Meeting the Kryptonians.

Walking hand in hand through the coral gardens of Atlantis, Mera led Eternicus through the walkways of the palace grounds, telling him of her husband’s involvement with the Justice League and their task on Earth. He seemed to listen intently on her every word, raising an eyebrow at some of the beings they had faced and the battles they won. All the while Mera watched on as his presence seemed to heal or help grow the aquatic plant life around them. Even as she spent what had to have been an hour with the great being, soaking in just as much from his presence as everything else around her, she did not feel any different. She could feel… An energy flow into her, but it turned out he was right; she could control whether the energies would affect her now. Now she was storing it up like a sponge or battery as they continued to walk.

“So much I have missed in the present world, when I was last awake you were all still using spears and shield… Not to mention you lived above ground.”

“Yes, quite a bit has happened to our culture, but this is the norm now.”

“You have proven you can adapt to change quite well Queen Mera, I admire such a trait, for life is about adapting to the changes around it.”

Finding herself blushing despite herself, Queen Mera bowed to the compliment. Smiling back at the handsome young man she looped her arm around his once more and pointed further down the palace grounds, eager to show him more. But suddenly they heard an explosion overhead as something shot through the waters and approached the city of Atlantis with the speed of a torpedo and heading directly for them! Guarding the Queen behind him, Eternicus stared squarely at the object heading towards them until the foaming waters cleared and he was caught in the embrace of Power Girl, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and capturing his lips with hers in a kiss.

“You brought it back! YOU BROUGHT IT BACK! You brought Krypton back from destruction! They are back! Because of YOU!!!” Cried out Karen, continuing to pepper his face with kisses across his face, nose, and lips. Pressing up against him, she was overwhelmed with gratitude, and with her experience on Themyscira soaking in his and Hippolyta’s energies, she had opened her heart utterly and completely to the dragon in human form. “How can I ever thank you?” She asked, her eyes filled with adoration as her kissing became slower and more intimate. Eventually she found a pair of strong hands gently grip at her arms and pull her away, making the woman pout as the man smiled down at her.

“Now, now, no gratitude is necessary, not on MY part” He replied, still amused that she wanted to show him appreciation as she pulled his hand free and began to kiss at his fingers. “Your world fell from a tragedy that none of you were capable of surviving. I have undone that tragedy.”

“I love you!”

“I’m… Certain you do child, AND I appreciate your intentions.” Leaning in close, Karen thought he meant to kiss her and thus closed her eyes and pursed her lips, only to feel him speak into her ear. “But if anyone disserves the affection you wish to give, give it to the ones who are now alive and seeking answers in your… Watch Tower was it?”

Leaning back, Karen watched his eyes hint to look up to the sky with a knowing smile. Sharing in his grin, Karen gave the man a final kiss before launching herself back up into the waters, propelling herself with incredible speeds to fire out of the ocean and keep ascending until she returned to the outer atmosphere and back to the Watch Tower in orbit.

Back in Atlantis, Eternicus shook his head and chuckled to himself until he turned back to Mera and was surprised by her stunned silence. “What confuses you your highness?”

“You… Returned a world?”

“Ah yes. From what I was informed, Krypton had been destroyed in an unavoidable calamity, I corrected that.”

“You have the power to return an entire world!” It was more a statement than a question as the red-haired woman brought her hands to her mouth in disbelief.

“In all fairness it took quite a bit of my strength to do so, but yes.” He stated with a hint of humility. Looping his arm around hers again, Eternicus asked if they could continue their jaunt, nodding amicably, the Queen led him further down the gardens. Unseen by either of them, Hila hid behind a choral tree, having listened in on the entire conversation.

“So… My sister is catering a new visitor, a visitor with the power to change entire worlds.”

Smirking to herself, she watched as her twin sister chatted with the being in white and silver robes, a plan forming in her mind as she left her hiding spot. If her plans were to work, she would need to change. Thankfully for her, she still fit in her sister’s clothing.

*

Gathering in the main gallery of the Watch Tower, the Justice League stood ready and presentable to greet the Kryptonian visitors as their ship docked with the station. Looking to the others, Batman watched as the ladies on the team squirmed on the spot, their clothes looking tighter after their visit from Themyscira to investigate the violet light. Diana looked flushed yet dignified as she remained poised to greet the visitors. Kara was instantly pleased when Karen had returned and hugged her doppelganger affectionately, whispering into her ear and sharing a giggle. As for Clark, he looked exhausted, but the smile on his face told him enough that he had dreamed that this day would come. He even went as far as digging up his father’s ceremonial robes left to him in his space pod when he originally arrived on Earth just for this occasion. Elegantly fashioned, they were white with red highlights with his family’s house embroidered on the chest, using a material and method Bruce did not recognise.

He did not know why he looked fatigued, but for now he would have to shelf that for another time. The hiss of the air lock announced the arrival of the Kryptonians, three of them; two men and a woman entered the main corridor and with a well choreographed bow, greeted the League. They were dressed in grey robes like the ones Clark wore with their own family crests on their chests.

“We are the commanding officers of the Hyperion, my name is Gaf’ild, this is my second in command Jur’ee and my science officer Myk’er.” Introduced the tall and handsome middle-aged man with a grey beard, folding his hands in front of him as did the rest of his command staff.

“My name is Kal’el, but here I am called Superman, these are my friends and family who represent a League of heroes who safeguard this world.”

“Charming…” Muttered Jur’ee under her breath. Despite appearing almost the same age as Kara and Karen, the dark haired woman kept her hair bound in a bun behind her and kept a stoic face as did the others. Her face stern and expressionless as were the others.

“Please, come with me, there’s SO much I’d like to show you.” Offered Clark, guiding them to meet with the others as they each introduced themselves. Kara and Karen held nothing back as they embraced the three visitors, even though they responded with an almost bemused indifference. Continuing with a tour of the station and a view of Earth, Clark continued to talk to them, explaining his arrival to Earth after Krypton’s destruction and the planet’s effects on their people.

Meanwhile, the Flash leaned in close to Kara and Karen to whisper low enough that the visitors hopefully would not hear him. “You know, compared to YOU three, they’re pretty… Stuffy. They remind me of the forensics clerk I used to work with, anymore wooden and he’d have had to shave with sandpaper.”

“Well… To be honest, Earth really rubbed off on us.” Answered Kara as she looked back at the newcomers and to Flash. “It really wasn’t uncommon for our people to be kind of stilted, then again you’d kind of expected that when your life is engineered as soon as you leave the birthing pods.”

“Birthing pods? You mean you are all test-tube babies?” Asked Barry, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

Approaching Diana, Batman whispered into her ear to leave the group to speak. Once they were far enough, Bruce asked for a report on what Diana had found. Learning that the first of Eternicus’s ‘children’ had arrived and possessed the body of her mother. Effecting the island and its ecosystem as well as her sisters. “This is a complicating development.” Replied Bruce after hearing her explanation.

“What do you mean?”

“Your mother exudes a sense of love by proximity, eliciting powerful emotional responses in others.”

“Is that so terrible?” Asked Diana, not getting what Bruce was talking about. “It was WONDERFUL Bruce, I regret never bringing you or the others with me despite my sister’s requests, you would have found such peace in it.”

“THAT’s the problem Diana, we were fortunate to meet one of his ‘good’ kids, what if we meet one that evokes an emotion that isn’t so comforting? Like fear? Or hatred?”

Sighing, Diana gave Bruce a softened look, crossing her arms under her breastplate and unintentionally pushing her bust up. “You act cautious, but really you’re scared, you’ve been scared your whole life.”

“Its not unreasonable to be cautious Diana, even now I don’t trust all this. We don’t even know if these people are really Kryptonian or…” Stopped mid sentence by Diana pulling his face close, he found himself in an intimate kiss with Diana, her hands cupping his chin the entire time before she pulled away, a warm smile on her angelic face as she traced a thumb down the ear of his cowl.

“I love you Bruce, enough that I don’t want to see you worry, come with me… Please…” Gently grabbing hold of his hand, Diana guided him with her out of the observatory, the man not knowing how to react as he was led away from the group. Seeing the two leave, Power Girl and Super Girl traded knowing smiles before their attention fell to the others. Each of them had lingering effects of the white and violet light still in them; Dinah and Oliver stayed close and Shayera inched closer to Barry every time his attention was to the guests, finding Zatanna doing the same. But then their eyes fell on Johnn, the Martian Manhunter who stood out in the group with a composed look on his face, but with a sad look in his eyes.

Slowly navigating through the group of people, the proverbial twins confronted the green skinned shapeshifter, noticing him turn his attention to look out the window to observe Earth. “What’s wrong Johnn, is everything okay?”

“I am well.” He replied stoically. “I am… Grateful for you all, you have regained your lost world and its people.”

“You just wish you had been given the same, did you?” Asked Kara with a worried look, he didn’t respond, but his silence spoke volumes. Trading looks, the two blonde beauties gently pulled at the man’s hands and guided him away from the others.

“Where are we going?” He asked, his attention falling between the two women leading him out of the observatory and back to the Kryptonian delegation who were still listening to Clark.

“We love you Johnn.” Answered Kara, opening the door to the elevator and making sure he stepped in first. Then Karen spoke as she captured his face gently in her hands and pulled him in for a deep and passionate kiss on his lips. “That’s why we’re going to make sure you never feel lonely again!”