Chapter 3 - Planet Daxam: The Day Krypton Died

Mon-El and Lanvia slept soundly in his quarters, the night having been quite enjoyable. He was pleased to discover that the warrior archer could also excel in her role as a lover. Suddenly, the walls began to tremble, and the ground shook beneath them. Getting upfrom his bed, Mon-El approached the window and pulled back the curtains. His eyes widened at the sight before him – the sky was painted in a brownish-red canvas, engulfed in smoke, and flames rose in the distance. It was a breathtaking yet horrifying scene.

As debris and brimstone filled the planet, he couldn't help but recall the religious teachings of his childhood from the religious books of "Deadlore" and the sacred scrolls. The apocalyptic prophecies were no match compared to the cataclysm he witnessed. There were no celestial battles between angels and demons, only the harsh reality of explosions and death.

Mon-El jumped to the bed to wake up Lanvia. When she saw him, she smiled in satisfaction, but she noticed his worried eyes.

"What's going on, my prince?"

"I don't know, Lanvia. But the world has come to an end. Get dressed, we need to reach my parents. They must be in the Mothership, ready to leave the planet."

"What? Wait a minute. The world is ending? What are you saying?" She couldn't believe her own words.

"I don't know. Hurry, gather your things, there is no time. Look at the window."

And to her horror she reached the window and needed those seconds to collect her thoughts. She worried that her beautiful green realm could be in flames by now.

"My family. My awesome forests..." She cried.

The guard burst into Mon-El's quarters with urgency.

"My lord, we must depart. Your mother has summoned you and the lady," he announced.

"Vortan, what's happening?" Mon-El demanded, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"It's Krypton, my lord. The planet is collapsing."

The news left the couple stunned, Lanvia gripping Mon-El's hand tightly in disbelief.

"Krypton exploded, and now its remnants are raining down upon us. It's a catastrophic event. We must leave immediately." Vortan urged.

As another violent tremor shook the ground, they left the room. The sounds of explosions and screams around them.

"We need to get to open space. The building could collapse any moment," Mon-El shouted over the chaos, leading the way. "Follow me. I know the safest route."

They sprinted through the destruction. Mon-El glanced at Lanvia, noticing her effort to remain composed. Vortan was focused on escorting the prince to his mother's side. Along their path, they encountered a woman lying on the ground, pleading for assistance. Mon-El reached out to aid her, but the soldier restrained him.

"We can't afford to stop. If we help everyone along the way, it will only delay us," the soldier insisted.

Mon-El glanced back and witnessed the woman's desperate plea, her arm raised in a final try for mercy. Tears streaked his face, emotions overwhelming him in a way he hadn't experienced in a long time. The sight of her despair shook him to the core, rendering him momentarily paralyzed. He struggled to think clearly, relying solely on instinct.

Lanvia's touch on his shoulder brought him back to reality, directing his attention to an escape route.

"Can we go that way, Mon-El?"

"Yes, it leads to the gardens. From there, we can access transportation and reach my parents. Let's hurry."

Once outside and momentarily safe, they paused to catch their breath. Lanvia glanced back and noticed two young girls still trapped inside the building, almost within reach of safety. She tapped Mon-El once more, drawing his attention to the children.

Seeing the girls, aged around eight, ignited a rush of emotions within both Mon-El and Lanvia. Without hesitation, they turned back to assist the children. Vortan shouted, but he was ignored.

Lanvia, accustomed to the wilderness and trained as a warrior, effortlessly outpaced Mon-El. Her powerful legs propelled her forward with a determination she didn't know she possessed. Panic came over her as she prayed to the gods for the strength to save the girls. Thoughts of her own younger brothers flashed through her mind, driving her forward as she sprinted toward the children.

Mon-El's voice called to her desperately, but Lanvia remained resolute, her focus solely on reaching the girls.

"Lanvia, please stop! There's a meteor headed your way. Lanvia!"

With the girls safely cradled in her arms, Lanvia finally noticed Mon-El's frantic gestures. Looking up, she spotted the fiery orb coming towards them. Mon-El gestured for her to retreat.

Racing back towards the palace walls, Lanvia narrowly escaped the impact zone as the asteroid struck her previous position. Mon-El, unable to reach her in time, fell to his knees in anguish, tears streaming down his face, feeling helpless in the face of the devastation.

"Lanvia, no!" Those were his last words to his bride to be.

Vortan approached, determined to carry Mon-El away from the flames. Mon-El resisted, his struggle against the soldier's grip futile.

"They're gone, sire. She's gone. There's nothing for us here. I can still get you out. Let's go."

Reluctantly, Mon-El rose. Together, they ran towards safety. But as they drew closer, they encountered a gigantic obstacle—a massive crater dividing the land. Mon-El approached, realizing that even with a vehicle, their path was blocked.

"Seems we've hit a dead end," Mon-El accepted the grim reality.

"Not quite, my lord. Remember the Kryptonian pods from the envoy? They could be our ticket out of here," Vortan offered a chance of hope. "I know where they are."

Returning to the scene, they discovered four pods still intact. Relief washed over Mon-El.

"Excellent. One of these will do. They're designed for two occupants."

A furious mob approached Mon-El, their faces twisted with anger and resentment.

"Look, it's the prince! He and his family abandoned us to die! Get him!" they shouted.

Mon-El attempted to reason with them, but the mob seized him and his companion without mercy.

"Kill them both! Get to the pods," the mob leader commanded.

In desperation, Vortan drew his laser gun and opened fire, forcing the mob to release Mon-El. However, their leader, a man in his forties, stepped forward defiantly.

"You can't shoot all of us, you royal scum! We've suffered under your rule for years, and this is the thanks we get? A rain of destruction!" he spat.

As the mob attacked once more, exchanging shots with Vortan, Mon-El seized the opportunity to flee to the safety of the pod.

"Come on, Vortan, you have to jump!" Mon-El urged desperately.

"It's no use, my prince. I'm wounded, and I know my fate. Even if I survive this, your parents will have my head for failing to get you to the Mothership. Save yourself, Mon-El. Tell the world what you've witnessed here today. Make it a better place for all of us."

Mon-El initiated the pod's launch sequence, writing coordinates in a desperate attempt to locate the fleet of ships. As he ascended, another explosion ripped through the sky, obliterating the remaining pods. He cursed and tears fell from his brown eyes in his anguish. Thoughts of Lanvia surfaced, her bravery contrasted to his own inadequacy. The pod broke free from Daxam's gravitational pull, giving him a panoramic view of the catastrophic scene below. Hundreds of ships fought to escape the relentless asteroid bombardment, a breathtaking spectacle of destruction and survival.

A small chunk of rock collided with his pod, triggering the safety protocols. Mon-El heard the computerized voice.

"Emergency protocols activated. Initiating deep space travel. Final destination: The Third Planet in the Solar System of the Milky Way Galaxy."

"No, this can't be happening," he complained, frantically pressing buttons in a futile attempt to override the system.

"Commencing cryogenic sleep procedures," the computer announced, detailing the process.

Mon-El took a last look at his home planet before a needle pierced his arm. As the sedative took effect, he drifted into a deep slumber within the confines of the cryogenic cocoon. The pod accelerated to the speed of light, vanishing into the vast expanse of the cosmos.