“Things are going well, we’ve had thousands of applications for membership and the Republic is stripped down to a block of core worlds,” May cuddled deeper under the blankets, wrapped in Dan’s embrace. “Ultron has even reported positive news about our reception within the galaxy propper, more of the common citizens view Krypton favourably than not.”
Stormy pounced from above, a black blur that forced its way under the blanks. The cat dug his way deeper, until he found a comfortable place by their feet. Bear placed his head on the corner of the bed, forlorn until May patted the blanket beside her. A bound of his legs and he was nestled against her hip, settled with a comfortable huff.
“There’s over two weeks until the deadline, but half of the known galaxy is still out of compliance,” Dan sighed as he kissed the top of May’s head. The enforcement of their Empire’s laws on a galaxy as populated as this one would strain even Krypton’s resources. “Once their time is up, we’ll begin with a planet called Kalee… it’s the homeword of a rather interesting person, wrapped up in an interstellar conflict.”
“The young Kryptonians are doing well, despite their limited training,” May nodded, face half buried in Dan’s chest. She exhaled a satisfied sigh and pulled the blanket over her head. “With the nearly limitless droids and Killiks to reinforce them, we should be able to sweep much of the non-compliant worlds within a few months.”
Dan grunted his agreement and let his eyes close. The symbiotes that every Kryptonian received, combined with their genetic knowledge, placed them well above any standard troops within the galaxy. Still, even ten-million Kryptonians would need to push themselves if they wanted to follow their orders of minimal casualties on all sides.
“Hello… Dan-EL, can you hear me?” A faint voice tickled at the edge of his mental barriers, the ever-excited tones of Joy. The Force priestess had promised to give him a call and it seemed his time was up. “Tomorrow, the device will activate… it has charged for much longer this time, I expect it will send you much further afield than before.”
The mental contact faded before he could answer and Dan sighed. He looked down at May, asleep in his arms. This time one of them had to remain behind, in case Abeloth took action against their forces. Tonight would be the last night in a long while where he could hold her close.
“It will only be two weeks for you, but for me…” Dan shook his head. The battle with Abeloth had exposed his ongoing weakness and highlighted the need for him to truly expand his power. “I won’t be coming back until I’m confident in defeating Abeloth at her best.”
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“Cal!!!” Thunder entered his peaceful dreams of study, the voice of his greatest friend and aggravation. “Get up Cal, we’ve received emergency orders from the Emperor!”
Metal protested, sheared apart as Kara forced her way into his room. She ripped the blankets from his body, an action they both instantly regretted. Face dyed a ruddy crimson, she spun around and stomped out of the room.
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“WHO ASKED YOU TO SLEEP NAKED, YOU PERVERT!!!” Her voice assaulted Cal’s ears as his symbiote covered his body. “Now get ready, we leave in less than an hour!”
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“You’re sure you don’t mind if I take the pets with me?” Dan pressed his forehead against his Wife’s and nipped the tip of her nose. She snorted and bared her own teeth in response.
“It’s alright, you deserve to have some comfort company and it will only be two weeks for me,” May pretended to go for his neck, but shifted to a kiss midway. They held each other, lost in the moment of goodbye. “Make sure you take good care of them, and watch out for Cal and Kara… they’re some of the best Krypton has to offer, but the multiverse can be dangerous.”
“We’ll be careful, and so should you,” Dan nodded and squeezed her tight, a final hug before he pulled away. He needed to get clear of the planet, or the portal would attempt to drag all of Krypton along with him. “Abeloth is no joke, and she’s likely to strike when we’re divided.”
May had already worked with Merlyn to ward all the worlds under Krypton behind powerful formations. Every Kryptonian had also learned to shield their minds, but their experience and skills were still far from perfect.
“I’ll keep a close watch, especially on the troops in active service,” May sighed as Dan backed away, toward the lowered ramp of the newest model of scoutship. Biomechanical technology, a fusion of Yuuzhan Vong, Kryptonian, and some recently reverse engineered Celestial components. “With both Merlyn and I on the job, we should be able to hold the fort.”
Dan took a final look at his Wife, before he waved goodbye and walked up the boarding ramp. A long goodbye would only drag out his mixed feelings. If it wasn’t forced upon him, he would rather not leave her to face Abeloth alone, even for such a short time.
“Venom, engage the drives and get us into open space,” Dan walked into the bridge, where Kara and Cal waited. The pair of teens vibrated with excitement, two amongst millions chosen to join the Emperor on his journey across the multiverse. “Let’s get this show on the road!”
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A brilliant flash of white vomited the scoutship into a familiar system. A blue-green orb, the third planet from its sun, drifted in its lazy orbit alongside its companion moon. Another Earth, one of an infinite number he supposed. Kara pressed her nose to the glass, eyes fixed on their new location.
“That looks just like the planet from Krypton's files…” Kara scratched at the side of her head and frowned. “What was it called again?”
“Earth,” Cal joined her at the viewport, his own eyes focused on the rest of the system. “But this isn’t the same one, there are no space stations or signs of the higher technology that Krypton gave them.”
“Venom, hack into whatever you can find,” Dan turned his gaze to the planet, focused on the cities and towns. Things had a rustic tinge. Old-timey, industrialization that spoke of a different era. “Let’s see if I recognize anything.”
The people he spotted on the streets carried themselves with a nervous energy, rushed to a near frantic pace as they went about their days. The streets of New York were emptier than normal, but the bustle of the citizens made it almost unnoticeable.
Even the wind seemed affected, jittery gusts that carried loose trash and papers in games of leapfrog. Dan squinted at a newspaper, unfolded into the air as if hoping to share its news with the heavens. June twenty-second, nineteen-forty-three.
“Italy loses ground… war efforts hailed as success by President Eisenhower…” Dan frowned as he shifted his gaze to the other side of the globe. Thousands of men marched and fought, engaged in the greatest war the Earth had ever seen. “It seems that we’ve come to a planet embroiled in its second world war…”
Dan pulled a double take as his vision passed over an American army camp. The troops had gathered around a stage, a cabaret show complete with a line of beautiful girls. Dan ignored the womens’ performances and locked in on the only man amongst them.
Dressed in a full body spandex suit, he held a star spangled shield in hand as he reluctantly performed through the heckles of the crowd. His face pulled a vast amount of nostalgic excitement from Dan’s heart, alongside a hint of worry.
“Steve Rogers…” Dan left Captain America behind and began a detailed scan of the planet. “We’re in the marvel multiverse…”