The power of the sun, in the palm of my hands.

I looked around my father's lab as we walked in, my eyes immediately drawn to the four massive cylinder tanks lined up against the far wall. Each one appeared to hold about 250 liters of liquid hydrogen, their surfaces gleaming under the lab's bright lights. I couldn't help but break into a wide grin, my excitement bubbling over as I rushed forward to inspect the materials I'd be working with.

The core components of the reactor—the tank reactor, containment unit, magnets, and electrical systems—were all laid out neatly on a workbench, meticulously built according to my specifications. I ran my fingers over the smooth surfaces of the containment unit, feeling the precision in its construction. Everything was perfect. All that was left was the assembly, and I could hardly wait to get started.

"Uncle Jor really outdid himself," I murmured, more to myself than to my dad, who was watching me with an amused smile.

"He did," my father agreed, stepping closer. "But you're the one who designed this, Kara. This is your project. I'm just here to supervise and make sure you don't accidentally blow up the lab."

I shot him a playful glare. "Hey, I've only blown up *one* lab. And it was a very small explosion."

"Small explosions are still explosions," he said, raising an eyebrow. "But I trust you. Just… take it slow, okay?"

I nodded, though my hands were already itching to get to work. I moved to the first tank, double-checking the connections and valves to ensure everything was secure. The liquid hydrogen hissed faintly as I adjusted the pressure gauges, the sound sending a thrill through me. This was it—the first step toward something monumental.

As I began assembling the core, my mind raced with possibilities. This reactor wasn't just a project; it was a gateway. If I could get this prototype to work, it would prove that my artificial sun concept was viable. And if we could scale it up… the implications were staggering. Clean, limitless energy for all of Krypton. A way to ensure our survival, no matter what the future held.

But it wasn't just about the science. This was my chance to make progress toward the future, to protect Krypton, my people. To protect my family.

"You're quiet," my dad observed, breaking me out of my thoughts. "That's rare for you."

I glanced up at him, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Just thinking about how cool this is. I mean, this could change everything, Dad. For Krypton. For us."

He nodded, his expression softening. "It could. And I'm proud of you for taking this on. But remember, Kara—great things take time. Don't rush it."

"I know, I know," I said, rolling my eyes but smiling. "Slow and steady wins the race, right?"

"Exactly," he said, chuckling. "Now, let's get to work."

With that, I turned back to the reactor, my focus sharpening as I began the intricate process of assembly. The hum of the lab's equipment filled the air, a steady backdrop to the rhythm of my movements. Piece by piece, the reactor began to take shape, and with it, the promise of a brighter future.

The process of building the miniaturized sun was both exhilarating and painstaking. I started by carefully assembling the core reactor, which would serve as the heart of the artificial sun. The liquid hydrogen tanks were connected to the reactor via a series of reinforced conduits, designed to withstand extreme temperatures and pressures. I was using my uranium core arc reactor to supply the power for kickstarting the endeavor. Using a combination of magnetic containment fields and advanced cooling systems, I stabilized the hydrogen plasma as it was fed into the reactor.

The core itself was a marvel of engineering. It consisted of a spherical containment unit made of a transparent, ultra-durable alloy that allowed me to observe the fusion process. Inside, a series of superconducting magnets generated a powerful magnetic field to contain the plasma, while a network of lasers initiated the fusion reaction. The result was a self-sustaining fusion process, mimicking the conditions of a real star on a much smaller scale.

As the reactor came online, a soft, golden glow emanated from the core, casting a warm light across the lab. I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride as I watched the miniaturized sun hum to life. It was a tiny star, no larger than an orange, but it radiated an immense amount of energy. This was the key to powering not just the suit, but potentially all of Krypton. I began to chuckle lowly, which escalated into an evil laugh. I shouted boisterously, "It's alive! Alive, I say!" My father looked at me incredulously before shaking his head, seemingly giving up on what he wanted to say—or perhaps finally accepting his daughter's eccentricities.

After my declaration, I let my eyes settle on the equipment for the power suit/armor but shook my head. Looking at the time, I realized we were supposed to have gone home two hours ago. I hadn't noticed—well, I had; I always knew the time. *Time flies when you're having fun.* I decided to leave the suit assembly for the following day. "Hey, Dad, I'm ready to head home," I said to my father, who was reading something on his data pad. He nodded, and after tidying up and storing everything, we were on our way home.

While lying in bed that night after my mom left my room, I had a huge, happy smile on my face. *Tomorrow.*

It was the following day, and I was back in my dad's lab. I may have rushed here from home, but no one could blame me—I was about to build a suit that would make Iron Man die with envy.

With the miniaturized sun complete, I turned my attention to the power suit. The suit was a masterpiece of technology, designed to integrate seamlessly with the reactor and enhance the wearer's capabilities in every way possible. The suit's operating system was built on an advanced AI framework, capable of predictive modeling and real-time combat assistance. The AI could analyze an opponent's movements, predict their next actions, and provide tactical recommendations to the wearer. Combat wasn't the only focus, though; infiltration and information gathering were equally prioritized. The suit could connect to nearby networks and retrieve targeted information. The 'eyes' were advanced cameras capable of telescopic and microscopic vision, as well as vision across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. The suit was capable of advanced stealth, adapting and hiding from most forms of detection. I had to use sun crystals to achieve this, and despite its intimidating appearance, it was eerily quiet.

The user interface was projected directly onto the suit's visor, displaying vital information such as energy levels, environmental conditions, and tactical data. It also had a mini-lab for sample collection and analysis, could detect sounds outside of my hearing spectrum, and display them for me. I made sure no one could sneak up on me by enhancing all the senses to their maximum potential, with added benefits.

Between the layers of the suit's armor, I embedded a network of synthetic muscles made from a combination of nano-fibers and electroactive polymers. These artificial muscles amplified the wearer's strength, allowing them to lift heavy objects and deliver powerful strikes. The system was designed to respond intuitively to the wearer's movements, providing enhanced strength without sacrificing agility. I used sun crystals for the nano-fibers, and the result was added speed.

The suit was equipped with energy-based weapons, powered directly by the miniaturized sun. These weapons could fire concentrated beams of plasma or generate energy shields for defense. I could also generate weapons for slicing and stabbing in close combat. The energy output was adjustable, allowing the wearer to use non-lethal force if necessary. It could be used for practical things, like not killing people, welding… and other things.

For flight, I repurposed anti-gravity technology originally developed for Kryptonian spacecraft and hover cars by my uncle. The suit's boots, gauntlets, and backplate housed miniaturized anti-gravity generators, allowing the wearer to hover, maneuver, and achieve sustained flight. To ensure safety, I added shock and inertia dampeners, as well as a force field to protect the wearer from the physical stresses of high-speed movement.

The suit also included a variety of safety and comfort features. A built-in heating and cooling system regulated the wearer's temperature, ensuring comfort in any environment. An emergency parachute and ejection system provided a last-resort escape mechanism in case of critical failure. The suit's internal sensors continuously monitored the wearer's health, alerting them to any potential issues.

*Damn, I was a genius,* I thought with a smile as I looked at my masterpiece. It looked like the standard Kryptonian power armor, similar to the armor worn by Faora-Ul, but this was a smaller, kiddie-sized version. I looked at my father with a frown as I thought, *How, why would my parents let a ten-year-old build what was essentially a weapon of mass destruction without questioning or batting an eye? Weird.* I wasn't going to ask, though; I had other things to focus on.

"Well, Dad, what do you say we give this bad boy a chance?" I asked.

My father was looking at my armor with a frown. "I can't believe I let a child build weapons in my lab," he said quietly. He shook his head and looked at me. "Kara, why did you build this? I can see other uses, but it's mainly made for war and clearly designed for you. I don't want you idolizing war and battle. You're a daughter of House El—we are thinkers more than we are fighters. I understand the need to fight to protect ourselves and what we care about, but you built this to last. You're not planning on leaving for House Zod, are you?" He said the last part with a teasing smile, but I could tell he was worried.

I fidgeted as I looked at his shoes before mumbling something inaudible.

"What was that, Kara? Speak up, dear," he said.

I repeated louder this time, though still quietly, "I thought it was cool."

"You built technology and armor that is going to advance both the Science and Military Councils by years because you thought it was 'cool'? Rao. And we agreed and supplied you. Rao, what are we becoming?" he said, exasperated but with a hint of amusement.

I finally looked up and smiled. "So… test flight?"

Testing the suit was frustrating. I couldn't risk anyone discovering what I was working on, so I had to conduct my experiments in secret. We had to wait until late at night when the lab was empty. I donned the suit, running through a series of tests to evaluate its performance.

The first time I activated the suit, I felt an incredible surge of power. The synthetic muscles responded instantly to my movements, amplifying my strength as I lifted heavy equipment with ease. The flight systems worked flawlessly, allowing me to hover and maneuver with precision. The energy weapons were devastatingly effective, slicing through metal as if it were paper.

But the secrecy was maddening. I had to wait until I presented it to the Science Guild for my official test. Dad had told me I was more than ready to join. Once I did, I would have more of a voice and could increase my contributions to Kryptonian science and technology. I'd been providing inventions and research for years, but I'd always done so under my uncle's or dad's name. This time, it would be under mine.

During my tests, I began to notice something strange—or rather, I began to feel different. The miniaturized sun was doing exactly what I had envisioned. I started to feel… stronger. Faster. More alert. It was subtle at first, but undeniable. The yellow sun was empowering me, albeit slowly. However, the red sun of Krypton seemed to counteract this effect. Whenever I left the lab and returned to the natural light of Rao, I felt the enhancements fade. It was as if the red sun was suppressing the changes, keeping me grounded in my Kryptonian physiology.

This discovery was both thrilling and frustrating. Thrilling, because it confirmed the theories about the effects of yellow sunlight on Kryptonians. It would make it easy to provide evidence for the research I'd been planning to submit. Even though the higher-ups knew about the effects of yellow sun radiation, most Kryptonians didn't. I'd write my findings as if I had discovered them after creating the artificial sun. Frustrating, because it meant that my progress was limited by the environment I was in. If I wanted to fully realize my potential, I would need to find a way to expose Krypton to a true yellow sun.