A redhead warrior woman dressed in a revealing green outfit dropped a would-be suitor to the ground. He came into the battle, with vigor and energy, and left the battle a defeated husk. Just like the rest.
"And Queen Maxima has won again," a droll voice stated for the restless observers "What will she decide?"
Maxima, the Queen of the fabled planet known as Almerac, had long searched for the perfect suitor. And men had fought her time and time again.
"Another disappointment. Another failure. Yet another pathetic worm."
Maxima stepped back from the fallen warrior as he had been dragged away from the guards. And to think, he was well built. But the muscle he had was all show and no substance. Something which Maxima felt like she was dealing with all the time. Every single challenger talked a good game and failed to delive.r
Disappointment and resignation crossed Maxima's face. There were no worthy challengers. Boredom and anger mixed in Maxima's mind.
"If there are no others, than draw me a bath and I will retire to my chambers," Maxima stated. "Another day, and yet I have no one who is worthy of being king."
Maxima prepared to disrobe. One of her aides rushed up as quick as possible. Maxima barely paid the waif of a woman any mind. She would not stand out in a crowd anyway.
"Queen Maxima, we do have something interesting. Something that you might find enlightening."
Maxima's eyes snapped in the direction of the aide for the next several seconds. She responded by nodding and giving the woman the opening to speak.
"A pulse of energy," The aide stated. From the nineteenth star quadrarent."
Maxima's eyes narrowed. "Yes, the location of Krypton. I'm aware. And I'm also aware that Krypton is a dead planet. A pity, because there could be potential. Or at least someone who does not completely bore me."
"My lady, you might be interested in this thing. A piece of Krypton remains. Argo City."
This particular bit of information caught Maxima's interest. And that was good because the aide would otherwise be sent off for wasting her valuable time.
"So the rumors are true?" Maxima asked.
"Yes, my Queen," the aide said.
Well, good for them and their civilization, but I don't know how…"
The aide flashed several images in front of Maxima. Maxima's fingers curled as she wondered what she was to be looking at.
"They call him Superman. He arrived and liberated Argo City from General Steppenwolf."
The image of a well-built man with dark-hair and green eyes appeared. Surrounded and adored by numerous women, each more beautiful than the last. Although none who were quite as beautiful as Queen Maxima, in her own biased opinion. The Queen waited for the next several seconds to consider the next play.
The Queen understood what needed to be done.
"Well, I'm interested. Cancel the bath. And find me the safest path towards Argo."
"My Queen? What are you…"
Maxima held up a hand, almost annoyed about the trivilities being spoke on.
"I'm going to retrieve my husband and future King."
"He has many women who he is with already."
"Then he knows his way around the bedroom. But once he has me, they will have to do without."
The aide bowed several seconds later. Maxima had spoken and had her mind made up. The Queen ruled over all and anyone who stood in her way would get rolled over like it was nothing.
Maxima smiled when gazing at the picture. She would have to say their children would be perfect, almost too perfect, but she cast that deplorable thought from her mind. There was nothing too perfect, especially for the Queen. And soon the perfect man would be hers to have.
X-X-X
Thara had almost been bursting to tell Harry everything she knew.
"The Genesis Blade. One of the most powerful weapons in the universe, a living legend. And it was placed here on Argo, discovered at least three hundred years ago. Discovered by explorers, but no matter how hard they try, they could not lift it from the ground."
Thara and Harry walked around the city and checked out some of the damage done by the attacks. Argo was beautiful, even with the damage done. They would repair everything. They lost most of their planet, friends and family, and people could and would rebuild from that.
"The stone mentioned that the sword in the stone remained in the center of Argo Square this entire time?"
"Yes. Yes, it was," Thara said" And no one could even budge it. Not it was for any lack of trying. Zod tried, Astra tried, many of Krypton's greatest throughout the years tried. And it survived several attacks over the years and remained rooted in the same place inside of the stone. No one knows who put it here although there are theories. But no proof."
"And you are the first person to hold onto it in recent memory," Astra said. "I never thought that I would see it."
"And Steppenwolf was stirred up because of it."
Astra could barely hold back a smile. "Yes, he was. He's not shaken easily. Well other than his master."
Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Darkseid. Steppenwolf is a general in Darkseid's army," Astra replied. "He is the feared overlord of Apokolips."
"A nightmare world," Thara darkly stated as they navigated around a busted part of the pathway. "One which the people live as slaves. It has been locked in a war with New Genesis for years, before they made an uneasy peace agreement."
"Darkseid and Highfather, the ruler of New Genesis, traded their sons to broker the deal," Astra said which earned her a rather cross look from Harry. "It's a very long story."
So Harry figured. He looked at the blade for a few seconds and flipped it over in his hand. He sensed a lot of power glistening for it.
"New Genesis. The Genesis Blade. There is no coincidences in the universe."
Astra answered with a nod."It rarely is."
"And he knew of me," Harry stated. "Which means Darkseid may be watching Earth."
That caused Astra's eyes to narrow and barely hold back a shudder. Well it was time to prepare for a war that Astra knew the people of Earth were not prepared for. They could get extremely tribal and be lead easily. It was a fault in many civilizations far more advanced to Earth.
"He understands weaknesses more than anyone else," Astra said. Darkseid's game is psychological as much as physical. Even more so in fact."
Harry tilted his head back a second later, thoughtfully contemplating what will happen. Soon, Alura would invite them to dinner. And he honestly wondered where Astra's head space was with this.
"So are you ready to go to meet with your sister?" Harry asked
"Yes. Although some of them, they were on the council that voted to send me to the Phantom Zone. Or their parents were."
Thara looked at the ground next, finding her footwear extremely interesting. She finally broke her silence after a few seconds.
"Hindsight has indicated that your imprisonment was premature."
Astra just nodded solemnly. Perhaps the younger generation of Krypton, what remained anyway, was more enlightened than other who had come before them. That gave her more than enough hope for what could happen next.
"You and Steppenwolf have a history."
It was not Astra who answered, but Thara.
"Of course. Everyone knows how General Astra repelled his attack and humilated him and then…"
A bell went off and indicated that dinner was ready. It was a conversation which had to wait. Harry helped shift the crystals aside and put them back into their proper place. A few citizens of Argo stared down Harry with awe and some with fear.
"There's still many still suspicious about anyone who performs magic," Thara quietly said. "I don't mind, but Krypton is science first. Although there's many atrocities done in the name of science."
"That's true," Astra said. "Still narrow minded people are all over."
"There always is," Harry said. "But, people will have their own opinions, and their own biases. No matter how unfair they are."
Astra, Thara, and Harry made their way around, where Raya, Kay, Kara, and Alura, among others, waited for them. It was time to enjoy a genuine Kryptonian dinner. Harry thought the experience would be one that he would not forget.
X-X-X
Sitting down for a Kryptonian feast had been a treat. Alura had been apologetic that it was not as much as it should be.
"It's not much but…"
"You did what you could," Harry replied. "It's the thought that counts."
"Yes," Alura said.
"What happened after my ship left?" Kay inquired.
Alura smiled and prepared to explain.
"As I mentioned, I wasn't certain whether or not I could get the shields up in time. I sent Kay through to Earth, knowing full way that Kara would take care of her, as she did you."
Kara shifted a bit nervously. "Well, that didn't work out as planned. Thankfully, Har was picked up by good people and not...people would would do him harm."
That was most certainly a relief to anyone, and Alura thought of what might happen if either of her girls would have been harmed.
"Yes, my plans, Jor-El's plans, none of them worked as well. That's the problem with scientists. There is some kind of variable which throws off the experiment. Not that I'm comparing you to scientific experiments but…"
"I understand what you were saying," Harry said. "I was found by Jonathan and Martha Kent. Good people. Although Jonathan is no longer with us and we had a few clashes, I have to say that I respect him and what he did and what he sacrificed to give a lost orphan a home."
Alura closed her eyes in solemn mourning. "I'm sorry to hear about your loss."
"Loss is something that I've dealt with a few times," Harry said. "Especially since my soul is older than this body."
This particular bit of news stirred Alura's curiosities.
"Rebirth. I heard stories, passed down by the elders. Where old souls are sent to inhabitate younger bodies. Where they have been sent to a purpose. Although, you are the first one that I've ever met or at at least the first one who has admitted it.
"So, is this true?" Thara asked. "I mean, you're still you, but you have more memories."
Harry answered with a smile.
"In a past life, I was Harry Potter. A wizard. I fought an evil dark lord who killed my parents. And just as I defeated him, a red wave of energy hit us. And the next thing I knew, I woke up as Kal-El on Kryton. And everything I knew was gone in flash. Erased."
"I can't say I've seen anything like that. Although, you were fortunate to survive," Alura replied."And I'm grateful that you are hear for Kara and Kara."
Kara grinned and kissed Harry without any shame. "Us too."
Kay leaned over and copied her cousin's motion "For sure."
"Kara said her ship was delayed," Alura said And yours was…"
Kay shifted in her seat, although Alura's expression made sure she fessed up as soon as possible "I drifted into the Phantom Zone."
This caused Alura's expression to grow darker and Kay to slump in her chair.
"I never intended for you to see the inside of that place," Alura said. "Any of you. And I'm sorry."
Here, while it seemed like Alura was talking to Kay, Harry could not help and get the impression she was speaking to Astra.
"Mistakes were made," Astra curtly replied. And if it wasn't for me, she wouldn't have escaped. Myself and Faora."
Alura nodded although her body language indicated where she felt the mistakes ehr made. "So, Faora lives as well, I assume."
"Harry helped us escape after he was sent to the Phantom Zone by the menace known as Brainiac. Something that both of us believed was a mistake."
That was something they could agree on.
"Yes."
Harry enjoyed the meal although there was some tension in the air from the sisters.
"So how is Earth?" Thara asked.
"Great, not perfect, but great," Kara said with a small smile. "But is Krypton?"
"Some people would think so," Thara thoughtfully remarked. "But...I don't know. There's something that has been bothering me. About Steppenwolf."
Thara took a long drink from her wine and contemplated the situation. Fresh grapes from the Argo Valley, even rarer these days then they were on the height of Krypton.
"Steppenwolf found you somehow," Astra said.
"Yes, and I hate to accuse anyone of Argo of trechery," Thara said. What do we have, if not each other?"
Well, if he's infiltrated the planet, you have to know," Harry responded. "Whether anyone has been compromised or he's found another way."
Alura figured they would have to navigate this mountain eventually.
"And we have to know how he got in, even if no one betrayed us. And if someone did…"
"I'll find it."
"Not sure if it's a good idea," Alura said. "Given past history."
Astra looked at her sister, the type of stubbornness which Harry noticed from her daughter and niece, when they had their mind set to something. Alura had the same amount of stubbornness, so it was a true battle of wills.
Thankfully, Raya noticed the tension as well and came up with a solution.
"How about I monitor your defense system first? Kara, would you like to help me?"
"It would be an honor."
"Let me know if you find anything at once," Alura responded"
"We will."
Harry finished dinner. Good, but he could not eat another bite. It was a very filling to say the least. He could see both Astra and Alura had not completely breached the subject of Astra's imprisonment yet. And Harry hoped to work out the tension. Once they dealt with the security issue, they would have to work out some problems.
"Why don't we see if they need a hand?," Thara suggested. "And while we walk you can tell me more about Earth."
Thara offered her hand and Harry took it. The redhead was in awe of Harry, and Harry figured it would be only a matter of time before she joined them properly.
X-X-X
Thara led Harry into the inner chambers where Kara and Raya were busy at work. The pair had been in deep conversation about Earth.
"It's just like Kara said. Earth is great, but not perfect," Harry explained. "There are good people, bad people. The technology is a far bit behind what we are here, but we've come a long way in a century. There's some dark parts of the history, but we should learn from them rather than erase them."
"Sounds a lot Krypton in some ways," Thara said. "Perhaps we're more alike than looks."
Harry figured Thara's assessment was pretty on point. Which was why Jor-El and his mother decided to make the trip. Earth was what Krypton was several generations back.
"We are. I've made some great friends and I'm glad to be where I am."
"Well if you, Kara, and Kay like it there, it can't be that bad."
Harry responded with a chuckle. "No, it's not that bad. In fact it's…"
Harry had been cut off from his thoughts with the smell of smoke and the sounds of sparking. Already, Kara and Raya had been in the process of shifting damaged pieces of crystals to the side and making an attempt to snap everything back into place. Several of the crystals had been reconfigured.
"How dire is the situation?" Thara asked.
Raya put her hand on Thara's shoulder in a reassuring manner. "This is fixable. What's worrying me is what the pieces of Krypton floating in orbit are doing."
Harry closed his eyes "How so?"
After all of these years, the destruction of Krypton and the Kryptonite was causing Harry no small problems. Thankfully, Kara was able to explain.
"It's causing instabilities and causing the shield to fail at intermittent times. That's why Steppenwolf was able to Boom Tube in. And locate the planet in the first place."
"You can fix it, right?" Thara asked by biting down on her lip.
Kara smiled at her long time friend and nodded in response.
"Yes. We can. We just have to siphon away the particles and get them in space far away from the orbit. With the crystal damage repaired the shields will remain stable. Another few months though, and they will fail and Argo will quickly degrade like the rest of Krypton."
"Easier said than done, I'm afraid," Raya responded. "Especially with the delicate nature of Argo City."
"You know something, I have a friend back on Earth who could help," Harry suggested.
Thara's expression brightened up quite a bit at that encouraging news from Harry.
"Really? Well that's great. You're amazing, to come up with a solution."
Harry smiled at her praise. "Not a problem. It's a small part of my birthplace that's left. I'd like to preserve it."
Thara nervously shifted before speaking one more time. "Right. Well, if you don't mind, I'd like to come to Earth with you. You know, to check it out. It's my duty as part of the Council to ensure the people of Argo are safe. And you know, I trust you, but I should check this out."
Kara could barely keep the grin off of her face.
"Har understands, don't you?"
"Yes, I understand," Harry said while he clasped Thara's hand. "And I'll be happy to take you there in the morning. We just have to…"
Another crackle interrupted them. Raya moved to the equipment with a frown on her face.
"Something's up. Someone is trying to find a way onto the planet. I don't like this."
Harry did not either. He had a very bad feeling about what was about to happen. Harry rushed outside with Kara following him to see who just teleported onto Argo.
X-X-X
The people of Argo City had been shaken after the recent attack by Steppenwolf and the Parademons. Thus they were on their guard, when a tall and imposing redhead woman dressed in battle armor showed up.
"Do not be alarmed. I am merely here to find my husband," The Warrior Queen said. Superman, come forth and prove yourself to your future Queen."
A blur showed up and the one known as Superman showed up in front of The Warrior Queen and she smiled.
"You know women normally come when I call them."
The mysterious redhead woman locked her eyes on the man before her and gave him a good looking over before responding to his statement.
"Yes. I know. But, you should also know that I am not any woman. And men line up for the right to fight me."
"Well, you should know that I'm not any man," Harry commented"
The confidence of the man before her caused Maxima to smile a tiny bit. Confidence, she was down that road before, but men could bluff. She needed to know for sure.
"Fight me, defeat me, and I will be yours," she stated "We will build an empire."
Harry looked her over. Not bad looking, very beautiful in fact, but she would need to be taken down a couple of pegs.
"Interesting, but I don't know who you are Ms…"
"Queen, Queen Maxima, of the Planet Almerac. And the last woman you will need to bed. Providing of course you win."
Well, her bravado gave Harry some amusement after the day's events. He chuckled.
"I don't need to defeat women to get them into bed. And I don't like the fact that you assume that I'm interested in you."
Maxima looked completely bemused by the casual dismissal. "I don't understand. Men bleed for the opportunity to be my king."
"Women flock to me every day," Harry explained. "You want me. What are you willing to do to have me? What are you willing to do to earn my attention?"
There was no question about it, Maxima was extremely attractive. An utter smokeshow of the highest levels. However, Harry knew all about women like her. They were used to getting their way. Spoiled upbringing, got everything handed to them. Well, if Maxima wanted him, she would have to earn one.
Maxima's eyes widened. He spurned the opportunity to fight her. That got Maxima all hot and bothered. She needed, needed him now. Maxima's fingers curled together into a fist. Eyes locked onto the man in front of her and a bit of rage tempered through her.
"Well, I'm going to force your hand."
The Queen gave a blood curdling scream and sprang into an attack. Harry blocked Maxima's punch and forced her back a couple of steps. Strong and beautiful, always an intriguing combination. Maxima charged Harry again and Harry avoided the atatack. He grabbed Maxima and flipped her to the ground with no issues at all.
Harry motioned for Maxima to rise up. She did and nearly caught him with an attack. Harry dodged them, avoiding her assaults, again and again. Harry took her legs out from underneath Maxima and pinned her down to the ground. Maxima shook as the two pressed, body on body on each other.
Maxima breathed heavily as this magnificent man pinned her to the ground. Slowly, Harry moved closer to her face and stared Maxima down. Maxima quivered underneath his grip. Those haunting enchanting green eyes looked into hers.
"So easy. I can do anything I want. And the feared warrior queen would just have to take it."
Maxima breathed heavily in excitement. "Do it! DO IT!"
A long pause followed, with Superman slowly rising to his feet.
"You haven't quite earned it yet."
Harry enacted the ultimate humiliation by allowing Maxima to her feet. Maxima rushed her man and tried to force him down to the ground. Maxima tore at Harry's clothes, but Harry blocked the blow and tore Maxima's armor off one piece at a time.
Then, the underclothes came off. Maxima kept fighting through the attack despite wearing very little. Harry deflected each attack and flipped Maxima down to the ground.
Maxima, the feared warrior Queen, landed on her knees, stripped completely naked. Harry reached down and cupped her chin before forcing her back a few feet. Harry's fingers closed around her neck and caused Maxima to gasp. Maxima grew more excited as Harry choked her. Then released her and slowly slipped her gripn away. Maxima sprang up and grabbed his leg, shaking like mad.
"DON'T DENY ME!"
She was inches away from Superman's crotch. At least until Kara and Astra yanked the naked redhead to her feet and restrained her. Maxima kicked and screamed until she had been restrained.
"What should we do to her?" Kara asked.
"Detain her until I figure out a way to punish her properly," Harry said."
A knowing smile crossed over Astra's face: "Oh, I think that you're well on your way by not giving on to her whims."
"She should be held here,"Thara said while pointing to the direction of the containment cells. "The perfect place to keep her in line."
Maxima screamed having been denied what she wanted. The perfect chance to get dominated by a superior man had been pulled away from her.
Harry turned his attention to Thara as if that little scene did not happen. Which would likely put Maxima in quite a mood if she knew.
"I'll be back when I verify that the device is ready. And if it is, we'll head to Earth together."
Thara grinned. Seeing him in action and keep his cool against the Warrior Queen made Thara Ak-Var more impressed.
"I'll hold you to that."
X-X-X
And I don't think I could find a way through your network," Chloe said with intense concentration in her eyes.
Lena responded with a very slight smirk. "Good. Neither could the other hacker that I use."
Chloe, Alex, and Lena had been hanging out at Horizon, with Lena upgrading her security network at Horizon. After last year, one could never be too careful. And Lena knew there was a lot of people who would like to get their hands on her secrets.
Alex looked about as pleased as the other two women. She had been helping Lena troubleshoot specifications for a couple of new inventions.
"Glad to see...Harry!"
Harry popped up out in a flash. Alex sprang up and greeted Harry with a hug and kissed him. Chloe rushed over and did likewise, and then Lena moved over to give him the longest kiss possible.
"Well someone wants to prove something," Chloe responded.
Lena grinned back at Chloe. "You're more than welcomed to top it."
"Maybe later," Alex interjected as she turned her attention to Harry. "So, did everything go right at the Fortress?"
"We picked up a distress signal from Kay's ship," Harry explained to them. "Alura is alive and the rest of Argo City."
Alex had been taken off guard "What?"
Harry just smiled. There had been questions. Thankfully Lena was right there to give him a hand as usual.
"Maybe you better start from the beginning."
Lena, Alex, Chloe, and Harry entered a conference room to the side. The quartet sank into cushy chairs where they had their conversation about what was going on. Lena, Alex, and Chloe were very attentive to what Harry was saying and waited until he finished up.
"But, the shields are failing. I'm going to need…"
"The solar siphoner," Lena responded. "I figured as much. It's done, but I might need to make a few modifications based off of what you've scanned."
"Here," Harry responded.
Lena snatched the specs and studied them very quickly. It was a bit of an effort, but she could do it easily.
"I'll have it modified to your specifications by the morning. I'll pull an all nighter if I have to."
"I'll tell Thara it will be ready then," Harry said. She wants to come see it."
It was here that Alex smiled. Being old friends with Harry, she knew him rather well.
"Wow, made another new friend, haven't you?"
Harry chuckled in response. "That's nothing. You should hear about the alien queen who demanded that I married her."
"Oooh, I want to hear this one," an interested Chloe said. "It's only something that could happen to you, isn't it?"
Harry answered with a chuckle. Yes, in some respects, it was only something that could happen to him. He had a bit of time to kill before the portal was aligned to take him back to Argo City.
"So how are things going on your end?"
Lena's first response was a sardonic smile.
"Quiet. It's been a year since Lex and Zod. And what happened there."
The entire group exchanged solemn nods. Things had been quiet on that front, almost too quiet.
: "It's a good idea to help Argo City," Lena said. They are among the last. Although for being the Last Son, there's a lot of you who have survived somehow. Not that's a bad thing."
"No, and they're all in need for some comforting," Chloe said with a wink. "A big piece of Krypton."
"Subtle," Alex said.
"Thanks, I try," Chloe said.
X-X-X
Harry returned where Thara had been waiting for him. And she changed out of her robes, into a more casual shirt and pants combination, which showed off her assets.
"Bit tighter than I remember," Thara commented. "It's been a while since I had to wear anything casual. So, is your friend's device ready?"
"She'll be able to get it to specifications and we'll be able to stop the degradation of the shield by the morning."
Thara bounced which drew Harry's attention to her chest. "Great! I'm really glad. Today's been quite a day. I can't wait to see Earth."
Thara's eyes locked onto Harry for a second.
"Maxima did everything to entice you and yet you didn't fold. You really can have any woman you want, can you?"
Harry stepped a tiny bit closer towards Thara. "Well it's more fun to make them thirst for it."
The distance between the two closed. Thara Ak-Var gazed into the eyes of the Last Son of Krypton for a long moment.
"Case in point."
Thara's soft lips pressed against Harry's, and the two kissed. Speaking of thirst, Thara had plenty. Their lips mashed together as Harry's hands moved down to work over Thara's body and make her breath lustfully for him. Harry cupped her backside and lifted her up before lowering Thara onto the bed.