It had been nearly two weeks since her visit to Metropolis and the events around her leaving still weighed heavily on Karen's mind even after she had returned home to New York. She hadn't intended for things to happen the way that they did and part of her still struggled to figure out her feelings about it. Part of her was still a little embarrassed but she had also enjoyed the moment too. It had been nice to feel close to another person who understood some of the same things she dealt with. If she was being honest, part of her had also wanted to let her guard down and be intimate with someone else, to not feel so cold and isolated anymore. She reminded herself that in a way, the Clark Kent of this world was still her cousin… but in other ways he wasn't either. Were there even rules about that? Would it be that taboo or bad if one had begun to feel some kind of attraction or romantic desire for a cousin from a completely different reality? Hadn't there been plenty of other similar arranged marriages and unions long ago in regular Earth history?

Karen shook her head and tried to dismiss such thoughts as she sat through the rest of the boardroom meeting she was involved in. It had been hard to concentrate today and she was glad when the meeting finally adjourned. She gathered her things and headed back toward her office when she ran into her secretary at the door. The younger woman gave a smile and handed Karen a new file, "Oh Miss Starr, I'm glad I found you."

"Another fire I need to put out Cecilia?" Karen asked with a sigh as she entered and took the folder, "It's been a grueling day already."

The secretary shrugged, "I don't know. This came from the labs and they seemed to be pretty excited. Hopefully it's good news."

She left and closed the door leaving Karen alone in her office. To her surprise, the folder was sealed and she stopped to open it before skimming over the contents. As she went on, Karen's eyes went wide and she felt her pulse quicken. If she was reading this new report correctly, it said that the final tests on the Caduceus Driver had been successful. She now had a fully operational power generator, one that would be able to power the rest of her special equipment and get her back to her home dimension.

Karen closed the file and stashed it away while trying to think about what to do next. She had to call Helena and get her back to New York as soon as possible. She also debated about trying to get a few things in order for the company if its leader were to just mysteriously vanish all of a sudden. She didn't want to leave the employees of Starr Industries high and dry because like it or not, she had grown to feel some kind of responsibility toward her people. That only made her think of Clark again.

What was she going to tell him? Should she even tell him? Would it be best to just leave without saying a proper goodbye or even giving him a reason? Then there was the matter of Brainiac. If he was coming to Earth, would Clark and the rest of the Justice League be able to deal with it alone? She liked to think so… but now she wasn't entirely certain either. She gave a sigh and sat down, torn about what to do. She had once thought that when she had finally reached this moment she would be ecstatic, but now it seemed she was far from it and even more unsure about how to feel. She buried her head in her hands and slumped over on her desk, "Damn."

Meanwhile back in Metropolis, Clark had been feeling much the same that day and simply went through the motions of his work. At the end of the workday, he sat back from his desk and rubbed his eyes before Lois came over with several sheets of paper. She raised a questioning eyebrow and asked, "Hey Clark, is everything okay with you? I was just going to take this to the copy editor and saw that this column you wrote was riddled with errors."

"Oh… sorry. I think I'm just having an off day today," Clark said evasively.

Lois picked up on his manner and placed the papers in his inbox for revisions tomorrow, "Come to think of it, you've been acting a little odd these last several days. It wouldn't have anything to do with your new lady-friend, would it?"

Clark gave a slight frown and picked up his coat and briefcase, "No. Everything is fine and you don't have to worry about Karen either. There's nothing going on right now."

"Nothing going on, eh?" Lois prodded, "What does that mean?"

"Good night Lois," Clark muttered as he left her and walked out of the office. He grumbled to himself as he left the building and continued to walk home. He decided to take a detour through a nearby park and stopped when he saw the bench where he and Karen had their impromptu meeting a few weeks ago. He wrinkled his brow and sighed as he continued to walk, "Come on Clark… get a grip."

It had been bad enough he had to deal with Lois some days, but his relationship fumble with Karen had been even worse. He was still trying to wrap his head around her claim that she was his cousin… or at least distantly related to him in some way. He wasn't sure if he was more embarrassed by the whole incident or just disappointed that she ran away. He had finally come across someone who seemed to understand him and what it was like having super powers while leading a double life. It was even better she wasn't involved with the Justice League. Otherwise, it would have been like dating a coworker with all kinds of added risk and awkwardness. Now he was back to square one again. Maybe it would just be better if he just resigned himself to a lonely existence and hid out in a remote fortress of solitude like a hermit.

He didn't have too much time to dwell on his dark thoughts as he felt his cell phone vibrate. He looked at the caller ID and blinked in surprise as it saw that it was Karen. During their dinner, they had exchanged phone numbers just in case there was some sort of trouble but he hadn't expected to get a call since he last saw her either. He tensed up and walked over a more secluded spot by some trees wondering if there was some kind of alien attack going on and he answered the call. "Hello?"

"Clark? Hi… it's Karen."

"Is everything okay? Are you in trouble?" he asked deciding to focus on the possibility of danger.

"Everything is fine. I'm okay," she said quietly, "I know we gave each other our phone numbers to call in case of trouble, but I… I felt I should call you. I know when we left off, there was a lot of weirdness."

"Yeah that's probably the understatement of the century," he said, "I'm still confused though Karen. Why now all of a sudden?"

"I wanted to speak to you. It's about something important."

"Uh… okay?"

"I really wanted to speak to you in person," she said, "Do you think you could find some time in the next few days to come to New York? Maybe on Friday?"

Clark hesitated, "I guess so. You're really sure?"

"Yeah. I'll see you then."

She hung up leaving Clark standing in the park still scratching his head in confusion. Whatever this was about, he would be determined to get to the bottom of it.

Elsewhere, one of Brainiac's carrier ships across the cosmos made its way toward the edge of Earth's orbit. In the far distance, the spaceship's sensors could pick out the Justice League Watchtower floating over the blue sphere, but the ship stayed just clear of visual range. From his command chair, Brainiac surveyed the planet and began making notes of interesting things it wanted to plunder from the world. It also traced the bio signatures of the three errant Kyptonians located on the North American continent and highlighted their general positions. If the cybernetic being could smile, it would have but instead chose to carry out the first part of its plan. That would involve the younger of the two Kryptonian females to ultimately serve as bait for the other ones. Instead of sending some if its stronger attack drones, Braniac deployed a small group of the octopod scouts and sat back to watch things play out as it predicted.

A few days later on Friday evening, Karen paced restlessly around the living room of her condo. She had gotten some other things in order and was expecting for Clark to arrive soon but she still didn't seem to know how she wanted to say what was on her mind yet. This was definitely not like her and she mentally cursed herself for having seemingly lost her nerves. Maybe this whole thing was a bad idea? She turned off the television and headed over toward the outdoor patio that gave a panoramic view of Manhattan. As she opened the glass doors, she was surprised when she saw Clark descend from the night skies and gently touch down on the deck. His Kryptonian suit gave way again to his civilian clothes, a pair of casual khakis and a blue collared shirt. He gave a sheepish smile and shrugged.

"Sorry... I didn't feel like bothering with a doorman or an elevator."

"Clark come on in," she said leading him inside. Just like her main office, her home was equally trendy and tastefully decorated with an expensive modern look.

"Wow... nice place," he commented.

"Can I get you anything?" she asked hesitantly, "I know it's a short flight here and all but..."

"I'm fine," he said, "Now about why you called me here? Is everything okay?"

Given their awkward parting two weeks ago, that was certainly a loaded question. She paced a few more steps and chewed her lip, "First... I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry again about a few weeks ago. That was a pretty big bombshell to drop and I can understand if I freaked you out a little bit."

"It was definitely a shocker," Clark agreed, "Especially since we let ourselves get a little carried away. It was feeling more and more like a date and I just felt really comfortable around you, you know? I felt like I could open up and just be real."

Karen gave a faint smile, "I know what you mean. I was feeling the same way and if it means anything to you, I don't regret kissing you either. It was, well... nice."

"Even if in a weird way we might be related somehow?" Clark asked hesitantly, "I'm still trying to figure out how that works or if we broke any laws or something."

"If we're going by Krypton's laws, I don't think it matters since we might be the only ones left from the homeworld," Karen pointed out with a bemused snort, "Which brings me to the other reason I called you here. I got a report from my lab. They say that the Caduceus Driver is finally ready."

Clark paused in surprise, "Then that means..."

"Yes. I can go home again. That generator is going to provide the power needed for some of my tech to open a portal back to my timeline."

Clark remained speechless for a long moment before choking out, "Congratulations... when?"

"Tomorrow," Karen answered quickly before looking away, "Which is why I wanted to see you one more time. I felt I should make things right with you again and to say goodbye properly."

Clark stood in quiet shock at the news causing Karen to tilt her head slightly, "Clark? You're making me a little nervous here. Please, say something?"

He forced a smile and spoke quietly, "Thank you for telling me. I'm happy for you... really."

"You're lying and it's not making things easier here," Karen sighed to herself as she turned around, "God, this whole thing was a huge mistake. I shouldn't have done this. I already broke several of my personal rules... especially the ones about not getting attached to this world, or getting attached to anyone here."

"To someone like me?"

Karen turned back to face him, "You were the last person I wanted to fall for, but I did anyway and now we have to go our separate ways, back across time and space, never to be."

"I'd be lying if I hadn't been thinking the same thing," Clark admitted, "Maybe I should just make things easier and go now..."

She caught his wrist and looked up to him, "Clark wait... aren't you the least bit curious what it would have been like if things were different and we could be together?"

"If I said yes, then..."

"Then let's find out together," she said quietly as she leaned up and silenced him with a deep kiss.

Clark fumbled in surprise for a moment before picking her up and carrying her to the nearby sofa. They fell over one another, kissing each other hungrily and getting lost in a moment of desperate passion. Amid the kissing and caressing, Karen impatiently pulled off Clark's shirt and pulled him down on top of her gasping as she let him nibble at the neckline of her white tank top. Before things could go any further, Clark jumped a moment as his phone went off in his pocket. He pulled it free and prepared to toss it aside before he glanced at the caller ID. This time it was Kara, his real cousin from this Earth.

Karen kissed him a few more times before stopping in confusion, "Clark? What's wrong?"

He gestured for her to be quiet and answered the phone, "Kara? Is that you? Slow down... are you okay? What happened"

Karen froze and listened as the conversation progressed. Clark nodded with a serious look, "Okay, I think I know what's going on. I need you to come to my home in Metropolis as fast as you can okay? I promise I'll be there and help you. See you soon."

Clark let go and picked himself up of the couch as he pocketed his phone. There was a mixture of emotions on his face and Karen tried to decipher it while putting pieces of the conversation together, "Clark? Is everything okay?"

"Kara said she was in trouble," he said as he began to button his shirt back on, "I'm sorry. I have to get back to Metropolis."

"What happened?"

Clark took a deep breath and then looked to Karen with a grim expression, "Kara told me that was attacked by some of Brainiac's scout drones. She's being targeted too and now I think she's also in danger."

"So you're having her come to stay with you for protection," Karen reasoned.

He nodded, "I gave her my number and address if she ever needed me in the future. If you think about it, this is a hell of a way to have her come to terms and finally trust me, huh?"

The irony of the statement was not lost on Karen either. It was surreal enough seeing a younger version of her being put in this situation. It was almost like an out of body experience. And while this event might lead to Kara and Clark becoming closer as a true family, it was also shifting Karen off to the sidelines as she prepared to go home and leave this all behind, just when she was finally getting close to him too in other ways. Karen sat up and straightened her disheveled hair, "Do you want me to come with you?"

Clark grimaced as if he was torn, "I can't ask you to do that Karen. You're going home tomorrow and you don't have to stay and deal with this. Isn't that what you wanted before? A clean break?"

"Well... yes, but..."

"But you've got enough to deal with and sort through when you get back home," Clark said trying to put on a good stoic face about things as he headed for the open window. He stopped and took Karen's hand, "All I can say is that you should do what's best for you... and if this is goodbye, then I want you to know that the short time we got to spend together and get to know one another was important to me. I won't forget it. Thank you."

More than anything he wanted to kiss her again, but he give her hand one more squeeze before taking off into the night skies hoping he would be able to help Kara in her time of need. Once again, Karen was left standing alone at her window feeling disappointment and regret and all she could do was shake her head to herself at this cruel cosmic joke that was being played on her.

"Damn."

Not long after Clark arrived back home to his apartment and found that it was still empty, Brainiac's carrier ship moved into earth's orbit and prepared for next phase of the plan. The cybernetic collector ambled down a corridor of his ship and entered a lab where his newest prize had been brought in. Much to his delight, the youngest of the Kryptonians, the one named Kara was restrained to a chair. She had been captured in mid-flight by more drones while she was on her way to Metropolis. The teenage girl had been brought to the ship and was still unconscious while several monitors had been attached to her to take vital signs and take DNA samples. From where she sat, an alien device had been placed over her head recording brainwave patterns and slightly altering a few others.

The villainous cyborg reached out and placed a hand on her head before speaking, "Thank you little Kryptonian. Come tomorrow, I will seize this planet along with the rest of your brethren and I will have you to thank for all of it."