Kara's rage, although slightly subsided, still remained.
Sadness, and uncertainty had joined the already flared emotions within her, and she wanted to scream. She wished that she could open her eyes, and discover that it had all been a huge nightmare. Her returning home to discover that her sister and girlfriend had been taken. Now she was being forced to chose one's life over the other.
She couldn't choose.
She would not make that choice.
She had found herself at National City Port. Not a soul in site, everything was quiet and still. She was floating roughly eight feet away from Non, who had somehow managed to get away from her, yet again. She was so angry at herself for that fact. She had him at her mercy, in a weakened state, she very easily could have killed him, but she wouldn't. She needed to know where he was hiding Alex, and Cat, and was thrown off by what he had said prior to his escape from her.
On top of everything, Astra had finally returned, without warning. Even the all knowing and superior Non had been surprised by her sudden reappearance.
"This must be one of your darkest moments, girl," he grinned."I do not envy the position you're in. Now, make your choice, before it is made for you."
"How can you do this to me," Kara growled, looking directly at Astra. The woman spoke not one word."You vanish into thin air for weeks….leaving me to deal with your ass of a husband….and now this? Tell me where they are!" She knew they were close, but contained in something led based. She's used her x-ray vision to scan the entire area, but couldn't find them. She could only hear their hearts beating.
"Don't you see," spat Non."My wife has made the simple minded mistake of showing you compassion. Now, you are under the impression that she would do so again. She took leave to rid her mind of thoughts of you these humans, and as you can see, she has made her choice. Make yours!"
Astra looked at her niece with a blank expression.
"Where are they," Kara growled again. She needed to stay strong, but the truth was, she was getting desperate. She was fighting tears so hard, that she was shaking. Thoughts of losing Alex and Cat were flooding her head.
"You have a choice to make," said Non."I don't care which of them you choose, know that you will lose at least one of them."
Kara looked to her aunt."Astra...please."
The Kryptonian woman still just hovered. There was no reading her."I know you think that compassion is weakness but it's not…..it's strength, you have to start believing that. Please." Astra simply stared back at her, still blank."You both talk about humans, and how weak and fragile they are, but you're wrong. They aren't that much different than us."
"How dare you compare Kryptonians to humans," spat Non."We are superior in every way."
Ignoring the broken record that was Non, Kara kept her attention on her aunt."I know how much you loved my Mother, and I know how much she loved you. No matter what happened between you two, I know that you never stopped loving each other."Astra's facial expression melted into one of sadness."She was taken away from you. Don't be the reason that my sister gets taken away from me."
"Does that mean you have made your choice," asked Non.
Kara glared at him, but found herself at a loss for words. She hadn't meant to make it seem as though she was choosing Alex over Cat. She would fight for both, and in the end, she'd make a choice. One that didn't involve Alex or Cat.
"I will fetch them….so that you may choose." Without waiting to see her niece's reaction, Astra flew off.
Without any hesitation, Kara flew at Non, taking him to the ground, and delivering punch after punch to his face. He rolled her onto her back, and wrapped his hands around her throat."You can't beat me, girl, not without one of the DEO's little toys. You are pathetic!"Kara eventually fought her way out of his grasp, pushed him off of her, sending him flying back. He landed on his feet, before slowly rising into the air, and smiling at her."You can't beat me."
"Oh, shut up! I'm so sick and tired of the sound of your voice," she spat, as she flew into the air."Once I get Alex and Cat away from you….you are so unbelievably de-"
"Little One." Astra was back, hovering a few feet away. Alex and Cat were nowhere to be seen."No need."
"Where-"
"The Brave One and your Cat, they are safe now." Without giving her a chance to respond, she turned to her husband."Non. I will not do this. I will not make her choose." She hovered closer to him."We cannot do this."
He looked at her, in disbelief."We have to do this! We have to teach her a lesson! She cannot get away with this disgusting display of betrayal and treason!"
"What do we stand to gain in killing one of her loved ones?"
"You already know the answer to that," he growled."She has to learn! This planet will not survive simply because she chooses to protect part of it!"
"Retreat," she ordered, gently at first. His glare, and his silence were all she needed to know that it wouldn't be easy getting him to back off."Retreat, now," she hollered, a threatening growl in her voice.
Kara watched the two of them and their intense interaction, in awe. She was growing more than just impatient, and just wanted to get to Alex and Cat.
"If this is what you chose, Astra….I take this as betrayal! The next time we see each other, I will consider you an enemy, exactly the same way I consider her!" He pointed at Kara, angrily."Do you chose to betray me and our cause, my wife?"
Astra looked at her husband, pain in eyes, before flying backwards, and away from him. She stopped, once she reached Kara, and hovered next to her, proudly."I stand with with my niece now, Non."
He looked at Kara, and pointed at her."You will pay for this, girl!" Just like that, he was gone.
"Astra…" started Kara.
"I'll explain, I will. Right now, we should get to your apartment." Kara nodded and the two of them took off."It's only fair that I warn you, Little One. Your apartment is filled with the sound of many fearful heartbeats."
The minute they landed inside of Kara's open window, she was in tears. Cat was holding Carter in her arms on the couch. The boy looked terrified, and Cat was hard to read. On the other end of the couch sat Alex, Shadow's arm draped over her shoulders."I am so sorry," Kara sobbed.
After a long, and tearful reunion, Alex and Cat telling Kara a million times that it wasn't her fault, the group finally separated. Kara felt horrible that it had been her place that Cat was taken from. She insisted that Cat take Carter venture home. She had fully intended on staying home in her own place, but Cat wouldn't let it happen. Without much persuasion, Kara quickly changed her mind, and went with them.
Alex decided that going home, Shadow in tow, was best, since she had a long day of training ahead of her. She wasn't especially shaken by what had happened. The Agent had been in much worse situations, and trusted that Kara was going to save her. She was more concerned about Shadow getting rest. "Alright you….it's late...this day has been never ending," she was saying as they approached the apartment door."We have a lot of work to do tomorrow, so you need to go right to sleep."
"I was planning on it," Shadow yawned.
"Today was rough, I know, kid. Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm alright," she smiled tiredly."Are you?"
Alex had just gotten the door unlocked and open, when the sound of Astra's Voice made her jump.
"Brave One." She was approaching them from behind, and was suddenly blind sided when Shadow had her up in the air, pinning her to a wall."I assure you, I'm not here as a threat."
"Astra, you can't sneak up on people like that….also….I've warned you about calling me that," said Alex."Shadow, put her down, please, it's alright."
The young girl did as she was told."Sorry…but you scared me," she defended.
Astra studied Shadow for a moment. She could have easily escaped her grasp, but she was intrigued."You know, it's not exactly normal for a human of your tiny stature to possess such strength."
"She's not a normal human, but she does need to go to bed…", said Alex."Inside, go brush your teeth."
Shadow turned to Alex, a small pout on her face."She just called me tiny."
"Bed!"
"Fine….God," she breathed as she walked inside of the apartment.
Alex shook her head, and looked at her visitor."Is there something that I can do for you, Astra?" She wasn't exactly annoyed to see the woman, just surprised.
"Kara told me to come here. I was under the impression that you knew-"
It was then that Shadow reappeared, holding her cell phone."It's for you."
"Shit...that's right, my phone was destroyed," she breathed, taking the phone."Hello?"
"Alex….Astra should be-"
"She's already here."
"She wants to explain herself, which I really want….but I need you with me. I have to stay with Cat and Carter just a little longer...I will be there as soon as I can. She won't hurt you."
Alex glanced over at the Kryptonian in question."I know, and that's fine. I'll see you soon."
"Thank you. I love you."
"I love you too." She hung up, and gave the phone back to Shadow."She'll be here soon, you can come inside and wait." Astra gave her a confiding smile as she walked passed her, and through the door.
Meanwhile, at Cat's penthouse, the two woman had just finished saying goodnight to Carter. He was slightly shaken up, and not wanting his mother or Kara to leave his bedroom. The two of them sat on either side of his bed, until he eventually drifted off. They kissed him on the forehead, and exited his bedroom.
The tension was thick, and neither of them really wanted to have the impending conversation. They'd barely spoken a word to one another since they'd left the Hero's apartment. Cat chose to keep almost constant physical contact with Kara. Simply because she didn't want to make her think that she would be scared away by what had occurred.
When Cat was finished washing her hands, and changing into her pajamas, she exited her bathroom, and frowned. There was Kara, staring out the window, a sniffling mess. Cat moved to her, and snuggled herself into her arms. She rested her head on her chest, still not know exactly what to say.
"You were so scared," came an anguished sob."I know that you were, I could hear your heartbeat."
"Kara, stop," Cat softly demanded.
"You can keep your poker face on all you want….you were terrified, and it's my fault that you were. It's also my fault that Carter is so shaken right now...and I'm so sor-"
"Enough," said Cat, placing her index finger on the Hero's lips."I was scared, Kara….of course I was. I had no idea where I was or...if they had taken Carter or not. Whenever I'm in danger, my very first thought is…what will happen to my baby. The entire time Leslie was chasing me around my building that night….all I could think about was Carter. He'd have to go live with his Father, and...his life would be….well….it wouldn't be great for him. I don't just want the best for him, I need it. His Father...is not the best."
"I know," sniffled Kara."We've talk about that man so many times...I know."
"I'd much rather have him end up with….you."
"Oh, Cat...you know that I would love that, I'd take care of him. Only, I could never let you do that. He'd be in constant danger with me. Hasn't tonight proven that to you?"
"Darling, tonight has proven many things."
Kara tightened her grasp around the woman."Are you leaving me... because I-"
"Stop, right there." It had come out much more dismal than she had meant. The tears she had been holding back were falling, and she hated it. She stared directly into Kara's comforting Blue eyes."I knew this day would come, Kara. It scares me to think that somebody that has it out for you could snatch Carter or I up at any moment. It scares me knowing that I could lose you any given time, but I love you, and I have so much faith in you, that I know you'll always save him."
Kara was suddenly very confused."I'll always both of you, love. Always."
"You can't guarantee that. Nobody can. Kara, I'm not leaving you….I honestly want you to be my forever," she sniffled, wiping some of her Hero's tears from her face."However….you need to know, that if for some horrific reason, it comes down to Carter or I….you will choose him."
"Cat don-"
"Promise me."
Kara hated it. She couldn't stand the thought of something like that ever happening, but Cat wasn't wrong. It could happen, and there was no avoiding it in that moment. She let more tears fall, and rested her forehead on Cat's."I...promise, Tiny Cat."
The shorter of the two leaned up, and kissed her."Thank you, my love." They kissed passionately for a few minutes before she spoke again."You wouldn't have chosen either of us tonight. Your sister or I...and I know that. What would you have done?"
Kara sighed deeply."You already know the answer to that, so….I'm not going to say it out loud. It would disappoint you, and you can't tell me otherwise."
Cat did know the answer. She also knew that if she heard Kara say it out loud, that she might lose it. She simply nodded in agreement, and kissed her again. After a while, Cat was in bed, having fallen asleep wrapped in Kara's arms. Kara, kissed her on the forehead, before crawling out of bed, and hovering over the woman."I'll be back." She kissed her on each cheek, and once more on the forehead."I promise."
She walked over to the open window, glancing back at Cat once more, before taking off towards Alex's apartment.