So We Can Stay Alive

by: Sam Lincoln

Disclaimer: All the characters contained in this story are the proper of DC Comics, and Warner Brothers. No infringement is intended.

Summary: While Kara Danvers is in Gotham looking to distract herself from the aftermath of the Daxamite Invasion Barry Allen shows up with a problem that needs her help to solve. Punching bad guys is an acceptable way of dealing with grief, right?

Spoilers: This story takes place during the hiatus before the 2017-2018 seasons for all of the CW:DC shows, though the only finale that plays a role in the story is Supergirl's.

Chapter 3: We Might Cheat Death if We Worship It.


Back at STAR Labs the group stood around a monitor displaying the security feed from the cell holding the Cadmus super soldier. "And you're sure he's not going to break out of there?" Iris asked Cisco.

"Thee air in that cell is being pumped full of enough sedatives to knock out Mr. Allen," Harry said. "It should be enough to keep our prisoner docile, and failing hat we already have Supergirl."

Kara looked around the room. "Where's Trevor?"

"He checked out for now, so Joe took him home," Caitlin said. "The CCPD will keep on an eye on him until we've dealt with Cadmus."

Kara nodded her head. "Good, that's good, I do wish I'd gotten the chance to say goodbye to him."

"He told us to tell you that he's forever grateful for you saving his life," Cisco said. "And so I am. I never apologized to you for doubting your ability to save him."

Kara leaned over and hugged Cisco. "It's okay, if it was anyone else you made the right call. Well, apart from my cousin Kal, or maybe J'onn, but other than that, right call."

"Thanks Kara," Cisco said.

"Caitlin, can't we pump him full of Mirakuru cure and be done with it?" Barry asked as he continue to stare at the monitor.

Caitlin shook her head. "It seems his body is continually replenishing the Mirakuru in his system, probably through his cybernetic implants. She pressed a button on the keyboard next to her and the display of the security feed was replaced by a picture of the cyborg showing the extent of his cybernetic implants. "It's amazing work they've done to this man, horrific, but amazing."

"Is it reversible?"

"Given enough time yes," Caitlin said. "But that's just a guess right now."

"If we can't get the Mirakuru out of him, how do we keep him in a jail cell?" Barry asked.

"We're in luck that Cadmus is completely evil," Cisco said. "They built a control circuit in his head. If we have the proper code we can shut off his cybernetics."

"Will that kill him?" Kara asked.

"They aren't that intertwined with his vital organs," Cailint said. "But it will mostly likely leave him in an extremely impaired mental state. It's not perfect, but the best we can do with a bad situation."

"So we need a code," Wally said. "How do we get it?"

"It's not on the hard drive you found if that's what you're asking," Cisco said. "There's loads of interesting things about their logistics, but no control codes."

Kara turned to face Cisco. "Logistics are good. We can use that to find their other bases."

"That's a good idea, the only problem is there's a lot of data on here and it's going to take a while to collate everything."

"So what do we do in the meantime?" Kara asked.

Cisco shrugged. "Play tiddlywinks?"

"Or you could shut down Cadmus," Oliver said as he led his team into the room. Kara caught sight of Barbara and gave her a short wave.

"Ollie, good to see you," Barry said. "What are you doing here?"

"With Barbara's help we were able to decrypt several files Cadmus left behind at Argus."

"So you know everything they were working on before they went rogue," Cisco said.

"Good job Babs!" Kara said. She clapped for her friend.

"Do we have their location then?" Barry asked.

"No, but we do know how to shut down the cyborgs," Curtis said. His shoulders then sagged. "The only problem is the signal needs a specific digital key, and the only way to get that key is to transmit it from a specific Cadmus terminal."

Iris rubbed the bridge of her now. "So we're back to needing to know where their base is."

"I know where they are," Kara said.

"You don't even live in this dimension, how could you possibly know?" Cisco asked.

"I know Cadmus, and I know the multiverse has a sick sense of humor," Kara said. "Logically there's only one place they could be, National City."

"That isn't logical at all," Barbara said. "You're using the opposite of logic."

Oliver said. "I don't know much about how all this alternate reality stuff works, but that feels like too much of a coincidence to be true."

"You have good instincts Mr. Queen," Harry said. "While there are obviously similarities between alternate realities, it's their differences that set them apart. You don't exist on this Earth Ms. Danvers, Mr. Allen doesn't exist in yours…" his speech was cut off by Kara dashing out of STAR Labs at a high rate of speed. Harry sighed. "She's going to National City." He pushed the transmit button on the radio next to him. "You're going to National City."

"Sorry," Kara said over the radio. "But I have to investigate this."

"Be careful and let us know if you find anything," Oliver said. He reached over and lifted Harry's hand off of the radio, cutting the line off. "She needs to do this and she can obviously take care of herself. I say we let her take the detour." He surveyed the room, looking everyone in the eye. "What we need to focus on is coming up with a plan of attack when we do find Cadmus."

"It's a little hard to plan an attack if you don't know where you're attacking," Barbara said.

Oliver frowned at Barbara. "A fact I'm well aware. I'm open to suggestions if you have a better idea for what we should be doing."

Barbara held up here hands. "I'm just here as a guest. I won't try to tell you how to superhero. "

"Cisco, why don't you and Curtis go over the data we took from Cadmus. That's our best lead at the moment," Barry said.

Cisco and Curtis shared a glance. "Barry, we're both gadget guys building tech is what we do…" Cisco started to say before he cowered under the combined glare of Barry and Oliver. "And now we're going to do pattern recognition on shipping data."

"Snow and I will be in my lab reviewing the data Cadmus stole from Argus," Harry said. "We'll see if there are any vulnerabilities in their designs we can exploit."

"Right, that's a good idea," Caitlin said. She and Harry picked their way past everyone else in the room on their way out the door.

While the others milled around Cisco's desk. Dinah sidled up to Iris. "These are some nice digs you have. Much better lit than our bunker in Star City."

"It figures the Green Arrow would have a bunker as his secret base," Iris said. "Not that we're all that much better. By the way, I love the costume."

Dinah looked down at her Black Canary costume. "Thanks, I'm still getting used to the idea of being a superhero and wearing this freaks me out a little if I'm being honest."

Iris patted Dinah on the arm. "Don't worry about it, you're doing a great job. I've heard nothing but good things."

Dinah raised an eyebrow. "You've heard things?"

Iris nodded in Cisco's direction. "He and Felicity gossip like old women at church on Sundays."

"So I'm gossip worthy." A smile played across Dinah's face. "Hear anything good?"

"Nothing I'm going to tell you, Iris West is no snitch."

"That's fair." Dinah readjusted one of her gloves. "I just hope we figure out where these Cadmus creeps are. I don't like the idea of people out there looking to kill me because of my abilities."

"You certainly didn't ask to have your body altered by a wave of dark matter energy," Iris said.

Dinah shook her head. "That I didn't." Iris patted Dinah on the shoulder before walking over to Barry. Dinah frowned for a moment before approaching Oliver. "So all we have to do is wait?"

"It is the hardest part I've heard," Oliver said.

"Ain't that the truth."

"You're a detective Dinah, why don't you help Cisco and Curtis?"

"We both know I'm not that kind of detective," Dinah said. "Besides, you look like you needed someone to keep you company."

Oliver raised his eyebrows. "When have you ever known me to need anyone to keep me company?"

"Right now for starters," Dinas said to Oliver's obvious amusement. "You don't have Dig around to shield you from all the big brains in the room."

Oliver started to reply but then closed his mouth as he thought over what Dinah said. "That, okay, that's a good point." Oliver and Dina leaned back against the wall as they watched everyone else scurry around them.


Barbara looked up from the computer she'd be using to read the Internet. "Is there any word from Kara?" Barbara asked.

Oliver pushed himself away from the wall. "No, but even for her it takes time to go back and forth to National City."

"Still, you'd think she would've contacted us."

"You think she's in trouble?" Barry asked.

"She's Supergirl on a world with a yellow sun and no Kryptonite. There's only so much trouble she can get into."

"If it makes you feel any better, we still have a fix on her radio," Cisco said. "And if you really want we could task the satellite to track her down."

"No that's okay," Barbara said. "I'm just being overly concerned."

"Is this about Mon-El?" Barry asked.

Barbara paused before nodding her head. "She's been, I don't want to say self-destructive, but not herself since he left." She paused again. "Or maybe she's been herself amplified."

"How do you mean?" Iris asked.

"Let me guess, she's thrown herself into being Supergirl to the exclusion of everything else?" Oliver asked.

"Yes, exactly, how did you know?"

Oliver flexed his hands. "Let's just say I have some experience. I'll talk to her when she gets back."

"Ollie are you, uh, sure that's a good idea?" Barry asked.

"Yes, Barry, I think it is," Oliver replied.

Barry held up his hands in surrender and walked away from Oliver. "Where are we on finding Cadmus?" he asked Curtis.

Curtis stared at Barry, caught by the unexpectedness of the question. He adjusted his glasses before speaking. "We've uh, narrowed it down, but we don't have the exact location nailed down."

"Can I help with that?" Barbara asked. She walked over to the computer Cisco and Curtis were working on.

"Sure, we're trying to collate this list of shipping invoices and cross-reference it with a list of known Cadmus facilities that Argus already shut down," Curtis said.

"So you're looking for holes in the data, that makes sense." Barbara elbowed Cisco out of her way and started to type on his keyboard.

"Hey rude much?" Cisco asked.

Curtis tapped Cisco on the shoulder. "Don't sweat it man, watch and enjoy."

"Watch what?" Cisco asked. His mouth dropped open in amazement as he saw Barbara eliminate locations from their list of possibilities. "How are you doing this?"

"Simple, I'm looking for the holes," Barbara said. "Consider all of this as a distraction. Find the pattern that's under the data and voila!" She hit the entire key and a single name was displayed on the monitor.

"Just like Kara thought, National City," Curtis said.

"Not quite." Barbara jabbed her finger on the point highlighted on the map. "On our Earth this wasn't where Cadmus was hiding."

Barry took a closer look at the map. "That's the old DEO headquarters."

Barbara sighed. "If you thought Kara was angry before, now she's going to be really mad."

"Get Kara back here," Oliver said. "We need to come up with a plan of attack."

"Before you do that, have her do a few flyovers and get a sense of their compound's layout," Barbara said. "That's the entire reason she flew out there in the first place after all."

Oliver gave Barbara a curt nod. "Make it happen." He then walked out of the lab.

Barbara pointed at the microphone sticking out of the desk. "Is that tied to the radio?" Cisco nodded in the affirmative. Barbara pushed the transmit button on the radio. "Supergirl, you listening in?" She held her breath as she waited for a replay.

"Batgirl, good to hear from you, yeah I'm here," Kara said.

Barbara exhaled. "We hadn't heard from you in a while, so some of us were a little worried."

"Sorry, sorry, the lead I was chasing down was a bust but I didn't want to head back just yet."

Barbara could hear the note of hurt in Kara's voice. "That might be for the best. We, uh, we have a new location for you to check out."

"That's great, where?"

"The DEO command bunker," Barbara said. The other end of the line went dead. "Supergirl, do you copy?"

"No, yeah, I heard you," Kara said. "I suppose that makes sense. I guess Green Arrow wants me to map out the floorpan of the bunker in case it doesn't match the one on our Earth?"

Barbara hung her head. "Actually that was my idea. He wanted you to come right back."

"You're right, the more we know about the Cadmus base the better."

"Supergirl, I'm sorry, I wouldn't ask you to do this if it wasn't important."

"You have nothing to apologize for. This is why I flew to National City."

"Hopefully you won't see an evil version of Alex," Barbara said.

"She won't," Cisco said. "We checked and there are no Danvers on this Earth."

"That's a relief," Kara said. "Okay, I can see the DEO. I'll be back soon and let you know what I find out."

"Be careful Kara," Barbara said.

"Believe me, I will be," Kara said. "I'm far away away from the base."

"Okay, we'll talk when you get back then," Barbara switched off the radio and looked over at the rest of the group. "So all we have to do is get ready to attack Cadmus."

"Do you know anything about the version of this place on your Earth?" Wally asked.

Barbara shook her head. "I never had the pleasure, but your friend Barry did." She pointed at Barry who blinked several times.

"How did you know that?" Barry asked.

"Simple, you said you'd been to the DEO before, but not their current headquarters. It's not much of a reach to figure out the bunker was the place you visited."

"The girl's a detective, I'll give her that," Cisco said to Curtis.

"And she can kick your ass," Curtis said.

"The list of people who can do that is as long as my arm," Cisco said.

"So Barry, is there anything you can tell us about this bunker?" Dinah asked.

Barry walked around the room and came to a stop in front of the mannequin they stored his suit on. "I don't know, it was your typical top secret government base. If you can ever call a place like that typical."

"We live a very strange life," Iris said.

"Tell me about it," Barbara replied.

"From what I recall there were a lot of security checkpoints and locked doors. If the Cadmus version is anything like the DEO this won't be easy."

"Then it's a good thing we'll have the ultimate door kicker with us," Wally said.

"Caitlin, do you feel up to helping us take them down?" Barry asked. "Your powers could come in handy."

"You have powers?" Barbara asked Caitlin.

"Yes, but I don't like myself when I use them," Caitlin said. "Sorry Barry, I know how serious this is, but I can't risk Killer Frost getting loose."

"That's fair, we can make do without you, it's fine," Barry said.

"I feel like I'm letting the team down," Caitlin said.

"That's not true at all, besides we need your technical experience at STAR Labs more," Oliver said. Cisco wrapped an arm around Caitlin and gave her a quick hug.

"Thanks Oliver, I'll do my best," Caitlin said.


Kara landed on the roof of STAR Labs after returning from National City. She approached the door but then stopped and rolled her eyes. "I can see you Ollie."

Oliver stepped out from behind and AC unit. "There's no hiding from you is there?"

"The Cadmus base has the same layout as the DEO on my world."

"Good to know, but that's not what I wanted to talk to you about."

Kara's shoulders slumped. "Is this about Mon-El?"

"I wanted to talk to you about you," Oliver said.

Kara sighed. "Do we really have time for this?"

Oliver readjusted his grip on his bow. "Yes, I think we do."

"Can I just stop you right there," Kara held up a hand to Oliver. "You want to talk to me about Mon-El don't you?"

"That's a part of it, but mostly I want to talk about how you are, and spare me the speech about how you know how to deal with grief. I saw my father shoot himself in the head. I watched as a madman ran my mother through with a sword. I thought like you did. That after all the death I'd seen, all the loved ones I'd lost that Id faintly become hardened to it." Oliver drew in a deep breath. "But then I watched as Laurel, the first woman I ever truly loved, and who I might still have been with if I hadn't been such an ass ten years ago, die and you know what? It wasn't any easier. In fact it was even harder to deal with."

"So if that's true then what should I do about it?" Kara asked.

Oliver shrugged. "If I knew that I probably wouldn't be running around at night shooting arrows at people." Kara smiled at Oliver's joke. "But seriously, allow yourself time to grieve as yourself, and not Supergirl. That's about all the advice I've got."

Kara tensed as if she was about to argue Oliver's point before sighing again. "I'll, I'll think about it, how does that sound?"

Oliver smiled at Kara. "That sounds pretty good. Now tell me all about the Cadmus base." He stepped to one side and he and Kara walked towards the roof top entrance to STAR Labs.

"How long exactly were you standing out here waiting for me?" Kara asked Oliver.

"Long enough, I didn't mind though. Everyone else in there is busy pouring over computers or making things."

"In other words nothing you're good at," Kara said. She clasped her hands behind her back and skipped along next to Oliver.

"Haha very funny," Oliver said. "Do you think you could help Cisco and Harry building a target EM cannon?"

Kara tapped on her temple. "My heat vision is a really good soldering gun. Plus I can lift heavy stuff."

"I can't compete with a walkingd forklift that's true," Oliver said. He chuckled at the look of indignation that spread across Kara's face.

"Watch it mister, I can drop kick you into low earth orbit, and don't think I've never thought about doing that to people before."

Oliver bit back the smile on his face. "Of course. In the future I'll be more careful." He pulled open the door and held it open for Kara. "After you Ms. Danvers."

"Why thank-you Oliver, and I meant what I said before, not the drop kicking you part, but the other stuff, and not in a perfunctory sort of way either."

"Thanks Kara, I'm glad one of us stubborn superheros can listen to reason."

"That's because I'm a girl, we're naturally more logical than you boys."

"That must be it," Oliver said. Kara walked into STAR Labs and Oliver followed, letting the door shut behind him.


The assembled teams stood around Oliver as he laid out their plan of attack. "Okay everyone, listen up. We know how to stop Cadmus." Oliver looked over at Curtis and Cisco. "We know how to stop them right?"

Curtis flashed Oliver a thumbs up. "Totally, will not be a problem."

"We hope."

"Way to instill confidence Cisco," Oliver said. "The plan is simple. There is a transmitter in the Cadmus base that keeps the cyborgs running. We send a team into the base to use the transmitter to send the kill code." Kara held up her hand. "Kara, you don't…yes Kara, what is it?"

"This isn't, like an actual kill code is it? You're just speaking metaphorically right?"

"I, uh, guys?" Oliver asked the STAR Labs team.

"Relax Ms. Danvers. Mr. Queen was speaking metaphorically," Harry said. "This is the code Mr. Ramon was talking about before. It won't kill the cyborgs, merely shut down their cybernetics."

"But that will also leave them in a vegetative state, that's what you said right?" Kara asked.

"You've never seen someone under the influence of Mirakuru Kara, they are dangerous," Oliver said. "Believe me, if the Mirakuru cure doesn't work we are all better off with them in a coma because no prison can hold them."

"Okay, okay you've made your point," Kara said.

"How are you planning on getting the team into base?" Barbara asked "There's only one point of entrance."

"Fortunately for us that isn't true," Barry said. "Right Cisco?"

Cisco nodded his head. "I can Vibe us in there, sure, no problem."

"I'm convinced," Dinah said.

"Hey, hey I can open portals to wherever we need to go," Cisco said. "Don't worry, I'll get us there."

"Cisco will Vibe the infiltration team into the base to transmit the shutdown code," Oliver said, cutting off the discussion. "Meanwhile the rest of us will stage a frontal assault to keep Cadmus occupied."

Kara nodded her head. "That makes sense. Who do you want doing what?"

"Barry, Dinah, Kara and Wally, and myself are all going to be part of the diversion team." Kara held up her hand to Barry who gave her a high five. "The infiltration team needs to be small and know how to deal with tech problems: Barbara, Cisco, Curtis, that's on you."

"Just them? But what if they run into a cyborg?" Wally asked.

"Cisco has powers, Curtis has his…balls," Oliver said.

"They're called T-Spheres," Curtis said.

"And Barbara knows how to fight. They'll be able to hold their own."

"That is a remarkable amount of confidence you're placing in us Oliver," Curtis said.

Oliver raised an eyebrow. "Is it misplaced?"

"Oh no, not at all, not at all, we'll get the job done, right Cisco?"

"You know it." The pair bumped fists.

"Good luck Babs," Kara said to her friend sotto voce.

"Without their Mirakuru super soldiers, the rest of Cadmus should be easy to round up," Olvier said.

"And even if we don't shut them down Kara should be able to subdue them sooner or later," Barry said.

"Yeah, I really don't want to have to do that, so please shut them down," Kara said.

"We'll get it done," Barbara said.

"Harry, you and Caitlin can coordinate from here, loop in Felicity as well."

Kara rubbed her hands together. "And we can make one hell of a distraction."

"We'll attack the base first and then you'll portal your team in Cisco," Oliver said.

"You got it," Cisco replied.

"Do we know where exactly in the base the transmitter is?" Barbara asked.

"No, but Mr. Ramon should be able to figure that out by using his Vibe powers on the Cadmus agent we have in our custody," Harry said.

"Kara would you mind helping me with that so I don't get turned into a gooey paste?" Cisco asked.

Kara saluted Cisco. "You got it. I'll do whatever you need me to."

"Once Cisco has the location of the transmitter we can move out," Oliver said. "Does anyone have any questions?" Oliver looked around the room and was met with silence. "Okay, in that case, do what you need to do to get ready." Oliver spun on his heels and walked out of the room.


Cisco and Kara stood outside the cell in the Pipeline that held the capture Cadmus agent. Kara peered through the window at the unconscious man. "Do we know anything about him?"

"No, but then again we haven't looked too hard," Cisco said. "But in addition to the Mirakuru he's had a crazy amount of cybernetics implanted in him. He's not quite more machine than man, but close."

"I feel sorry for him," Kara said. "He reminds me of something the Cadmus on my Earth did. Except they used Kryptonite, the remains of my home world, which is toxic to me, to power their cyborg. Not this Mirakuru stuff."

"It's weird, and maybe a little comforting that there are so many similarities between our worlds," Cisco said.

"I guess that's why they call them parallel worlds," Kara said.

"Must be, are you ready to do this?"

"I don't know what this is, but sure," Kara said.

"Just make sure Frankenstein's monster there doesn't get free while I Vibe him," Cisco said. "And that even assumes he wakes up, which he shouldn't given all the sedative in his system."

"But it's always better to be prepared right?" Cisco nodded in reply. "Okay, let's do this."

Cisco input a code into the cell door's lock and the anesthetic gas in the cell was sucked out by a fan in the ceiling. The door swung open and Cisco took a deep breath before stepping inside.

"How does this work?" Kara asked Cisco. "I mean I've seen you open portals and that's cool, but how does that help us here?"

Cisco held up a finger to his mouth. "Just watch." He placed a hand on the agent's arm and closed his eyes. "Okay, I'm in the Cadmus base and the transmitter is in a big room, look pretty central to the, no wait. It's in a room off of that down a hallway. It's circular, and there aren't any windows. Which should be obvious because it's a bunker."

While Cisco talked the cyborg started to stir. "Uh Cisco, I don't mean to rush you, but he's starting to wake up," Kara said. "If it helps I'm pretty sure I know the room you're talking about." When Cisco didn't respond Kara pushed him away from the Cadmus soldier.

Cisco's eyes snapped open as he staggered backwards. "What was that for?" he saw the cyborg struggling against his bonds. "Run!"

Kara punched the cyborg in the face and the pair ran out of the cell. Cisco keyed a code into the lock causing the door to swing back shut and the gas began to pump back into the room. They looked in the cell and watched as the cyborg's struggling slowed, then ceased.

"That was far too exciting," Cisco said.

"But at least we got the information we needed," Kara said.

"Yep, we can go raid a violent terrorist organization's secret lair," Cisco said. "Who thought this was a good idea?"

"We're the only ones standing in the way of a lot of people dying," Kara said. "Good idea, bad idea, that doesn't matter if we can save lives."

"I get it, I get it, still, yikes. This is big."

Kara coked her head to one side. "You're good right?"

"Of course I'm good, just a little jitters before the mission you know?" Cisco shook his head. "No, you probably don't, you're Supergirl after all."

Kara put her hand on Cisco's shoulder. "No, I get it, and it's perfectly normal."

"I know, but considering all the people around me right now who will jump on a grenade without a moment's hesitation. It's a bit of a high bar for those of us who aren't invulnerable, or have an accelerated healing factor. Sill, I'm here and I'm going to do the job, no question."

Kara wrapped an arm around Cisco. "Great, let's get to it."


Several hours later, under the cover of night, Oliver lay on the reverse slope of a small rise that overlooked the Cadmus compound. He surveyed the grounds with a pair of binoculars. Kara crawled up next to him. "See anything good?" She asked.

"The guards are in the middle of a shift change," Oliver replied. "Here, see for yourself." He started to pass the binoculars to Kara, but caught himself when he saw her staring intently at the compound with her hands miming holding a pair of binoculars. "You didn't need to come up here to see this did you?"

"Nope," Kara said.

"And this is your way of telling me that I didn't need to come up here to scout ahead."

"Yep."

Oliver grunted then took another look through his binoculars. "It's still good to see things for yourself."

Kara rolled her eyes. "Everyone else is waiting for you." She pushed herself up and crept back down the hill. Oliver drew in a deep breath then followed Kara back to the rest of the team.

"Did you see what you needed to?" Barry asked Oliver.

Oliver adjusted his grip on his bow. "Yes, if we want to cause the biggest possible distraction we have to attack now." The team climbed back up the rise so they could look at the compound.

"Okay, one distraction, coming right up," Kara said. She flew up into the sky away from the base then turned and dove for the front gate. As she flew over the rest of the team she broke the sound barrier, causing a sonic boom to echo over the desert. Kara barrelled through the front gate, ripping the chain link fence off of its hinges.

"I'd call that a distraction," Wally said to no one in particular. They watched as a jeep flew through the air.

"We can't let her have all the fun," Barry said. He tapped Wally on the chest. "Come one, let's go help out." He and Wally raced off, leaving the rest of the team behind in a cloud of dust.

"Remember Cisco, five minutes then portal your team into the base," Oliver said.

"Wait, my team? You mean I'm in charge?"

Oliver pursed his lips together. "Of course not. Batgirl's in charge." He climbed onto his motorcycle and gunned the engine.

"But she isn't even from this dimension," Cisco said. In response Oliver peeled off towards the base with Dinah close behind him. "Uh no offense," Cisco said to Barbara, who was standing next to him.

"Don't worry about it," Barbara said. "Just get us to the right spot."

"In five minutes, right, I remember," Cisco said. He double-checked the fit of his Vibe gloves then looked over at the battle taking shape in the Cadmus compound.

Kara lifted and threw an olive-drab truck towards a hanger. As the truck hit the apex of its flight she ignited its fuel tank with her heat vision. The truck exploded and rained flaming debris over the compound.

"You think you might want to save some of them for the rest of us?" Barry asked as he came to a stop next to Kara. They both watched as Wally streaked by them and then punched out a trio of Cadmus guards.

Oliver and Dinah pulled up to a stop just inside the gate. Oliver drew back his bow and fired and arrow at an above ground gas tank next to the motor pool The arrow found its mark and the tank erupted in a giant fireball. Dinah leapt off her motorcycle and unleashed a Canary Cry at a guard tower, shredding the wooden structure.

The door to the bunker opened and ten Mirakuru super solders ran out into the compound's yard, as the other Cadmus guards retreated back into the bunker. "Here we go," Oliver said. He readjusted his aim and fired at the lead cyborg. The arrow caught the cyborg in the chest, but instead of falling down he reached up and pulled the arrow out.

Dinah looked over at Oliver. "That's not a good sign."

"That's why we brought her along," Oliver said and pointed at Kara who flew into the center of the pack and punched the soldier Oliver had shot so hard it knocked him back twenty feet. One of the other cyborgs grabbed Kara's cape and used it to throw her towards Dinah and Oliver. They dove out of the way as Kara crashed into the ground.

Kara stood up and settled into a fighting pose. Dinah and Oliver lined up next to her and the two speedsters came to a step next to the trio with Barry standing next to Oliver while Wally flanked Dinah. "Those jerks are standing between us and where we want to be," Kara said. She clenched her fists tighter. "Let's fix that."

Oliver knocked an arrow in his bow. "Supergirl go up the middle, Black Canary and I will cover you. Flash, Kid Flash keep our flanks clear. Don't stop until you reach the bunker door."

Barry tensed like a sprinter in the starting blocks. "Got it, good luck everyone." Lighting started to crackle around him.

"You too Flash," Kara said. She launched herself at the center of the cyborg formation with the others close behind her.

From the other side of the rise Barbara, Cisco and Curtis could hear the sounds of the battle. Curtis winced at every explosion while Cisco stared at his watch. "Okay, it's been five minutes, let's do this, Curtis are you ready?"

"Yes, I'm ready," Curtis said. "Why don't you ask Barbara if she's ready."

"Because I already know the answer to that," Cisco said.

Barbara arched an eyebrow at Cisco. "Oh you do?"

"Of course. You were ready the moment you woke up this morning, and you didn't even know this was how your day was going to wind up. You're just that sort of badass."

"So what does that make me?" Curtis asked. "No wait, don't answer that. Just open the portal so we can get this over with."

Barbara drew a batarang from her utility belt. "Light it up Cisco."

"Just remember, it's Vibe and Mr. Terrific Batgirl," Cisco said.

Barbara sighed. "I won't forget your silly codenames, Vibe."

"We can debate who has the silliest codenames later. Right now though, let's go beat up some terrorists." Cisco raised his arm and opened a portal. "Ladies first," he told Barbara with a bow.

Barbara leapt through the portal and found herself standing in the middle of a large room hewn out of rock. She was surrounded by computer terminals and surprised technicians. Curtis then Cisco landed next to her and the portal behind them vanished. "I don't think we were as stealthy as we wanted to be," Barbara said. She threw her drawn batarang at a guard carrying a machine gun, knocking the man unconscious. "Which way to the transmitter?" Barbara leapt over a computer terminal and knocked out the two technicians sitting in front of it.

"This all looked very different when people weren't firing at me!" Cisco said.

Curtis pulled out one of his T-Spheres. "I programmed this guy to track down the radio frequency the transmitter uses. It'll find it in no time."

Cisco ducked behind a desk as a guard ran into the room and opened on them. "That's good because no time is all the time we have available." He fired a blast of energy at the guard which sent him flying across the room.

Curtis gave the T-Sphere a quick rub then threw it towards the center of the room. The T-Sphere ricocheted off a surprised Cadmus scientist before racing off down a hallway that lead deeper into the bunker. "This way," Curtis shouted at Cisco before he followed the T-Sphere down the hall. Cisco fired a large wave of energy at the Cadmus guards, knocking them to the ground. Barbara dropped the guard she was fighting then threw a smoke grenade to cover their retreat from the room.

Curtis rounded a corner then quickly skidded to a halt. Cisco didn't noticed and crashed into him. "Dude, why did you stop?" he asked Curtis.

"Because the transmitter is in the room past him." Curtis pointed at the hulking guard standing in front of the door.

"Oh great," Cisco said. "I'll distract him and you shut down the transmitter."

"Vibe, form a portal behind him," Barbara yelled as she ran towards them.

"What, why?" Cisco asked.

"Do it!" Barbara yelled.

"Okay, okay no need to shout," Cisco held up his hand then lowered it. "Wait, a portal to where?"

"Anywhere!"

Cisco held his hand back up and a portal formed behind the cyborg. Barbara leapt and kicked the guard in the head. The hit staggered the cyborg and he fell backwards into the portal.

"Where did you send him?" Curtis asked Cisco.

"Just outside," Cisco replied.

"Good work, but we're not out of the woods yet," Barbara said. She opened the transmitter room door.

Inside they found a large radio transmitter attached to a computer terminal Barbara walked over to the terminal and started to type on the keyboard. "Okay, I'm in do you have the shutdown code?"

Cisco and Curtis shared a look. "Not, uh, exactly," Curtis said. "It's a one time cypher so we needed access to the system to even generate the code, let alone transmit it."

Barbara stepped away from the computer. "Okay Mr. Terrific, you get to work on that while Vibe and I hold off Cadmus."

"Why me?" Curtis asked.

Barbara raised an eyebrow. "So you'd rather go out there and fight?"

"Oh right, the rogue government agents, you make a compelling point. I'll get to work."

"Hey don't I get any say in this?" Cisco asked.

"You're the only one of the three of us with actual super powers man," Curtis replied.

Barbara put her hands on Curtis's shoulders and spun him around. "Less talk, more hack."

"Uh yes, yes ma'am," Curtis said. "One hacked computer coming up." He sat down in front of the computer and began to type.

Barbara and Cisco moved to opposite sides of the door. "Okay Sundance, how do you want to play this?" Cisco asked Barbara.

"You think you're Butch in this scenario?"

"I didn't think you'd want to be Butch, no judging if the answer's yes though."

Barbara reached over and smacked Cisco on the side of the head. "Focus. When I open the door you're going to fire, whatever it is you fire, as big as you can down the hallway."

"And what good will that do?"

"It will give me an opening to get in close and hold them off long enough for Mr. Terrific to turn off the cyborgs so the rest of the team can save us."

"Okay, solid plan."

"Hey Cisco, how's it going down there?" Barry asked over the radio. "Any closer to stopping these unstoppable cyborgs?"

"You bet buddy, Curtis is one it. How are you guys doing out there?"

Barry watched as Kara threw two cyborgs into each other, then swooped across the compound to knock a third away from Oliver. Dinah blasted another into the side of a truck with a Canary Cry and he saw Wally go bounding past him after a lucky punch connected. Wally picked himself up off of the ground and pummeled his attacker with a flurry of punches. "Oh you know, we're hanging in there, but the sooner you transmit that code the better."

"Don't worry buddy, we're on it," Cisco said.

"Okay, no pressure, but we really could use this wrapped up," Barry said.

"I'm working on it, I'm working on it," Curtis said. "Overwatch, I'm opening a port in their firewall. Help me out with this."

In the bunker Felicity spun around in her chair and faced her computer terminal. "What have we got?" She asked Curtis.

"I've generated the code for the shutdown sequence," Curtis said. "The problem is we also need an authorization to send the code globally."

"So we need to crack their authorization before we can transmit the sleep code, got it," Felicity said. "That shouldn't be too hard." Felicity's screen started to flash as the system rejected her attempt to override the security on the radio. "Or maybe not." She frowned and tried again.

Barbara looked over at Cisco. "Okay, are you ready to do this?"

Cisco grimaced. "Close enough."

"On my mark then." Barbara reached over and pulled open the doors Cisco leaned out into the doorway and fired a blast of energy down the hall, knocking down all the Cadmus security personal advancing towards them. Barbara leapt out of the radio room and started to punch the Cadmus security before they had a chance to recover.

Felicity pounded on her desk in frustration after another unsuccessful attempt to crack the system's security. "Damnit, they're using a two-factor authentication system. There's no way we can crack this."

"We need one of their security tokens," Curtis said. The sound of gunfire outside the radio room caused him to flinch in his seat.

"Flash, I'm opening the door to the bunker," Felicity said over the radio. "You need to find one of their security tokens and bring it to Mr. Terrific."

Barry tossed a bolt of lightning at a cyborg before he toggled on his radio. "Security token, what does it look like?"

"It's a USB stick," Curtis said.

"USB stick, right got it," Barry said. "Can you guys handle things out here while I'm gone?" Barry asked the other members of the team.

"So help me, you had better go get that security token or I am going to punch you into the next state," Kara said. One of the Cadmus super soldiers jumped on her back but she tossed him off of her.

"One security token coming up," Barry ran past the soldier guarding the door and raced into bunker. Quicker than the eye could follow Barry ran through the complex, rifling through the pockets of every Cadmus employee he came across until he eventually found a USB fob. "Hey guys, I found one."

"That's great Barry, now get it to Curtis," Felicity said.

"Curtis, right," Barry said. He ran through the fighting, knocking off the aim of one Cadmus guard shooting at Barbara as he went. Barry came to a stop next to Curtis and handed him the fob. "Here you go."

Curtis pulled off a loose sheet of paper that had blown onto his face from Barry's arrival. "Great, thanks."

"Cool, if you're all set here, I'll go help Batgirl and Vibe." Barry ran off, kicking up a fresh cloud of loose papers.

"I am so glad I don't have to put up with that every day," Curtis said to himself. He plugged the USB fob into the computer.

Barry burst out of the radio room and in a blur of red and gold knocked out all of the Cadmus guards in the hallway. "Hey guys," he said to Barbara and Cisco. "How are you?"

"How do you stand living with that day in and day out?" Barbara asked Cisco.

"How do you stand being around Supergirl?" Cisco replied.

"Easy, I live in Gotham, she lives in National City," Barbara said. "In small doses she's not so bad."

Cisco snapped his fingers. "Live in another city, that's a great idea that won't work for me."

"I guess you're screwed then," Barbara said.

"Guys, can we focus on Cadmus, please?" Barry asked the pair.

"Mr. Terrific, how are we coming with that radio now?" Barbara asked Curtis.

"We've almost got it." Curtis slammed the enter key. "There, sleep command sent."

In the compound grounds Kara reeled back to punch a cyborg threatening Oliver when it suddenly tipped over. She looked around saw the other enhanced soldiers also shut down. "Guys, it worked, the super soldiers have all gone to sleep."

Oliver heaved a sigh of relief. "Great work Mr. Terrific."

"It was a team effort," Curtis said before he sagged in his seat.

Oliver looked around at Kara, Dinah and Wally. "Let's go clean this mess up."

"Argus is en route to help arrest everyone," Felicity said. "Since they can legally arrest people."

"Copy that Overwatch," Oliver said. "We'll keep an eye on the Cadmus personal until they get here."

Inside the Cadmus command center Kara and Oliver found that Barry, Cisco and Curtis had already tied up the Cadmus personal and had them sitting on the floor. Oliver looked around the room and then at the three heroes. "Good work."

"It was all Flash's doing," Curtis said.

"I figured," Oliver replied.

"Where's Batgirl?" Kara asked.

"She took the leader of Cadmus off to question her in private," Cisco said.

Kara started to scan the compound with her x-ray vision when Barry put a hand on her shoulder. "She said she was doing it for your protection."

Kara shrugged out of Barry's grip. "I think I know what's best for my protection. She resumed her search, then flew out of the room."

Barry and Oliver shared a look. "Come on, we need to go after her," Barry said. Oliver nodded his head in agreement. "What could possibly have Batgirl spooked like that?" Barry asked as they walked through bunker after Kara.

"I have no idea, but from what I've seen of her she isn't the type to spook easily," Oliver replied.

They rounded a corner and found a smashed open door. "This must be the place," Barry said. They stepped inside and to their amazement and horror they saw Kara holding a woman up by her throat. Kara's eyes blazed with energy. Barbara clung to Kara's arm trying to hold her back.

"I should kill you," Kara said to the woman.

"Whoa, wait Supergirl, hold up," Barry said as he stepped in front of Kara with his hands raised up.

"Back off Flash," Kara said.

"Supergirl, whoever you think that is, it isn't," Oliver said. "So why don't you put her down and we can talk this over." His hand crept up towards a special arrow in his quiver as he waited for Kara's reply.

"You don't understand, I know this person. On my Earth her name is Lillian Luthor, she's the head of Cadmus and the source of everything wrong in my life."

"My name is not Luthor, it's Lowe," Lillian said. "And I have no idea what you are talking about." She clawed at Kara's iron grip.

"The name might be different, but who you are isn't. You're the same person who would try to genocide whole species because you're afraid of anyone even remotely different from you." She tightened her grip and Lillian start started to gasp for breath.

"Supergirl!" Barbara shouted. "Mon-El wouldn't want you to do this!"

"But she's..." Kara started to say.

"No she is not," Barbara replied. "And I would tell you the same thing even if it was Lillian Luthor."

Kara released Lillian who fell to the ground and massaged her throat as she caught her breath. Oliver eased his hand away from his quiver as he sensed the danger was over. "You're lucky Batgirl was here," Kara told Lillian before she flew out of the room. Barbara looked over at Barry who nodded his understanding. He grabbed Barbara and then ran out of the room after Kara, leaving Oliver behind to deal with Lillian.

Kara came to a stop on a lightly forested hill that overlooked National City. She screamed then punched a tree with exploded in a shower of splinters.

"Just don't use your heat vision, they've already got more wild fires than they can deal with," Barry said as he and Barbara came to a stop next to her.

"That was a low blow back there Babs and you know it," Kara said as she advanced on Barbara and Barry.

"Low blow, what do you mean low blow, what does she mean by low blow?" Barry asked Barbara as he ducked behind her.

Barbara kept her eyes on locked on Kara's. "Mentioning Mon-El."

"What does Mon-El have to do with this?"

"The device used to drive away the Daxamites, and in the process Mon-El, was originally invented by Lillian Luthor's son, my cousin's nemesis, as a weapon to use against Kryptonians. She modified it to work on the Daxamites, and Mon-El is a Daxamite."

"But she isn't the person responsible for Mon-El having to leave Earth. She didn't push the button," Barbara said.

Kara heaved a deep sigh. "No that was me, and we couldn't have beaten the Daxamites, at least not without many more people dying, without it." Kara pointed a finger at Barbara. "But she did make the weapon, and she tried to kill every alien in National City."

"But that was Lillian Luthor, not Lillian Lowe," Barry said.

"I know that Barry!" She sighed, then massaged her temples.

"But it didn't make a difference when you saw her, is that it?"

Kara let her arms fall to her side. "Yes okay, I saw her and I just snapped, which I never do."

"To be fair this version of her is every bit the heinous bitch you know from our Earth," Barbara said.

Barry glared at Barbara. "Not helping."

Barbara brushed past Barry and hugged Kara. "You went a little overboard, but it's not like you beat up an innocent person. Just think of that meta human she experimented on then sent out to die and take out as many people as possible with him. You did good today Kara." She patted the Kryptonian on the back. "Just maybe tone it down a little when you're apprehending someone."

"Or maybe a lot," Barry said.

"Plus, in all the confusion of the Daxamite Invasion didn't our Lillian Luthor escape?"

Kara kicked at a rock embedded in the ground. "Unfortunately yes."

Barbara held out her arms. "There you go, you caught Lillian Luthor."

"That's, uh, not her name," Barry said.

"Shut up Barry, we're having a moment," Barbara said.

"Okay, okay, excuse me for trying to bring a little accuracy to the conversation."

"It's not the same thing as arresting the real Lillian Luthor," Kara said. "Our Lillian, our Earth's Lillian."

"But it still felt good right?"

Kara smirked. "It did, not the threatening to kill her part, that was very bad and I'm mad at myself about that."

"It's okay Kara, we forgive you, though I doubt Lillian Lowe will anytime soon," Barry said.

"Too bad, I don't care what a mad scientist thinks about me," Barbara replied. "And neither should you Kara."

"I don't, I mean I'm not insensitive to other people's opinions, but as far as people whose opinion of me I care about, she's low on the list."

"I just think it's weird her name is Lillian Luthor on your Earth, and Lillian Lowe on mine," Barry said.

"Lowe is probably her maiden name," Kara said. "On our Earth she married Lionel Luthor."

"Who's that?" Barry asked.

"You don't know, but that would mean, oh Kal would be so happy to visit this Earth," Kara said.

"That also means you buddy Lena doesn't exist either," Barbara said.

Kara frowned. "Then it's a good thing I don't live on this Earth."

"I've officially lost the thread of this conversation. Can we go back and see how everyone else is doing?" Barry asked.

"I can see them from here and they're fine," Kara said as she looked off in the direction of the Cadmus compound. "Oh wait…no never mind, I was right the first time, they're fine, nothing to worry about."

"Even so, I think I'll head back as see what I can do to help with the clean up. You two are more than welcome to stay here and relax, you've certainly earned it." Barry waved then ran off.

Kara sucked in a deep breath. "What do you say Babs, ready to get back to it?"

"The better question is are you?" Barbara replied.

Kara squared her shoulders. "Yes, there's no sense in standing around here moping."

Barbara looked around the small wooded clearing. "We probably can't get an Uber out here can we? Not that my phone even works in this dimension."

"We could always call Barry back to give you a lift," Kara said.

"No, no, honestly that was even worse than being flown around by you."

Kara crossed her arms in front of her. "I still can't believe you hate flying with me."

"It is legitimately terrifying, and I do not say that lightly."

"It's either I fly you, Barry carries you, or you walk, and it's a long walk," Kara said.

Barbara sighed. "Let's get this over with." Her shoulders sagged as she held out her arms to Kara to carry her back to Cadmus headquarters.


Back at STAR Labs everyone had gathered to toast their success. "I just finished talking to Lyla," Diggle said. "All of the Cadmus personal are in Argus custody."

"What about the cyborgs?" Caitlin asked.

"Argus scientists are working on removing their implants and filtering the Mirakuru out of their bloodstream," Diggle said. "We don't know how much of a recovery they'll make, but they are no longer a threat."

"Welp, alls well that ends well," Felicity said. "Cadmus is destroyed, none of us died, go team."

Oliver stepped into the middle of the room. "Everyone, that was good work by all of you, but I wanted to give special thanks to Barbara and Kara. They didn't have to come help us, but they did." He raised his champaign flute towards Barbara and Kara. "So thank-you for all your help." Everyone else in the room followed Oliver's lead and raised their glasses in the direction of the pair from Earth-38.

Kara fought back a blush. "Guys there's really no need to make a big deal. You needed our help, of course we'd come."

"Regardless, we're glad you did," Barry said.

"Damn straight," Cisco said. "Barbara it was an honor to fight crazy rogue government agents with you."

"And hack some crazy systems," Curtis said. "Seriously, the past few days have been nuts, even by our standards."

"Like I keep saying, I'm just happy to have been able to help," Barbara said.

"And so modest too, honestly if I wasn't gay and you didn't live in another dimension, you'd be like my perfect woman," Curtis said.

"But I thought I was your perfect woman," Felicity said.

"Sorry Felicity, but Barbara's you, only she can also fight."

"Ouch Curtis, there's no need to be so savage about it," Rene said.

"Don't worry Felicity, I've spent my share of time as the person behind the computer, I know how much skill that takes and you're as good as anyone I've ever met at it," Barbara said.

"And believe me Felicity, that is high praise coming from her," Kara said. "Babs works with the best back home."

"Speaking of which we should be getting back there," Barbara said. "National City won't protect itself, and I have a paper due tomorrow." She pushed herself off of the table she'd been sitting on. "That is if Cisco isn't too drunk to be able to open a portal to home."

Cisco set down his champagne flute. "Oh I can open a portal, don't you worry about that."

"That sounds like our cue," Kara said. She made her goodbyes to Team Flash while Barbara did the same with Team Arrow. Then they headed to the Breach Room with Cisco, Barry and Oliver.

"Once again Kara, you helped us save the day," Oliver said.

Kara shrugged her shoulders. "It's what I do."

"Are you going to be okay?" Oliver asked.

"Are you kidding? I'm fine." She paused. "I will be fine."

"That's good to hear, and you make sure that she does," Oliver pointed at Barbara.

"I make no promises, but I'll do my best," Barbara replied.

"I'm sure you will," Oliver said. "She could teach me a thing or two about crimefighting," he told Barry.

"I had a good teacher," Barbara said.

"Oh my god Babs, could you imagine if Ollie ever met…" Kara's voice tailed off as she mimed a pair of pointy ears on the top of her head.

"I don't think the Multiverse could handle that much glowering," Barbara said.

Kara snorted. "We need to make that happen. Oliver, you have to come and visit our Earth sometime."

Oliver chuckled. "I'll see if I can fit it into my schedule, but between being the mayor and the Green Arrow I don't have much free time."

"Come on Oliver, don't be a curmudgeon," Kara said. "I've been to this Earth twice now. It's only fair if you return the favor at least once."

"We'll see, maybe," Oliver said.

Kara clasped her hands together. "I'll hold you to that." Kara turned her attention to Barry. "Looks like it's that time again super friend."

Barry pulled Kara in for a hug. "We really need to do this when the world isn't ending."

Kara returned Barry's hug. "But that would be us now wouldn't it. Good luck with your wedding plans, and expect an invitation to Alex and Maggie's wedding."

"That sounds like fun," Barry said. "And Kara, look after yourself okay?"

"Of course, I always do, as the job allows."

Barry looked between Barbara and Oliver. "Right, of course, it's just." He shook his head. "Never mind, just remember…" he paused.

"Remember what Barry?" Kara tilted her head.

"You know what, forget I said anything. Have a safe trip back and say hi to the gang at the DEO for me."

"I'll do that," Kara said. She and Barry shared another hug, then she hugged Cisco before walking over to where the portal to Earth-38 was going to appear.

Barbara then walked up to Barry to say her goodbyes. "I can safely say the past few days have been unlike anything I've ever seen."

Barry laughed. "It was good meet you too Barbara, and you have an invitation to the wedding if you want one."

Barbara nodded her head. "I just think I might."

Barry pulled Barbara in for a hug. "She's not right, make sure she gets help for Mon-El," he whispered into her ear. Barry pulled away from Barbara who simply nodded her understanding.

After she shared one last fist bump with Cisco Barbara joined Kara. "So Babs what did Barry say to you?"

"That's, it was between me and Barry," Barbara said.

Kara opened her mouth to protest, but before she could say anything Cisco opened the portal to Earth-38. "Here you go, one portal back to your Gotham," Cisco said.

"Thanks for coming with me Babs," Kara said. She gave Barbara's hand a squeeze.

"Thanks for inviting me, this was quite the adventure."

"Hold on tight." Kara tightened her grip on Barbara's hand, then flew them through the portal and back to their Earth.


Author's Notes: And this is why I should only publish after I've completely finished a work. Sorry gang, I've had this thing sitting on my desk mostly done for a while now, but it's more interesting to work on new stuff, not edit old stuff. Ah well. There's a brief epilogue that go up tomorrow. Thanks for reading.

-sam, 03/26/2018