Heart of a Hero

by shadowpuff

Kara knew there was only a small chance she could stop Non. He had years of experience over her. But never did she expect, even as she laid dying, that she will wake up in her bed. The same day of Alex's flight to Geneva. TimeTravelLoops (Chp4 fixed)

4. Timeline 3 Part 3

Title: Heart of a Hero

Chapter Title: TimeLine 3 Part 3

Fandom: Supergirl (2015), Elements of Man of Steel, Lois & Clark: Adventures of Superman, Comic book world (so many of them), Superman Unbound, New 52, Supergirl (1984), Smallville, Young Justice

Rating: Low M

Pairings: Canon only

Background: Personal interpretation of Kryptonian Culture/ History/ Social Structure/ etc

Summary: Kara knew there was only a small chance she could stop Non. He had years of experience over her. But never did she expect, even as she laid dying, that she will wake up in her bed. The same day of Alex's flight to Geneva.

Disclaimer: I don't own Supergirl

Note* Warning. This will end up as Non/Kara, but it will also be a slow burn.

WARNING! Graphic description of torcher + Major Character Death + Implied self-cannibalism

Note* "Normal" –Kryptonese, "Italics" – English

00000

Timeline 3

Every day for the next few days Non would wake her up and take her to the same training room. He would put on some loud vocal-less music and then start teaching her.

"The most important thing to remember is that we are not humans. We may look like them on the outside, but we are vastly different on the inside," Non told her as he walked around her, "We are more flexible, we are stronger, faster, even without our powers, our minds work faster them theirs, thus we are able to perceive environments better and strategize while fighting instead of allowing our instincts to take over."

Non would show her movements and have her re-enact them several times. He would show her a move before explaining how to overcome it. Each exercise was slow and done several times.

Kara is reminded of this one documentary she saw about movie fighting where everything was choreographed. Kryptonian fighting styles were like that, like you were on a stage and giving people a show.

"Why do we fight like this," Kara asked, her body tense as Non moved it into the right position.

"It's controlled fighting," Non told her, slapping a tense shoulder, indicating she needed to relax, "It's too ensure we do not go Savage, like you had yesterday."

"Savage," Kara muttered. She's heard the term before. It was one of those things people whispered in a corner, gossiping over someone's shame, "I don't really understand what that means."

Non stopped and moved away from her. Kara turned, watching as several emotions flashed over Non's face.

"It's not something people talk about- The research around it was controversial," Non started before taking a deep breath, "According to research, unlike many species, a kryptonian's brain never evolved from what it was original- I am sure you know our origins."

"We had a similar ancestor as our dogs- sorry, kaaniis. That an alien race experiment on us and created the first kryptonian," Kara said, simplifying their history, Non nodding at her words, "But how could our brains not evolve? Wouldn't that mean we should be acting like animals?"

"Correct. Instead of evolving, our brains grew. Shaping new layers over old, till we got to where we are today. That is why we are able to recall memories and experiences so easily. We can also store and sort information better than most species. The only ones that are better than us are data-based life forms," Non told her, "However… however, this means we can still access what scientist refer to as the 'First Brain'- turning us into uncontrollable beasts-"

"Monsters," Kara muttered-

(She growls and screams.

Monster.

She tries to fight her captives. She can't control herself as more and more soldiers try to hold her down.

Monster.

Lane screams at them to hold her, but she just keeps fighting.

Monster-)

Non grabbed her shoulders and forced her to face him, "We are not monsters," Non near spat at her, anger blazing in his eyes.

Kara could feel her heart beat frantically- he reminds her of the first him, and the second him when he spoke of Lane, "I'm sorry-"

"Never believe whatever fool told you those words," Non said and seem to snap back to himself as he let go of her shoulders like he was being burned.

Kara watched as Non seamed to wrestle with himself. He turned from her and took several deep breaths before turning back to her.

"We can turn Savage easily, that even fighting with strength alone can trigger it. Before the research on the 'First Brain', it was said that we turned into animals when we fought only using brute strength- as was the original fighting style of kryptonians," Non told her, "Males were more prone to these Savage outbursts then females- still are according to research."

"Grandmother used to call men muutz. She said men and their actions were considered savage," Kara said, "She said women were more level-headed. That only women should make decisions and men should just follow- Is that's why we used to have only female leaders?"

"Yes," Non said, "It was more pronounced when we were a matriarchy, but still happen commonly for several hundred years after the Civil War- There were some that still believed that till the end of Krypton."

Kara frowned at the words, even though she knew them to be true. She never really thought about it, how different he grandmother was to her mother- how traditional her grandmother was-

Was that the right word for it? Traditional?

"Come. You have more to learn," Non said and he went back to showing her the fighting moves.

Kara followed his actions and at the end of the session, he left her in the room with the music. He told her to find a way to relax in the noise around her and that someone will come for her.

After some time, Anya-Nar came to get her for breakfast. Kara swallowed before standing up.

"Anya-Nar. I want to apologize for yesterday," Kara said but stopped when Anya-Nar held up a hand.

"Peace. Your- the General explained you are a Hell Dreamer," Anya-Nar said.

"Ah, but still. I'm sorry for-"

"Doing what you were told to do?" Anya-Nar asked.

"Hurting you," Kara finished and Anya-Nar sigh.

"Look at me Kara-El. Do I look injured to you?" Anya-Nar asked.

"No," Kara said.

"Exactly. Crib your guilt girl. You showed the General you are capable and that is important," Anya-Nar said.

It was obvious that Anya-Nar didn't care about the fact that she went Savage.

Kara's mouth twitched as she looked down. Her hand moved up the fidget with glasses that were no longer there, causing her to pull her eyebrows together, "Thanks."

"Come. Let us get to breakfast," Anya-Nar said and walked off, Kara following.

00000

Kara shot out of bed, her dreams leaving her with every breath. Not that that bothered her. She lived for the days she couldn't remember her dreams. Even if the heightened emotions lingered longer.

She looked around her and suddenly felt the need to get out. Kara knew she shouldn't move around without Anya-Nar or Non being with her, but she couldn't stay in this ex-cell anymore.

Touching the sides of the bed, Kara waited for them to retract before heading to her uniform. She stepped into it, pulling the black fabric over her underwear before tugging on her boots. Once dressed she headed for the door.

For a fleeting moment, she thought the door wouldn't open, that once Anya-Nar drops her off at night she locks the door, only for it to be unlocked by Non in the morning… a true cell.

But it opened without any problem.

Kara looked around, making sure no one was around before she started heading in a direction. She still honestly didn't really know her way around the corridor dominated prison, but she did know the way to the outside.

It's been days since she's been outside. Non trained her in the mornings, then she would eat with Anya-Nar before returned to her cel- room where she would continue to listen to her music. She would be there for a few hours before Anya-Nar would come back and take her to lunch. Non would take her for training again and then she had dinner and went to bed.

She knew once her powers came back things would be different, but… how was she supposed to absorb sunlight if she never went outside?

Were they testing her again?

Kara shook her head and continued walking. She ran her fingers over the walls as she walked, passing several rooms that were always locked. At least they were in the last timeline. She wasn't sure if they still were, but didn't feel like checking them. She hadn't run into anyone yet, which she should be glad for, but wondered if they even had 'night shifts'.

After maybe an hour of walking around Kara came across the room that leads outside. Again she thought it would be locked, but found it easily opened.

The cold night air hit her when she opened the door. She took a deep breath of the unfiltered air before walking off into the night. She crossed her arms, bringing them closer to herself as the cold came through her uniform.

Shivering slightly Kara looked around her, turning and walking backward when she finally got out of the large shadow cast by the prison. It was big, humongous even. She felt like an ant just standing near it.

What had been the plan back in the first timeline? After they stopped Non and Indigo. What was she and J'onn going to do? Try and blow it up? What could they have done?

Sighing, Kara turned her back on the prison and walked for a few more yards before she found a large rock. Rubbing her hands together, she gripped the edges and started climbing it. It was big, maybe about twice her height and there were many places for her hands and feet to grab hold.

Once on top Kara sat down and just… stared. She brought her knees to her chest and just watched the land, the only source of light coming from the stars. She took several deep breaths, before closing her eyes and just feeling the wind on her skin.

She shivered and tense when she heard a noise behind her.

"Look what we have here… Alura's daughter," a female voice came from behind her.

Kara turned around and looked down. There were three inmates, two women, and one man. She didn't know who they were, but they obviously knew her.

For a moment she wished she stayed in her room.

One of the females smirked before bending her knees and easily jumping onto the rock. Kara scampered back, looking into the woman's eyes, noticing the slid pupils. There was another noise behind her and when Kara looked she found the man… except now there were two of him. She stared at the lines on his face before standing up.

Kara backed away from both of them, stopping when her foot met the edge of the rock. She quickly looked behind her and saw the first woman look up at her, her blond hair bright against her dark clothes.

"I don't want trouble," Kara said.

"Funny," 'Slids' said, "That's what we want."

"Your mother is the reason we're in this hell hole," the man, 'Lines', said.

"And now you just come here, pretending to join us after you killed Vartox," 'Slids' said as the three of them came closer to her.

"I'm not pretending!" Kara lied… or did she?

"Do you think we're going to believe that?" the woman behind her said, "You might be able to play on the General's feelings, but you can't trick us."

"Not even Lieutenant Non believes you've truly joined us," 'Lines' told her.

Ok, that wasn't really a surprise Kara thought. She would probably have to kill a DEO agent in front of Non before he might believe her. And even then he would be skeptical.

Then again, Kara doubted Astra was completely convinced of her loyalty either.

"Regardless," Kara tried to argue, "Do you think they're going to be happy if you attack me?"

"Oh look at the little kryptonian, thinking she's the most important thing around. Typical," 'Slids' said and came even closer.

Kara glance behind her and realized she would have to either jump or-

Kara took off towards the man and woman. She slid between them and jumped off from the rock. She tucked her legs in and rolled when she hit the ground, quickly getting up and running again.

She didn't get far, however, before someone jumped onto her back. The being grabbed her hair and pulled it back, making her head point to the sky. Kara screamed and bucked her back, surprisingly able to throw off the alien.

Kara tried to get up, but was quickly tackled onto her back. She took her hands and scratched at the person above her as the others came at her. Kara opened her eyes and saw the blond woman open her mouth, as she held Kara down by the shoulders.

Kara shoved the woman's face to the side and watched wide-eyed as acid spat out of her mouth. Kara brought up her knee and was able to get the woman off her.

The woman stumbled back as Kara stood up. Getting into the fighting style Non had been teaching her. Once she did she started singing in her head, forcing the music to calm her.

The three looked at her and attacked together.

Kara swirled out of the way of 'Slids' before bending back completely to avoid 'Blonde's' acid. She kicked her feet up, kicking the woman in the face and flipping backward, landing on her hands. She immediately bent her arms and then pushed off, propelling herself into the air.

Landing back on her feet, Kara saw the man come at her. Remembering that he could split into two people, Kara didn't wait for him to reach her. She tackled him, punching him a few times before backing off.

Getting back into a stand, Kara pulled her body back when 'Slids's' claws came out and the woman aimed at her face. Still bending back, Kara spun out of the way and kicked the woman in the back.

'Slids' fell to the floor just as the man grabbed Kara, pinning her arms to her sides. Kara jerked her head back, head-butting the man just as the blond woman appeared in front of her.

Now lose, Kara pulled back her arm and punched the woman as hard as she could-

And she flew back, hitting the outside of Fort Rozz that was a good 70 or 80 feet away.

Kara looked at her fist as the man charged at her from behind.

Kara felt time slow as she listened to every small sound he made. She waited till he was just behind her before speeding to behind him and kicking him hard in the back. The man flew forward as his copy attacked from the side.

Kara disappeared again and reappeared above the man. She activated her heat vision and hit the ground, disrupting the rocks and causing them to fly into the air. Kara charged at one and hit it towards the copy.

He landed near his original as Kara hear another noise behind her. Knowing it was the feline woman Kara turned around, reaching for her shoulders-

Only for her wrists to be caught by Non's hands.

He stared into her eyes as Kara breathed fast and shallow breaths. Her flight or fight instincts were telling her to attack-

(She wants to growl and screech. She wants to scratch and kick- all rational thought leaving her)

"Breath in," Non told her and she did as he said, "Hold, and breath out, then repeat."

Kara closed her eyes, music still playing in her head as she slowed her breathing.

"Good. What happened?" Non asked- no demanded from her.

"Bad dream," Kara said.

"So you came outside," Non finished for her, "Foolish girl."

"I needed to get out!" Kara argued.

"Do you think we made the rules to imprison you? They are there for your protection!" Non sneered at her, gripping her wrists tighter.

"I couldn't stay inside," Kara told him, looking him in the eyes, unblinking.

Non stared at her before nodding and letting her go, "You should have asked Anya to accompany you."

"I never asked where her room was," Kara muttered as she looked away, crossing her arms.

"Left of yours," Non told her bluntly before shaking his head. Kara peeked at him as he watched the inmates behind her, "They attacked you?"

"Yes," Kara told him, looking back at them. The feline woman was up and checking on the man, his copy nowhere in sight. Kara had to activate her vision to see the other woman, but she was still unconscious…

Or was she dead?

Did Kara kill another person?

"What do you wish to do with them?" Non asked her, drawing back her attention.

"What?"

"Do you wish to kill them for their transgression?" Non asked.

Kara's eyes widen and she took a step back, her arms falling limp, "I-I- No!"

Non looked at her, tilting his head to the side slightly, "I see… Come. There is still time before your training."

"I- I'm not going to be able to sleep," Kara said, and fidgeted with her loose hair. Non's eyes went to her hands and nodded.

He brought his wrist to his mouth, "Astra, I found Kara-El… She's unharmed and her powers are back."

"The other three?" Astra's voice came from the radio.

"Alive," Non said looking Kara in the eye.

"I see… I'll send someone to get them. Will Kara be returning to her room?"

"No. We're going to go train."

"Understood."

Non grabbed Kara by the arm with the same hand and said to her, "Come girl."

0000

Kara struggled to follow Non at the speed he was keeping. She was still pretty slow when she didn't push all her powers into her disappearing act.

Non looked back at her and sped up some more. Kara ground her teeth and pushed more power into her flight. She watched as Non started to descend and land on the ground, still in the middle of nowhere.

Kara landed next to him and dropped her hands to her knees, breathing deeply.

"Take this," Non said and held out a rock.

Kara frowned, but took the rock, "What am I supposed to do with this?"

"Break it," Non told her.

Kara looked at him like she thought he was crazy, but did as she was told. She gripped the rock, slowly adding more power behind her strength till the rock brock in her hand.

"Too slow. Again," Non said and threw a rock at her.

Kara caught the rock and squeezed it again. This time she broke it a bit faster only to have Non throw another rock at then. Then another. Then another.

"Stop," Non said as Kara was about to break the rock, "What do you understand by the word control?"

"I don't-"

"You're treating control like you are to only limit your abilities till you need them," Non told her.

"Isn't that what I'm supposed to do?" Kara asked and Non shook his head.

"No. Controlling your powers does not mean using the least amount and then slowing increasing them when needed. It means that you use the right amount the first time every time," Non told her.

"How am I supposed to know that?" Kara asked him.

"Have you ever baked a cake?" Non asked.

"Yes," Kara said, looking at him.

"What is the first thing you do before you start baking for a large group of people?" Non asked.

"I check how much of each ingredient I have?" Kara half asked, unsure of the answer.

Non nodded, "Yes. By doing that you know from the begin how many times you can make it from the start. Now image you don t check how much you have of each. You start baking and make the cake once. When your finished you realize you can make it again. So you finish the second cake and realize you have enough to make a third. Now by doing it this way, what are you doing?"

"Waiting time?" Kara guessed

"And?"

"Looking stupid?"

"No. You are not preparing accordingly," Non corrected.

Kara felt an 'oh' moment fall on her.

"So it's the same thing as when I punch you and I don't put as much power behind it. So next time I'll punch harder, and again and again, when instead I could have punched you the properly in the beginning?" Kara guessed.

"Yes. But not putting enough strength in your attack, your giving your opponent time to counter. And if they know how much power to use?" Non asked her

"I lose."

"Yes."

"But I don't know how much power I have," Kara said.

"Unfortunately yes," Non said and walked towards her, "You have spend your entire time on this planet being taught to use less and less of your abilities. I doubt you have ever been able to…relax."

Kara looked away, "Yeah- I've always had to be careful not to use too much power in case I hurt someone."

"And that is the inferiority of humans," Non told her, "Kara-El…you do not have to do that here- you do not have to limit every single action."

Kara looked at him, not sure what to say.

"From now until I am satisfied, we will be breaking down your self-imposed limits to your powers. We need to know your zenith before I can teach you proper control," Non told her.

"And- and I don't have to worry that I'm going to hurt someone," Kara said more to herself.

Because she can't hurt anyone here.

(Kara remembers Alex crying out as she accidently breaks she hand. She remembers throwing a ball too hard and giving a boy a broken jaw. She remembers moving in to gently, gently!, kiss a girl only to end up sitting next to her as they try to stop the blood from her nose.)

But now-

She can grip a tight as she wants. She can hug without worrying. She can hold a hand!

Knowing she could do all this and not worry-

That feeling people talk about when they don't need to worry anymore. When they don't need to be afraid anymore? When they can get out of bed and smile because nothing could go wrong.

Was this… freedom?

0000

Training her powers with Non was nothing Kara's experienced before.

She could compare the fighting styles with how Alex taught her. She could compare getting these people's trust with her actions when she was part of the DEO. She could compare her loyalty to Astra to her loyalty to J'onn back when she only thought he was Hank.

But her powers… that was new.

Non started her on her speed, mainly because of her disappearing act. He had her run from one end to the other, not increasing her speed as she went, but giving it all the very first time. He would stand on the end she had to get to and drop something. If she didn't get to him before the object hit the ground, she did it again… and again and again.

Kara honestly felt like she had spent a week on that exercise alone.

Strength was almost worse. Non had given her graphene and told her to crush it into dust.

It wasn't easy.

Graphene is the strongest material on the planet and was made from pure carbon pressed together. Trying to crush a compacted material was like trying to get out of a finger trap by pulling.

(Then there were times when Kara was strong enough and fast enough that Non wouldn't have to tell her to do it again, but then he would get this look on his face… like he was confused or unsure. He would stare into her eyes, like he was trying to find an answer to a question, and tell her to do it again.)

In-between, Non continued to teach her how to fight like a kryptonian. He had been watching her fight with the three inmates and told her she still relied on her instincts too much, that training her out of it would take time.

"The heat of battle," Non said as he walked back and forth in front of Kara, "Is something you should never allow yourself to fall into."

"Because we can lose control?" Kara asked as she braided her hair. The long hair was annoying when she trained with Non to be honest. She had been surprised when no one told her to cut it or tie it up. Then again, all the kryptonian females walked around with loose hair, none of them bothered by it.

"Because we become Savages," Non told her as he walked over to her and hit her hand away from her hands.

Kara glared at him, "Why do you keep doing that."

"You should not do that," Non told her.

"Why?" Kara asked as Non pulled her hair out of its braid, "It's annoying me so much I want to cut it."

"No," Non told her.

"Why? Do men on our planet also believe that women are prettier when they have long hair?" Kara asked sarcastically and Non frowned at her.

"You do not know what long hair means in our culture do you?"

"It means something?" Kara asked, sitting forward slightly.

Non pulled up his left sleeve and Kara saw his Joining band. Her eyes sparkled as she took in the decorative mental, a single dark blue jewel on it. She loved running her fingers over her parents' Joining bands.

"Before our Industrial Age when a woman decides she wanted a mate she would take some of her hair and braid it tightly together before tying it around a male's neck," Non told her, "Later when it was discovered that many men died because a woman would tie it too tight, they tied it to the male's wrist instead. Once we entered our Industrial Age, hair was replaced by bands. Bands were made in pairs to show to whom the male belonged to."

"Oh," Kara said as Non pulled down his sleeve, "So why do woman still have long hair?"

"It was originally to remind males that they were once collared and could be again," Non told her.

"But why do we still have long hair?" Kara asked, "Didn't we stop with all that when we became an Equalist society."

"As I told you before. Many people, both men, and women, kept to the old ways," Non reminded her as he sat next to her.

"That's stupid," Kara muttered, "Now I really do want to cut my hair."

"Do not. If you do you will lose any respect you have gained from these people… Long hair is a sign of power, of strength. It is a sign of leadership."

Kara grabbed her hair and pulled at it slightly, "It still feels dumb."

"Why do you keep your hair long?" Non asked her.

Kara shrugged, "I like it long. I had it short in university, but started growing it out again, mainly because I didn't have time to get it cut. In the end, it was just easier to throw it in a ponytail if I was late for work."

"How strange," Non muttered as he brushed her hair out of her eyes, "Come. It's close to lunch… let us return to Fort Rozz."

Non jumped off the rock and into the air, turning to her, waiting. Kara stood up, brushing dirt off her before taking off herself. Non flew off and Kara quickly caught up to next to him.

Non glanced at her and spend up, Kara speeding up as well. He turned suddenly and Kara took second to realize what was happening before she too turned. She had to speed up to catch up only for Non to turn again.

Kara growled softly before following Non again. She kept an eye on him, taking in even the smallest of twitches in case he changed direction again. When he did, Kara was ready for him and changed with him.

Non smirked and sped up again. It took Kara a while to realize they were basically 'playing' 'follow the leader'.

It took her even longer to realize that he called the base Fort Rozz… like he trusted her.

0000

Kara laughed as she ran after Janet and the rest of her friends. She had to remember not to run too fast while being It, or she would ruin the game. They were already being nice by playing the 'kiddy game' with her. But Janet insisted after she heard Kara never played the game before.

"Got you!" Kara yelled prematurely when Sally suddenly turned and was able to dodge her. Kara knew she could catch her, but-

"What are you doing?" Non asked her. Kara turned as saw him leaning against a tree.

"I'm playing," Kara told him.

"Why are you limiting your powers? You should be able to catch them easily with your superior abilities," Non told her.

"But then you wouldn't be playing fair," Kara told him.

"Humans never play fair," Non reminded her-

BANG!

Kara felt pain rip through her as she looked down. It was one of the kryptonite injection things the DEO used. She stumbled when suddenly another was shot at her.

"Help," Kara muttered as she reaches out to Non.

"I thought you want to play 'fair'?" Non asked her and walked away.

No. Please. Don't leave me! Help me!

Kara felt a hand grab her hair and start cutting it with a knife. She tried to struggle, but with each strand that was cut her power decreased.

"Please! Help!"

BANG BANG BANG

Kara opened her eyes and hand immediately started patting at her chest.

BANG BANG BANG

"Coming," Kara said, not raising her voice. It was either Anya or Non and neither needed her to raise her voice.

Quickly putting on her uniform, Kara unlocked her door to find Anya.

"Morning," Kara said as she stepped away from the door to get her shoes.

"The General wants to see you," Anya said.

Kara froze.

It's been months since Kara joined and she honestly hasn't seen much of Astra. At first, Kara assumed that the woman was keeping away from her so that it didn't seem like she was playing favorites, but after two weeks of Astra avoiding her…

Kara wasn't sure what to think.

"I'm on my way," Kara said, not looking at Anya.

"You are… unhappy?" Anya guessed.

"No," Kara said as she walked out the door, "Just unsure… Astra's been avoiding me and I don't know why."

"The General is very busy with the plan," Anya reminded her.

"And that's fine," Kara said, "I just wish… I thought things would be like last time."

"Like they were on Krypton?" Anya asked.

Actually, Kara meant the last timeline, but Anya didn't know about that. And Kara didn't know if she was ever going to tell people about that again.

"Yeah," Kara muttered.

"You are no longer a child Kara… to expect her to treat you like that-" Anya reminded her.

"It's not the child thing… it more about being- being family," Kara told her.

"… you forget that much had happened to the General since you saw her on Krypton," Anya told her looking away, "Like you, many of us are Hell Dreamers… Perhaps the reason she does not wish to talk to you is so she does not add her burdens to yours?"

"I never thought about it like that," Kara admitted.

They fell silent the rest of the way. When Kara finally started paying attention she realized they were heading to the control center. Like the way to the outside of the prison, Kara knew her way to the control center. She had spent most of her time in there while Astra and Non controlled Myriad. Watched as they slowly took control of more and more of earth till they had the entire world under their control… well, almost the whole world.

"Here," Anya said and opened the door. She moved out of the way and allowed Kara to enter. Once inside, Anya closed the door, herself still outside.

Kara looked around the room. It was dark, the only light coming from the circular console. Both Astra and Non were present… but something felt wrong. Astra was walking around the console, pressing things as she went while Non stood to the side. His hands were behind his back and he stared straight in front of himself, not blinking.

"Astra… you called for me?" Kara said as she walked closer to the woman.

"Yes little one," Astra said before turning off the console and the rest of the lights turned on in the room. The older woman then walked towards her… Non still not having moved.

"Non has told me you've started to become an accomplished soldier," Astra said.

Kara felt like someone just punched her in the gut. She never wanted to be a soldier. But now she was one-

(Or was she one the moment she became Supergirl?)

"Thank you," Kara said before glancing at Non, who still haven't moved.

"I have a mission for you," Astra told her and Kara looked her au- her general in the eyes.

"A mission General?" Kara asked.

"Yes," Astra said, not even reacting to the 'general', "As I believe you've assumed, we've engaged the DEO several times. Both in the past and a few time since you've joined us."

"I figured as much," Kara said as she stood with her arms behind her and her body stiff.

"Yes. However, while they have engaged us using Kryptonite weapons, they have only used the radiation in an energy weapon form," Astra told her, "And without a solid form of the mineral we have no way to combat it."

Kara felt her body go cold and stiff even more. She wants to look at Non, but her body refused to obey her, "You want me to get a sample."

"Yes," Astra told her and turned back to the console, "Non told me you do not know where the DEO is, but you are aware of some of their agents-"

"My sister-"

"She is not your sister!" Astra screamed suddenly.

Kara swallowed and squared her shoulders. She wanted to step back, or maybe even argue back, but the room was tense…

"But that is for later… you will have time to prepare after the Harvest Festival," Astra said.

"Harvest Festival?" Kara asked.

"Yes it was a common thing on Krypton," Astra told her.

Kara didn't remember it, but she was too scared to tell the woman that. She didn't know what was wrong with Astra, but…

"I will have someone bring you some traditional clothing, but I believe you know what is expected of you," Astra told her.

"Yes," Kara lied and she saw Non twitch just slightly out of the corner of her eye.

"Good. The festival is in three days and then I will give you a day to prepare for your mission," Astra told her.

"Yes, General," Kara said and she saw a smirk come on Astra's face. It wasn't a nice smirk.

"Good. You will leave," Astra said and waved her off.

Kara felt like she couldn't turn and leave fast enough. What was wrong with Astra? Kara glance behind her as the lights dimmed and the console came back to life. She saw a strange red light radiated from Astra's face just as the door closed, cutting her off from the control room.

"Shall we leave?" Anya asked.

"I… I need to go outside," Kara said.

She wanted to run away. She needed to get away!

"You do not wish to have breakfast?" Anya asked.

"No," Kara said. She knew if she even came near food right now she was going to throw up.

"… very well," Anya said and started moving to the exit.

"You don't have to come with me," Kara said following.

"You do not know the way to the outside, nor are you allowed to roam anywhere without protection."

"More like guard," Kara muttered, but continued to walk with the older woman.

0000

Kara shielded her eyes as she stepped outside. The sun was low in the sky and facing them. It was early morning and the chill of the night hasn't yet left. Kara wished she could hear the sounds of the birds as they too woke up, but there were no birds, much less trees, around Fort Rozz.

Kara took the lead and speed walked to the spot she wanted to go. It wasn't far from the prison; you could easily see the large structure as the earth grew around it. And once she reached the spot, maybe not the exact spot, but…

This was where she first died.

Kara dropped down and pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around her knees. She started off into the empty land…

(Kara brought her rotting finger to her mouth and bit through it. The pain was unbearable, there would be no other reason why she would do this. She stopped when she got to the bone and had to draw courage again before biting further. It wasn't easy, her body kept telling her to stop, blocking the strength she knew she had. But then she did it.

The finger still in her mouth, Kara ground her teeth and screamed through them. She took several breaths before raising the other hand and dropping the figure into it.

The worst moment was staring at it and realizing just how hungry she was…)

And cried.

She didn't mean to. Kara was just sitting and suddenly realized the tears were running down her face. She wanted to raise her hands and wipe them away. She wanted to sneer at her weakness and she wanted to tell herself she was just being a coward.

But she couldn't.

Her body felt frozen in place and her limbs felt heavy. She was cold, like the blood in her body had slowed. Her heart wasn't beating fast nor was there that nausea feeling in her stomach. She felt num- no, she felt nothing… she knew that nothing was going to change what was going to happen… nothing and no one could save her.

She was going to hell.

But maybe that's where she should go… she was a monster after all.

A sound suddenly resonated from her left and Kara slowly turned her head to the side.

It was Non. He was sitting on the ground next to her. One leg bent and on the ground while the other was drawn up by the knee. His left hand rested on his left knee, while his right hand balanced him as he leaned back slightly. He wasn't looking at her, instead looking at the view she had faced but couldn't take in-

There was a large bruise on the right side of his face.

"You're hurt," a voice said and it was only when Kara saw her hand reach out to the man that she realized it was she that talked.

"I am fine," Non told her, but didn't stop her from touching the fast darkening mark.

Kara brushed her fingertips over his injured face before pulling away, "Did Astra do that?"

"Do not worry. Astra is stressed, nothing more," Non told her.

"She- she wants me to go to the DEO- wants me to steal the kryptonite," Kara said.

"Yes," Non said, still not looking at her.

"I can't fight my sister- I can't hurt her," Kara told him, wondering if she was sealing her fate. Will Non kill her in the same place twice?

No. Instead he sighed and pulled something from a hidden pocket. He turned it on and a holographic image of Alex dressed in heavy DEO armor appeared above it.

"This is her," Non said, not asked, said. Like he knew without a doubt.

"Alex," Kara muttered before reaching out to the image. This was the first time she has seen her sister in months- longer if she didn't count the two time she saw her in this timeline.

"She- she is a formative opponent," Non told her. He took her hand and placed the device in it, "She always demands us to tell her if you are alive."

"Alex," Kara said again, trying to stoke the woman's check, her hands only distorting the image.

"You cannot refuse this mission Kara- you have sworn yourself to Astra and her cause… nothing except Astra's death can break you from that oath," Non told her.

"I know," Kara said as she slowly closed her hand over the device, turning it off.

"What do you know about the Harvest Festival?" Non asked her after a few minutes.

"Nothing," Kara admitted.

"I thought as much," Non muttered before raising his voice, "Originally the Harvest Festival was to give thanks to a plentiful harvest, but it evolved into include other accomplishments. In it, we give thanks to Rao for the opportunities to accomplish what we have done. To praise his name in all we have done."

"I think I can remember it. I attended my First Festival and a few others, but never a Harvest Festival… is there dancing?" Kara asked.

"There is always dancing," Non told her.

"Specific dancing?" Kara asked and finally looked at Non. He was staring at her, right into her eyes.

"Yes," Non told her.

"I don't… I don't know it," Kara told him, unable to look away.

"Again, I figured as much," Non said and turned away, his hand coming up to gently brush against his own cheek, "I am willing to suspend training for the next few days while I teach you the dance."

"You are?" Kara asked, surprise coloring her voice.

"Astra… will not be pleased if you do not know what to do," Non told her, "Besides, you should have learned this a long time ago."

Kara barely held herself back from jumping onto Non and hugging him. He must have realized it because he got wide-eyed and quickly stood up. He has never been good with physical displays of affection.

Kara remembered being told how she once wouldn't let go of Non. That he had to carry her around for hours, trying to put her down every few minutes. Astra had joked and said she has never seen the man with such a look of horror on his face, and he had been in war zones.

"Shall we go?" Non asked her.

Kara stood up, turning to Anya, only to find her gone. Did she leave when Non arrived or did she go to find him?

"Girl!" Non called and Kara looked to see him in the air. Quickly wiping her face, Kara pushed off from the ground and followed him.

00000

"In. Out. In. Twirl and clap," Non told Kara asked followed his instructions.

Kara danced by a large fake fire pit. She and Non had constructed it with only a single line of rocks, placed in a circle.

Yesterday he had shown her the dance fully and then repeated the first segment for her to copy. Once he was sure she knew it well enough he went to the second segment and then the third. Today they were working on the fourth and fifth parts.

"Not your right," Non said after Kara clapped her hands to the side above her head, " It's to the left. Again."

Kara scowled, but returned to her 'started position.

"Now. In. Out. In. Twirl and clap. Good. Hands to your left, to your right. Stomp and elbow- other way Kara!" Non called when Kara stomped the wrong foot.

Kara sighed as went back to her starting position. She moved as Non called out what she should do, all the while keeping an eye on him. The bruise from yesterday was gone, having healed sometime during their last practice. But… new bruises were on him today.

It wasn't on his face again, but Kara could see he wasn't moving as freely as he should. When he was showing her the moves he moved almost mechanically, not wincing once. Not to mention she saw some bruises on his wrists-

And his joining band was gone.

Kara knew she had to ask him about it, but she doubted she would get a straight answer. Besides she didn't really need to. She knew it was Astra.

Astra who was acting very weird according to everyone. Even Anya told her that Astra was acting even more malicious than usual. That she actually killed someone that upset her during a sudden meeting they had the previous day.

"-Stomp and Elbow. Circle wave and flip. Drop- Good right knee, and then fists to ground alternating- 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Flip on hands and then upright," Non said.

Kara stopped at the last instruction and then relaxed her body. She walked towards Non as he held out a bottle of water. She took it and sat down as she drank. She tried to look into the distance, but knew she couldn't see Fort Rozz as they were too far away.

She pulled the bottle away from her lips and turned it in her hands, "People are saying Astra's acting weird… is that true?"

"She hasn't been acting like herself lately," Non told her not really looking at her

"Do you know why?" Kara asked, hoping Non would give her a straight answer. He looked at her for a few minutes before answering.

"No. She went on a mission on her own and when she came back…"

"Where did she go?"

"She said she needed to check on something at Lord Industries-"

Kara coughed, fear ripping through her. Lord Industries?

The red glow from the previous day echoed in her mind. It couldn't be? But hadn't the man said that he originally created the red kryptonite to fend of Non and his army?

It seemed this time it got to its intended target, but again like last time Maxwell Lord didn't get the kryptonite right.

"Have you seen red lines appear on her face?" Kara asked.

She could see Non tense before looking at her. His eyes were hard, like he thought she was keeping something from him. Thus, she quickly rectified the assumption.

"There's synthetic kryptonite that's red. But instead of affecting the body it affects the mind. It like every bad thought comes forward. And you act on them, unable to stop yourself. It's like it takes the best parts of you and locks it away. That all that's left is the cruel and hurtful parts of you. The parts that don't care about anyone and purposely want to hurt others," Kara told him, looking away.

"You have experienced it?" Non asked her.

"Once… only for two days, but it was enough… I almost killed my sister," Kara told him.

"That's when they took you and locked you up," Non theorized. Not accurate, but without knowing the truth, it was probably for the best.

"Yeah," Kara lied.

"Is there a way to stop it?" Non asked.

"The radiation is inside her. There's a way to pull the energy out of her, but only the DEO has the technology," Kara told him.

"And we have no way of getting to the DEO," Non said.

Kara swallowed. She knew she was making the wrong choice. She knew, but if she didn't Astra… who knows what she will do?

"Actually-"

Non grabbed her by the neck and lifted her from the ground, her feet dangling in the air. Unlike last time – all back in the first Timeline- Kara knew how to break his hold, but knew it wouldn't be in her best interest if she did.

"What," Non said, a sneer on his face as his hand squeezed tighter.

"I- I know where the DEO is," Kara told him, struggling to breathe. She grabbed at his hands, trying to loosen his hold slightly.

"You lied to us," Non told her and gripped just slightly tighter.

"I-I was tr-trying to-to keep m-my sister safe," Kara said, struggling to get her voice to work. Most of the word had ended up just being mouthed.

Non dropped her and clenched his fists, walking away before turned back to her, "You betrayed us."

"No-" Kara coughed suddenly, "I just didn't betray her."

Non scowled and turned away, "I should kill you."

What, again?

Kara wasn't sure if she wanted to laugh or run away. Dying wasn't… fun. It wasn't like going to sleep where one moment you were awake and then you were asleep, only realizing what happened when you wake up again. No… you could feel yourself grow weaker. You could feel your thoughts brake apart, not get distracted like when you dream, but just blank spaces. You start to feel cold and you don't have the strength to take another breath. You want to, but your body is paralyzed. Darkness sent in as no sounds are heard and…

"If you do, Astra will just get worse," Kara told him.

"And what do you plan to do?" Non asked her, walking towards her.

Kara stood up, rubbing her neck slightly, "I'll go tonight. This can't wait till after the festival… who knows what would happen."

"I will come with you," Non told her.

"No… I might be able to convince Alex I escaped… but if you're there," Kara started when Non grabbed her by the chin.

"Escaped without any injuries?" Non asked her, his voice filled with… something.

Kara wanted to screambeghide, but knew Non was right. She couldn't appear at Alex's apartment looking like she did.

Kara pulled away from him but nodded. Non grabbed the back of her neck and leaned in to whisper in her ear.

"Akner-asur," Non said and Kara felt her shoulders drop.

0000

Kara felt blood run down her chin as she coughed. She couldn't stand and flying was difficult as her whole body hurt. She stopped at Alex's apartment window and wondered if she should knock-

No.

It hurt too much to keep afloat.

Kara easily broke through the window as she pushed with her good hand. She flew in and landed on the floor on her back.

She heard Alex get out of bed and grab her gun. She walked slowly into the room-

"Kara!" Alex yelled and ran to her side. She hesitated in touching her younger sister, seeing the blood almost covering her. Her right leg was broken, her bone sticking out through her knee Her face was mangled and Kara was struggling to see out of one eye. She couldn't breathe deeply, two of her lung chambers having been pierced by her ribs. Each finger on her left hand was broken in a different way and it was impossible to do anything with it. Cuts and bruises coved the rest her body.

The saddest part was that this wasn't even the worst pain Kara had ever felt.

"A-lex," Kara said through the blood in her mouth.

"Hold on Kara," Alex said, still unable to touch her, "I'm going to call for help."

Alex rushed back to her room and Kara could hear her call the DEO. Kara coughed and sneered at herself.

Next time she wasn't going to tell Non that he should puncture her lungs. She really didn't like not being able to breathe.

0000

Kara wasn't surprised that they took her to surgery. She was, however, surprised at the red sun radiation instead of the Kryptonite. Apparently, her talk with Alex those months ago did do something.

Kara wasn't conscious for long, the doctors – Kara was unable to see their faces and she was happy because what if one of them were one of Lane's doctors?- quickly put her under before starting to operate.

The fact that she woke on the sunbed instead of a cell- that was the most surprising of all.

"All of her injuries were resent," J'onn voice pierced her subconscious.

"I don't care how resent they were! I care that they were there in the first place!" Alex yelled at J'onn.

"For all we know she was placed in that condition to get her into the DEO," J'onn reminded her.

Which was true after all, Kara thought as she sat up. Kara looked around, horrified to realized that she wasn't being monitored by anyone… this was just sad.

"You honestly think my sister will allow herself to be subjected to that?" Alex asked, obviously not believing it herself.

"She's been with the Fort Rozz inmates for months, we don't know how much she's changed," J'onn said, his voice soft, genital.

Kara snorted. What did they image life was like there? A fight for survival? Every day you make new allies and betray your previous ones? That you had to buy a place or something?

Life in Fort Rozz, as sheltered as she was, was… ordinary. She would look at people as she ate in the mess hall. She saw people tease each other. She saw couples and loners. She once sat next to a group that kept teasing one of their friends, laughing as he got more and more embarrassed. She's seen people start fights and being broken up. She's seen… people, just acting like people.

Kara shook her head and stood up, activating her x-ray vision. Alex and J'onn were just outside of the room, a few guards were walking around and-

Lane just entered the building.

Kara sat frozen on the sunbed. She should have known the man would come. The xenophobic asshole made it his life mission to 'prove' that kryptonians were evil incarnate. And now Kara was back after months of suspected allying with Astra-

Well, that part wasn't wrong, but still!

'Where are the Kryptonians?'

Kara needed to run, get out of the DEO. This was a bad idea-

'Maybe we should turn this up to a 100 and see what you look like in the morning.'

Non. Astra was hurting him. Kara knows the DEO might not have the technology to fight red kryptonite, but she also knows how to do it herself-

(She studies the device, the effects of that the kryptonite did to her. She writes down everything she felt and did after she was infected, making sure she will know if it ever happened again. She makes sure she can combat it- makes sure she never hurts someone again-

In the end, she didn't need red kryptonite to be a monster)

-Once she has the parts she needs she can get both the green and red kryptonite and come back to the prison. Then she can work with Non and Hev-Zu to reverse the effects on Astra-

"Where is she?" Lane's voice echoed.

Kara swallowed as she felt her back burn. Her hand came up to her face and she touched her nose and skin. The sight of her full fingered hand wasn't right.

"She's recovering from the operation," J'onn told him.

"So you didn't throw her in a cell? What is wrong with you. This girl is dangerous and she's working with the other Kryptonians," Lane told them.

"We don't know that-" Alex started.

"My point exactly. Until we know her allegiance. She needs to be locked up and interrogated," Lane told them.

'If you don't tell me what I want to hear I'll let you spend some time with Dr Forman. He's been begging some time with your lungs. Maybe we should have one or two removed, see what happens.'

"Out of my way," Lane said and entered the room. Two men followed him before Alex and J'onn could block the door, stopping the rest from entering.

Kara could feel the slight burning of the kryptonite that was no doubt in the guns.

"My name is General Sam Lane. I have been given permission to interrogate you and find out what you know of the Kryptonians plans by any means," Lane told her.

Kara laughed.

She didn't mean to. (Burn as she screamed) She could still feel the cold of her body. (Will she ever be warm again?) Her heart was picking up and her muscles were tensing. (It the kryptonite! She needed to get away. She didn't want to go back. Please! Astra! Non! Please!) She could feel tears run down her face (when did that start?) as she slipped off the bed.

"Is something funny?" Lane asked as the men pointed their weapons at-

Kara reappeared behind Lane and shoved her hand through his chest. The man choked and someone screamed. Kara ripped her hand out of him and watched as he fell to the ground.

Pity. She wanted him to suffer. She should have watched how Non killed the man in the last-

BANG

Kara felt something pierce through her chest as she laughed at the blood-soaked hand in happiness. The hole burned and Kara dropped her hand to her chest.

"Stop!" Alex yelled but it was too late.

Several more 'bangs' sounded as the men shot her at close courters. Unlike last time where Kara could move so they couldn't hit anything vital, Kara was trapped between Lane's body, the two soldiers, and Alex and J'onn. She felt the bullets pierce her body, felt herself grow weak-

Knowing she couldn't save Non.

0000

Short Timeline I know. But the point of the timeline was for her to learn how to use her powers and learn how to fight.

And start to see the Fort Rozz criminals as people. She needed to question everything she knew about them.

The chapter is also short because Kara will have flashbacks to many things in this timeline and I don't want to repeat the scenes.

Muutz: Something like a mutt, but more like shit stuck to the bottom of your shoe

zenith: 100% of something

Long Hair: Now I don't have a problemn with people haveing long hair, dispite prefering to keep my hair short. I have had my hair long and I can tell you, trying to excersize do anything that requerirsa seeing with long hair isn't easy. It consently gets into your eyes and if your fighing you don't have time to wipe it out of your eyes.

So why would Astra, a soldier, fight with her hair loose? Knowing it could be a distraction or someone could grab hold of it?

(I know it was for production and stuff, but that was bad choise on there part- focasing more on beuaty themn practicalirty)

The only thing I could think of was it could be cultural. So I made something up.

Non beating Kara: Kara agrees to the injuries, even giving him suggestions on what to do. She doesn't blame him or hates him for what happened.