>>6010389>Art: Mark Goerner>Alt-text: Concept art of Kryptonpolis, a futuristic city on planet Krypton. Hightech pathways connect to massive towers that pierce a sky illuminated by two celestial bodies. >Dialouge Samples: Edmond Hamilton. Alan Moore. J. M. DeMatteis. Rina Mimoun.The midday sun beams its crimson glare through the city windows. Rao’s unflinching stare wakes him.
He regrets having C.O.M.P.U.T.O delay his alarm. He wonders if staying up to help Van with his atomic equations was a mistake.
Half the day is gone and there is still so much to do. The production company won’t be satisfied with <span class="mu-s">half</span> a Scarlet Jungle script.
Loana isn’t even back from the meeting yet. He’ll have to pick up her slack.
C.O.M.P.U.T.O.: Loana-Dru-Zod entering.
Loana: We did it Kal! We’ve been asked to lead the Artists Guild!
Loana embraces him. The troubles of the day melt in her smile.
C.O.M.P.U.T.O. dims the windows anticipating a further delay in today’s work. The man is loved. He is content.
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Sfx: CRASH!!!
Superman blasts through the air, demolishing what was left of one of the terminal walls before arcing back in the sky.
Evo: Damn! Jet Fuel can’t melt steel beams but I guess ripped guys can tear through them.
Frostbite: When you put the whammy on Threshold, it cut the big guy’s brain loose. Who knows what’s happening to his head?
Powerhaus: You’ve killed us! It’s not like he can sleep it off! He’s gonna keep flailing around until he flattens us all like-
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SFX: SPLAT!
The comforting aroma of oregus cakes waft through the foreroom.
Kal: Van! Breakfast is ready.
Loana: Breakfast? It’s fifth wol.
The man smirks.
Kal: I had some trouble getting out of bed.
Van: Coming, father!
The sound of clumsy yet quick footsteps heralds the arrival of a face he never tires of seeing.
Van: Thanks for the help with-
Sfx: Squish
C.O.M.P.U.T.O.: Canine waste detected. Executing cleaning procedures.
Kal: No. Van wanted a dog, he needs to take care of it himself.
He places a hand of steel on the child’s shoulder. The boy looks up with a mix of fear and awe.
Kal: Krypto is a less advanced lifeform. That means you have a responsibility to take care of it. It can’t clean its own messes, so you have to do it. Understand?
Van: Yes, father.
Kal: Good. Now hurry up. Your oregus cakes are getting cold.
Loana: If there was a guild for fatherhood, you’d be a shoo-in.
The man sighs. The weight of decades moving through is breath.
Kal: Speaking of…
Loana: Hey, it’s nothing to worry about. Now that we run the guild he’ll have to come around.
Kal: You don’t know him like I do. He hasn’t come around in 30 years.
Loana: What was that line you wrote about saving people? “I have to try.”
