House of Zod
Chapter 03- Answers Part 1

AN: Just so everyone knows, that while there will be more females (and males) in this story, they will not be with Xander/Zod. He will only be with Ursa. And action should pick up towards the end of chapter four and really get into it with chapter five.

HoZ-HoZ-HoZ

Giles Apartment

"Are you sure the witch said those exact words," Giles asked, moving the phone to his other ear while he went through some books. He sometimes wondered how the boy got himself into these situations, even when off the Hellmouth. He attracts more trouble than should be humanly possible.

"Yes," Xander said. "And I would really like to know what she did to me."

Shaking his head, he said, "To be honest, I've never heard of any type of spell like that. The words were Latin but I've never heard a spell like it. Are you sure she was a witch? She could have just been drunk. It wouldn't be the first time I've heard of someone getting drunk and pretending they can do magic."

"There is no doubt in my mind that she was a witch. Unfortunately, she fled after casting the spell and I couldn't move for twenty minutes."

"And you say she had a wand," Giles asked. He could swear that this sounded familiar. Something that he read in a book somewhere.

"A little stick that she waved around," Xander said.

"I can not ever remember coming across a witch using a wand to focus her spells," Giles said, bewildered as he tried to think of wands. Now that he was thinking about it more, he was sure that he had read it somewhere. Maybe it was a witch who had a hidden focus and used the wand to distract her targets. "Ritual magic and a few small spells are the limit of what I can do."

"Well, do you know anyone in the area who might be able to help me? Someone who could scan me and make sure that nothing is wrong."

"Contrary to popular belief, you can't just scan someone," Giles said. He hated how television had influenced how people thought of magic.

"Giles, I'm serious here."

"Ok," Giles sighed. "There is someone you can try. I met this man when I first came over here to train Buffy. He somehow knew I entered the country and asked for my help with something. He left when I told him that I had other duties I must attend to."

"What's his name," Xander pressed.

Hesitating, Giles asked, "Are you sure that this was a real witch?" Whatever it was that Xander described, he was sure that he had read it before.

"Yes, for the last time."

"Okay, his name is John Zatara," Giles said. "He isn't someone to call for help without good reason. The circles he travels in are dangerous."

"Trust me," Xander said, smiling that he finally had a name. "This is a good reason. Now, how do I contact him?"

"You don't contact him," Giles said. "Just find a local demon bar and say that you are looking for him. He'll find you within a day once word reaches him."

HoZ-HoZ-HoZ

Xander's Hotel Room

"That was easier then I thought it would be," Xander said to himself, smiling. He had thought that it would take more for Giles to give in without demanding that he come back to Sunnydale to be examined.

HoZ-HoZ-HoZ

Giles Apartment

Hanging up the phone, Giles sat in his chair for a moment trying to think where he had heard of witches using Latin phrases and wands. Trying to think of which book it was in and what he was researching it for was proving harder then he would have liked.

"Maybe Willow will remember what book it was in," he said to himself.

Reaching over to his phone, he dialed Willow's home.

"Hello, Willow?"

"Hey, Giles," she said, sleepily. "Is there something wrong?"

"I don't think so," he said, keeping his promise to Xander. "There is something I'm trying to remember. I can't remember what we were researching and what book it was in."

"Do you know what it was about," Willow asked, now fully awake.

"It was about witches who used Latin phrases and wands. That is all I can remember about it," he admitted.

"Wands," she said, shocked. He couldn't be talking about what she thought he was. "Why are you researching Harry Potter?"

"Excuse me," he said. "Who is this Harry Potter?"

"You know," she said trying to get herself under control. Honestly, talking about wands. Next thing he would be talking about is flying brooms. How were witches supposed to fight stereotypes with stories like Harry Potter. "A boy wizard in a book written in the United Kingdom."

"This would be a fantasy book," he asked, slowly. "Not something that we used to solve a crisis?"

"Yes," she ground out. She couldn't stand those books. If she met the author, she would show her what a real witch was like. Wands, broomsticks, and pointed hats.

"Um, thank you Willow," he said. "That will be all for tonight."

"Goodnight," she said, too upset to go back to sleep.

Hanging up the phone, Giles said, "What the devil has that boy gotten into now that he would need magical help. And something that he didn't want me to know about at that. When he gets back, we'll going to have a long talk. Wands, indeed."

HoZ-HoZ-HoZ

Shadowcrest

"Father, what's wrong," a girl with raven hair asked as she entered library. She had noticed that her father missed dinner after a letter arrived.

Looking up from the message that he had just received, John Zatara couldn't help but smile in pride at his only daughter. She was already showing signs that she would be even greater then he was. She just needed to learn to control her impulsiveness.

"Zatanna, how are you tonight," he asked.

"Fine, father. What's with the letter?"

"Someone is looking for me," he said, standing up. "I'll be going to meet this person. I'm interested in what he has to say." And it never was wise to leave an unknown out there.

"I want to go also," she said. She had grown bored long ago with hardly ever leaving the manor. She wanted more in life then being stuck here.

"It's not safe," he said. "You don't know what exists in the dark underbelly of the world. You aren't prepared for it."

"How am I supposed to learn when you never let me leave here," she protested. She was eighteen and had only left the manor while under the protection of her her.

"It's for your own protection," he said. "Everything that I have done and everything that I and your tutors have taught you was for your own protection. I won't always be here to protect you and when that day comes, you will need everything to survive what is coming."

"What is coming," she asked. "What am I hiding from?"

"You aren't prepared yet," he responded. "While you are powerful, you have yet to face even the weakest of the night."

Standing her ground, "If you leave me here, I'll just follow you on my own. Then we'll see how good I am."

She was just like her mother when she got this way. Sighing, "Fine. But you will stay near me at all times and never think about straying."

"Okay," she said, smiling in satisfaction.

HoZ-HoZ-HoZ

Phoenix, Arizona

The past couple of days had been interesting to say the least. It had been three days since Xander walked into the demon bar asking for John Zatara. It also had been three days since his body had apparently gained super strength and kept it. The other powers still kept coming and going, but the strength was here to stay it seemed. And it was growing.

The demon bar would need some extensive renovations before it could re-open for business. After he killed the first three vampires, several demons seemed to have taken offense at what they saw as a human walk in and start killing their friends. It was only after he killed the first of several large, green-skinned demons that a small riot broke out. It seemed that not all demon bars were like Willy's.

"Wonder what Giles was thinking when he told me to find one," he said aloud. "It was almost as if he was distracted. So unlike him."

Finishing his meal, he laid down enough money to cover the bill and the tip.

"Well, you have my attention," a voice came from behind him. "What is it you wish?"

Turning around, he spotted a man standing in the shade of a tree. He was dressed in clothes that probably cost as much as a cheap car. He had a thin mustache that could be called distinguished. And to top if off, he wore a top hat. The guy looked like he belonged on a stage.

"Can I help you," Xander asked, taking stock of his surroundings. You can never be too careful.

"You're the one looking for me," the man said. "I'm John Zatara and I will not be taken down easily if that is what you have planned."

"Whoa there," Xander said, raising his hands. "I just want to talk with you. I'm not here to fight."

"That's a shame," a female voice said from behind John. "I think that would be an interesting fight."

"Zatanna, I thought I told you to not interfere with this meeting," John said sternly Sometimes he thought she did this just to annoy him.

"Yeah, you did," she said, smiling. The guy was kind of cute and if her father thought she was going to ignore that, he was dreaming. "But I never promised that I would."

"Hi," she said. "I'm Zatanna Zatara."

"I'm Dru...I mean Xander Harris," he said, wondering why he started to call himself something else.

"Well, Mr. Harris," John said. The young man was interesting. There was something about him that he couldn't place. A hidden power just waiting to break free. "What is it that you wish to see me about."

"There has been some strange things happening to me since I started my road trip," Xander admitted. "I called a friend and he recommended you as a possible source of help. I think whatever is happening to me might be mystical in nature."

While he could sense magic on the young man, he possessed no magic of his own. Almost as if he grew up in a magic saturated area. Feeling that the wards of the manor could handle anything that he couldn't, he said, "I think that this might be a discussion better suited to a private setting."

HoZ-HoZ-HoZ

Shadowcrest

"This is an interesting place you have here," Xander said. He had been impressed with the teleportation that brought them here. He never thought magic could do something like that. But the manor itself defied any rational thought.

"Thank you," John said, pleased that his guest liked the manor. It wasn't often that Shadowcrest had guests. Well, other then Constantine. Someone he could go without seeing for a while. "So, what is it that seems to be happening to you?"

"Before we get into that, I think it's best you know that I'm from Sunnydale, California."

"Why would that matter," John asked, confused.

"It's where the Hellmouth is," Xander said. "Shouldn't you know about it since you can do magic."

"I think I remember reading something about that," Zatanna said from where she was sitting on the desk. "Some sort of portal."

"Yeah, a portal to hell," Xander explained. "It's guarded by some guardian that has multiple arms."

"Portal to hell," John muttered to himself. "I think you might be confused. That really isn't a portal to hell. It's an inter-dimensional portal to multiple realms that are easily confused with hell. The real hell is worse then anything you will see on the other side of those gateways."

"Wow," Xander said. "And to think that we've been worried over it all this time."

"Don't get me wrong," John replied. "If anything came through those gates, they would cause massive destruction until stopped. There is really only one way that a Hellmouth could bring about armageddon and it's not one you need to worry about. Though, this does explain the magic I sensed on you. I take it that you have lived your entire life there?"

"Yes," Xander admitted. "This trip is my first time off the Hellmouth."

"Okay, now that we have that out of the way," John started, "What seems to be the problem?"

"Well, it all started shortly after leaving Sunnydale," Xander said. "I started to get muscle spasms and massive headaches. Then I started to do some strange things."

"What kind of strange things," Zatanna asked to her fathers annoyance.

"My senses are going haywire. I've been able to hear things from across a store and see through walls. My strength had been fluctuating until the other day when it started to grow at a rapid pace and still is. And I was recently shot at point blank range. The bullet only stung a little when it hit."

"Interesting," John said as a few ideas for the future started to come to mind. "Anything else?"

"Well," Xander hesitated a bit. "Those senses that I mentioned, well, they are showing up more often then they were a few days ago. I found that if I concentrate hard enough, I can activate them a little bit. But then I get tired and have to stop."

"It sounds like a muscle," John said. "You may need to work them out to get the full benefit."

"I can understand that part," Xander said. "But what I want to know is why they started showing up. And what's up with the memories that are popping into my head?"

"What kind of memories?" John asked, taking down some notes.

"It's kind of hard to describe. They are of wars that I can find no mention of ever being fought. Of machines that don't exist. Of people I can't remember ever meeting or seeing before. Of a woman...who I...well, I don't really know."

The look on Xander's face was one of confusion as he tried to remember more about the woman.

"She means something to me," Xander said as an image came to him. "I don't know what but she means a lot to me. Her name is on the tip of my tongue but I can't remember it."

"It will come to you," John assured.

"Is she pretty," Zatanna asked. "What does she look like?"

Looking at his daughter with disapproval, he started to say something when he was interrupted by Xander.

"She's beautiful," he said with a smile on his face. "She's a little taller then you, Zatanna. Her hair is the most beautiful brown and she has eyes that you could get lost in forever."

"She sounds very nice," Zatannanna said softly.

"I just don't understand any of this," he said. "I don't know what is going on or what any of this is in my head."

Thinking for a minute, John said, "I can try a spell that should tell us what's going on. Your powers do not sound like they are from magic, but with magic, anything is possible."

"Okay, lets do this," Xander said, standing up. "Hit me."

"Nigiro eht em whos."

A flash of light blinded all three inhabitants of the room.

"Whoa," Xander said, rubbing his eyes. "Was that supposed to happen?"

Blinking his own eyes, John said, "I've never seen anything like it before. Usually, a piece of paper appears with what I want to know on it."

"I intervened," a voice came from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. The shadows seemed to grow larger as the voice spoke.

"Show yourself," John Zatara ordered as he gathered his magic. He noticed Xander stepping in front of Zatanna. Whoever had penetrated Shadowcrest's wards would have to get through him first.

"Be calm, little sorcerer," the voice said, amused. "You're the one who called for answers and I'm here to give them."

"Does this normally happen," Xander whispered to Zatanna.

"This is the first time I've ever seen the wards of Shadowcrest breached," she whispered back. "Whatever entity this is, it's very powerful."

"Indeed," the voice said, startling them. "As for who I am, that is beyond your understanding. I seek progress. I seek advancement. I seek to destroy the stagnation that threatens this world."

"So you are one of the Lords of Order," John asked, trying to get a feel for this being.

"I am not of Chaos or Order," the voice said. "Nor am I of the balance. All three will destroy this world if allowed supremacy. But that also is beyond your understanding, at least for now."

"What am I," Xander asked. "What are these powers?"

"Kryptonian," the voice said, proudly. "You were born on the planet Krypton."

"I think I would have remembered being on another planet," Xander said.

"This is not your first life," the voice said. "Remember. Remember now."

"Zod," Xander whispered. "Dru-Zod. That is my name. I was the..."

A flash of memories flooded through his mind. His family, noble. He remembered his childhood, destined to join the military caste. His rise through the ranks. The battles he fought to protect his home. His rebellion to save Krypton. Brainiac's betrayal of the people it was created to serve. Jor-El sending him to Earth. Ursa...her name was Ursa. His lover, his wife trapped in the Phantom Zone.

"Jor-El," he screamed.

HoZ-HoZ-HoZ

AN: The entity in this chapter won't have much effect on the story at this time. At this point, I plan this being the only time that it shows up for a while. If I do a sequel to this story, it might show up again in a larger part. As for what it is, a cosmic entity that wishes to remain unknown for the time being but has an interest in Earth. Also, I had planned to finish this chapter but it was reaching a point where I thought I should break into two parts. The second part is already being written.