[Val-El]
His fingers moved with practiced ease over as he typed. Val had started this project a month ago and so far he was half way through. His goal was to build an AI, one that could take care of the tasks and help when he needed it.
His five years on Krypton showed him the difference between it and Earth. The people of Earth were ruled by their emotions, making them make decisions that could be harmful to them, yet they would do it.
Krypton on the other hand was its opposite. Kryptonian's were creatures of logic, never letting their emotions getting in the way of their work or life. To them, it was their way of life and they were used to it. Still, that didn't mean they didn't feel emotions, just that they could control their emotions well.
The sound of a ping drew his attention, and once he saw the caller accepted it with a wave of his hand.
The stone cold face of Dru-Zod came, and he subconsciously straightened his back. "Hello, Genereal Zod." Val nodded curtly. Zod nodded his head slightly. "You're mother told me you were in that lab of yours, Val. I take it you still remember our lesson for today?" he said coldly, looking at him with raised brow.
"Yes, sir," Val said cooly, looking at the man unflinchingly. "Good, I trust you remember the way to the training area." He then closed the call, making him sigh. He looked at his hologram and closed it with a wave of his hand.
He ran to his room, determined not to be late lest Zod make him run drills. He quickly changed into his training clothes and made his way to the estates training ground.
Standing there with his hands folded behind his back was Dru-Zod, his mentor. He remembered when he came accepted becoming his mentor. Since he and his father were friends, Jor-El was able to make the man agree to train him. Zod agreed, albeit reluctantly, but the man expected his performance was exemplary.
And after a few months, he had improved and, yet Zod hadn't given him a single compliment. That didn't matter to Val, all he cared about was improving his fighting. Beside Zod was a training droid, one that he was familiar with at this point. It was a tall humanoid robot, one that towered over him and brought him memories of painful times.
"You arrived just in the nick of time, boy. Haven't I told you that I want you here earlier?" Zod said coldly, his eyes hard as it stared at him.
"My apologies, sir." Val bowed his head, his voice steady even with his mentors eyes staring at him.
Zod didn't say anything for a while, and suddenly the droid surged forward. Val quickly went into a defensive stance, and blocked the punches sent by the droid, before parrying the next attack and quickly sent fast and precise hits in its weak points.
Suddenly, it then sent a kick towards his abdomen, making him skid backwards. Val breathed out, and kept his eyes on the droid.
He ran forward with a burst of speed and closed the distance between them, and sent a punch. But the droid seemed to sense the attack and grabbed his arm kneed him in the abdomen. "Gah!" He yelled out in pain.
Yet he pushed through the pain and wrapped his legs around the droids body and slammed it onto the ground. He grabbed its head, and slammed it repeatedly on the ground. It tried to punch him from the side, yet he grabbed its arm and flung it away.
He was suddenly flung away, landing on the ground with a grunt. He quickly stood back up, and watched as the droid standing up.
"Fix your stance!" Zod suddenly said sharply, and Val instantly fixed his stance. He ran towards it, not giving it a chance to attach him and kicked the bot, sending it reeling back. "Harder!" Zod yelled out.
He ran and punched it with all his might. His fist was caked with blood at this point, his breathing heavy as he kept his eyes on the training bot. It came at him, it's movements mechanical as it raced towards him. Val blocked the incoming punch, and moved backwards as it sent a kick towards him. He grabbed its leg and hit it with his elbow knocking it on the ground.
He quickly punched it multiple times, making sure it was knocked down for good. He saw the bot's eyes dim and he breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly, he felt himself get thrown back as his back landed on the ground.
Looking ahead of him, he saw the bot standing up once again. Val ignored the pain and waited. None of them moved, Val watched the bot bolt towards him and it jumped at him with a kick. He dodged the attack and attacked himself.
The bots back was acing him, and he sent a flurry of attacks aimed at it. It tried to dodge and block his attacks, yet it was in vain. Its head disconnected , and he watched as it fell to the ground as though its strings were cut.
He breathed out, and taking in big gulps of air and wiped the sweat running down his face. "You let your guard down." Zod stated in coldly, a frown marring his face.
"I'm sorry." Val knelt, his head bowed. Zod didn't say anything for a while, he felt the man staring at him. "Be better next time." Val lifted his head and nodded.
"Yes, sir," he replied.
"Mhm, again!" Zod yelled out, and Val held back a sigh."
[Later]
Val fell back onto the floor, his chest rising with every breath he took. Sweat dripped down his forehead, his bones aching, he had been fighting for a few hours and he didn't have it in him to continue.
Zod looked at him with his arms crossed. "We are done for today," Zod told him, and the man walked away with his arms crossed behind his back.
He lied on the ground, and looked at the red sky of Krypton. For five years now this has been his home, and he had made memories with his new family. Jor-El and Lara were strict parents, but were kind as well. His mother especially loved him most, since she always encouraged him to try things.
His father on the other hand was strict and expected him to excel, but was always proud of him when he accomplished something. He loved his parents, but he knew the future. They will die.
Val didn't have the resources nor the influence to save his parents. He had thought of a bigger ship that could take them away, but he knew that it would get shot down if it tried to leave even when Krypton inevitably dies. The council were like that.
He steeled his heart for the future and all he could do know was focus on the present. To survive the future threats he would face.