Many military officers and state government personnel had died during that catastrophe, all at the hands of Eric Kent.
Meli spoke quietly to the two women in the room.
"General Lane and I survived that disaster."
Chloe frowned slightly. "Eric tried to kill you?"
"Yes," Meli replied after a moment. "But under the circumstances, it was understandable."
She exhaled slowly before continuing.
"Besides General Lane and me, every soldier and official there had already been infected with the virus. They were no longer human. They became monsters that simply would not die."
As she spoke, Meli shivered involuntarily. The memory still haunted her. She remembered colleagues she once trusted suddenly sprouting wings, their bodies twisted into something inhuman.
"I see…" Chloe murmured, nodding slowly. The explanation finally made sense. She now understood why Eric had lost control that day.
Nearby, Lois Lane stood silently. She pulled out a lighter and stared at the document bag in her hands. After a moment of hesitation, she flicked it open and raised the flame toward the papers.
"Hey!"
Chloe reacted instantly, snatching the document away.
"Are you crazy? Why would you burn it?"
"My father told me to."
Lois looked at Chloe helplessly.
"He called me right before they put him under full surveillance. The last thing he said was to destroy these documents."
"Destroy them?"
Chloe stared down at the document bag in her hands, thinking quickly.
Then realization struck.
"I get it! The military is restricting General Lane's freedom because they want him to reveal Homelander's identity. If they get their hands on these documents, they could confirm Adrian's identity and label him an enemy."
She looked at Lois seriously.
"But why would your father go this far to protect Adrian?"
"I honestly don't know."
Lois took the document bag back from Chloe and prepared to burn it.
Suddenly, a dark blur burst into the room.
Before either of them could react, the figure slammed into them, knocking both Lois and Chloe to the ground.
Meli froze for half a second. She had not sensed anyone approaching.
Instinct kicked in.
She rolled across the floor toward a nearby drawer, pulled it open, and grabbed a pistol from inside. Raising the weapon, she aimed at the shadowy figure standing in the room.
But before she could pull the trigger, the intruder vanished.
The room fell silent.
Meli stood there breathing heavily, gun still raised. After a moment, she lowered the weapon and hurried over to the two women.
"Are you both alright?"
"We're fine," Chloe said, climbing to her feet. "But something went very wrong."
She looked around the room.
"The documents are gone. If Adrian's identity is exposed now, everything could collapse."
Lois slowly stood up as well. The impact had only pushed against her chest, but it still hurt slightly. She rubbed the sore spot, her expression filled with frustration.
She had no idea how she was going to explain this to her father.
---
Far above Earth, inside a Kryptonian warship drifting through space, a very different conversation was taking place.
General Zod stood before a massive display screen, addressing the Kryptonian soldiers gathered around him.
"Kal El's strength is inferior to Keir's. He is not our greatest concern. Locate the spacecraft that brought him to Earth. Once we find it, we will recover the Codex."
"It seems an unexpected development has occurred," said the bald scientist standing nearby. "However, it may actually work in our favor."
Zod turned sharply.
"You found the Codex?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
The scientist adjusted the data displayed on the screen.
"It is inside Kal El's body. More precisely, most of the Codex was embedded within Kal El by Jor El. A smaller portion was placed within Keir."
Zod's expression darkened.
"Impossible. Keir is not Jor El's son."
The scientist continued calmly.
"Before Krypton's fall, Jor El took the Codex of Life and encoded the genetic heritage of billions of Kryptonians into his son's cells. Kal El carries the genetic foundation of Krypton's entire population."
He paused briefly.
"As for Keir, Jor El granted him something different. He gave him the accumulated knowledge of Krypton's past, as well as its potential future. Within Keir exists the possibility for endless evolution."
The scientist glanced toward Zod.
"If Kal represents Krypton's past and infinite genetic potential, then Keir represents Krypton's future."
Zod stared silently at the vast stars outside the ship.
"I do not believe in vague futures," he said at last. "I believe in the future I create with my own hands."
After a moment, he turned back.
"What should we do about Kal El? Capture him alive and extract the Codex from his cells?"
"No."
The scientist shook his head firmly.
Zod hesitated before issuing a new command.
"Then prepare to activate the World Engine."
"Wait."
The scientist suddenly froze while examining the system console.
"The main control key has been tampered with."
Zod's eyes narrowed.
"That is impossible. No outsider can access the control room."
"I checked the system records," the scientist said, sweat forming on his forehead as he worked the controls rapidly. "Someone copied the control key and accessed the World Engine's operating system."
Zod stepped closer.
"What are they doing?"
The scientist's expression turned pale.
"They are rewriting the system."
Zod's voice sharpened.
"For what purpose?"
A flicker of horror crossed the scientist's face.
"They are trying to seize control of the ship… and the World Engine."
Zod's eyes widened slightly.
"They intend to terraform the planet according to their own program."
"What?"
For the first time, genuine shock appeared in Zod's expression.
"Who is responsible for this?"
One name immediately came to mind.
Adrian.
"Kyle Miser?" Zod muttered. "Impossible. How could he obtain the master control key?"
His confusion only deepened.
"He claimed to be from Earth. Why would he attack his own planet? Such an action would wipe out millions of humans."
Zod could not understand Adrian's intentions.
The scientist offered a different interpretation.
"He may see this ship as a planetary weapon."
Zod clenched his fists.
"Then stop him!"
His voice thundered across the command chamber.
"Keir possesses Krypton's knowledge, but he grew up on Earth. I refuse to believe he can surpass you in controlling the World Engine."
"I will stop him, General," the scientist replied nervously.
Zod continued issuing orders.
"Once control is restored, activate the engine and begin the terraforming process. Earth's molecular structure will be altered. Its gravity will increase. The planet will gradually transform into Krypton."
He turned toward the female warrior standing beside him.
"Fiora, ignore Kal El for now. Locate Keir and eliminate the threat."
Zod then looked over his assembled soldiers.
A cold suspicion entered his mind.
If someone had interfered with the ship's systems, then there might already be traitors within his ranks.
First Kal El. Then Keir.
Now perhaps others.
---
Meanwhile, the man being hunted by the Kryptonians was nowhere near them.
Adrian stood deep within the icy halls of the Fortress of Solitude in the Arctic.
His voice echoed through the crystalline chamber.
"You built that ship, didn't you?"
A calm voice answered from the surrounding crystals.
"Yes. I did."
It was Jor El.
Adrian looked toward the towering crystal pillar at the center of the chamber.
"With the main control key, can I control the ship?"
"Only partially," Jor El replied. "General Zod has already modified most of the system. My influence is limited."
After a brief silence, Jor El spoke again.
"You used the equipment platform I provided to challenge Zod's control of the ship. That attempt will not succeed."
"I know that."
Adrian crossed his arms.
"I'm not trying to win."
Jor El paused.
"Then what are you trying to accomplish?"
"Time."
Adrian studied the glowing crystal structure thoughtfully.
"I'm buying time."
Jor El responded carefully.
"General Zod's time is limited. But so is yours. Once he fully adapts to Earth's environment, he will become one of the most powerful warriors Krypton has ever produced."
Adrian's gaze sharpened.
"Stronger than Clark and me?"
"You and Clark are different," Jor El replied. "Your potential is greater. Your strength could become twice his. But you still need time to grow."
Adrian shook his head.
"There is no time left."
He held the main control key tightly in his hand.
His ongoing battle within the ship's systems was not meant to defeat Zod outright.
It was meant to learn.
By constantly clashing with the Kryptonian command protocols, Adrian was gradually uncovering the full structure of the warship.
And once he understood it completely, he would take it.