15420/Kandor: City of Hope

Kandor: City of Hope
Date of Scene:	30 July 2023
Location:	The Bottled City of Kandor
Synopsis:	The House of El and their allies head back in to the Bottle of Kandor to find out what really happened. But their hearts ache doing nothing and instead take matters in to their own hands...
Cast of Characters:	Alura In-Ze, Monet St. Croix, Jon Kent, Conner Kent, Gabby Kinney, Clark Kent, Caitlin Fairchild

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Alura In-Ze has posed:
As the red light of a false sun fall down upon the visitors from Earth, they are carried by cart amidst bails of crops. The cart is drawn by a strange horse-elephant like creature. It's long snout making cries out in to the air hoping to hear back from others of its kind.

The driver of the cart, one Jag-Vag, was a humble farmer. A humble farmer with a secret. He was part of the resistance. The resistance had been biding its time, waiting, for the chance to rise up once more and heal a broken city. The Bottled City of Kandor.

A giant arcology sits at the center of this once mighty city, once the capital of Krypton itself. This shining example of alien technological prowess is easily 3 kilometres high and wide. It was designed to be self sufficient but even a self sufficient arcology needs a world to rest upon.

Dressed in the clothes that Gabby provided the House of El blends in looking much like any of the other workers of which there are many. It was a strangely medieval like society amidst the remnance of a fallen civilisation. The convenience of advanced technology with the struggle of life in a bottle.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
they don't look like high class now. They seem like laborers. They've had no doubt some makeup done and some instructions on how to adjust thier body posture. If they're going to be serving as serfs, then they have to not only look the part but act it. M's had to smudge some makeup onto her face and do some things she feels that are horrid to her hair. Why she can't simply take an image inducer with her has been accompanied by a series of complaints that have faded off.

They're unimportant and they're here to save the city of Kandor. And then figure out to do with the refugees after. Well, that's more something for the Kryptonians present to figure out. It's their society, and they're the ones that know it. And how to best help the people. M is just along for the ride and to help as she can.

She's made arrangements in advance to help coordinatea mongst the team telepathically if need be - better to have a backup necessarily than regular comms. Comms can be picked up and jammed along with most electronics.

Jon Kent has posed:
Pulling his garments snuggly around himself and drawing his knees up to his chest in the back of the cart, Jon flashes Gabby a small grin that is one part humor and two parts nervous energy. "These clothes are great, Gab," he murmurs. "How did you get this distressed look on 'em?" he asks conspiratorially, like it was some sort of inside joke.

Then Jon's gaze falls on his brother. "Gosh, bro, you look out of place without your leather jacket." He gives his brother's shoulder a playful shove. More nervous energy, as evidenced by one of his feet tap-tap-tapping on the bed of the cart.

Finally, the young half-Kryptonian looks over his shoulder at Kandor proper. His eyes go wide and his constantly-yapping mouth shuts.

Conner Kent has posed:
"Sneaking around will not work for us," comments Conner, only half serious. It is true. It will work for Tim, Gabby, Laura, even Emi or Pheebs. But not for them. He nods, "we are probably the worst spies and infiltrators ever."

But only half-serious. After all no one has entered the bottled city in fifty years, so if there is something no one will expect, is... tourists. He probably shouldn't be looking at the kilometres high arch like a tourist. He is almost as bad as Jon.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney had already made sure her own clothes fit well. They didn't just LOOK distressed, somehow they WERE. Even though the fabric was new, and perhaps not of proper Kandor construction, it didn't matter. It looked threadbare and worn from the ages. Some were even sewn up where tears had been, or patched so that it looked as if they were trying to extend the life of it all. Yet none of it was identical. This wasn't some mass produced disguise she'd gotten.

At Jon's teasing she only gives a little snort, elbowing him in the side lightly. "Oh you know, just put them under some pressure." Of course he'd been the one to do that part for her. When he points out Conner's different looks she does have to smile at him in vague amusement.

"Yeah, I can't really recall the last time I saw you without the jacket. Or a t-shirt at least. You don't look bad," she rushes to add with a chuckle. "Just different."

Looking out over the expanse they travel across she sighs. "Yeah, won't be able to sneak, but no sense in giving them a huge head start either. Even if it just buys us ten minutes, that's ten minutes in our favor."

Clark Kent has posed:
Kal El is here as well, sitting and trying not to look uncomfortable. It was important to be strong and confident, not just for anyone looking at them, but for his team as well. He listens to the chit chat, but doesn't get involved in the discussion just yet. After all, he was enraptured but what he was seeing, and didn't want to miss a thing.

Caitlin Fairchild has posed:
There's really no foolproof way to hide Caitlin. She just doesn't blend well. The best they could manage was oversize coveralls and to dull her red hair and tuck it under a hat. And a promise that the redhead would just kinda slouch and try to stand behind scenery when necessary.

"I wish Nightwing was here," Caitlin agrees glumly. "Ninja that he is. Even in civvies, he can just turn up his collar and disappear behind a light pole. Like something out of a movie."

She shifts her position so she has a better view of the passing terrain. "Gosh it's pretty," she marvels. "I never really knew how to picture Krypton until I saw Kandor."

Alura In-Ze has posed:
Alura has had a lot of time to think about what she saw the last time she was here. Home. A slice of home carved away from Krypton a generation before its destruction. Preservation apparently had its own twisted definition by Brainiac. Kandor was always going to be the problem child. Alura is quiet in her contemplations.

When the city was taken, the thinkers and the fighters united to break out of the bottle. Brainiac responded violently. The inhabitants of the city had no where to run and Brainiac could send legion of his robots in to the city to quell the uprising.

And yet, it happened again - and again. Until eventually the people of Kandor could take the defeat no more. Those who had lead the last uprising, El, had turned their symbol in to something illegal.

Which is why Alura cannot help but notice the occasional graffiti'd symbol of El on the walls as they move in to the central plaza underneath the arcology. Her eyes focus in on a young man spraying the stylised S. A guard in run down armor notices, "Hey! You!" The young man runs away and the guard doesn't even bother giving chase.

Their convoy leads them down a side street and they are ushered in to a bar. Why is it resistances famously always hide out in bars? This is what they had come back for - to learn the truth of this place. To prepare these people for the restoration of the city on to a new planet.

The poor Kandorians still didn't know Krypton was gone for good. The same rules applied set forth more by Princess Diana than anybody else. No superpowers, no yellow sun, no Earth. No disrupting a fragile civilisation. Some how Diana's well meaning ideologies were feeling more and more alien to her as each moment passed.

A wiry old man with a scraggly white beard smiled and approached offering his arm to the strangers. The owner of the bar was at the front door locking it shut with a wave of their hand over a sensor. "I am Tor-El. It is my great honour to welcome you to Kandor."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Well, now they're going to get started. Monet can appreciate the city from an outsider's perspective. For the Kryptonians, it's part of a home that they may or may not have ever had. So for many fo them it's the first sight of the city in all it's splendor in what might have been. That's something she can appreciate from the perspective of an outsider. For them, it is a very personal thing.

For her? It is a lovely alien city. But ana lien one still. That is unfaimliar beyond what briefings the experienced ones have shared with her. She's done what research she has access to but there's nothing quite like the personal connetion for familiarity. She's staying silent as the group goes along.

Quiet, evaluating. Looking for signs of them being tracked or trapped. She does however trust that Gabby has this far better in hand - she's the one with the enhanced senses and combat training. M stays several feet away from the group - enough that if they're rushed they're spreado ut and not going to all be taken at once. Paranoia breeds paranoia - combat training from the Amazons (far, far beneath Caitlin's), and too much experience from the X-Men.

Jon Kent has posed:
Sticking close to his father as they enter the bar, Jon leans in to murmur to Clark, "I'm not gonna get grounded for getting caught in a bar underage, am I?" Of course, he's 19 and probably isn't even eligible for being grounded anymore, but he has a lot of pent-up energy that he doesn't know what to do with.

But then his eyes *lock* on Tor-El when the man says his name. Family. The first *new* family member he has met in a very long time. "Hello, sir," Jon says deferentially. "I'm Jon-El. I am *so* honored to meet you." There's our Goodest Boy, all respectful and familial. There's Jon.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney departs from the cart to the bar where they were meeting the revolutionaries. Monet is cast a reassuring smile, and she nods toward Conner as well with a simple, "I'll keep an ear out," that both would understand. Which is why she steps to the side away from the door to lean, back against wall, as the greetings are made.

Her arms cross over her chest and she lets her eyes drop to half mast as if she were tired. In fact, she's just focusing. Concentrating. Listening, and smelling everything as she takes purposefully deep breaths.

Conner Kent has posed:
Last time they were in Kandor, Conner got a number of Els names mentioned, which surprised him a bit as he though Zor and Jor were the only Els in Krypton. Apparently the clan had a number of members in Kandor.

Tor-El appearance still makes him blink. "Oh, good to meet you. I am Kon-El" he looks to the others. They are not pretending to be all of them 'Els' are they? Is it even important if the Kandorians know most of the group is not really Kryptonian? After all, only Alura and Kal were born in Krypton. And Kal was barely born in Krypton. "Er... is this place good to talk?" He is already scanning it out with his tactile telekinesis. It is not x-ray vision, but it comes handy sometimes.

Clark Kent has posed:
The disguises were working well. A slight nod of thanks towards Gabby to let her know it was appreciated. Covert was not his strong suit, but here they were. His eyes found each of the Companions, and he tried to exhude confidence to each of them. Maybe it worked.,,

Clark notices the kid doing the graffiti and that brought a smile to his face, the first one in a while. Shaking his head at Jon, Clark winks, and mouths "No.".

Then, Clark's attention was taken by the man introducing himself as "Tor-El". Then he found his voice.

With a respectful nod, Kal says, "No, sir. It is our honour. Thank you."

Caitlin Fairchild has posed:
Caitlin more or less stays near Kal, by dint of averaging her height out a little with the rest of the crowd. It seems to work, or she thinks it does, as no one jumps up and shouts 'Human!' at her.

Monet might not have a corner on paranoia.

"It's not -that- common of a name, is it?" she murmurs as an aside to Alura. While the House of El is meeting their cousins, Caitlin's scanning the area with a guarded caution that fails to look as relaxed as Gabby does. At least she manages to make it look a -little- nonchalant while the introductions are made.

Alura In-Ze has posed:
Nothing can describe the smells of an alien city. Kryptonian vegetation, spices, fruits, vegetables.. very few meats. These are the smells that have been assaulting Gabby's sensitive nose since she got here. More so than the last visit. For Monet's paranoia and Conner's telekinesis - all seems quiet, no one is obviously pursuing them.

Alura's eyes scan over the man searchingly. Looking for recognition of a family she thought she knew quite well. The House of El was one of the oldest family names on Krypton. From before clear records were kept. Alura side whispers back to Caitlin, "It's no Smith or Brown, but it's not that uncommon." ~~ To Tor-El she says, "I'm Alura In-Ze." As the two boys introduce themselves she adds for Clark's sake, "And this is Kal-El. Caitlin Fairchild, Honey Badger, and M."

Tor-El and places his hand across his chest, "Welcome - Family, and friends." There is delight dancing in the old mans eyes. It is clear simply meeting these strangers from outside the bottle is a momentous moment - but to meet those who are El. Well, it seems something has awoken inside of him.

The lights go out. The red hues on everything disappears in to the darkness and from it candles are alight. Their burning yellows dance in the room illuminating every thing once more. "We meet under the true light of Rao. The warmth of this flame, burning bright, fills us with purpose."

Alura is taken back by this. The spiritual guild have many rituals that were kept for special occasions and this was certainly one of them. Proof that the culture of Krypton has survived in this place. Tor-El must not be of the thinkers guild.

"You have travelled far. Please, seat yourselves. The law will not trouble us here. There is much I must tell you. Because your very existence has begun what may be our last chance at ever truly being free. Hope... is a dangerous thing. It can lift you up, but if it is snatched away then it will crush you like a hammer. Let me tell you about the last uprising and what it cost us."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Well, so much for keeping a low profile when it comes to them showing what they are to the resistance - or at least what's left of it. But they're here to help and it gives the man that much more to fight for knowing that outsiders have banded together to come and help them. It's not the decision that M would have made, but it's the right one to make. They're here tos save people, to inspire them. Going in in total secrecy and minimizing what they share is not going to instill loyalty, instill hope, and give them faith.

Monet can understand that even if she were teh one in the positions he would have done it differently. The X-Men view the world i ndifferent ways than the House of El. And M can respect them much more for it.

She bows her head over at the introductions of themselves and moves to take her place over where indicated. The one that was host to the remnant of the Flamebird for just a few precious seconds - even if it might not have been anything more than an illusion.. Can find a sense of familiarity with things. Even if Rao is not the one that she adheres to.

And Hope means something to rise up for. But it is a measured thing. Hope can be crushed ever so quickly. And where those last threads of it are lost then collapse and failure and anguish overwhelm all else. She glances forwards at the others and gives a low nod.

What questions seh might pepper with are now related to tactics, contingencies, and history. Things which are unimportant. Even with those things that Tor-El reassures them with.. Monet remains standing and close to the door ready to give just a little bit of security if need be. Someone has to be ready to cover the withdraw if they are wrong.

Jon Kent has posed:
When the lights go out, Jon is visibly startled and spooked. He looks around quickly. Like the other Kryptonian's here, he spent his life with powers and everything he knows about interacting with the world, friendly or hostile, revolves around those powers. And now they are stripped from him, and that has the kid a bit jumpy, thank you very much. But dad is here. His brother is here. Other friends and family are here. He can't look weak in front of them, so he pulls it together and takes a seat.

"I knew that...I knew that was going to happen, by the way," he side-mouth murmurs to Gabby. "Standard stuff really." And there's that foot again, tap-tap-tapping on the floor like some sort of rookie drum corps cadet.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney was finding the alien scents at once distracting, and intriguing. The first time she'd come across them it was difficult to figure out what was what but the small trip they had made through the market at the time helped a bit. THAT was a plant of some sort, food. THAT was another one. It's vaguely familiar now as she's learning to filter one thing from another. She can only hope that what might smell like a 'weapon' is something she'll be able to pick out far quicker. Or, should there be a traitor in the midst, their fear and anxiety.

A bit tougher that, all things considered.

When the lights go out to be replaced by cande light her eyes open wide again with pupils dialating to pull in as much light as she can. The change from regular to dim light isn't such a huge issue for her at least. It's only Jon's remark that gets a little chuff of amusement from her though she does her best not to outright laugh.

Reaching out she cuffs his shoulder lightly. "Shoulda warned me then," she teases back lightly so as to help him save some face. Kind of. Spotting Monet near the door as well she gives a nod before stepping away to walk further in.

"I'm Honey Badger. Badger's fine," she adds in while looking around again at the offer of taking a seat. She'll wait until the House of El does, though.

Conner Kent has posed:
Well, they have actually travelled only a few steps, given how Alura's machine works and how tiny Kandor is at the moment. But... seriously, there ten more important things to explain to Tor-El first.

Or listen to. Of a failed rebellions against Braniac, which is not going to be pleasant to know. "You will all be free soon, Tor-El. There shouldn't even be a reason to fight or rebel anymore. Brainiac is gone, and this overseer... well, what is he going to do without machines to back him up?"

Clark Kent has posed:
Nodding at Alura's introduction, Kal El smiles. Sitting down, Kal listens and remains quiet. All of this was incredible, but he let Alura take the lead. She was the elder after all, and Kal had learned early in his life to respect his elders.

Caitlin Fairchild has posed:
Caitlin's short on guile but long on honest charm, and flashes a brilliant, friendly smile at the old man when introductions are made. She imitates the touch to the sternum rather quickly and shuffles through, careful not to step on anyone's toes.

The flaring of red light and the solemn invocation stiffens her spine, but only for a moment. The quiet prayer of supplication almost makes her look... relieved. Prayer observance is apparently common ground for humans -and- Kryptonians.

The redhead mostly hides a grin when Jon declares he wasn't surprised. Mostly.

Alura In-Ze has posed:
Those of the resistance, the other patrons of this bar, each with their own candle seat themselves. Tor-El has a pained walk as he moves to an open area where he can address everybody clearly. The faces of the Kandorians are somehow more clearly visible in candle light. They are tired and worn, they are defeated and hopeless. Yet - they persist.

"We didn't have science to guide us like the other rebellions. This was merely a battle for our right to exist as ourselves, to not be slaves to the whims of Brainiac. We lost. For every one Brainiac battle droid we took down, two more would teleport in to the city from beyond."

Tor-El nods to Conner, "So you say, and I believe you. But the people of this city? they ache for a reason to believe but will not let their hearts imagine it could be so. Tell them to their faces Brainiac is gone and they will be gripped by fear."

It seems the man has heavy heart as he explains, "The overseer. He is my brother Unn-El. When we lost or rebellion he was forced in to the position as punishment. It is he who must enforce Brainiac's will upon us or watch more of us die. A fate he cannot live with - so he imposes the laws."

Alura feels uneasy with this conversation. She explained the rules before they came - no superpowers, no Earth, no yellow sun. Don't expose them to things they won't have on their shiny new planet with a red sun. Yet she also chosen solar system with yellow suns. She was told, with fearful hearts, that .. what if there's another Zod? .. and yet, despite Zod's clear insanity all he ever did was try to protect his people. Violently, incoherently, the actions of a broken man.

Why must Kryptonians always be looked up as the monsters, yet Superman, Supergirl, Superboy, even Superwoman are looked upon as paragons. As El's want, she broke the rules. Underneath her Gabby-Garb she is wearing her Superwoman costume. And a yellow sun belt.

"Then we show them. I have been struggling in my heart about what is right and what is wrong and I finally understand that best intentions aside we must always follow our heart. To do what is right. Kal-El taught me that. My daughter taught me that. And still I let others convince me I must be wrong..."

Alura has interrupted the presentation and is standing. "I see a people desperate to survive and barely living. That's not how things should be, that's not the life we'd want for ourselves. The harsh truth is, Krypton is gone. For good. And you will all be living on a new world soon. And that world will be cold and harsh and unforgiving. You need every advantage you can get."

Her face twists and contorts a moment as she looks at the rest of her family, and friends, with her own heavy heart. "Our people need this. They need hope. And we can give it to them." She tugs at her clothing to reveal the House of El symbol upon her chest. "Isn't that what we're meant to do?" She looks at Kal-El. "Isn't that the -right- thing to do?"

Monet St. Croix has posed:
So the old fashioned way it is. Monet grins savagely. She doesn't particularly like all this huddling around and waiting. Smashing things is far more her forte. She gives a nod over to her fellow mutant in the bunch and then looks over at Caitlin. She'll defer over to Fairchild here when it comes to tactics - she's nowhere in the league of the Kryptonians when it comes to power levels or durability, nor remotely fluent with the hyper-science and crystals that make up how their societal technology operates. So she'll be here as support.

She goes to think over and then remembers Fairchild's statements on not going into her head from past experience and goes to speak to everyone else mentally. <<Is there anything that I should be aware of here that will be a threat and alert for?>> She would inquire. She was not of the House of El. Nor a close ally of the family. She was here to lend her aid because it was the right thing to do.

Then looking to Fairchild and speaking quietly. "You don't think that they'll be able to jam our communications?" She's playing it safe here, not knowing what exactly there will be for defenses. And she doesn't want to interrupt a moment that hopefully for this city that will lend itself freedom and bring inspiration for generations. That is not her role.

Jon Kent has posed:
Jon-El's mounting anxiety and nervousness seems to grow with his cousin's words. Soon that foot tapping is an entire leg tapping that, were he outside the bottle under the yellow sun, would likely register on the Richter scale. He nods his head as Alura talks and soon enough anyone who know's Jon can see he is at the point of no return. He was already at an 11 out of 10 after his brother's words to Tor-El promising they would all be free.

Out of nowhere Jon stands up and shrugs off the garments that Gabby made. Beneath them...his own version of Superman's uniform, possibly one of the most recognizable uniforms in the world. He wasn't supposed to wear it. But here he is anyway. Jon, the rebel. Jon, the freedom fighter.

He stands up on his chair and one can see he has a strange belt around his waist -- those from outside would recognize it as a sun belt. He wasn't supposed to take one of these. Jon, the liberator. Jon, the revolutionary. He holds one arm straight up in the air, his hand balled in a fist.

"I did not come here to hide or cower," he says. How strange he might seem. Nineteen years old, but his Kryptonian heritage makes him look like a high school student. Six foot tall and as thin as one of the fence posts at the Kent Farm. But so full of honest energy and youthful (foolish?) zeal. Probably many of the locals are staring at him with either fear or hope or both. "Who stands with me? Who stands with the House of El? Who will help us help you to be free?" Jon, the insurgent.

Conner Kent has posed:
So, if the Overseer is actually coerced to enforce the laws, wouldn't this be easier. The guard outside, he didn't chase after the youngling that drew the symbol of El in the wall, just some token yelling and threatening.

Then Alura changes plans, and Conner laughs. "Hell, yeah..." he grins at Tor-El. "I think most everyone will welcome some hope. And the message of freedom is easy to believe."

Although the message that Krypton is gone is not so good. But on the other hand, most of the Kandorians have never seen Krypton. It has been fifty years. "Lets go... Damn, I knew I should have brought my jacket."

Clark Kent has posed:
Kal-El smiles, and almost blushes when Alura gives him credit. "It was always in your heart, Alura. I didn't do anything but help you see that. As did your daughter." As Alura stands, Kal-El joins her. Proud of her. Then, he removes his outer garb, revealing that he was wearing his costume, sans cape, with the big S in the centre. With a flourish, his trademark red cape appears.

"Sorry Gabby." Kal-El says, sheepishly, as he removes the clothing she had spent her time on and carefully places the clothes on the chair - were they perfectly folded?

Looking back at Alura. "It IS the right thing to do. I am with you and the citizens of Kandor. Let's show THEM what is the right thing to do. Thank you Alura."

Then, Kal-El places his left hand on Conner's shoulder, and right hand on Jon's shoulder (OOC: If OK) and smiles, proud of both. "El's stick together. We're here to help."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
A hand claps over Gabby's face with a groan. "Oh my god why do I feel like I'm the only adult in the room right now?" Of course, she knew the urge to do this too. It seemed like such a simple though... but at the same time, she'd seen enough attempts to rally the troops in Mutant Town before. Seen how often it was shot down by the authorities. Nothing was ever quite that easy. Her training and tactics told her better.

What was done, was done however. She hadn't brought more than her tactical gear beneath her outfit meaning to be as covert as possible, but also as capable as possible. There was no House Logo or emblem on her attire to do a dramatic reveal with along with the others. Instead she glances toward Caitlin whom she'd only crossed paths with breifly, and then Monet to shrug at them.

Her hands spread in a shrug as she steps forward, too. Smallest of them all. Not a Kryptonian. But...

"The world they speak of is Earth. Those you see here came to our planet," A gesture to herself, Moent, Caitlin. "As refugees. Brainiac came as well, and trapped several of my people's cities. With their help," she gestures toward Kal-El, Alura, Conner, Jon. "We were able to defeat Brainiac. I won't say my world is perfect. Far from it. But it's not *here* either. You'd be free there, and find yourselves with far more strengths than you know."

Caitlin Fairchild has posed:
Caitlin looks at Monet, wobbles a hand. "Hard to say. They know the tech inside and out, but we're pretty smart," she mutters at the heiress. "Hopefully we slide under the radar."

Then the House of El starts making their declarations of quiet readiness, shedding their disguises one after another. Caitlin can't help it; she giggles once at Clark going parental on Conner and Jon, and immediately covers her mouth apologetically.

"Sorry. It's /cute!/" she apologizes. "But if we're going in with game faces..." the redhead unzips her coveralls and lets them drop, leaving her in a black-and-green athletic top and knee-length shorts. She tosses the cap aside and quickly rebinds her hair in a fast, practical knot preferred by the women of Themyscira. The gold on her wrists deepens in luster, the bracelets growing to cover most of her well-defined forearms.

Caitlin swings a fist into a palm with a meaty *thunk* of impact. "Someone point me at a wall to knock down," she demands.

Alura In-Ze has posed:
The Kandorians are bewildered. Who wears clothes like -that- ? pseudo Kryptonian/Earth blend. But EL right there on their chests. Some of their chests anyway. Tor-El is confused but likes their spirit. "What do you mean Krypton is gone?"

Alura looks with pride as it seems everyone in the family had the same idea. A weight drops from her shoulders. They brought a technology that came from the Kryptonian Hegemony's aborted timeline. Something Kandor knows nothing about. Something Brianiac didn't see coming either.

"That's a discussion for after - it's going to be a hard one. But first things first. We need to prepare the people, this city, for unshrinking and we're not going to do that while your brother is following Brainiac's rules. As Kon-El says, Brainiac's gone. We're going to show everyone with no uncertainty that this is their time, now is their time."

Tor-El raises a hand to the Earth heroes, "But you're just a few people. What can you possibly do? Fancy costumes won't change peoples hearts."

Alura smiles and taps the belt, "No - but this will." A burst of bright light flashes over her body as she is pumped full of Sol's captured energy. The room lights up, the doorways glowing. Alura lifts up in to the air floating under her own will.

The gasps from the rebellion is synchronised. Gabby and Conner can detect immediately flying objects approaching from several blocks away. The only thing flying in this city must be the remaining forces of Brainiac.

Alura lifts a finger, "Ah.. huh.. hah... I have an idea." She turns to the doors and looks out through the wall as her powers return in full. "Take care of those Brainiac bots. I'll be back as quickly as I can." She taps on her bracer and overrides the local security - the doors unlock and she flies out and away.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
And now it's time to fight. Monet goes to grin to herself, and hten moves to launch out and along into the melee. She's ready to give a lift to anyone that might need it. However, the others are going to be far faster than she is and stronger, so it's not necessarily going to be needed. She's ready to give them a boost if needed though, serving as a carrying or launchign platform if she has to.

She goes to boost herself up and high, letting herself be a mental network. THere's much less of an attempt at information control and sharing data than usual - Kryptonians are mental supercomputers, and process information extremely faster than any human can. They see so far along the sensory spectrum it's impossible to calculate it for one that does not have thier powers.

SO M just gives enough to let them send along commentary to one another and messages. That's the best she can do without driving herself mad by trying to perceive things that go faster than she can imagine. It's just time to smash - thats' what she's here for to focus on. She launches herself high up into the air. Her first maneuver is designed to draw fire to herself and away from those on the ground. Hopefully the drones will target her, which will leave them exposed and vulnerable for hte Kryptonians to engage on the first pass without being harrassed.

Monet can't take the hits like they can, but she can at least draw fire to let them deal with things quickly.

Jon Kent has posed:
Okay, yep. Now we've reached the part of this tale where we fight. A small smile creeps over Jon's face. Jon, the warrior. Jon, the protector. He reaches down and clicks his purloined sun belt. For a brief moment he squeezes his eyes shut and draws in a deep breath and his powers return to him like an old friend visiting in the night.

He looks at Conner, the cooler Superboy. "You ready, bro?" he says with relish. He flies out the door slowly enough to high five Gabby without ripping her arm off. "Let's do this," he says to her.

Then faster than the eye can follow, Jon is out the door and in the streets. "Oh heck yeah," he says as he sees Monet drawing fire. The older Kryptonians and the Justice League have trained Jon in tactics and strategy, so he sees what Monet is doing immediately. "I gotchu, M.," he says. Under normal circumstances, Jon would only refer to her as Ms. St. Croix, but he's not sure if that's a protected name here in this context. He rockets upwards and immediately blows up one robot with his heat vision as another wizzes past him on its way after Monet. Jon kicks it soccer style, shattering it into many, many pieces. A third robot alters course and heads directly at Jon, pelting him with lasers. He speeds right to it and shatters it with a head butt.

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner activates his own belt and follows Alura outside, "oh, huh. I guess there was some robots inside the city when they took it from the mothership." But... they must have been disconnected from the main grid for a few years, which means they probably have no idea who they are or their abilities.

He cracks his knuckles and grins. "I am ready and... Monet! That girl is going to get herself killed," he really could have used a minute to load up some energy, instead he chases after the young mutant. "Let make it look good, Jon, we have a city to impress."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney whirls her head around toward the door when she catches the first few sounds of approaching things cutting through the air. A quick grin flits over her face. "Incoming airborne unfriendlies! Quite a few--You guys must have triggered something," she points out since it happened almost immediately after those belts were activated.

The gesture at her, and the others asking what they can do, just earns a rather broad grin. Since they weren't hiding their differences now she holds up both hands snapping her wrists so that her claws pop out the back of her fists. "We can fight," she states simply. "We can always fight." Her hand lifts to accept the high-five from Jon as he passes, and she moves to head out the door as well without a hint of hesitation.

"Conner, yeet me!" she calls out to her teammate knowing he would know precisely what she meant. Get her airborne so she can start wailing on those bots.

Caitlin Fairchild has posed:
Caitlin hustles outside as quickly as propriety (and safety) allows, mincing on her tip-toes and mumbling apologetically with each step. The Kryptonians can fly with a thought; Caitlin's concern is not breaking anyone's toes during the call to action.

Once outside the tavern she scuffs her boot soles on the ground to test the traction of the dirt. "Yeah, I see 'em, fifty or so," she calls back up to Monet. "I'll pull aggro."

Does that mean anything to anyone except maybe Jon, who has trained with Caitlin at length? Only the gamers know. The redhead swivels her hips to dig her toes into the ground and drops into a sprinter's posture. Head down, head up, eyes narrow, and she accelerates like a loose hound. The earth behind her feet *cracks* and goes up in deep furrows with the amount of energy transferred in her athletic legs. In a few strides she's a blur going over 150kph, and smashes right through the densest cluster of ground-level robots coming at them team, with a total disregard for any sort of personal defense.

Alura In-Ze has posed:
The Kandorians watch with wonder as a woman wearing white and wearing the S symbol shoots up out of a small bar. She's glowing from the sunbelt she wears and she shoots straight up up and away in to the sky. Stretching out in to the red above, higher and higher, past the peak of the arcology she continues to rise in to the sky. They shelter their eyes trying to watch the dot as she disappears with a thud in to the top of the bottle.

Alura crashes through the crystal structure in to the inner workings of Brainiac's preservation bottle. She strides over to a console and links her bracer in to it. This isn't the first time she's hacked his technology.

With a wicked smile she taps in to the lighting controls. It creates a steady flow of energy in the form of a simulated Rao sun. A few settings shifted and changed to just the right formula; she applies and waits for the system to shift. It hummms and rattles. The bottle goes dark.

...And then a yellow sun rises. Bright and splendid. A simulation of Sol, a simulation of what Rao once was as Alura and her family saw when they travelled in to the past. All at once the tired and worn down Kryptonians of Kandor feel the warmth wash over them. It breaths new life in to their bodies. They may not have the genetics to use it like the Supers do but its benefits are near immediate. Like waking from a long forgotten stupor, the Kandorians feel renewed.

Even those from the bar follow them out looking dumb founded. Flying Kryptonians? people with claws? giant women with shiny bracers? just who -are- these strangers from a strange land. More Kandorians make their way out on to the street to see what the commotion is all about. The younger ones seeing Brainiac bots for the first time, the older ones having seen this before usher their families to cover.

Because they know what comes next - you destroy one, two more arrive. Except -- as the flying people battle the robots no new ones arrive. The number of bots is depleting quickly. Between the Supers and their friends, and Kal-El ripping through them with his heat vision - it's like Conner suspected: these bots have no idea what they're up against.

Slowly as the dust settles the people emerge once more and start to cheer. Even the guards who should be fighting against them are looking on in wonder. None of them are drawing weapons - and most are taking off their oddly shaped helmets. The symbol on their chest is instantly recognisable. It's the symbol of resistance, the symbol of promised freedom. It's the symbol of Hope.

Alura punches through the glass on the very top floor of the arcology and floats in. Using Monet's telepathic link she asks <<Everyone to the top floor of the arcology. It's time for a change of government>>.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Making the Yellow Sun rise is -far- from what Monet would call a good idea, no matter the circumstances. This makes her grit her teeth some but it's almost unnoticable unless one is looking directly at her at the very right time. She's blitzing in, even as she draws fire towards her and Jon goes along to flank and followup to hit any of them immediately going after her. She's nowhere near strong enough to effectively disable them anyways. she goes to pull information she can from the other minds in the network.

Then, she goes to broadcast it down to Gabby. Weak points in the Brainiac Droids structure. Places where they can be hi tand damaged with her claws. Joints, servos.. Places hopefully that the Stabette can strike to properly brutalize them and skewer her way through. Crippling their mobility to disable them from the fight.

Monet flies low to the ground, and accelerating in a straight line. She's not going quite supersonic, but she is building up momentum.. But it's not to slam into things - that's going to hurt her a lot mroe than it is the drones.

But it does make her a nice, shiny target along with the charging Fairchild to draw fire and hopefully leaves it so that between the Kryptonians smashing and suddenly the bright yellow sun rising makes for something far beyond the drones' capabilities to muster a defense for and a rallyign cry!

Of course, if they do hit her it's going to hurt. A lot. So best not to be hit.

Jon Kent has posed:
At one point during the battle, Jon backs up mid-air back-to-back with his brother, taking down bots like it was his *job*. And soon enough, the attackers are defeated. Jon looks around at his allies: his father, his brother, his cousin, Caitlin, Ms. St. Croix, Gabby with a satisfied expression. Jon, the abettor.

When Alura changes the virtual sun, Jon actually lets out a joyful laugh and flies upward, twirling in circles as he does. Jon, the childlike.

And when Alura heads toward the top floor of the arcology and says it's time for a change in government, Jon blurts out, "Hell yeah it is!" Then his face and ears and neck turn bright red because he just said the H-word! He holds a hand over his mouth for a moment and murmurs almost to himself, "I mean heck yeah." He soon takes up formation with his cousin. "Sorry," he murmurs as he gets into formation, like he somehow expects Alura to be upset with his profane verbal outburst.

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner is abusing his ability to dissemble machines with telekinesis to take down Brainiac drones quickly, letting Kal and Jon do the punching this time. When the sun 'turns off' and then goes yellow. "Woah. That gotta be aunt Alura's work. She is really the genius of the family."

That also means the drones are not going to be a threat for anyone, even if any of them survives the next couple minutes. "Cool, now they can repair Kandor in just a few days. Even if the city is placed under a red sun, it will be with everything working as if new."

He kicks one of the few remaining drones towards Jon, and then flies up, to see what is going on the top floor.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
The intel from Monet was excellent. Gabby was rather vicious in her attacks. She could always be vicious, really, but usually she held herself back due to not wanting to kill anyone. These were bots though so there was no real reason to hold back--And they were the sort that learned so it made sense to take down as many as possible as quickly as possible.

Joints, weak spots, whatever it took she did literally tearing limbs off and cutting their systems. A few she even pops the heads off of before kicking them into some of the buildings where onlookers could see for themselves the results of this fight up close. It might be a bit of an unpleasant sight but it was also hopefully going to bring them to realize that help was here.

When Alura sends that message she looks up to squint at the tower with a sigh. "Aw man please tell me there's an elevator at least," she grumps good natured. Then again, maybe one of the others could just grab them and go.

Caitlin Fairchild has posed:
Caitlin is out of the loop of Monet's telepathic network for a variety of personal (but very valid) reasons. It takes her a second to realize that the Kryptonians are heading skywards, and she puts fingers to her lips and lets loose an earsplitting blast that can probably be heard back in New York. "JON!" she adds, and waves once to get his attention. She takes one, two, three bounding steps, then explodes skywards with a ground-cracking superjump that takes her a hundred vertical meters into the air. She starts flailing near the apex of her leap, holding a hand out and trusting the Kryptonian will catch her and haul her along with the rest of the retinue. When he grabs her wrist, she grins brilliantly up at him and trails in his wake.

"Wheeeee!" she cries out, for no reason at all.

Alura In-Ze has posed:
"Language Jon-El," Alura the elder Kryptonian doesn't disappoint. She gives the young man a wink though.

Kal-El smiles and offers an arm to Gabby. A friendly offering smile on his lips. With her held he leaps up in to the sky. He takes the long way around, circling about the building as he winds up to the top floor.

Big blast doors seal the inner section of the top floor. Alura gets to work, gripping one of the doors and pulls as hard as she can. With a groan from her, the door begins to creak before there's a snap sound somewhere in the wall and the door gives way.

They are met with a gawd awful stink and Alura puts her hand over Jon's eyes quickly as she sees the semi-decomposed body of Unn-El. He's slumped over a crystal desk with a weapon in his hand - and across from him on the floor is a Brainiac bot.

The Brainiac bot has a hole on it too. Ever the revolutionary, Unn-El was not okay with being made a puppet by Brainiac. He fought back and paid the ultimate price. The city of Kandor has been running on Brainiac orders ever since.

Alura pulls the door back shut and turns to face all that joined her up here. "I'll recommend that the resistance form a new council of elders from the traditions. Including the workers guild. They don't need to see this. Tor will find out soon enough the fate of his brother."

For now - the Kandorians have some healing to do in their minds, bodies, and hearts. Word is spreading fast of Brainiac's defeat and their impending freedom from the bottle. It's hard to keep the sight of flying Kryptonians fighting Brainiac bots from escaping peoples mouths as fast as possible.

A city filled with the hopeless has been transformed in to a City of Hope.

[ New Sunrise - Derek Daisy - https://youtu.be/7ffNU2FXFzE ]

... to be concluded