19th October
16:49 -5 GMT
The room the genomorphs have Match in has changed a great deal since Kon and I first fought him. The body parts from failed experiments are gone, small amounts taken for tissue samples while the rest were incinerated. Genomorphs certainly aren't sentimental. His pod has been substantially reinforced, at least in part because they're deliberately keeping him a little more awake than they used to in order to let the team of g-gnomes and g-pooka sitting in repose around it try altering his thought processes to something a little less violent.
Last time I asked, Dubbilex told me that he was reasonably sure that this approach couldn't
completely work but that it wasn't impossible that it could turn him from 'berserk' to merely 'furious'. Another thing Genomorphs don't do: they don't get despondent. If the g-pooka's emotional manipulation abilities couldn't fix Match, maybe the g-fae's magic would prove more effective. Maybe the g-lusca would craft a virus capable of making Match fully Kryptonian. And if no solution was forthcoming from those, perhaps the next iteration of the malleable genomorph genome would suggest a different solution.
The rest of the room is given over to research stations. Unlike upstairs there are some human researchers down here; too much acquired experience with Kryptonian tissue to dismiss. One or two were lured away from STAR Labs, and I think the other new faces were from LexCorp's 'xenobiological exploration' department. One claimed during my last visit that with the right pharmaceuticals Match would be no worse off than a strongly bipolar human. Neither Kon nor I were convinced that was anything like good enough.
"Hey Mom."
Kon heads towards Diana, who has been watching Match's faintly twitching face through the viewing pane. She turns her head a little his way, just enough to indicate that she heard him. "How was school today?"
"I'm not.. really sure. I was kinda distracted." He comes up alongside her. "You.. getting anything..?"
She gives her head a small shake. "I can think of nothing I could do for him. He was created on Earth. It is quite possible that Gaea's magic would be able to heal his mind, if she could be persuaded to make the attempt. But… It is probably far safer to place our faith in Jor-El."
A door in the side of the room opens, and Dubbilex and an uncomfortable-looking Kara Zor-El walk through. I turn away as Diana and Kon side-hug and head their way.
"Medical go alright?
"
Dubbilex stops, straightening slightly. "As far as I can tell, Miss Zor-El is in near-perfect health. My only concern is that she is slightly underweight, but considering how long she was in cryogenic suspension it is noteworthy that that is her only difficulty."
"No need to worry about
that. Mis-. Ma-. Ah. Kal's foster mother is keeping an eye on what I eat."
"It would be a simple matter to assign you a g-gnome, should you desire it."
"I don't.. think I could really explain why I was carrying a g-gnome around with me."
"Ah, secrecy." Dubbilex blinks. "Am I to understand that you are following Superman's example and concealing your nature?"
"For now. I don't.. really get it either. But it's an Earth custom, so…"
"It also lets you get out of explaining how the Kryptonian Kara Zor-El knows… Well. You know who. I'm not a fan of it
either, but-.
"
"Yeah, I do…
Get it." She shrugs. "It's just..
strange. I don't think Krypton
ever had anything like 'superheroes'. And… I can't get over Kal being a
soldier."
"Kal-El isn't exactly a
soldier.
"
"Volunteer police officer?" She shrugs. A lot of alien languages don't have a good translation for 'superhero' that isn't closer in meaning to 'demigod' than what an English speaker actually means when they say it. "That's not really something Els
do. We're..
scientists. The only El I can remember who was a soldier was
Van-El, and
he only did it because the Reconstruction needed him more than anything else did."
"Not planning on putting on a red and blue costume and fighting evildoers yourself, then?
"
"N
nnno. I.. should probably learn how to actually
use my strength; I don't want to accidentally hurt anyone. But… My qualifications are in mathematics. I don't think I'm really
qualified."
I shrug.
"My degree's in philosophy.
"
"Which makes sense, because you're using a power ring." She turns her head away, watching Match's sarcophagus. "The most useful thing I could do for-. For
Krypton would be working here. I'm not a.. doctor or anything, but I'm sure that Uncle Jor would let me use his database. And I probably still know more about how we work than most humans."
"If you are not a specialist, I doubt that you know more than
we do." Dubbilex doesn't exactly seem offended, but he
does have a point. "Though I would appreciate any further data you could persuade Kal-El to provide."
I frown.
"I thought he was helping-.
"
"I did not mean to imply that he was withholding critical information. But he is reluctant to share anything that is not directly related to Kryptonian neurology. His opinion is that we do not need anything else to help Match, and he does not want to risk further data falling into Lex Luthor's hands."
"What's with that, anyway?" Kara looks from Dubbilex to me. "Lex Luthor's a.. human businessman, isn't he?"
"That's a..
complicated one. And if you don't plan on getting involved in costumed adventuring I'd suggest avoiding both the man and the subject.
"
She frowns. "O.. kay..?"
"Exactly what sort of mathematics? I'm sure KordTech-.
"
She laughs politely. "You… It's like what I said back at the mountain… Krypton was just… Ah…"
"I'm not offended. I've been around enough to know that we're a good deal more primitive than a lot of worlds.
"
"I'm not trying to be mean about it. You're not barbarians or anything. There are a lot of worlds with more technology that aren't anything like as
nice. I.. think Krypton might have been like this if the Vrangs hadn't invaded." She sighs, then looks straight at me. "Well… Kon says you're his
Jes-Mo… What do
you think I should do?"
"How..? Soon do you need to start? Honestly, I wouldn't do
anything until you're a good deal more accustomed to Earth society.
"
"I.. really think I'd rather have something to work on
now."
I can understand
that.
"Did your.. mathematical qualifications include statistics or economics?
"
"Statistics, sure. Economics… A bit. It wasn't really my focus."
"Oh. Ah… Have you considered emigrating? Tamaran could really use school teachers?
"
"Learn
another language? I'm having enough trouble with English."
"Um…
" I hear a
hiss as the pod disconnects from its housing, Kon and Diana getting into position to
push.
"I'll have a think about it, but I don't really know much about higher maths. I'm not sure-
"
Alert! Connection made to monitored phone line.
"-that I oh
great.
"
Kara frowns. "What?"
"Sorry, someone's-.
" I raise my left hand and look at my ring.
Is it Truggs again?
Confirmed.
I move my hand to the side of my head.
"What?
"
"Hey, Paul. Funny story-."
"If the assassins are here for you, don't expect me to help.
"
"Oh, I think this time around my problems are your problems."
