NOVEL NEXT Chapter 29: The Signal
The blinding light from the Kryptonian beacon pulsed like a living thing, each wave of energy radiating outward and vibrating through the walls of the basement. My breath caught in my chest as the light overwhelmed my senses, and for a moment, I was nowhere—not in Smallville, not on Earth, but somewhere far beyond.
When the light subsided, I found myself standing in the middle of what seemed like an endless void. The air was heavy with the hum of unseen energy, and around me floated faint, holographic echoes of Krypton—its spires, its bustling streets, its doomed people frozen in time like ghosts.
And then the images shifted.
Krypton burned. Its destruction filled the void: towers collapsing, fire consuming the cities, the sky ruptured by the explosion of the planet's core. And among the chaos, a singular, haunting image emerged—a vast shadow, angular and foreboding, blotting out the remnants of the dying planet.
I stepped forward instinctively, my heart pounding as I realized what I was looking at.
A ship.
No, not a ship. A fleet.
The vision shattered, and I was back in the basement, stumbling away from the beacon. The crystalline structure pulsed faintly, its light flickering like a heart struggling to beat. My hands shook as I pressed them against my knees, struggling to breathe.
"What was that?" I muttered, glancing back at the beacon.
The orb in my pocket pulsed, and Jor-El's voice spoke, calm yet grave.
"The beacon has completed its activation sequence," he said. "It has transmitted its signal to the surrounding systems. If any vessels remain in range, they will detect its message."
"What kind of vessels?" I asked, my voice tight.
Jor-El hesitated for a moment before answering. "Survivors of Krypton. Or those who destroyed it."
A cold chill ran down my spine. The shadow of the fleet in the vision burned in my mind. Krypton's destruction hadn't been an accident of nature. My father had never said as much, but I could feel it now—something darker had caused it.
And now that same darkness might be coming here.
The sound of footsteps echoed through the corridor, and I turned sharply, my body tensing as the door to the basement creaked open. Lex stepped inside first, his sharp blue eyes scanning the room before locking onto me. His suit jacket hung loosely on his frame, the faint smell of cologne mixing with the musty air.
"Well," he said smoothly, his gaze shifting to the beacon. "I guess I'm not the only one drawn to this place."
Behind him, Va-Ra entered, his silver eyes immediately locking onto the beacon. He moved like a predator—calm, deliberate, and deadly. The faint hum of the beacon reflected off his pale Kryptonian robes, giving him an almost spectral appearance.
"Kal-El," Va-Ra said coldly, stepping forward. "You have no idea what you've done."
I straightened, putting myself between them and the beacon. "You're not getting near this thing, Va-Ra. It's already sent out its signal. I'm shutting it down."
Va-Ra's expression darkened, his silver eyes narrowing. "The signal cannot be undone. What you can do is ensure this technology does not fall into the wrong hands." His gaze flicked to Lex for a brief moment before returning to me.
Lex smirked, stepping closer to the beacon. "Funny, I thought we were all on the same side here. Preservation. Control. Isn't that what you're both after?"
"This isn't about control," I snapped, my fists clenching. "This is about protecting Earth. You don't understand what's coming, Lex. You don't—"
"You're right," Lex interrupted, his tone sharper now. "I don't understand. Because you never tell me. You keep me in the dark while you play savior, deciding what's safe and what's not. How am I supposed to trust you when you won't even trust me?"
His words hit harder than I expected, but I couldn't afford to waver.
"I don't have time for this," I said, stepping toward the beacon. "Whatever's coming, we need to be ready. And that means keeping this out of your hands, Lex."
Va-Ra let out a soft laugh, the sound cold and humorless. "Fools, both of you. Do you truly believe Earth can withstand what is coming? You would both be crushed underfoot without the technology you so carelessly fight over."
He raised a hand, and before I could react, the beacon pulsed violently. The room filled with blinding light, and a deafening hum reverberated through the walls, shaking the foundation of the building.
The pulse of energy threw me backward, slamming me into the concrete wall. Pain shot through my ribs, and I barely had time to catch my breath before Va-Ra was on me.
His strength was unnatural, even by Kryptonian standards. His hand closed around my throat like a vice, lifting me off the ground with ease.
"You are unworthy of Krypton's legacy," he growled, his silver eyes blazing with fury. "Your father sent you here to save these people, but you waste your potential protecting their weakness."
I gasped, grabbing at his wrist, but the Kryptonian energy radiating from him made my muscles sluggish. My vision blurred, but through the haze, I saw Lex moving toward the beacon, his scanner raised.
"Lex, don't!" I managed to choke out.
Lex ignored me, his focus locked on the beacon. The scanner in his hand emitted a sharp, piercing tone as he activated it, sending a beam of energy into the crystal.
Va-Ra turned sharply, releasing me and crossing the room in a blur of motion. He grabbed Lex by the arm, twisting it sharply, and the scanner fell to the ground with a clatter.
"You dare tamper with Kryptonian technology?" Va-Ra hissed, his voice dripping with contempt.
Lex grimaced in pain but didn't back down. "I'm the only one in this room willing to do what's necessary."
Va-Ra raised his hand, and for a terrifying moment, I thought he was going to crush Lex where he stood. But I wasn't about to let that happen.
I lunged forward, slamming into Va-Ra with all my strength. The impact sent both of us crashing into the wall, and the room shook as chunks of concrete rained down from the ceiling.
Va-Ra staggered but recovered quickly, his expression darkening as he turned to face me.
"You cannot stop me, Kal-El," he said coldly. "You cannot stop what is coming."
The beacon pulsed again, its light growing erratic. The energy in the room intensified, and I could feel the air itself growing heavier. The structure wasn't designed for this level of activation—it was overloading.
"Va-Ra, stop!" I shouted, trying to reason with him. "If this thing collapses, it'll take us all with it!"
Va-Ra hesitated, his silver eyes narrowing as he glanced at the beacon. "If it collapses, the signal will be cut off," he said quietly. "Perhaps that is the only solution."
"No," Lex said sharply, clutching his arm. "We can stabilize it. We just need more time."
"We don't have time!" I snapped, my voice rising. "Get out of here, both of you!"
The beacon let out one final, deafening pulse, and the crystal structure began to fracture. Energy crackled through the room, lighting up the walls with blinding flashes.
I turned to Lex, my voice urgent. "Take him and go!"
Lex hesitated, his jaw tightening, but he nodded. Grabbing his scanner, he pulled Va-Ra toward the door, leaving me alone with the collapsing beacon.
The room shuddered violently as I stepped toward the beacon, my hands reaching for the pulsating crystal.