Start of the Kryptonian Galaxy
Chapter Three — The System Appears
The silver sky of Krypton stretched endlessly above the city of Kandor, but Dru-Zod's focus was not on the shimmering towers or the flying craft weaving between them. It was on the faint hum in his mind—the low, persistent vibration of the System he had activated yesterday.
For the past several hours, he had tested the limits of the interface. It was far more sophisticated than he had anticipated. Not merely a tool, but a companion, an intelligent entity capable of predicting outcomes, managing resources, and even analyzing human—or rather Kryptonian—behavior. It had the answers to questions he hadn't yet asked.
And it had begun to speak to him.
A translucent orb of light appeared in the center of the chamber. Slowly, almost gracefully, it rotated, shimmering with a faint blue glow. Dru-Zod regarded it carefully, wary of the warnings buried deep within his Earth memories: intelligent systems were not always obedient.
"Host," the System's voice resonated inside his head, smooth and calm. "You have entered the initial phase of planetary evacuation. Prioritization of resources and population is required. The survival of Krypton's legacy depends on your decisions."
Dru raised an eyebrow. "Legacy, huh?" He glanced at the orb floating silently before him. "Don't tell me you're going to lecture me about morality now."
"Morality parameters are optional," the System replied. "Efficiency and survival are not. Begin by selecting a city for initial deployment. You have access to Atlantis and one Stargate."
Dru's smirk returned. Efficiency and survival… exactly what I need.
He closed his eyes for a moment and let the two lifetimes of memory converge. The human memories reminded him of strategy games, of resource management simulations. The Kryptonian memories spoke of military precision, logistics, and the unwavering loyalty of soldiers trained since childhood. Combined, they formed something entirely new: an instinct for orchestrating large-scale operations in secret.
He opened his eyes.
"Activate city selection protocol," he commanded.
The System responded with a gentle hum, projecting a holographic map of Krypton into the air. Cities shimmered with faint lights, each indicating population density, technological infrastructure, and military presence. Kandor pulsed slightly brighter than the others, its energy radiating like a heartbeat.
The System added a data overlay: "City of Kandor selected as primary deployment site. Recommended population evacuation: 35,000. Maximum capacity of Atlantis: 50,000. Recommended for secrecy: High."
Dru stepped closer to the floating map, his fingers brushing through the holographic icons. "High secrecy, huh? Perfect. We'll need to avoid detection by the Science Council and House El. Especially House El."
He recalled the arrogance of Jor-El, the scientist who would save only his own child in the original timeline. Dru felt no sympathy for him. In his version of events, House El would be left behind. Their inaction had doomed billions.
"You will not interfere with House El," Dru said aloud. "Understood?"
"Yes, Host," the System replied. "House El marked as non-priority. Evacuation will proceed without interference from their resources or personnel."
Dru nodded, satisfied. Already, the System was shaping the foundation of his plan. Its analysis of resource distribution, logistics, and population dynamics was unparalleled. It could optimize deployment routes, calculate energy consumption for the city-ship, and even predict potential failures in real-time.
He tapped the holographic map, zooming in on the outskirts of Kandor. The residential districts glowed softly. Factories and research facilities blinked in steady rhythm. Military compounds stood like silent sentinels, disciplined and strong.
"Let's begin with the loyalists first," Dru said. "Soldiers, engineers, anyone capable of operating Atlantis efficiently. And civilians with practical skills—technicians, medics, pilots. Leave the rest."
"Yes, Host," the System confirmed. "Deployment list generated. Estimated transit time: 12 hours per cycle using the Stargate."
Dru's mind raced. He could evacuate the city in multiple cycles, gradually transferring people to Atlantis while remaining undetected. If he timed it correctly, even House Zod and the planetary security forces would not notice the absence of the population.
"Good," he muttered. "Now, show me the Stargate network. I need entry and exit points."
The System responded instantly, projecting a glowing blue ring in the center of the room. Its surface shimmered like liquid glass, showing a network of coordinates and potential destinations. Each exit point was calculated for stability, energy consumption, and risk.
Dru traced his fingers across the network, stopping at a distant point marked in a faint orange hue. It was far from Krypton, a safe pocket in space where Atlantis could emerge without attracting attention.
"You will mark this as the initial exit point," Dru instructed.
"Exit point confirmed, Host. All systems ready for deployment," the System replied.
Dru exhaled slowly, letting the weight of his plan settle. He felt a surge of excitement he hadn't experienced in decades—both the exhilaration of power and the thrill of absolute control. With the System at his side, he could achieve what no Kryptonian had before: survival, secrecy, and dominance.
But he knew this was only the beginning.
The real challenge would come next: coordinating multiple city evacuations, keeping House El oblivious, and preparing Atlantis for intergalactic travel.
And then… finally… reaching the unknown regions of a galaxy far, far away.
Dru-Zod smirked, his eyes gleaming with determination.
"Let's make history."