Shattered Illusions Chpt. 7
The guards at the gate were surprised when Superman alighted in front of them accompanied by Lois Lane, and a very uncomfortable looking man, who’s press pass identified him as Clark Kent.
“I hope that you have an uneventful visit with the general,” Superman said to Miss Lane.
“Thank you, Superman,” Lois replied.
“Lois Lane and Clark Kent to see General Zod, we have an appointment.” Lois said to the guards as they approached the gate.
“Uh, yeah, four o’clock Lois Lane, Clark Kent. The warden would like a word with you when you are finished,” the older guard replied. “If you’ll just sign in here, Seymour will escort you in.”
Seymour escorted the two reporters through the high tech facility. The red lighting throughout the section that housed the three Kryptonian criminals gave it an otherworldly feel. Lois was beginning to get uncomfortable with this whole situation. She looked over at Richard and noticed that he seemed nervous as well, but she didn’t know how much was real, and how much was an act. She realized how good an actor Richard really was, almost as good as the real Clark.
The guard reached the door that led to the visitation area and keyed in the access code. The steel door swung open to reveal a large room with tables and chairs looking more like a dining area than a visitation room. General Zod was escorted into the room from another door, and guards stood at attention at either door. Lois noticed that there were cameras in the corners of the room.
General Zod looked as dignified as ever, even in his prison issue jumpsuit. His well groomed beard had a slight peppering of gray in it, as did his hair, and she had noticed, he didn’t seem as gaunt as he was after his escape from the Phantom Zone.
“Good Afternoon, Ms. Lane. And I am to presume you are Mr. Kent?” The General greeted his ‘guests.’
“Yes sir, I’m Clark Kent. It is nice to meet you,” Richard responded, extending his hand to shake with the General.
“Hmmm, you’re not as tall as I expected.” Zod interjected, ignoring the outstretched hand.
“Shall we start the interview?” Lois said, noticing how closely Zod was observing her partner.
“Oh, please, have a seat Ms. Lane, Mr. Kent. Where are my manners? Yes, shall we begin,” he answered in a very pleasant voice. “I’d like to thank you for coming and allowing me to put the record straight.
“First, I think I owe you, Ms. Lane, an apology. I treated you abominably, especially for one who is linked with the Great House of El. I was not in my right mind at the time, after my exile to the Phantom Zone. One goes mad in that place.”
“Thank you, General. It means a lot to me that a man such as you would apologize to me,” Lois replied, sweetness dripping from her voice.
“General,” Richard/Clark began, “In your statement, you claim that you were a political prisoner.”
“Yes, my confederates and I were charged with sedition. When Kal El - Superman’s - father, Jor El discovered our planet was in danger of destruction, we felt that a plan should be formulated to evacuate the planet. When the Counsel refused to listen to the voice of reason, even to the point of silencing Jor El himself, we took action. Our allies took control of the main communications center in Kryptonopolis, in an attempt to inform the people of Krypton of the impending doom, giving them an opportunity to escape.
“Unfortunately, a trap had been laid for us, and Jor El was forced to conduct the inquisition, to prove his loyalty to the counsel. Ursa, Non and I were found guilty on site, and exiled into the Phantom Zone, without a chance to even defend ourselves,” Zod stated.
“But didn’t you destroy a control crystal?” Lois asked, thinking back to what Kal El had told her the night they learned of Zod’s coup, before he headed back to the fortress to attempt to regain his powers.
“The crystal I destroyed was used to observe the people’s movements. All activity on Krypton was kept under constant surveillance. We did not enjoy the freedom you have here on Earth. We were fighting a repressive, unfeeling regime, which ultimately was responsible for the loss of billions of lives. Not only were we fighting for our freedom, we were fighting for our lives,” Zod declared.
“What about the incident in East Huston? How do you justify the massacre there?” Richard asked.
“As I told you earlier, none of us were in our right minds when we arrived here. Shortly before we entered that town we met some sort of law enforcement officials, who were less than cordial. They yelled at us, threatened, and shot at us. We responded in kindness, walking away and leaving them to their own devices. Once we entered the town, the citizens seemed to be of the same ilk as the law enforcement officers. We observed that the people of this planet must be very barbaric, and needed our help to become more civilized. We had to protect ourselves from their assault.”
The whole afternoon seemed surreal to Lois. Sitting at table listening to the man who had terrorized the whole world, trying to justify his actions. He would state one thing, and Lois or Richard would fire back another question, trying to uncover his agenda, to find the truth. After a couple hours of back and forth, they were informed that their time was up.
“Thank you, Ms. Lane, Mr. Kent. This was a very enlightening visit; I hope you feel the same.”
“I can honesty say, General, I have learned a great deal from you today,” Richard responded.
As they were escorted from the room, Richard gently took Lois’s hand and squeezed it comfortingly. She was trembling uncontrollably. This meeting with Zod had shaken her to the core. Things he had said were troubling, especially things concerning Kal El.
“The warden wanted to speak with you both after your interview, but he was called away suddenly. Would you be able to meet with him tomorrow?” The guard who had been escorting them asked. Richard answered in the affirmative, noting it on his Blackberry.
Clark was waiting at the gate with the car. “I didn’t think that it would be right for Superman to show up after you finished with your interview,” Clark explained as they drove away. “How did it go?”
“Didn’t you listen in?” Lois asked.
“I tried, but there is some sort of device that prevents any sound from escaping the prison. It is nothing I put in place, but it is there all the same. It’s very strange; like a dead zone. You should check your voice recorders, make sure that they worked.”
Lois and Richard both pulled out their recorders and turned them on. Thankfully, both devices worked, so whatever blocked the sound to the outside world had no effect inside.
“I’m hungry, what is there to eat in this place?” Lois grumbled.
“There’s a truck stop just off the interstate,” Clark said.
“Great, first I have to spend the afternoon with Zod - now you want to go to some greasy spoon. Just promise me you won’t pick any fights with the locals today.”
Now why would Clark do something like that? The more time Richard spent with the two of them, the more he realized that there was a whole other secret life the two had shared. He wondered if he’d ever be that close with a woman.
Dinner was uneventful, though there was one boisterous trucker who seemed to shrink into the background as soon as he noticed Clark entering the restaurant. Richard ordered a double bacon cheeseburger, while Lois got a cob salad, and Clark finally decided on chicken fried steak. The food was good, and the conversation relaxed. It was nice to be able to wind down after the last couple weeks.
Just as they were finishing up with their meal, Lois stuck her hand out. “Keys.”
Richard noticed Clark standing up, a concerned look on his face. Clark set the keys on the table.
“I won’t be long,” he said then disappeared out the door. Richard looked at Lois curiously.
“When you’ve been around Clark for as long as I have, you learn to see the signs. It’s what tipped me off about him. Always disappearing without a sound; leaving me stranded at the most inopportune moments.”
Richard nodded slightly at her response, then motioned to the waitress for their check.
“I guess he figures you can take care of yourself,” Richard said.
“I sure as hell can.”
“That’s why we both love you,” he said softly.
“I hope that you have an uneventful visit with the general,” Superman said to Miss Lane.
“Thank you, Superman,” Lois replied.
“Lois Lane and Clark Kent to see General Zod, we have an appointment.” Lois said to the guards as they approached the gate.
“Uh, yeah, four o’clock Lois Lane, Clark Kent. The warden would like a word with you when you are finished,” the older guard replied. “If you’ll just sign in here, Seymour will escort you in.”
Seymour escorted the two reporters through the high tech facility. The red lighting throughout the section that housed the three Kryptonian criminals gave it an otherworldly feel. Lois was beginning to get uncomfortable with this whole situation. She looked over at Richard and noticed that he seemed nervous as well, but she didn’t know how much was real, and how much was an act. She realized how good an actor Richard really was, almost as good as the real Clark.
The guard reached the door that led to the visitation area and keyed in the access code. The steel door swung open to reveal a large room with tables and chairs looking more like a dining area than a visitation room. General Zod was escorted into the room from another door, and guards stood at attention at either door. Lois noticed that there were cameras in the corners of the room.
General Zod looked as dignified as ever, even in his prison issue jumpsuit. His well groomed beard had a slight peppering of gray in it, as did his hair, and she had noticed, he didn’t seem as gaunt as he was after his escape from the Phantom Zone.
“Good Afternoon, Ms. Lane. And I am to presume you are Mr. Kent?” The General greeted his ‘guests.’
“Yes sir, I’m Clark Kent. It is nice to meet you,” Richard responded, extending his hand to shake with the General.
“Hmmm, you’re not as tall as I expected.” Zod interjected, ignoring the outstretched hand.
“Shall we start the interview?” Lois said, noticing how closely Zod was observing her partner.
“Oh, please, have a seat Ms. Lane, Mr. Kent. Where are my manners? Yes, shall we begin,” he answered in a very pleasant voice. “I’d like to thank you for coming and allowing me to put the record straight.
“First, I think I owe you, Ms. Lane, an apology. I treated you abominably, especially for one who is linked with the Great House of El. I was not in my right mind at the time, after my exile to the Phantom Zone. One goes mad in that place.”
“Thank you, General. It means a lot to me that a man such as you would apologize to me,” Lois replied, sweetness dripping from her voice.
“General,” Richard/Clark began, “In your statement, you claim that you were a political prisoner.”
“Yes, my confederates and I were charged with sedition. When Kal El - Superman’s - father, Jor El discovered our planet was in danger of destruction, we felt that a plan should be formulated to evacuate the planet. When the Counsel refused to listen to the voice of reason, even to the point of silencing Jor El himself, we took action. Our allies took control of the main communications center in Kryptonopolis, in an attempt to inform the people of Krypton of the impending doom, giving them an opportunity to escape.
“Unfortunately, a trap had been laid for us, and Jor El was forced to conduct the inquisition, to prove his loyalty to the counsel. Ursa, Non and I were found guilty on site, and exiled into the Phantom Zone, without a chance to even defend ourselves,” Zod stated.
“But didn’t you destroy a control crystal?” Lois asked, thinking back to what Kal El had told her the night they learned of Zod’s coup, before he headed back to the fortress to attempt to regain his powers.
“The crystal I destroyed was used to observe the people’s movements. All activity on Krypton was kept under constant surveillance. We did not enjoy the freedom you have here on Earth. We were fighting a repressive, unfeeling regime, which ultimately was responsible for the loss of billions of lives. Not only were we fighting for our freedom, we were fighting for our lives,” Zod declared.
“What about the incident in East Huston? How do you justify the massacre there?” Richard asked.
“As I told you earlier, none of us were in our right minds when we arrived here. Shortly before we entered that town we met some sort of law enforcement officials, who were less than cordial. They yelled at us, threatened, and shot at us. We responded in kindness, walking away and leaving them to their own devices. Once we entered the town, the citizens seemed to be of the same ilk as the law enforcement officers. We observed that the people of this planet must be very barbaric, and needed our help to become more civilized. We had to protect ourselves from their assault.”
The whole afternoon seemed surreal to Lois. Sitting at table listening to the man who had terrorized the whole world, trying to justify his actions. He would state one thing, and Lois or Richard would fire back another question, trying to uncover his agenda, to find the truth. After a couple hours of back and forth, they were informed that their time was up.
“Thank you, Ms. Lane, Mr. Kent. This was a very enlightening visit; I hope you feel the same.”
“I can honesty say, General, I have learned a great deal from you today,” Richard responded.
As they were escorted from the room, Richard gently took Lois’s hand and squeezed it comfortingly. She was trembling uncontrollably. This meeting with Zod had shaken her to the core. Things he had said were troubling, especially things concerning Kal El.
“The warden wanted to speak with you both after your interview, but he was called away suddenly. Would you be able to meet with him tomorrow?” The guard who had been escorting them asked. Richard answered in the affirmative, noting it on his Blackberry.
Clark was waiting at the gate with the car. “I didn’t think that it would be right for Superman to show up after you finished with your interview,” Clark explained as they drove away. “How did it go?”
“Didn’t you listen in?” Lois asked.
“I tried, but there is some sort of device that prevents any sound from escaping the prison. It is nothing I put in place, but it is there all the same. It’s very strange; like a dead zone. You should check your voice recorders, make sure that they worked.”
Lois and Richard both pulled out their recorders and turned them on. Thankfully, both devices worked, so whatever blocked the sound to the outside world had no effect inside.
“I’m hungry, what is there to eat in this place?” Lois grumbled.
“There’s a truck stop just off the interstate,” Clark said.
“Great, first I have to spend the afternoon with Zod - now you want to go to some greasy spoon. Just promise me you won’t pick any fights with the locals today.”
Now why would Clark do something like that? The more time Richard spent with the two of them, the more he realized that there was a whole other secret life the two had shared. He wondered if he’d ever be that close with a woman.
Dinner was uneventful, though there was one boisterous trucker who seemed to shrink into the background as soon as he noticed Clark entering the restaurant. Richard ordered a double bacon cheeseburger, while Lois got a cob salad, and Clark finally decided on chicken fried steak. The food was good, and the conversation relaxed. It was nice to be able to wind down after the last couple weeks.
Just as they were finishing up with their meal, Lois stuck her hand out. “Keys.”
Richard noticed Clark standing up, a concerned look on his face. Clark set the keys on the table.
“I won’t be long,” he said then disappeared out the door. Richard looked at Lois curiously.
“When you’ve been around Clark for as long as I have, you learn to see the signs. It’s what tipped me off about him. Always disappearing without a sound; leaving me stranded at the most inopportune moments.”
Richard nodded slightly at her response, then motioned to the waitress for their check.
“I guess he figures you can take care of yourself,” Richard said.
“I sure as hell can.”
“That’s why we both love you,” he said softly.