. Her gaze is less frightened than her daughter's but no less concerned.
"What's happening, Zor?!" Alura asks.
"Zod. He's initiated a coup," he explains, scowling.
"A coup?" Kara repeats, bewildered.
"What about your meeting with the Council?" Alura asks worriedly.
"Zod took the Council hostage, but we managed to escape," Zor informs her.
He then falls silent and stares intently at his wife for a short while, which she notices but waits for him to explain.
"Alura… it's time," he murmurs grimly.
She frowns for a moment before widening her eyes in realization. A flurry of emotions rapidly pass through her and Alura spares a quick glance in the direction of Lara's chamber.
"Are you sure?" she whispers, filled with dread.
Zor-El nods his head in confirmation and she shuts her eyes in defeat, finally faced with the inevitable moment she's known would come yet dreaded all the same. Unaware of the significance, however, Kara looks between them both, confused about what's happening yet old enough to recognize it's a huge deal.
"Time for what?" she nervously asks them.
Alura can't bring herself to look at her daughter at first, turning away with eyes shut to hide her tears. Zor looks at Kara with deep sorrow, shoving it down so as to remain strong for her.
"Kara, listen to me carefully," he starts to say. "Your cousin is being sent away from here."
"Sent away? Why?" she asks.
"Krypton is doomed. Any day now the core will rupture and implode," he reveals.
Her eyes go wide in shock.
"Implode?" she whispers fearfully. "Like... blow up?"
He nods his head and continues.
"Your uncle and I have been working to find a solution, but there is none. All that's left now is to ensure our race will survive," he tells her, placing both hands on her shoulders. "You must ensure your cousin's safety."
Kara doesn't respond at first, looking around at nothing as she tries to process what's about to happen. However, with shaky breaths she nods her head, her inner fire building at the mention of her infant cousin, who despite having only been alive for a few weeks has already gained her utmost love and adoration.
"Right, right, I can keep him safe," Kara says readily, before frowning. "What about you guys? We only have two pods here."
This time Zor can't respond and he removes his hands from her, looking away from her regretfully. Alura holds a hand to her mouth to hold in the sob that threatens to break out. Kara looks between them both for a long while, at first confused, but her expression slowly falls to one of complete shock and horror as she begins to realize. Alura finally looks at her daughter and takes a step forward.
"Sweetie..." she starts to say.
Kara shakes her head and takes a few steps back.
"No. No!" she growls, tears brimming in her eyes.
"Kara," Zor says.
"No! No, you can't! I won't do it!" she cries out. "I won't leave you!"
Tears are falling freely down her face now. Her parents both struggle to hold in their grief now that the truth is out.
"You must, Kara!" Zor pleads with her.
"Kal-El needs you," Alura adds gently.
"But I need you!" she screams back. "Just find another ship! We can all go together! Please!"
"None of them have a Phantom Drive, and it's too late to construct another," Zor tells her, his voice quiet but firm.
"Dad, please!" Kara pleads, practically sobbing now.
"There's nothing more I can do, Kara!" he snaps back at her.
Kara breaks down completely at that point and Zor also loses his composure, his lips quivering as a few tears fall from his own eyes. Alura wraps Kara into a tight embrace and the teenager clings to her desperately, sobbing into her robe. Zor sighs, his breath shaky.
"This is the only way," he tells Kara, his voice soft.
"It's not fair!" she sobs into her mother's robe, voice partially muffled.
"I know it isn't, Kara. I wish so badly that we could go with you," Alura replies softly.
She lifts Kara's face up to look at her and wipes the tears away from her eyes, managing a small smile on her own.
"But you will not be alone, Kara Zor-El," she tells her. "Do this for us. Do this for Kal."
Kara rubs her reddened face, cheeks wet with tears, and weakly nods her head.
"I will," she murmurs.
Zor then moves forward to share his own embrace with Kara while Alura takes a moment to compose herself.
"My daughter... never forget who you are. Whose legacy you carry," he states gently.
He pulls back from her and gently touches the symbol embroidered on her chest.
"Always remember what the symbol of our House means," he reminds her, looking into her eyes. "Do you understand?"
"Y-yes, father," she nods.
Both Zor and Alura hug Kara now as the whole family expresses their deep love for each other.
"We love you, Kara. More than you know," Alura whispers.
Kara nods her head, eyes shut tightly.
The family stand together for a long while, wishing this moment could last for all eternity, but eventually it's broken by the sound of clicking as one of the service robots operated by Kelex approaches with the intent of addressing them.
"What is it Kelex?" Zor inquires.
"There are five attack ships converging from the east. Citadel's defenses are being scanned and evaluated," she reports.
Kelex displays an image of the ships in question and showcases a crest which identifies them as hailing from the House of Zod.
"For Rao's sake," Zor growls, frustrated yet resigned to the coming conflict. "Jor better be back now."
----
Not long after his brother's arrival, Jor-El returned as well with the Growth Codex in hand. Having confirmation from Lara that Zor was here as well, Jor wasted no time in preparing everything he needed to ensure the beginning of Kal-El's journey. He places the Codex into the machine above Kal's crib, making sure the systems were working and ready to go, then turns back to his wife.
"Did you find a world?" he inquires.
Holding her son in her arms, Lara lifts her gaze up to meet her husband's with a firm nod.
"We have," she confirms.
"Orbiting a main sequence yellow star. Just as you said it would," Kelex adds.
The service robot displays a few images of the planet in question and the system it resided in, as well as its dominant species: humans.
"Young star. His cells will drink its radiation. Seemingly intelligent population," Jor-El takes note, pleased.
Lara regards the diagram of human anatomy for a moment, a flicker of doubt entering her mind over this choice. Yes, the planet has a yellow star, but humans all over the universe weren't exactly known for their benevolence.
"He'll be an outcast... a freak," she tells Jor. "They'll kill him."
"How?" he questions in reply, a faint smile breaking through. "He'll be a god to them."
Still doubtful, Lara turns away and walks with Kal-El in her arms, her worry flowing.
"What if the ship doesn't make it? What if he gets separated from Kara?" she asks anxiously. "He'll die out there. Alone."
Jor-El quietly listens to her, unable to deny he has similar doubts in his mind, particularly in the case of Kara. Space travel always carries risk, and while he's confident in the work he and his brother did on the pods, even the brightest of Kryptonian scientists have struggled to master Phantom Drive technology.
Lara pauses in her step and looks down at Kal-El, faintly shaking her head.
"I can't do it," she murmurs, her strength wavering. "I thought I could, but..."
Hearing her fear, Jor 's frown deepens and he turns to face Lara with a grim expression, shoving all his doubt aside.
"Lara..." he starts to say.
"...now that he's here..." she continues, looking at him with grief in her eyes.
"Krypton is doomed. It's his only chance now," Jor states firmly. "It's our people's only hope."
Before the could talk more the door to the secondary chamber opens and Zor's family walks inside. Jor and Lara turn to look at them and Zor meets his brother's gaze with a grim expression.
"Zod is on his way," he states. "It's time."
Jor nods, resigned to what's about to come, and moves to take Kal-El.
"I'll upload the Codex," he says.
"No, wait," Lara replies, holding onto the baby.
"Lara," he says firmly.
"Just... let me look at him," she pleads, her voice a whisper.
Though time is of the essence Jor nevertheless concedes to her wishes and they both stand silently for a moment, gazing down at their son. Tears brim in Lara's eyes as she cradles Kal in her arms.
Kara looks at her aunt and uncle with tears in her eyes, her grief and heartbreak rising to the forefront at seeing another goodbye.
"We'll never get to see him walk," she says quietly, looking up at Jor. "Never hear him say our names."
Jor takes the baby into his hands and, with great reluctance, Lara lets him go, folding the blanket over Kal's body.
"Out there, amongst the stars, he will live," Jor states in absolution.
He lifts Kal a bit closer to Lara with a faint smile on his face. She leans over to place a kiss on the infant's brow, a tear falls down her cheek. Lara shakily nods her head and Jor takes Kal away, also kissing the baby while she holds a fold of her robes up to her face to wipe the tears away.
Jor gently places Kal into his cradle and the baby starts to cry without the warm touch of his parents, prompting Lara to reach out and place a hand on his foot. Jor walks over to the control panel at the foot of the cradle and presses a few buttons to initiate the upload. The Codex gives off a golden glow as it begins to dissolve into the machine, which sprays gentle streams of energy into the Kryptonian newborn.
The House of El all watch the process with varying levels of emotion and Kara walks up to Kal's cradle, standing opposite of Lara. She gazes down at her cousin with a mixture of sorrow, grief, and fear. Then Kal-El's eyes shift to meet her own, his bright blue eyes full of innocence and wonder. As she looks into the infant's eyes, Kara's fear and heartache is washed away to be replaced with love and... and hope.
She will protect him. The last son of Krypton.
As Jor-El oversees the bonding process he catches a glimpse of Kara looking down at Kal and, seeing the love and light in her eyes, feels all his doubts wash away. Whatever happens to Kal, whatever happens to all of them, there is a bright future ahead. He's certain this is the right decision.
He turns back to the console as a command key is formed out of the panel of liquid geo. Taking the key into his hand, the only souvenir he had enough time to craft for his son, he moves around the cradle and inserts the key into its socket at the back, then stands beside Lara and reaches a hand out to gently stroke Kal's forehead.
"Goodbye, my son," he tells him. "Our hopes and dreams travel with you."
Another tear falls down Lara's face and she drops her head while Jor presses the key fully into its slot. Kal's parents and cousin all step back and watch the cradle lift into the air and travel up to the open pod waiting to receive him. Kara stands beside her own parents, glancing at both of them, and they all look up at the light to watch Kal-El ascend into the pod. When the cradle attaches to the pod and seals Kal-El inside, Zor shifts his gaze over to his brother.
"Suit up, brother," he instructs him.
Jor nods in understanding and moves to prepare himself for battle while Zor turns to Kara.
"Kara," he starts to say.
"I know, dad," she replies quickly, nodding her head.
She looks back at him and he smiles, wanting to say more, but turns away to get ready himself before he could lose any more time.
"This way," Alura tells Kara.
Giving her father, uncle, and aunt one last look, knowing she'll never see them again, Kara turns and follows her mother back into the secondary chamber where her own pod is waiting for her.
----
Dru-Zod, the greatest general Krypton has ever known, was nothing short of furious.
As soon as he received word that Jor-El had escaped and stolen the Codex, he knew immediately what his former friend planned to do with it. The whole situation is infuriating. He's angry at the Council, no explanations needed. He's angry at those who followed them and in their arrogance refused to believe the inevitable doom they'd wrought. He's angry at Jor-El for not seeing his views, for choosing to stand against him despite their past friendship.
But most of all, Zod was angry with himself. He's angry he hadn't taken action sooner, but even more so he's angry for not taking the time to bring Jor to his side earlier. The scientist may not see it, or even believe it, but Jor-El's rejection hurt him more than either of them could've imagined. But as much as he cherished their friendship and wished things were different he has to focus on the reality. Krypton must survive, and he cannot allow anyone to stand in his way of ensuring that.
Not even Jor-El.
As his ships approach the House of El citadel, a place he had frequented often during the times he and Jor-El confided with each other away from the eyes of the Council, Zod hardened his gaze to maintain his resolve. Jor-El is an enemy, and so this place is simply an obstacle to bypass.
"Concentrate fire on the main doors!" Zod orders the pilots.
His ships unleash their destructive payload on the doors which, while reinforced more than most structures in Kandor, were still no match against his weaponry. Once the doors were destroyed he had his gunship land on the platform and disembarked with his men. His faithful sub-commander, however, approached him rather swiftly with an expression more tense than usual.
"General, we have identified an engine ignition within the Citadel," she informs him.
Zod turns to look at the building and frowns, his suspicions confirmed.
"A launch," he states. "Hold this platform commander."
Leaving her with the rest of his forces he brings two soldiers with him and storms into the citadel for the main chamber, seeing white exhaust blowing out of the engines of a small pod. From out of the misty exhaust the two brothers of the House of El emerge, clad in specialized battle armor and each armed with a rifle.
Zod pauses in his march at the sight, taking note of their armor and weapons with some caution. Glaring at his former friend and confident, Zod's frown only deepens as he considers Zor-El, somewhat surprised at how often they've been working together lately.
"One thing I don't get; you two hate each other," Zod says.
The general can't help as the flicker of betrayal leak into his words as he glares at Jor-El.
"What changed?" he demands.
"We realized that anger wouldn't help us save Krypton," Zor states, returning the thundering look with his own. "You should learn that as well."
Zod curls his lip in contempt at the younger brother's words and shakes his head.
"I don't have time for this," he scowls. "I know you stole the Codex. Surrender it, and I'll let you live."
"Remember what we learned when we were young, Zod?" Jor-El replies calmly. "Remember Cybertron? Remember why their civilization collapsed?"
"Don't bother with a lecture, I already know all of this," he rebukes him. "It's precisely the problem that I am trying to fix!"
"But that's just it! All you're doing is creating another society where birth determines your future!" Jor points out in frustration. "What we're doing is providing a second chance for all of Krypton! Not just the bloodlines you deem worthy."
Zod pauses at Jor's statement, having known him long enough to recognize he's referring to something greater. Something he's done with the Codex. Something far worse than he could have ever imagined him capable of doing.
"What have you done, Jor-El?" he demands, growing tense.
"We've had a child, Zod. A boy child. Krypton's first natural birth in centuries," Jor reveals, his eyes shining with pride. 
"And he will be free. Free to forge his own destiny."
Zod widens his eyes in shock and abhorrent disbelief, which continues to build rapidly. The muscles in his face twitch erratically as his shock gives way into raw, intense, erratic anger. What Jor-El is saying... is unthinkable. Unforgivable! Punishable by a fate worse than death!
"HERESY!" he seethes with rage, abandoning all thought of sparing him. "DESTROY IT!"
He furiously orders his guards to shoot the pod, realizing that it's not just the Codex but also Jor-El's... abomination... inside of it.
His soldiers take aim at the pod but both Jor and Zor were ready, shooting down both before they could even react. Enraged by their defiance and desecration of Kryptonian life, Zod lunges into action. The Kryptonian general grabs Zor's rifle, rips it from his grasp, and throws a heavy punch that sends him sprawling. Jor jumps to his brother's defense and tries to shoot his rifle but Zod kicks the gun to throw off his aim and grabs it. The two wrestle for control of the weapon for a moment but Jor pulls it back and slams the butt end of the rifle into Zod's face and then slashes it upward.
Zod shouts in pain as the barrel leaves a deep gash on the side of his head, dangerously close to his eye. Brimming with greater fury Zod snarls and lashes out with a fist which Jor blocks with his rifle, but the general tackles him into the wall and pins the rifle against Jor's neck.
Lara briefly glances up from the control panel to observe the fight with worry in her eyes.
Jor grimaces and struggles to push the rifle away from his neck, forcing Zod back, but the general takes advantage by hitting the weapon from his grip and punches him in the face. Zor re-enters the fight by grappling Zod from behind and pulls him off of Jor, holding him in a headlock. Zod snarls in pain as Jor lands a few swift punches to his head. Growling, he kicks his foot out for a strike on Jor's knee, making him collapse, then throws his elbow up into Zor's face. The younger brother cries out in pain and staggers back, blood streaming from his broken nose.
Zod whirls around and throws another heavy punch that connects with Zor's jaw, but his follow up strike is halted when Jor grabs his arm, pinning it straight in a painful lock, and throws him around into the wall. Zod grunts in pain from the impact to his head and whirls around with a shout to punch Jor in retaliation, staggering the scientist. Zor moves to his brother's aid but Zod sidesteps him and retaliates with a furious kick to the chest, knocking him down again. He refocuses on Jor and throws a punch that gets blocked before thrusting his knee up for a hit, but it bounces of Jor's metal chestplate.
Grimacing at the painful attempt Zod throws another punch but Jor ducks underneath it and lands a successful hit in Zod's gut, between two plates of armor, and Zod yells in pain at feeling the full hit. Zor enters the fight once more with a fierce uppercut, shouting angrily, knocking Zod's head skyward from the impact. Jor shoves Zod backward and the general smacks his arm aside and head-butts him, sending him reeling, and then turns to Zor with venom in his eyes.
Zor throws a heavy punch but Zod dodges it and kicks the younger man's feet out from under him and Zor's skull hits the floor with an audible thud. Before he could do more, however, Jor leaps at Zod with a roar, showing true anger and desperation this time, and lands two heavy punches that has the general seeing stars. Zod manages to deflect the third punch but Jor lands a fourth regardless before yanking his head down to knee him in the face, then slams his head into the wall for good measure and finally throws him to the floor in a heap.
Shaken by the sudden and brutal beaten at the hands of his former friend Zod struggles to lift his head up, gritting his teeth in pain. Breathing heavily, Jor steps away from Zod and moves over to his fallen brother, who is slow to get up. Zor groans in pain as he holds the back of his head, which is damp with blood, and Jor helps him to stand. He looks him over with concern but Zor shakes his head, indicating he's well enough to manage.
Accepting his health for now Jor then moves back to retrieve his rifle and holds it to Zod's head as the general attempts to stand. Zod shuts his eyes with a grimace, knowing he's beaten.
Seeing her husband and brother-in-law victorious, a faint smile of relief escapes Lara's face before she refocuses on her task. She looks up as the escape pod's engines flare up brilliant with blue fire, ready to be launched. She goes to press the ignition button when her name is called, making her pause.
"Lara, listen to me!" Zod shouts, gazing at her in wild desperation. "The Codex is Krypton's future! Abort the launch!"
Lara's eyes are hard as she stares at the general, her earlier doubts flickering again, and she lifts her gaze up to meet her husbands eyes. Jor-El is staring back at her evenly, sweat and bruises covering his face, but his eyes carry a thunder in them. Not of rage or fear, but determination. And above all else, conviction. Conviction of this course of action, that sending their son away is the right thing to do for a better future. A brighter dawn.
Her doubts dissipate in an instant and Lara's conviction rises to match that of her husband. She doesn't hesitate another second to press the button.
The clasps holding Kal-El's pod in place split apart, enabling the pod to hover freely in the air for a moment and then rise up through the hatch, the plumes of exhaust flaring a brilliant bright blue. Lara holds a hand up to protect her eyes against the bright light and Jor-El and Zor both look up at the pod as well. A look of awe and joy shines from Jor's expression and his brother showcases similar triumph, if also sorrow.
"NOOOO!"
A metal ringing sound cuts through the air, followed by a breathless gasp. Zor whips his head to look at where the sound came from, his vision nearly blacking out for a moment as his head throbs with pain. When he recovers, however, horror fills his mind as he sees his brother standing before Zod with a blade embedded in his chest.
Zor stares in silence, barely able to process the sight in front of him, barely able to hear as Zod rips the blade out of his body, allowing a river of blood to gush from the wound. Time seems to move in slow motion for him as he watches his brother fall backward and hit the floor, his open eyes empty and lifeless.
"JOR!"
Roaring with rage and grief, Zor-El launches himself at Zod, seeing only red in his vision. He furiously attacks him with a barrage of punches that all hit Zod, causing the general to stagger back with cries of pain. Zor continues his vicious assault but Zod eventually manages to lift his foot up to kick him backward and gain some distance, and when Zor lunges for him again Zod swipes his arm out and cuts through the brother's abdomen with his blade.
Zor gasps in pain and doubles over, holding his hands by his side and seeing the cut there: not immediately fatal, but may very well be if not treated fast. Groaning and trying to fight through the agony he turns to face Zod again only to see a metal fist hurtling toward his head that sends him sprawling to the floor.
Having scrambled to the fallen form of her husband Lara held his body and sobbed in grief, looking up with tears in her eyes when Zor is struck down himself by Zod.
The General of Krypton glares down at the younger brother, who lay motionless on the floor, but through his mask of fury there's a small sense of... shock. Disbelief. Even... revulsion. Nevertheless, what's done is done. Reminding himself of the greater issue Zod turns to Lara, purposefully avoiding looking at Jor's dead face.
"Your son, Lara. Where have you sent him?" he demands coldly.
Lara continues to weep over Jor-El's body, hugging him with an iron grip. Within moments, she's lost everything.
"His name is Kal. Son of El," she replies shakily.
Fighting back tears, Lara lifts her head up to glare at Zod with cold venom in her eyes.
"And he is beyond your reach," she sneers at him.
Zod narrows his eyes at her but says nothing more.
With nothing left to do inside the citadel, Zod storms out of the chamber and out to the landing platform, bypassing the fallen Zor on the way without another care.
Upon exiting the building he's met by Faora and the rest of his strike team. She looks at him as he approaches and he can see the questioning gaze in her eyes as she notes his injury and the lack of his two soldiers, but he pays no heed and turns to look at the sky. He frowns suddenly, alarmed at seeing not one but two pods soaring into the atmosphere. He quickly ponders the second pod, determining that Jor-El must've had a decoy sent up to confuse them. No matter.
"Bring those ships down!" he orders.
Two of his pilots move into action to intercept the escaping pods, and Zod anxiously observes the pursuit.
Suddenly, a missile appears out of nowhere and obliterates one of the gunships. The second gunship is tossed around by the resulting explosion right as the pilot fired upon one of the pods, throwing his aim off, before likewise his ship is also obliterated. Zod widens his eyes in alarm at seeing his ships destroyed yet anxiously watches the missile his pilot fired, praying to Rao that it accomplished the objective.
A bright flash of pale light is visible as the pods make an escape using their Phantom Drives. The missile, which was on track for the second pod, vanished along with them.
Through the smoke and debris of the destroy ships emerges a much larger vessel, armed with greater weaponry. Multiple Loyalist ships converge around the citadel, all with their guns trained on the Sword of Rao.
"Lay down your weapons! your forces are surrounded!" a voice barks orders at the insurgent group.
Seeing the battle is lost, Faora and the rest of the soldiers all place their weapons on the ground in surrounder. Zod also drops his head in defeat, not due to the Loyalist ships surrounding them, but due to the lost pods. Perhaps the missile was able to hit its target but not before they both escaped through the Phantom Zone, thus rendering any damage useless. The Codex could be anywhere in the universe now.
His hands closing into fists, Zod lifts his head once more to glare at the sky, barely squinting against the bright spotlights as he focuses his gaze on where he last saw the pods escape.
He will find them.