A/N: Wow, so the series is a lot more challenging... so many more things to track, thank god I have a beta who stays on top of it (we hope). Thanks for everyone who is following this and we hope that you're enjoying it. I'm trying to post chapters in groups so it moves a bit faster. It is an odd pace though, I have to admit.


Max stands up to come around his desk to explain.

"The genetic markers that we found in Raymond Lincoln's genome map indicate an individual's propensity for meta human capabilities."

"You've lost me. I thought you said those were markers from the chemical reaction?" Lane questions.

"Now I believe that those markers actually indicate who has the ability to be a meta human. Martine has those markers and she's used telepathy to make Dr James jump to his death, Chief Marshall tasered himself and she managed to rob a bank today without uttering a word or brandish a weapon of any kind," Max explains. "General, imagine if you could draft an army of people with these genetic markers, they'd be invincible," he points out.

"How do you propose that we do that Mr Lord?" General Lane asks.

"Easy, you ask your current men and women to volunteer their DNA in order to be selected for an elite special ops troop, then we map them to find the ones with these genetic markers," Max answers.

"A troop of meta human soldiers sounds interesting, but how would we control them?" Lane asks.

"I don't have the answer to that yet, but I'm working on it," Lord replies.

"I'm not too keen on putting a group of these folks together unless I know that I can get them to do what I need them to do," Lane replies gruffly. "Do you understand me, Mr Lord?" He adds.

"Of course, like I said, I'm still working out a few things, but an army of meta humans could protect us from these caped aliens," Max points out.

"As much as I hate them, those caped aliens are the only ones who can protect us from the meta humans," Lane counters, pointing to the tv, which shows Supergirl apprehending Martine. The two men watch silently as a team of specially outfitted DEO agents approach the hero and slip a special helmet over the captive woman's head.


"Max, what are you doing here?" Cat asks annoyed at the interruption and surprised that he got past security again.

"Nice coverage of the take down," he says nodding at the tv screen. "Oh and I really appreciate you mentioning that she not only was my employee, but she was my personal assistant," Max adds sarcastically.

"If you have a problem with my reporters reporting the facts, get in line Max, the Trump people are threatening to pull my FCC license in the unlikely event that he is elected," Cat says returning to her paperwork.

"The facts," Max says stroking his chin. "What about the facts about your assistant Cat?" He asks. "Do you know any more about Kara Danvers than I knew about Martine Hewitt?

"Well let's see, one, Kara Danvers is no longer my assistant and two, she's not a psychopath, so I'd say yes Max, I do know more about her than you knew about Martine," Cat points out, pushing away from her desk. A bit concerned now about this impromptu visit. Then catching a swirl of blue and red out of the corner of her eye, she smiles relieved as Supergirl lands softly on the balcony. Cat opens the door to greet her. "Supergirl, great job apprehending that menace."

"Thank you Ms Grant," she says smiling at the media mogul before turning to Max.

"Mr Lord, I was looking for you when I heard your voice as I flew by," Supergirl explains. "Ms Hewitt is now being held by the FBI in a special containment unit, I don't think she'll be allowed visitors though, obviously."

"We were actually just talking about Kara Danvers," Max says pacing around the room. "You know her quite well, don't you Supergirl?"

"Uh, I've met her. She's Ms Grant's assistant," Supergirl replies smiling at Cat.

"Right," Max says weighing his next words carefully. "Isn't it odd that you and Kara Danvers have so much in common?" He asks smugly.

Cat groans at Max's display of arrogance. "You honestly think that I don't know what's going on here Max?" Cat snaps crossing the room to stand beside Supergirl. "There's nothing that you can tell me about Kara Danvers or Supergirl that I don't already know. Now if that's all you're here to do, you may leave," she says dismissively.

Max looks at Supergirl for confirmation and she shrugs. "Mr Lord, I believe the lady asked you to leave her office," the hero says firmly.

"Cat Grant knows? The Queen of all Media is just sitting on the story of the year?" Max roars. "What does she have on you Cat? How does one buy the silence of Cat Grant, I'm just curious," he asks barely keeping his anger in check.

"She doesn't have anything on me, Max. You of all people know that I have zero tolerance for blackmail," Cat replies shooting him a dangerous look.

"Ms Grant simply choose to listen to her better angels, it serves no purpose for the public to know who I am privately," Supergirl points out, subtly reminding him of his own agreement to keep her secret.

"Not every secret needs to be told Max, you of all people should know that," Cat snarks seething with anger. How dare he come into her office and try to stir up trouble like this. Who the hell does he think he is?

"Now Mr Lord, I believe that you were asked to leave," Supergirl reminds him before taking a step closer to him, her hands still on her hips in her power pose.

"Right," he says tilting his head. "Well, Supergirl, I should thank you for your assistance today," he adds suddenly uncharacteristically contrite as he turns to leave. Walking slowly to the door he turns.

"Cat says that there isn't anything about you that she doesn't know," Max says staring directly into Supergirl's eyes and regaining his swagger, "I'll bet that the reverse isn't true though... Cat, should I tell her about what happens when you listen to your lesser angels?"

Supergirl flinches at the remark and suddenly Max realizes that he struck a nerve. No wonder the hero is so protective of Cat Grant, she has a crush on her.

"I see that look. Do you see it Cat? She's afraid to know about your dark side. She looks up to you," Max points out.

"We all have dark sides Mr Lord, now unless you'd like to see mine, I suggest that you leave... now!" Supergirl says loudly staring at him intensely.

"Oh, I'm leaving. I think my work here is done," he says chuckling to himself. "Enjoy your evening ladies," he adds waving as he walks out to the elevator.


"I could literally throw him into space," Kara exclaims as the elevator doors close. Then turning around she sees Cat shaking. Unsure if it's nerves or anger, she approaches her warily.

"Cat?" She asks softly.

"Kara, there is something that I need to tell you about Maxwell Lord. And I'm not proud of it... I-I'm ashamed of it actually, but I would rather that you hear it from me," she says turning away from her.

"Cat, you don't have to tell me now. Let's get out of here and meet back at your place where we can discuss this privately," Kara says turning her around to face her and placing a hand on each of Cat's shoulders to hold her there.

"You may not think much of me after I tell you, so I'd rather just say it and get this over with," Cat says wiping her tears and lifting her head defiantly.

"Cat I am not naive enough to think that you're perfect. Everyone makes mistakes," Kara says lifting her chin to look into her eyes.

"Well, this was definitely a mistake. I had a brief affair with Max and that's what led to my second divorce," she explains.

Kara steels her face refusing to react to this news. She'd always imagined that there was sexual tension between the two, she'd just always hoped that it was unresolved. "I see," she says finally, careful not to pull away.

"You are disappointed. Me too," Cat says, sardonically.

"Cat, I could always tell that there was something between you two," Kara replies softly. "I know that he has a certain charm, why do you think I was so freaked out about Alex spending time with him? Cat did you, did you tell Alex this before me?" She hesitates to ask.

"Kara, I told Alex that I had been with Max, but I didn't tell her that it was during my marriage," Cat explains. "You're sister already doesn't think much of me, I didn't want to add fuel to the fire," she points out.

"It's not that Alex doesn't like you. She worries about me and she's afraid that the more people who know the truth about me the more dangerous it will be," Kara counters pulling Cat into her arms and kissing her lightly.

Cat accepts the comfort and begins to relax, when she suddenly realizes that Max knows and has kept the secret as well.

"What is it that you have over Max that keeps him from exposing you Kara?" She questions.

"That isn't a conversation that we're going to have right now, especially not here in your office," Kara replies, remembering suddenly that she's still in her cape and skirt. "I should be going, meet you at the penthouse in an hour?"

"Yes, yes, I'll be there," Cat replies. "Kara?" she calls out reaching for the hero's hand. "Please remember that I'm not easy to change, but having Carter in my life changed me. I'm not the same person who I was twelve years ago," she says softly to the hero.

Supergirl smiles at her and squeezes her hand. "Not many people are Cat," she replies, shuddering slightly as she realizes what happened in her own life twelve years ago.