Disclaimer: I own nothing, Supergirl goes to CBS, Man of Steel goes to Snyder; both belong to Warner Bros and DC Comics.
Girl of Steel
Pilot
My name, is Kara Zor-El.
Twenty three years ago, Krypton was in serious peril. My baby cousin, Kal-El, was sent to planet Earth for his own safety and protection. Of course, you may know him as Superman, Savior of the World, Doomsday Slayer, Best Friends with Batman and Wonder Woman, of their work towards bringing together others with unique powers, so-called meta-humans, to protect the world.
But this isn't about them, or about Superman and his story — the Battle of Smallville, Battle of Metropolis, an Averted Kryptonian Invasion, Battle of Doomsday — regrettably, I was there only for the first one. I did my best to help him and now, I cannot even help myself.
Because the story you don't know, is my story, that I was sent to protect him. But what you do know, is how I failed, miserably, at this task.
The beginning, should be just that, the beginning, how everything began, with my planet — and its explosion.
Krypton, a planet orbiting within the Inner Rao System, a red dwarf sun that lives within the Corvus Constellation in the Milky Way Galaxy, was the home world for one of the most (or rather, the most) advanced civilization in that region of the cosmos. Back when they discovered space travel and deployed colonizing ships, they also discovered other habited planets within their small region of the cosmos, and some trade was established, before they stopped interstellar flight altogether due to the instability of their planet's gravity, which made it impossible for take-offs to take place without compromising their world. That didn't mean, of course, that others couldn't land and take-off on their own ships, but any who tried were often intensely questioned. Some, tried to sneak their resources off planet, resources that they didn't have to spare, while others aimed to make money.
Kryptonians had a strict Law Council to which they abide by, leaders chosen by their intellect and pre-approved by their different Guilds, to which they were born into as well as their roles. Food was grown and provided with aid of their droid helpers. Their reproductive method: a Genesis Chamber. Each major city had one, all guarded by a scientist and a member of the Sapphire Guard; the Thinker was also there to ensure it was properly working and connected to the the Central Hub, where the Growth Codex remained, located in Argo City.
Every child born, without fail, already had an assigned Guild (two Guilds were now easily the norm) and a role, as well as a House. There was however, one particular child born only with a role and no Guild. This . . . single child, had a unique banner and standing in regards to others of her age. Whereas they had, besides their names, their roles and Guilds, she had leader and a single word written in white besides it: pending. And said child knew it was uncommon, but not that this could translate to special.
Kara was twelve when her world was turned upside down, for a second time. The first time she was seven, and two things happened: her dad Astra got married, and her daddo and momma — Jor-El and Lara, moved to the House of El Citadel in the outskirts of Kandor. Second time, was when her father Zor-El, had to move to Kandor with the Codex, due to military unrest and the need to be closer to the capital, and when her mom Alura could no longer handle living in Argo City, not when the place was filled with Astra, and their mutual betrayal. It hurt her, pained her to a physical level all the memories of what they had had, what they lost, what they no longer held, and she needed to be away from it all, if only for her peace of mind. At least now, she wouldn't be at the same place where she sentenced her beloved twin to the Phantom Zone and Fort Rozz; not that Kara knew this. Also, Jor-El and Lara were in dire need of their assistance now that the woman was pregnant.
Kara didn't fully understand what that meant, only that she shouldn't speak of it with others. The woman was 'starting to show', whatever it meant, and the girl enjoyed playing sick to keep visitors at bay. Argo fever was definitely uncommon at Krypton's capital.
«Your belly,» she eyed her aunt's body with a critical eye, «its, growing.»
«No my Beautiful Flamebird,» her aunt often called her that since, when the sun rose or set, her blonde hair looked as though it were on fire; the girl appreciated and even loved the sentiment, «I have a child growing, a strong Nightwing to play with you.»
Kara gasped, eyes going wide and smile as radiant as their very own Rao. «Oh wow! Da — father, took me to the Genesis Chamber before we left Argo.»
«Hey, Fire,» it was her special nickname, back when she had a dad and a dadda, and the girl felt near tears at the reminder. The woman sighed and took her in a warm and comforting embrace. «It's okay to still love her as though she was still your dad, because she still is. You know Zor-El never felt compromised, don't you?»
«I know momma, but she said her final goodbyes before we left for here,» she sniffled, «I've missed her, I've missed my dad. She couldn't even stay for my party.»
Drying her tears, she smiled wobbly at Kelor as it brought her something with which to clear her airways. They remained in silence, sitting side by side, the girl taking comfort in her aunt's heartbeat, sound that was as common to her, as her mom's and dad's. Soothing, strong, it was a solace she found that threatened her with sleep. Kara had been unable to sleep properly, not since they had moved, but when Astra had come to answer her beacon's call.
«Momma, if you can have a child, does that mean my father's work, the Codex and Genesis Chamber, it would all be rendered useless?» She was resisting sleep; it often brought nightmares and restless energy.
«Child, that's a question you should ask him, not me,» Lara stated, eyes sharp. Suddenly there was an announcement of someone approaching. Kara began coughing in an spectacular fashion, and the stranger announced themselves, stating to be there to check on them. «Kelor is here to help.» The stranger left, not wanting to risk getting ill themselves, and they giggled. «I was wondering . . . Kara, do you know why you have to pretend to be sick, that I'm taking care of you when it's the other way around?»
«I . . . no, I don't,» the girl sighed, then pouted, «I don't like it, but I don't have many friends coming over to visit, do I?»
The brunette laughed at her words, hugging her. «With the Genesis Chamber, what I'm going through isn't necessary. I'm doing it, because I can, because I want to feel the experience of giving birth.»
«Isn't it painful?»
«It is,» the woman agreed with a nod, yet she still placed a hand on her swelling abdomen, «but I wanted to have my own child.»
«So, even if you don't think my birth was wrong —»
«Baby Fire, no!» She shook her head vehemently. «You're so pure and beautiful, created for something so special, not one Guild could reject you!»
The girl grinned cheekily, «I know,» but the truth was, even if she did know, she couldn't fully understand the words. «What I meant was, others — the Law Council even with my mom in it, they would think the birth of my baby brother, my own Nightwing, to be wrong. But it isn't either, is it?
«I mean, I get it, being born from the Codex means our genes are perfected and honed with a single purpose and for a significant Guild,» she frowned, then pouted again, «but that doesn't mean I'm immune to Argo fever, or what's more, that I am meant for a significant Guild, like the rest,» she sighed as she leaned against the couch, still bothered and a bit sore at the Codex for her 'pending' status, «but isn't that what it would mean for Nightwing?»
«You are so bright, my beautiful, Beautiful Flamebird,» Lara sighed, holding the child close, then whispered, «want to hear his heart beat?»
The girl's blinding smile was back. They called Kelor, who immediately provided them with their request. Kara's eyes went wide, another breathless wow escaped her lips, and her aunt grinned, as well as guided her hands over her swelling abdomen. It was something special, getting to know this child in such a fashion, so it was no wonder that she had so many parents, where the usual was just two, she actually got five. The girl had been, since the age of three, calling Jor-El 'daddo' and Lara 'momma', that they began questioning her regarding why Astra was dad and not mama or ma.
The brunette Thinker was willing to bet her Flamebird was still puzzling over genders, and wondered if this meant that perhaps, the child wasn't a girl or a boy just yet. If only she had been able to watch the girl grow further, even if she had been born into a Warrior's House and belonged in the Warrior's Guild, she had developed so much of her science and moved to the Thinker Guild, her secondary one, and this mean she was no longer part of her initial Guild.
She had learned from it, oh she had, but as much as Jor-El learned with her the martial arts of self-defense in its peak, there was too much science in their blood. Like there was on the blonde with her.
The third time Kara's world changed, was the day she left her planet.
Jor had Kelor and Kelex with him, they were aiding him in the birth of Kal-El. Zor was also with them, his expertise in human biology essential to ensure the well being of both, mother and child, while Alura kept Kara company and explained what was happening and what was going to happen. Once the little Nightwing was born, Kara was allowed inside; she actually helped giving him a bath and she chuckled and giggled in delight, and the women were relieved to find her taking to the child in such a natural way, that Lara felt an ache at having to make them part way. Once she was done helping with the new-born, under careful droid supervision, she took a bundle she had hidden in her person, and produced a beautifully wrapped gift.
«Happy birthday, Nightwing,» she whispered, kissing his temple softly.
«What have you got there, Little One?» Her mother asked before turning to her in-House sister. «I had no idea she had planned this.»
«I didn't either,» Lara replied, blinking with wide eyes and Kelex brought her the parcel while Kelor kept watch on the girl and child. «Flamebird, what did you do?»
«I asked Tali's mom what I could buy a child, should the Codex give me one,» her blue eyes didn't leave her baby brother's equally blue, amazed at the way the child took hold of her finger. «Depending on the Guild, a gift is meant, so what was I given? A white blanket. I had Kelex commission one, saying that I had lost mine and wanted the comfort since I was sick, so I wanted a new one. I chose red! May Rao watch over my new cousin and brother.»
The declaration was punctuated by the unwrapped gift, and a beautiful red blanket with the House of El's coat of arms in black. Lara received her child back and wrapped him in a bundle with a happy smile. Right then, Kelex went to a transporter and left, probably to aid Jor-El while his brother returned.
«I see you all met Kal . . . Kara, what did I say?» He looked at his child, worry in his features.
«Father, I got him a present.»
«We talked about this,» he replied with a sigh and deep worry.
«Not to worry father, I covered my tracks and they didn't notice, I swear,» she replied, standing her ground but still, incredibly worried. «I was careful, I promise!»
«If none of us noticed, and no one else came along since,» Alura began, «I guess it is safe to say, she was successful.»
«Isn't that the way it is in the House of El?» But her question was more genuine than boastful.
«Kara, Flamebird, Fire,» Lara dried the tears on her eyes while kneeling before the girl, «thank you, this is a beautiful gift.»
«Why?» Zor asked, and the girl turned to look at her father.
«Because I insist, it's a big occasion for him,» she replied softly, smiling, «he just pushed through all he knew of comfort and peace, and made it to the light. My Nightwing was brave and deserves a gift, for gifting us with his presence. He deserves a present and to have this day remembered.»
Suddenly, Kelor buzzed and the mother gave her new-born to her in-House sister. «Jor.» She looked at the setting the droids displayed and turned to look at the stranger. «Behind you.»
Jor-El dealt with the trouble on his end as his family held their breath. «Lara, you have to ready the launch. I'll be there with you as soon as I can.» The woman in question nodded before the communication ended.
Just then, Kelor connected through another droid and went to stand before Zor. Seeing as things were about to get complicated, the baby exchanged arms once again.
«Sir!» It was the Sapphire Guard that over-looked the Genesis Chamber and Central Hub. «We've received an alert!»
«I imagine.» Zor replied grimly, knowing that something had transpired in the Legislation Chamber and could only pray things worked out. «My brother is on his way! You go aid the Law Council along with the rest.»
«Sir yes sir!» They cried, holding to attention before the comm disconnected.
«Kara, come along, we're giving your momma and Nightwing privacy,» Alura began, turning to her husband briefly, «I believe it is better if we explain to Lara.»
«I'll help her set-up and be there soon,» he promised, going to the other brunette and giving her a comforting smile. «Let me help.»
«And explain,» she requested and he acquiesced with a nod.
«And explain.» Once his wife and daughter were on her war kite did he began explaining. «I am glad Kara loved your boy, it makes things easier.
«We're sending her with Kal,» he began, preparing the pod for when his brother returned. «We want her to have a greater chance. Alura and I spoke of several qualities we believe the system should have, but you have final say in this. We won't interfere with your choice.»
«Zor —!»
«We have decided, Lara.»
«Does Kara even knows?!»
«Her mother is speaking to her as we speak.»
«And if she doesn't want to!?»
«Lara, you know her as we do,» he countered seriously, eyes sharp, «besides, you saw her with the boy; the likelihood of her saying no, is low.»
«The probability is still there!»
«If she says no, then we'll all join you and Jor in the final moments of this planet.» He gave her a penetrating look, and she nodded. «Once he returns and you've set up the coordinates, have one of the droids send them, I'll be ready.
«Baring any unknown variables, Kara should leave right behind him.» Taking a deep breath, he turned to look to the door. «I fear unknown variables are already at work.»
«Go!»
He nodded and went out to take his own war kite to his own destination. He prayed for his brother's safety.
Kara finally learned what her daddo and father had been working on in the smaller observatory they had on the other end of the land of their House; she had thought they were building her some ridiculous, play house for her to dork around. But perhaps, it would have been better if it had been something silly like that. She cringed at the explosions and fear began to course through her system, wishing Rao for an answer or explanation or some word regarding her daddo and momma. As soon as it stopped, her parents began working on what Jor-El had left behind, a launching pod very much like the one that had already left Krypton, only this one had the optic lens installed beneath the metal, allowing her to communicate directly with the interface and see outside, even if the outside was the alloy protecting her, she would be able to see beyond it.
She watched them, worried over the fact that they hadn't receive notice of any kind; why had they agreed to lend Kelex, when the other two had Kelor? It wasn't her place to ask though, and she felt she should be able to figure it out.
«Alura Zor-El,» Kelex finally returned via transporter, but the girl couldn't use it to ask about her family, «the Law Council wishes to make an official comm: they required to know if you are capable of being present during the sentence of General Zod and his fellow insurgents.»
«I must decline,» Alura said, knowing on the other side, Kelor was providing her answer to the Council. «My Kara is too shaken by the attack, and her Argo fever just worsened. I cannot leave now.»
«Very well then, the Law Council understands how hard it has been for you the past months,» Lor-Em said through Kelex, the man's face appearing, «due to the closeness of the incident, we thought you might want to be present. You still have, however, your year to return to service.»
Alura nodded. «Thank you.» The comm was terminated, and she sighed in relief at the fact that everything would be over shortly. «I imagine Lara gave Kal the blanket.»
«We have discussed this beloved,» he replied tenderly, smile equally soft, «In-Ze's heirloom will be hers, though I believe making it integrate with her key a good idea.»
«Okay,» she replied, taking a deep breath before they continued with their preparations. «Once it's done, we'll launch.»
«I agree,» Zor-El turned to look at the Legislation Chamber, «I'm not risking something happening to her pod.»
«Come along Kara,» the woman said as she guided her daughter to the seat.
«Your coordinates are interlocked with Kal-El's,» her father said, speaking to the child, «you will follow him to Earth —»
«I'm not afraid, father,» she replied, conviction strong, and seeing this her mom and father looked at each other with a happy smile. He then turned to do the final arrangements to the space craft.
«The trip is long, but you'll sleep most of the way and we'll be with you in your dreams,» the woman began, looking at her daughter intently and taking both her hands. «You'll journey to Earth to look after your baby cousin, Kal-El. Because of the Earth's atmosphere, you'll have trouble adjusting but thanks to their yellow sun, you'll have great powers on this planet. You'll do extraordinary things.»
«I won't fail Kal-El,» Kara promised as her mother took off her necklace, «or you.»
Alura took her head gently, and pressed a soft and tender kiss to her daughter's forehead, before slipping the jewelry around her baby's neck.
«I love you Kara,» she said, earning a happy smile from the crying girl. A blue beam let them know what was happening, and that their time was shortening. «You must go, now.»
The blonde nodded, but at the last instance she turned back and hugged her mom.
It was all happening too fast. She would protect her baby cousin, her little Nightwing, but part of her wanted to stay and carry the burden of being the last. That would certainly be easier. But, she wouldn't fail her mom, dad, father, momma and daddo. And the one she certainly couldn't fail, was her brother. So she sat down and her father placed the key and her pod was finally complete. Kara stared, terrified of leaving but even more scared of staying behind. Her shed tears did nothing but strengthen her resolve. She wouldn't fail her family, least of all her mom and Kal.
«They've sent them to the Phantom Zone,» Zor said, looking at the sky, «they are in the Black Zero, not Fort Rozz.»
«They don't have that key,» the woman replied, crying, and once the prison was gone and through the Phantom Zone, they launched her pod. «May you have a safe journey.»
«Was it safe not to tell her her daddo died?» He questioned, nor quite regretful but mostly, curious about the answer his wife would give.
«What difference would it made Zor-El?» Alura asked in reply, drying her tears. «We have each other in these last moments, Lara has no one and soon, neither will Kal or Kara, they will only have each other.»
She began crying on his shoulder, devastated by her own actions. «My love, doing this, we have given her her best chance,» he whispered, crying as well, both gazing at the imminent destruction, just to be soon joined by Lara and Kelor. «We leave this planet as a family, and pray to Rao our children, can grow up as we wish for them to grow.»
«Lady Lara, shouldn't you find refuge?» The droid spoke; it was still a mystery if they had a conscious, or if it was simply the way their program was coded.
«I agree with Kelor,» Kelex said, «Lady Alura, Lord Zor-El, we have found a suitable —»
«There is no refuge, Kelor.» Lara replied, before noticing something peculiar about her surroundings. «Where's my niece? My lovely Flamebird?»
«She agreed to go with her cousin,» Alura began, tears falling, and her friend understood.
«Jor was right.» Zor gripped, as though this was a bothersome fact. «Even in death, he is.»
«This is the end Lara.» The woman said, facing the inevitable. «Kara deserved a chance.»
«The only one in white from her generation? The one the Codex engineered with the best of Krypton? I would say so,» the other replied, both ignoring the man who was still, even in the bitter end, giving in to his sibling rivalry. «Make a better world than ours, Kal, Kara.»
And with those words, they were finally consumed by their planet's unstable core. They had been right, there was no refuge, no way of saving themselves, only their children from the inevitable destruction.
Things didn't exactly go according to my mother's plan. I had been sent too late, and Krypton's destruction sent a shock wave that knocked my pod off course and into the Phantom Zone. I speculate that, since it had been recently opened, this was the reason why I was forced inside. What still remains unclear to me, is why the Black Zero and not Fort Rozz, escaped from it. How? Well, as physics dictate: without proper control, energy must be constant. Now that the port was destroyed, it stood to sense and reason that if something entered, something else had to come out. Maybe it was because it had just entered that it could come out so easily, but I would have thought that Fort Rozz, being there first, would have been the one to leave.
Sadly, I do not possess the technology to aid me in satisfying my own curiosity, but perhaps it's just the Thinker in me that simply wishes to learn how it all happened.
Anyway, the Phantom Zone is a region in space where time doesn't pass. I slept there for twenty three years until somehow, I got here. I don't even want to bother speculating how it happened but when I arrived, I was still a thirteen year-old girl. In that same time, my brother Kal-El had grown up and had yet to reveal himself to your world as Superman, the most powerful man in the universe. I really couldn't understand it; if he could save people, why didn't he?
"Kara," he had dropped to visit, he had been nearby and had needed clothes and a place to stay. Kara had been happy to see him, and they had been given time to share the unexpected visit. They were outside, watching the stars; her foster family was really kind to her. "I heard you saved a woman and her baby."
"Are you going to tell me I shouldn't?" She frowned, laid her head over his heart, and sighed at the rhythmic and strength of its beat. "Kal, my mom said we would have great powers here because of the yellow sun, that we'll do extraordinary things. If I can't help others, what use is my power?
He sighed and smiled at her. "I don't know what your Kryptonian parents taught you, or what your Earth ones are, but let me tell you a secret," he began whispering. "My father believed that if the world found out who I really was . . . they'd reject me, mostly out of fear.
"I felt like you do, tired of safe. I wanted to do something useful with my life. He questioned me by saying that farming and feeding people was useful," and she nodded, because it was true what his father said, and he only smiled at her honesty. "He pointed out that it was what our family had been doing for five generations, I countered that it was his family, not mine."
"Kal-El!" She gasped, alarmed, and he laughed. "Not funny! That was really mean!"
"It was," he agreed, still grinning, "for some reason, I always thought you would react that way."
The blonde pouted, and his smile turned soft. "So what happened?"
"A tornado." He replied, and she simply cocked her head to the side, a bit puzzled.
"Is this an Oz story?" She asked seriously, and he had to laugh.
"It was Kansas, but this is my story, not Dorothy's." The brunet chided, very much amused.
"Sorry," she replied, clearly not understanding he was just teasing. "So, a tornado happened."
"Our dog back then — Tank, not Dusty, got stuck in the car," he continued, taking a shuddering breath. "My dad said he would get him, told me to get my mom to the overpass and passing me over a girl he had previously helped save. He got trapped trying to get the foolish mutt out, and by the time he managed it, it was late and the tornado was too close.
"I could have saved him," he said, looking up at the sky, not at his own eyes on another's face, "I was ready to run over and expose myself in front of everyone, but he realized the inevitable. I could see it in his eyes: he would rather die protecting my secret, than to have me reveal myself. He said as much when he rose his hand in a signal for me to stop and shook his head."
«Oh Kal,» she said, not realizing she was speaking Kryptonian.
"Kara," she rose her head to look at him, eyes filled with tears, "it was his choice, his sacrifice; he was my father and I couldn't, no matter how much I wanted to, undermine his wishes. I couldn't spit in his face in such a manner."
She laid her head down, hiccuping, and gave him a surprised look. "I had no idea I could hiccup."
He laughed at that, and she frowned at him, playfully huffing before hugging him. Unlike her, he could have saved the man; would she had been able to do the same? She shook those thoughts from her, knowing that those kind of what ifs would only hurt her on the long run. Nothing hypothetical would rise from the scenario, so it was best not to dwell on it. As though knowing where her thoughts had gone, or rather, when, he resumed his story.
"I let my father die because I trusted him. Because he was convinced that I had to wait. That the world was not ready." The man looked back at the stars, taking hold of the one piece of his heritage he carried around. "I have to find the purpose that made my parents send me here."
"Like me, sent here to protect you?" She asked, curiosity peeking through her eyes.
"Yes. I have to believe that it was more than giving you your own task," he teased, making her smile her radiant smile, "but yes, I have to believe that it was more than just saving me."
"If anyone can figure that out, it's you," the way Kara said it, made him realize just how much faith she had in him. "You might not have been born through the Genesis Chamber like me, engineered by the Codex, but I believe your own abilities might exceed my own because of it."
"You, the prodigal child?" He teased her again, going as far as tickling her. Once their playing stopped, he took her on his lap as he sat, and they both felt content at the fact that they had each other. "I find that the most intriguing. Why did they chose a natural birth for me?"
"I was the first, and even if others were born after me, the only to have had such a status." The girl snuggled close to him, smiling and content to have her Nightwing back. "It wasn't easy. Maybe just as hard as being misunderstood while growing up among Earthlings."
Clark chuckled at the term. "I still want you to have the same safe Earthling-type childhood I did."
She just nodded, "I know you want what's best for me."
"So, no more powers?"
"No more powers," she replied with a sigh, "I promise."
"Good." He stood, throwing her delicately to the air, earning a gleeful shriek before catching her, and they laughed. "Don't forget to tell Jeremiah."
"Yes Nightwing," she huffed with a roll of eyes, smiling sadly. "Will you stay the night?"
"That means you'll be sleeping over me," he teased and she blushed, but he understood and smiled. She enjoyed the sound of his heart beat, it sounded different from her mom's yet it was soothing. "If you want me to stay, I will."
"Please?"
"Okay," and it was the kind of easy answer and conversations they shared and enjoyed the most.
While I spent a little over six months, not quite a year, in the Kent farm, giving me a credible back story was hard. I was weak the first months, Martha believing I had asthma, but I had expected an averse reaction to the atmosphere. I knew it would be a matter of time before I grew accustomed to it, and even if after the first week I was already better, my weakness might have been more mental. I didn't feel hunger, but knew I couldn't just go without eating. I definitely needed water, and my thirst for knowledge was being steadily fed with daily chores that I had never had to worry about before in my life.
Washing dishes and plowing the land helped me learn about my own strength, since I couldn't be as forceful with the delicate china as I had to be to push the still un-repaired truck. Despite Martha's worry, I loved the feeling of pushing my body, breaking a sweat and finally, feeling some hunger. Later, once I had the science and practical knowledge that came with the intricacies of agriculture, I finally popped the hood of the truck.
It was the most rudimentary of engineering and soon, I had it purring. Some pieces I had to craft from scratch, and it gave me a thrill to be building something. I even managed to optimize the farm's workings, and interacting with others forced me to learn and master English in the quickest way possible, immersing myself in it. Martha was patient, loving and caring, but I had begun attracting attention. Clark got me fake documents, grateful that his mother had a sister who had passed away some time ago. Her medical records stated she had a child who had been born dead, but his sources managed to get those to be proven faked and that I was actually that child. I couldn't believe in fate, after all, why would my planet die if someone was behind to design it all? But the accuracy and simply due to the fact that I now had a good, solid identity, was astounding.
I still drew too much attention, and I soon grew bored with what I was offered in terms of knowledge. So he placed me with my adoptive family, the Danvers, scientists who once helped him understand his own super abilities. I stopped being Kara Kent and became Kara Danvers. The mayor bonus, was that their knowledge seemed to be never ending, and I was happy to have other people to teach me. I was sad to leave Martha but she understood as well that this was for the best, and she let me go. Not without letting me know that I would always be welcome, and that I had to return every summer to help her with the farm. I smiled and nodded, unable to promise her Christmas without feeling bad about ditching my current family.
They had a daughter, Alex, and despite being born on different planets we both shared one thing: we knew our lives would never be the same again.
"You're pretty smart," Alex said, frowning. Going from only child to older sister wasn't nice, specially when the younger child wasn't only alien, but smart to boot. "How do you know so much?"
". . . ." Kara stopped her game of chess, head cocked to the left, consider whether to answer or not. At the pointed look from the older girl, she blushed a bit. "Um, in Krypton, every child oriented to the Thinker Guild learns engineering by age of five. I already knew basic quantum physics, what you planet still considers theories."
Alex was impressed. "Why don't you teach us?"
"That doesn't feel like a very normal thing to do," the blonde explained, frown in place and looking so adorable with that pout, the other girl felt her heart being tugged. "Besides, all knowledge is dangerous, it can make righteous men become unscrupulous. One of our scientists ended up blowing one of our three moons, the one that was being colonized, and he had been searching for a way, if my guessing is correct, to fix the planet's core.
"Not that I don't believe Earthlings are bad, but all life matters," she shrugged, going back to her game and defeating her third opponent, easily defeating a grand master, not that she cared about that. "I don't want to feel responsible so I rather not share until knowing who would be using the tech."
"School is going to be boring," the brunette stated with a sigh, going to her side and searching for a xiangqi, shogi, go, and halma online games, placing all games in parallel windows, mostly for Kara's entertainment.
The blonde smiled widely and with glee, completely happy about things and greedily reading the rules. "Everyone seems to conveniently forget that school is more than just learning, it also consists of peer relating and bonding."
"So, tell me about these . . . guilds."
"There were five different Guilds that we were born into," Kara began, attention not wavering from her games, "the role we were meant to have, established from the moment we were conceived, as well as the House we would belong to."
"Sounds a lot like Divergent — not, that that's relevant at the moment." It was confusing, and the blonde saw this in soft brown eyes. "Wait, how exactly was that determined?"
"Right, I forgot Earthlings have natural births," the arbitrary comment was alarming and even more confusing. "It'll take some time getting used to it, the fact that you don't have Genesis Chambers, or a Codex."
"Codex?"
"The Growth Codex stored all the genetic information of my planet, Krypton." She began, choosing her words consciously. "My father, Zor-El, worked with it closely; if it was a field entwined with biology, he was leading. He worked with genomes, expert in biochemistry and bio-engineering, and he worked closely with the Codex.
"It dictates our DNA strands and sequence, and we are born with a place within our society."
Alex frowned. "What a bust. So you got no say in your future? If its already all planned out, what's the purpose?"
"To aid Krypton?" Clearly, the blonde didn't understand what had made the Earthling upset. "Everyone has a role, it's easy."
"How can it be easy?" It was alarming that the other would just accept that. "Kara, your free will was taken!"
"I was born without Guild," she confessed, head cocked to the side, confusion evident, "how do you think others saw me?"
"With envy? Jealousy?"
"I was looked at as though I was a glitch in the Codex, like my mom; twins had never been born before yet, there she was, a genetic identical born for a completely different Guild which made them odd and out of place," she shrugged, finished her games and ignored all challenge requests. "I was made a pariah, the other children not understanding why I was with them one day and not the other, picking from their parents how uncommon this was. There was no envy.
"I was the one jealous; they didn't have hard choices other than choosing between two Guilds, they didn't have to worry about making a mistake because it was easier than having to make a choice from among five." She looked helpless, completely lost. "But just like what happened with my mom, I couldn't be called a glitch. Like my daddo, Jor-El — Kal's father, couldn't be considered one even if he destroyed the Marriage Computer.
"The Thinker Guild took care of . . . what you call hard sciences; biology, physics, engineering, it was there," her eyes were lost for a moment. "My first friend, Kell-Ur, was bound for this Guild, as his blue robes showed.
"The Mediator Guild encompassed the soft sciences, belief and history," she stood when the brunette requested the chair, and watched as she changed the output so she could play using her hands and the screen, and she grinned, forgetting her gloom. "They wore deep crimson tunics with gentle, golden tones; red for Rao, our highest deity and sun. Tak-Ro was happy to belong to this Guild, as was his House.
"The Artisan Guild was made for out-of-the-box thinkers," she smiled her thanks before sitting down and continuing to play. "Whenever there was someone bound of Artisan and Thinker, great things were expected. Argo City was built by these Guilds working together. Tali-Zar, another friend, wore her purple robes with pride.
"Then, there was the Warrior Guild, making soldiers," she turned sad at the thought of her dad and how she had distanced herself from her family, due to Guild issues. "It specialized in discipline, hand-to-hand combat, as well as developing an ease regarding all kinds of weapons, making them experts when handling them. Strategy and mental discipline were taught to leaders and after a certain age. They used to wear another color, back when space traveling was still possible. Now, they wore black, and Dev-Em would often bully me because of my white clothes."
Alex growled, earning a wide-eyed look, and the brunette blushed. "It's not like — I'm not — I don't care about you," she finally blurted, and at the look she was given, as though the blonde was a puppy and had just been kicked, her face turned another shade of red. "Okay! I did, I growled because I'm mad at Devem and because I do, okay! I do care about you." She admitted the last part softly, and at a tearful look from the alien, she flushed. "Please, stop looking at me like that."
Kara laughed and dried her tears, "okay, sorry," she laughed again.
"So, you're missing a guild," she reminded, clearing her throat at the awkwardness of it all.
"Laborer Guild." At the lack of elaboration, the brunette made a hand gesture and the other caught on. "Oh! Um, well, they do all the manual and menial tasks.
"Taking care of our crops and foods, cooking, looking after the few domesticated animals still left in our planet." She shrugged before finishing another game and just closing, ignoring other challenges. She noticed the girl was still puzzled over things. "Hm?"
"What about, I don't know, being janitors or maintenance; does the laborer guild do those kind of jobs? Because that would suck," and there really wasn't another kind of explanation. She took the alien to her dad's secret junk food stash, they picked some things (Alex taking double her usual, knowing the other wouldn't take as much as she wanted) before parking in front of the tv. "I would demand a guild refund."
"No, droids do those."
"Droids can't cook?"
An ad came up, saying something about cooking with love and the blonde gestured to it. "That's why. The food they prepare maybe be cooked to perfection, that it still tastes different when someone who enjoys cooking prepares it.
"Same goes with all living things; they respond better to other living organisms," she stated.
"I feel a headache coming," the Earthling complained, but smiled at the smaller girl at her side; she placed an arm around the other's shoulder in a protective stance. "You know, it almost sounds as though you were made to come here."
"I was engineered to bring great things to Krypton," she replied, sighing softly, "now? I'll never know."
"For what it's worth, I'm glad to have you here," and she poked the alien, forgetting how hard the girl actually was. "You know, Krypton doesn't sound so perfect."
"It was the most advanced technological society, of course it wasn't perfect," the blonde teased, but her grin slowly left her, "everything made by humans is flawed, thus perfection isn't attainable.
"Krypton was at it's peak in regards to its society, so it stood to reason that it would crash on its way down," she swallowed, trying her best to hold her tears down. "Of course, this meant going out with a bang."
Alex hugged her, and she felt better, and thought it was right, her world would be alright, even if it had collapsed along with Krypton before she left.
For some reason, her protecting me felt normal in a way Kal-El's protection didn't. Maybe it had something to do with the reason why I was sent. My cousin — my brother, he didn't need my protection. I didn't have a mission anymore.
Even when he showed his abilities at the Battle of Smallville, even though I have all the same powers he did, I decided the best thing I could do is fit in. After all, Earth didn't need another hero, I hadn't found my purpose for taking on the mantle. Because even if he is now gone, there are others who have raised to the banner and taken up arms to honor his memory.
I honor it, by not letting his sacrifice for me be in vain. The world might have been ready for him two years ago, but that didn't mean it was ready for me. So I would forge my own destiny, and even if we joined the news business, we did so for very different reasons. We did share one reason in common: our powers didn't give us an advantage in this field, our ideas were as good as any others, and our writing wouldn't be better with enhanced abilities.
Although in my defense, I do believe being more resilient than others is what has allowed me to remain in my current job and position for two years.
I work at CatCo WorldWide Media. An online and print empire built by my boss, Cat Grant, the most powerful woman in National City.
At least, for the next few days; ever since she learned of my relation to Lois Lane and Clark Kent, I've been on shaky grounds with her. That's something else I might never understand, rivalry.
A blonde was speed-walking down the street, busy holding a Styrofoam tray that held a coffee and brown paper bag, holding a phone on the other hand, evidently waiting for the call to connect and in a hurry. Another commuter almost ran into her, the man grunting as, against all odds, he was the one bouncing off of her; she didn't even trip or notice him until he collided with her.
"Sorry, sorry!" She said after him, but the man was already gone and she winced; he would have a bruise later on that day, a bad one. "Oh, hi!
"I need two tickets in the orchestra section for Wicked." At the question being asked, she immediately cleared things, "no, not for Miss Grant. Her mother wants to see it."
Another pause, and more questions. "Yes, again. Sure, I'll hold."
While on hold though, she made another call. "Charlie? I'm calling about the Correspondents Dinner, I need to make sure Miss Grant doesn't end up next to Bill O'Reilly again."
Oh yes, this would be another exciting day in the life of Kara Danvers, a few months after Superman's Memorial Service. The monthly reminder was what often had her on edge, that and her falling from grace with her boss. Her performance had been decaying lately, and this was what had her on thin ice the most.
She was trying to continue living after her brother's death; Krypton's death had never hurt her that much.