Title: Heart of a Hero
Chapter Title: Timeline 35
Fandom: Supergirl (2015), Elements of Man of Steel, Lois & Clark: Adventures of Superman, Comic book world (so many of them), Superman Unbound, New 52, Supergirl (1984), Smallville, Young Justice
Rating: Low M
Pairings: Canon only
Background: Personal interpretation of Kryptonian Culture/ History/ Social Structure/ etc
Summary: Kara knew there was only a small chance she could stop Non. He had years of experience over her. But never did she expect, even as she laid dying, that she will wake up in her bed. The same day of Alex's flight to Geneva.
Disclaimer: I don't own Supergirl
Note* Warning. This will end up as Non/Kara, but it will also be a slow burn.
WARNING! Graphic description of Torture + Major Character Death + Suicide + Rape
Note* "Italics" –Kryptonese, "Normal" – English, bold = flashback
00000
Timeline 35
Kara closed her eyes as she walked into the burning hot water. She closed her shower curtain and tried not to listen to the world around her.
This body doesn't know Grev's touch-
(He acts so gentle when he forces her legs open. The gentleness disappears when Kara kicks him. He shoves the blade into her thigh and she screams…He shoves his tong into her mouth, hands over her breast as she digs her fingers into his arms, trying to crush them.)
-but her mind plays out those memories. She opens her mouth, allowing the water to fill it before she spits it out. She images blood splattering on the floor and she raises her hand to her neck.
Smooth.
Kara rests her head on the warm tiles, her eyes closed again.
She was 21 the first time she had sex. She had been going out with the boy since her first year at university and she was pretty sure she loved him. She still remembers looking up and watching him work on his car. The sweat running down his chest. She follows the trail till it stopped at his jeans, the fabric absorbing the moisture.
She remembers rubbing her thighs together as a heat suddenly appeared between her legs. She remembers her breath coming fast and heavy. She remembers the feeling of something dripping out of her-
It was the first time she ever felt sexual attraction.
Tommy was her first. And if it wasn't for Grev he would have been her last as well-
Kara breathed in shakily through her mouth before holding it in her lungs. She wouldn't cry. She didn't when that bastard was raping her, and she wouldn't give anything the satisfaction of breaking down now.
Kara shakes her head and turns off the water. She super speeded into some work clothes before heading to the kitchen to grab something to eat. She didn't really want to go to work today, but knew she had to. She needed to file permission to take a few of her holidays.
Kara needed to find out more about Fort Rozz and all the criminals on the ship. She's been doing this half-cocked every time and all it's landed her was her death… this time she was doing it right.
She would have gone today, called to tell them she was sick and just leave to the Fortress of Solitude, but she had to make sure Alex was safe first-
She will never let anything happen to Alex again.
0000
"What do you mean you're taking a week vacation?" Ms Grant asked her after calling her into her office.
Kara had just come back from James's office, planning to drop off the layouts before starting on the Tribune letters she hopes to never send again-
(She walks into the building, passing several people as they carried boxes out the door. A few of them glare at her, blaming her for what happened)
-when Cat stopped her with her question.
"Yes," Kara said, unsure what else to say. She needed time to not only go over everything in the Fortress, but start appearing as Supergirl.
"Why," Ms. Grant asked, acting like it her right to know.
"No offense Ms. Grant, but other then what you already know, I'm under no obligation to tell you anything," Kara said. She had given her reason- family obligations- when she filled out the forms.
"So I have to survive a week without an assistant?" Ms. Grant said, standing up from her desk and putting one hand on her waist.
Survive? What an interesting choice of word.
"I'll talk to one of the interns to help you while I'm gone," Kara tells her.
"I see. So you expect me to get by with incompetence," Ms. Grant 'asked' her.
"Yes," Kara said and put down the layout and walking out the room while Cat Grant looked at her with her mouth slightly open. She walked passed a reporter that looked at her with wide eyes, no doubt thinking she was crazy.
Kara knew there was nothing Ms. Grant could do; if she even tried to fire her Kara could follow with a lawsuit for unjustified termination and Cat was too smart to do anything to allow that.
There was advantaged to being her assistant, knowing quite a bit about how businesses were ran was but one of them.
Lying your ass off was another. One she still needed work at. Thankfully not as much as she used to.
Taking a deep breath Kara opened a word document and started typing.
0000
Like every other time Kara caught the plane she felt a sense of rightness, of accomplishment… of belonging. Like every other time she's loved this moment, the moment she really figured out who she was.
'Heart of a Hero' her mother used to say.
The only thing Kara didn't enjoy was having that argument with Alex, the one she gets so upset with Kara for exposing herself to the criminals that hated her mother so.
So, like last time, she dressed in all black before moving to catch the plane, this time making sure she didn't get wet. She leaves as suddenly as she came, coming back dressed in the date clothes Alex helped her pick out. She stands with others who were waiting for their families. When Alex finally reaches the sore, Kara waves at her, unsure if the older woman saw her before being dragged off by a paramedic.
When Alex was finally released, Kara ran to her, throwing her arms around her shoulder, "Alex!"
Alex's arms tighten, her shoulders stiff. She holds Kara for several moments before pulling away, looking her intensely in the face and taking a deep breath.
"I saw what happened on the tv," Kara said and gently touched her sister's face, burning this look of being-alive into her mind, desperate to get so many other images of Alex out.
"Was that you?" Alex asked.
Kara frowned, "What?"
"Kara was that you?" Alex said, grabbing her wrists and stepping back slightly. Her eyes were wide and her body even tenser than before. She glances over Kara's shoulder, staring at something before her eyes go back to her.
"No. Of course it wasn't me," Kara lied, "I mean I almost did-"
"No," Alex said suddenly, "You can't reveal yourself, Kara."
"Alex… I'm not going to let you die," Kara told her and gently extracted herself from her sister. She put her arm around the woman's shoulder and led her away from the crowds. She glances in the direction Alex was looking and saw J'onn standing with a few other passengers- other DEO members.
Kara looked away before J'onn saw her, rubbing her sister's arm as they headed to the bus stop.
0000
Kara opened the Fortress before walking calmly into the building. She called Winn to meet her at her apartment later after work. There she would tell him who she was and hopefully, stop him from ever working with his father.
(Kara hates looking at Winn on the other side of the glass. Hates talking for hours with no reply. Hates looking into those eyes that scream resentment and anger.)
Now, however, Kara needs to look at the information the Fortress had.
She walked through Clark's little museum, glancing at a few of the things, most of which she didn't know what they meant. She walked to an interactive station and gently placed her hand on the console.
(She tells James she doesn't know how to use the computer, lying and hoping he doesn't realize. It's been years since she's seen anything like this, but immediately remembers how to use it. She's ashamed, to tell the truth; that the first thought upon walking into the Fortress was 'Finally. Civilization.'
She remembers how Alex shows her all these things when they were little. All these advances humans have made. She bites her tongue, hoping not to blurt out just how primitive everything was compared to what she had, what she could do on Krypton. Even now, when Winn gushes over some new invention there are only a few times Kara can say she's never seen anything like it.
Or the fact that she's seen all these things in a museum.)
"Hello Kara Zor-El," Kelex said as it floated towards her.
"It's Kara-El. Update," Kara said, still keeping her hand on the console before closing her eyes. She feels her interactive chip connect to the computer before opening her eyes, seeing screens all around her.
She hasn't used her interactive chip in years. It's a small thing, placed on the inside of your skull that allows your brain to connect with kryptonian technology. It's such a common thing that people don't even mention it, expecting everyone to know about it and use it, like a fork.
It doesn't work with human technology, and thus her's has been dormant for so long she actually forgot about it. It was only in the last timeline, when she and Barry when to the Fortress, that she was reminded of it.
"Update complete," Kelex said, "How can I help you Kara-El?"
Kara-El? Not Lady Kara?
Kara frowned before turning to Kelex. She was the Head of the House of El. Kelex would know that… so why didn't it address her properly?
Kara shook her head, deciding to ignore that for now, "I'm looking for all information on Fort Rozz and every one sentence to it at the time of Krypton's destruction."
"I'm sorry. You do not have authorization to view these files. I am able to give you access to all public records, however," Kelex said and document appeared on the screens all around her.
"What do you mean I don't have authorization? I am the Head of the House of El. I am a member of the High Council. The only member," Kara told Kelex.
"Incorrect. The Head of the House of El is Lord Kal-El," Kelex said.
"What? How is that possible? I am Zor-El's only child and he was older then Jor-El. The position should fall to me," Kara said.
"Zor-El removed you from the inheritance and had the Lordship given to Jor-El's son," Kelex said.
Kara felt a coldness radiate from inside her as she stared at Kelex in disbelief. Her father… removed her from the family tree? Why- why would do that? The law stated that it was always the oldest that received the Lordship/Ladyship unless they were found unsuited. But such things were taken to a court. Kara- Kara was never in such a court and she couldn't think of anything that she could have done to shame her family.
She knew she and her father were never very close. Oh, he took her places and interacted with her, but there was always some wall between them… like there was something he was unhappy about.
Maybe that was why she preferred staying with her grandmother and then her aunt after the old woman died. She didn't have to see that look of disappointment on her father's face.
"What were his reasons in court? What did he say the proved I was unfit to lead the House of El," Kara asked- begged Kelex.
"No such records exist," Kelex said.
Kara stepped back, turning quickly and grabbing hold of the Interactive Console as her knees grew weak…
Her father had her removed illegally. Her father had basically disowned her…
"Why?" Kara said as tears ran down her face.
Her Blood had been rejected. She was Ugnahj, the unwanted, the rejected, the-
(Nothing! Useless! Expendable!)
"Why send me to earth," Kara asked, "Why save me then?"
"Someone needed to raise Kal-El," her father's voice came from behind her. Kara froze before slowly turning around. She looked at the man, the same disappointment she's always seen in his eyes.
"What?" Kara asked.
"Your mother begged Jor and me for your life, insisting you would be able to raise Kal to be a proper Kryptonian before he takes his proper place on earth," Zor-El told her.
"What place?" Kara asked, forcing her legs to move closer to the V.I.
"His place as the humans' king, their god," Zor-El told her.
"What?" Kara said, horrified, "What do you mean King?"
"When we realized there was nothing we could do to save Krypton, Jor-El searched for a new planet, but it was already too late to find an uninhabited world. So, instead, we choose Sol 3 because of its yellow sun. We sent a depository ahead, to create this Fortress for Kal-El to grow in. He would have been taught as any Kryptonian would as well as the fact that he is to be the humans', these primitive apes', god," Zor-El told her, "But your mother argued. Begged us to send you along to teach and protect him. Neither of us wanted to, but I knew your mother would find a way to get you off the planet."
"Why didn't you want to save me?" Kara asked.
"Because you are a girl," Zor-El said bluntly.
Kara took a step back like she'd just been slapped, "I don't understand… Woman have been revered in our history. Women and men were equal on Krypton… why would my gender stop you from wanting to save me?"
"Women have oppressed and abused men for centuries. Before the Civil War, after the Death of Queen Kara the Merciless, men were seen as second-class citizens. They had no rights. Some were even collared and chained, led around like animals-"
"People stopped thinking like that centuries ago!" Kara screamed as the cold disappeared and a fire ripped through her body.
"Your grandmother didn't," Zor-El told her.
Kara stopped, looking at him in horror… she's always known her father and uncle Jor didn't like their mother. Never spent much time around her-
(Kara stands to the side as her grandmother, Yalle-El raised her pyphor, a whip with a spiky ball at the end, to her grandfather, Gur Yalle-El. She brought the whip down on his back repeatedly as Kara held onto the glass of drena he brought her. She wanted Go-go juice and had complained to her grandmother. She claps her hands as the old woman put the man in his place.
'That's how you discipline a Mutz Kara,' Yalle said as she walked away from the man bleeding on the floor.
'Yes Grandmother,' Kara said.)
"I'm sorry for what grandmother did to you," Kara said as she remembered all the other times she seen the woman beat, humiliate and degrade the men- dogs as she called them- and felt like she wanted to throw up. She remembered saying something rude to her father before her mother took her aside and told her she wasn't allowed to say such things. That it was impolite and horrible and no decent kryptonian should do that.
Her mother stopped sending her to her grandmother so often after that. Refused the Head of House when the old woman demanded Kara. Even when Yalle called her a Haji- a bitch that liked being taken by a male- Alura refused.
"And you were exactly like her," Zor-El said, "Jor and I swore there would never be another queen, another woman that thought they were above, or even equal to men."
"So you would rather have let me die," Kara said.
"I was ashamed when I found out you were a girl. It wasn't for your mother I would have left you on Starhaven," Zor-El told her and the image disappeared.
Kara just stared at the emptiness around her, unsure of what she could do. Her only purpose was to raise Kal… did he know about this?
"I never wanted you to find out," Clark's voice echoed through the Fortress. Kara turned to him, her tears frozen to her face.
"Kal-"
"Kelex called me while I was in Metropolis," Clark said as she walked to her. He looked like he wanted to take her into his arms but hesitated in touching her, "Said you were trying to access confidential files… I hoped I could get here before you found out."
"You knew," Kara said as she spun to face him, "You knew I was nothing- that my own father didn't want me alive."
"That they wanted me as a god- as their puppet King," Kal said, "Yes I knew."
"Is that why you left me with the Danvers? So I would never find out," Kara asked him, anger rising inside her again.
"No- yes. I didn't want you to know till your older. I knew if you spent too much time around me, around the Fortress you would find out," Kal said, "But I also wanted you to have a family that wanted you, cared about you-"
"So that what? I wouldn't kill everyone when I found out?" Kara sneered.
Kal looked away.
"That is what you thought," Kara said, "How could you- How dare you!"
"I just-"
"Just what? Wanted me to 'grow up'. Become your puppet Supergirl before you told me everything I knew was a lie," Kara sneered, "I had a right to know. I am off-age, I have several crafts under my belt and- and- you had no right!"
"I'm sorry," Kal said and looked how.
"You kept this from me- Kept my inheritance from me," Kara said.
"You never wanted it!" Kal yelled back.
"Because I was naive!" Kara yelled at him, "But now I see clearly. There are people, off-worlders, refugees, here on earth. They live in fear every day, fear that someone would find out about them. The people of earth know about 'aliens'. With that I can appeal to the Intergalactic Council, a council I would have been a part of had we been on Krypton, to raise Earth's Classification from a 3 to a 4. Have them send people here to ensure that innocents aren't killed for what they look like."
"And Fort Rozz? How do you know about that?" Kal asked her.
Kara looked away. She was tempted to tell him the truth, tell him about loops. But she doubted he would believe her.
"I met one. One who threatened to kill me. Called my mother by her name," Kara said, "I was able to fight him off and escape, but he mentioned Fort Rozz."
"The laws on Krypton were strict," Kal said and Kara gave a humorless laugh.
"That's a nice way to say it," Kara said.
"You're not going to like what you find," Kal warns her.
"I still have the right to know," Kara said and looked him in the eyes. They held the stare for some time before Kal sighed.
"Kelex. Delete sup-protocol Trolius, Voice-Print. Match" Kal said.
"Voice-Print Confirmed. Deleting… Updating," Kelex said and there were a few moments of silence, "Update complete. Kara-El has been reinstated in the inheritance and thus will take over as Head of the House of El."
"Kelex. Allow Kal-El full access to all information. Voice-Print. Match," Kara said.
"Voice-Print confirmed Lady Kara," Kelex said.
"Thank you," Kal said and Kara nodded before turning back to the Console.
"Bring up all information on Fort Rozz and the criminals sentenced there at the time of Krypton's destruction," Kara said.
"Yes Lady Kara," Kelex said and Kal walked to another part of the room, inserting information into the computer, "Do you also wish for information on the criminals after Krypton's destruction?"
"Is there addition data for that time period?" Kara asked.
"Yes, Lady Kara," Kelex said.
Kara tilted her head. That didn't make sense. But maybe some of the guards kept records of everything that happened.
"Show me everything," Kara said.
0000
"I still can't believe you're an alien," Winn said as he sewed her uniform, "And I can't believe you told me."
"Of course I told you," Kara said as she worked on her ear cuffs. There were different from last time, now that she knew about appropriate shapes and had better material from the Fortress, "You're my best friend. I trust you with my life."
She wasn't going to push him away this time.
Winn blushed slightly, looking away from her and back to the sewing he was doing. Kara smiled and returned to her cuffs.
The right cuff was a simple curve that would attach to the shell of her ear. The left cuff, however, was slightly different. The top part of the cuff would extend down before curving up tight against her face. It would continue up till it curved again till slightly over her left eyebrow, stopping an inch or two from the middle of her head. The decoration wasn't ever large. It bulges slightly at her cheek, no thicker than two fingers before reducing till a single point.
It was a modern way of showing who was a Head of House, the old way being a curved mask that attached around her face, the two ends stopping at her neck. The modern way was common enough that any other Kryptonian would know what they mean, and decorative enough that humans wouldn't pay too much attention to it.
Her suit was also slightly different. The few times she fought in her high heels she realized just how hard it was. Instead, this time, she made them proper boots, placing metal in the sols. They still extended up to her knee and the skirt and body suit were still the same. They were comfortable to fight in and she had free movement because of the skirt. The one thing that was very different was the cape.
It was now fastened on top of her suit, much like Superman's, but unlike his, her's could be unattached easily and quickly for when she had to do serious fighting against someone.
"Why the whole blond hair thing anyway?" Winn asked, "Superman doesn't do that- Does he?"
"No," Kara said-
Lucy bends down, her hands on her thighs as they both breathing hard. Kara turns away from the woman, rubbing her hands together as the low radiation prickle at her skin. She moves to the door, turning off the kryptonite emitters before moving back to the older woman.
It's been two weeks since Lucy took over as Director of the DEO and they were finally moving past the whole secret identity thing. Lucy being able to hit her probably helped a lot, but Kara hoped they might be able to become actual friends.
"Can I ask you something," Lucy said as she moved to the side of the room before grabbing a water bottle.
"Sure," Kara said.
"Why didn't you wear a mask?" Lucy asked.
"What?"
"I mean you didn't want anyone to know Supergirl and Kara Danvers were the same person, but you never wore a mask."
"I guess in the beginning it was the fact that Kal never wore a mask… but now, I don't know. Maybe one day I'll figure it out. Besides, no one's figured it out."
"Except Cat Grant."
"Yeah, but I convinced Ms. Grant I'm not Supergirl."
"But still. What if someone figures it out?"
"I don't know," Kara said coming to sit next to Lucy, who had dropped to the ground while they had been talking, "What would you have done."
"Changed my hair at least."
"Why. Do you think you'll look nice as a blond?"
"Funny, no. I guess it's a lot of things. Your voice deepens slightly. You stand more confidently. You hold yourself like-" Lucy suddenly cuts herself off.
"Like?" Kara asked.
"Like you're not human. And yeah that helps, but people judge-people remember looks more than anything. I guess if I was you I'll make subtle changes, but changes that wouldn't look like they could be changed in a few seconds. I mean it's not like you can do that."
"There is technology that can do that, but I don't know… I don't think I'll feel like myself."
-"I don't want to wear a mask," Kara said, realizing she had her reason, "Not wearing one- being exposed- it's me telling everyone I don't have something to hide-
(She had a lot to hide. More than anyone could understand. She still rubs her fingers when she comes close to something green. She puts makeup on her face so carefully, brushing her fingers over her ears and lips. She flinches when James wants to shake her hand and has to laugh it off)
-It's about showing them they can trust me."
"But you don't trust them," Winn said and the only sound that echoes through the room is soft kryptonian music.
"My cousin has so many enemies- so does my mother. Once they know who I am, they'll come after me," Kara said, half lying- pretending he wasn't completely correct- "I just want those close to me safe. It might not always work, but if it works enough… I might be able to protect someone."
Including herself.
"Kara… you're allowed to be scared," Winn tells her, "You're allowed to do things to protect yourself. Being scared doesn't mean you're not strong, it just means- it just means you're scared."
Kara smiles up at him, "On Krypton it's considered great strength to tell your deepest fear to your enemy. It's not because you're being open, it because it shows them that there are things that make you more scared than them. It shows that you're not afraid of them and nothing they can do can change that. It's a show of arrogance… not bravery."
"And telling your friend what you're afraid of? What does that mean on Krypton?" Winn asked.
"It means you're willing to take a hand and get out of your hole," Kara told him.
"I don't understand that reference," Winn said.
"But I understand that one," Kara said pointing at Winn before smiling sadly, "I'm not willing to take your hand just yet. One day I'll reach out, but now- now I need to figure things out for myself."
"I think I get it," Winn said and turns back to the sewing machine.
Kara smiles in thanks-
(Please. Please, I don't want this. Please just let me die.)
- and turns back to the cuffs.
0000
Her first appearance as Supergirl is her landing in front of a speeding car. She makes sure she doesn't give the car enough time to turn out of the way, thus slamming into her. The front of the car is crushed around her and it takes the robbers a few moments before they can look at her. This time allows the police to catch up.
Kara isn't sure if it's her bright eyes or the S on her chest that unnerves the robbers more, but they half jump out of the car, guns in the air as the police surround them. A few of them lower their weapons and fall to the ground. At the same time, some of the police turn their guns on her, about half hesitating once they see the S.
They're skeptical. Why wouldn't they be?
One of the robbers' finger pulls the trigger accidentally, his gun aimed at a police officer. Kara activates her heat vision and disintegrates the bullet mid-air. And that's enough for the rest of the robbers to drop their weapons.
Kara pushed off into the air, hovering for a few moments as the police cuff the men and women before flying off completely.
Unlike last time where it takes the city days to get a good shot of her, this time one of the police cars records the entire thing. It plays on the news the next day and Winn texts her while she's in the Fortress reading up on the final years of Krypton.
What she finds makes her want to find a time machine and punch the High Council in the face.
0000
The DEO starts a fire that night. An abandoned building, a trap for their new alien superhero.
Kara almost doesn't go.
She still wants to visit the Alien bar, was ready to change and go when Winn tells her about the fire. Part of her is relieved-
She's pretty sure she'll rip Grev's heart out the second she sees him.
-And yet a part of her is afraid. She still doesn't like the DEO. Doesn't like being in the building.
(Kal hesitate before telling her about the DEO, tells her about Kryptonite and what else she could face if she really wants to become a hero. Kara acts surprised, acts like this was news to her. She acts hesitant, but then determined that she wouldn't run and hide. Not from the Fort Rozz criminals. And not from the DEO)
She flies through the air, her body tense as she listens to the sounds around her.
BANG
Kara quickly moves out of the way, the large syringes/dart thing flying past her.
BANG
Kara avoids the second one before flying to the ground. She's half tempted to use her disappearing act, but is hesitant to show them the extent of her abilities. They fire one more shot, which she again avoids, before she stops just in front of them, still in the air.
Kara tilts her head to the right, the fire's light dancing of the gold of her cuffs, "So this is the DEO. Superman told me about you."
She sees them hesitate and wonders if Alex is in the group again.
"What do you want," Kara asks them.
"Our Director wants to talk to you," one of the agents say, their guns still aimed at her.
"You could have asked nicely," Kara said.
"We have been tasked to bring you in and to use whatever force-"
Kara suddenly appears in front of the agent, her face close enough to breathe the same air as the human. Kara activates her x-ray vision and looks at the person, recognizing him as Agent Pond.
"I would not suggest that," Kara told him.
Pond swallows but doesn't move, "We ask that you come peacefully."
"And I ask you to tell your boss I wouldn't enter his secret headquarters if a single piece of Kryptonite is brought near me," Kara said, "Go. I'll follow."
"Excuse me if I don't take you at your word," Pond said, his teeth pressed together.
"You're excused," Kara said and pushed off into the air. She hovers and waits for them to get back into their cars and drive. It takes them a few tense minutes- they talk to J'onn and she hears every word- before they move to their cars and drive off.
"That was bad ass," Winn whispers through her earpiece.
"Be ready to record everything," Kara said.
It was a small thing really to add a radio and small camera to her right cuff. She wonders if she should tell Winn about the tracker as well, but figures it might be a nice surprise if anything happens to her.
0000
"Thank you for coming in peacefully Miss Danvers," J'onn said as she walks into the command center.
Kara smiles, amused at his power play, "Thank you, Director Henshaw, for not creating a situation where I needed to use force."
J'onn's eyes narrow at her, but Kara smiles and blinks at him innocently.
"I'm sure you know Agent Danvers," J'onn said, trying to throw her off her game.
Alex walks into the room, shame on her face. She only glances at Kara before looking away again. Kara frowns, pretending she didn't know about Alex, and narrows her eyes slightly.
"Welcome to the DEO, the Department of Extranormal Operations," J'onn said, not holding out a hand. He was still trying to intimidate her, trying to protect her, "The DEO monitors and protects Earth from extraterrestrial presence and/or invasion."
"Does that mean me?" Kara asked, amusement coloring her words as she walks around her room. She moves to her ship, her fingers ghosting over the machine as her interactive chip connects to the ships onboard computer, "I see you have my ship. I always wondered what happened to it."
"We keep it here as a reminder of the day you crashed on Earth," J'onn said. She knew he was uncomfortable. She's been around him for too long to not know such things, "You're the reason for all of this."
"How strange," Kara muttered loud enough for everyone to hear, her eyes still on her ship. She was downloading all the information from the computer to the kryptonian device she had strapped to her thigh, "Kal's been on the planet for almost two dozen years before I came."
"And it was his arrival that triggered the need for this organization. We realized we weren't alone in the universe and we might soon be getting more immigrants," J'onn said and moved to the collection of screens, "Sure enough, you came along. And with you, Fort Rozz."
The screens change and show an incomplete list of the criminals on Fort Rozz. Kara turns off the onboard computer, the download complete, before heading to stand next to J'onn.
"Fort Rozz was Krypton's maximum security prison. It was banished to the Phantom Zone-"
"Wrong on both accounts there," Kara interrupted, her voice as strong as she could make it.
"Excuse me," J'onn said, his hands on his hips as he glared at her.
"Fort Rozz was originally a military space outpost when Krypton had finally discovered space travel. We were the 'new kids on the block' and almost every advances species tried to invade us," Kara tells them, "Eventually they realized we weren't so easy to conquer and they backed off. The Intergalactic Council sent a representative and Krypton officially became part of the known universe. It was eventually given a council seat and as an act of good faith, Krypton gave the outpost to the council.
It was years, decades later when Jor-El and Non Astra-Zee were able to create a way into the Phantom Zone, an interdimensional area in space where time stood still. Krypton wasn't the only planet that had a gate to the Zone.
At first, they just sent probes there, but an Intergalactic Councilmen, not Krypton's, wanted to find a way to redeem the prisoners. They figured using a dimension where time doesn't pass gave them unlimited time to conform the prisoners.
It was eventually decided to use Fort Rozz as the Prison. It was impenetrable and with a few modifications they were able to make it into a prison, albeit a luxurious one, each person with their own room and bathroom.
It was only fully implicated as a prison about a year before Krypton was destroyed. It was sent into the Phantom Zone, gates to the Zone on almost every Class 6 planet. After Krypton was destroyed the other Worlds still used it when suddenly there was a revolt. Which happened only a few moments before it- and I- escaped the Zone.
According to Intergalactic Records, it disappeared 12 years ago. It was able to escape from Earth's Gate. The only gate that didn't have a shield to prevent such things from happening. A gate that was unregistered because my foolish cousin decided to build it, not understanding the implications of his action.
So, Director. Before you try to blame me, get all the facts."
J'onn and pretty much everyone was staring at her in shock.
"By the way," Kara said, smiling again, "Your list is extremely out of date. Not to mention you're not authorized to have all the information."
"And you are?" J'onn asked, trying to regain power in the room.
Kara brushed her hand over her headpiece, several people's eyes following her movements, "I am Lady Kara-El. Head of the House of El and the only member of the Kryptonian High Council. But law, I automatically have a seat on the intergalactic council-"
Not completely true. She still wasn't sure how the kryptonians still left in the universe have organized themselves, but as far as Kal knew there was no Kryptonian Councilman.
"- I have every authorization."
"I see," J'onn said, his shoulder dropping as he realized he wasn't going to win.
"No, you don't. It's not your job to fix my son's mess, it's mine. So I suggest you go back to what your good at: trying to capture people that probably aren't even on this planet or capturing people that are nothing more than refugees," Kara said, knowing she hit a sore spot, "Congratulations Director. Your organization is nothing more than the boogieman for alien children."
With that Kara turned around and walked away. No one tried to stop her. A few glanced at J'onn, but he didn't acknowledge them. Thus, Kara walked straight out of the building before pushing off into the air.
"You're actually starting to scare me," Winn muttered in her ear.
Kara smiled, "Want to meet some aliens?"
"Other than you?" Winn asked.
"I need to go talk to some of the refugees on the planet. I need to reassure them I'm going to do everything I can to keep them safe," Kara said.
"And how do you plan to do that?" Winn asked.
"Go to the one place they feel safe. A bar."
"Wait. What?"
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Kara smiled as Winn looked around the bar at all the different aliens. She had to reassure the 'bouncer' that Winn didn't mean them any harm and that she will make sure he doesn't try anything before they were allowed in.
Now they sat across from each other, Kara's cape next to her as Winn split his attention between the 'tablet' in his hands and the off-worlders around them.
"So is Off-Worlder the politically correct term, or?" Winn asked.
"An Off-Worlder is simply someone who isn't born on the planet you're currently on," Kara explains to him, "Most people use race to describe someone that isn't the same race as them, but earth- like many other planets- see different physical characteristics as race."
"So that's not just us?" Winn asked, pointing at himself.
"It's most common among planets that are Class 4 and lower, but a few planets with higher class still do it," Kara tells him.
"You said Earth is a Class 3 planet and that you're trying to get it up to Class 4, but what was Krypton?" Winn asked before sipping the drink in front of him.
"Krypton was a Class 6. We were we on our way to be a Class 7, which is the highest classification, but… yeah. That didn't happen," Kara said, and looked away.
"How does the classification work?" Winn asked, changing the subject slightly.
"In summary: Class 0 is an uninhabited planet. No life forms of any kind. Class 1 is a planet with life forms, but none with high brain functions. Class 2 is a planet with intelligent life that doesn't have a proper governmental structure. Class 3a is a planet with proper government or governments. Class 3b is a planet with proper governments that have good communication. This is what earth is currently classed as. Class 4 is a planet with a pedo-hidden 'alien' population. They normally have communities of their own and the Intergalactic council sends people to make sure they sure everyone can be taken care of. They're not completely hidden because the local species are somewhat aware and normally try to eradicate them. Class 5 is a planet that accepts off-worlders as citizens. They can have jobs and walk around without looking like the local species. Class 6 is a planet with a seat on the Intergalactic Council and Class 7 is a planet that's so old, and so advanced it almost impossible to know when they discovered space travel."
"That's the simple way of explaining it," a male voice said. Kara looked up and blinked a few times.
The man was a mustard yellow with a heart-shaped face. He had antennas sprouting from his forehead near his hairline and long purple hair. His eyes were completely white and had black rings around them on the skin.
"My name is Von Daggle," Von said and held out his hand to Kara, "I am in charge of the alien community here in National City…I was told you wished to speak to me."
Kara stood and took his hand, giving a firm handshake, "I am Lady Kara-El, Head of the House of El from Krypton. Thank you for meeting with me."
"How could I not M'Lady once I heard what you have to offer," Von said.
"Thank you for being sensitive, but Lady is an old title that doesn't really translate well nor is the honorific necessary," Kara said smiling and Von bowed his head slightly, "Please, have a seat."
Winn moved up to allow Von to sit next to him and face Kara. There were two other men with him, but they didn't sit nor did they move to introduce themselves. Kara watched as Winn waved once at them, only to get a glare in return.
"I will admit that I did not expect this meeting," Von said, "Nor do I understand why you wish to have this meeting now when the humans have known about off-worlders for years."
"Naivety, innocence, foolishness, even arrogance, call it what you wish," Kara said as M'ggan placed some drink in front of them, "Until recently I hadn't realized that I and my cousin weren't the only 'aliens' on the planet."
"Your right," Von said and took a sip of his 'tea', "That was foolish."
Kara's mouth twitched as she tried to suppress a smile, "Once I did and once I realized I could help- How could I not?"
"Many people wouldn't. They would say it's not their problem," Von said, "So tell me, Lady Kara, why?"
Kara smiled as her eyelids close slightly as she looked down, her finger tracing the edge of her cup in a continuous circle, "Because everyone has a life. They have worries and joys. They have a past and they have a future… knowing that, knowing that every life has the same value… I couldn't keep sitting by and do nothing."
"You have sonder," Von said.
Kara looked up and tilted her head slightly as she tried to remember the meaning of the word. She smiled once she did, for it was exactly as she felt, "Yes."
"You realize there are going to be complications," Von said.
"Yes," Kara agreed, "However, with your help, I wish to accumulate enough evidence to make the Intergalactic Council react immediately and not waste time in sending a Green Lantern."
That and a Green Lantern would complicate thing with the Fort Rozz Criminals. She needs to take care of them herself, especially those that were unjustly incarcerated like her aunt, Non, and the rest who followed them. She needed to make them see the truth, make them see she understood, knew what they were planning-
(Kara waits till Kal is gone before she mentions Myriad. Like last time Kexel tells her his construct will self-destruct if she continues asking, but she uses the same argument. She hears the explanation again and move to get even more, if not all information on the project. Who was involved. How did they create it… did the council ever waver in using it?)
-But knew she couldn't do that while a Green Lantern was around.
"How efficient," Von said, his voice coloring with something, "However is it your efficiency that makes you do this or something else?"
Kara and Von stare unblinkingly into each other's eyes and Kara realize he knew about Fort Rozz. Probable knew about Astra too.
"Your right. There are other reasons I don't want the Green Lantern Corps involved," Kara said, "An issue I wish to deal with myself."
"I, however, am unsure if I can trust you with this issue… especially since you've met with the DEO," Von said.
Kara brought up a hand to cover her mouth, trying not to laugh as amusement course through her, "You have someone in the DEO."
"Yes," Von said.
"Then you know I'm not very impressed with them," Kara said, "They can be better. I can make them better, but they will need to understand they wouldn't be the ones to tell me what to do."
"There's the Kryptonian Arrogance I've heard about," Von said.
Arrogance? Was it arrogance when Kara knew what was going to happen? When she'd been through this before? She didn't trust the DEO, not when they believe that every alien was their enemy, that every alien was dangerous to the humans… J'onn started to understand at the end, but now she was back at the beginning… she still needed to cultivate a relationship with the man.
"Perhaps," Kara said, "But that doesn't mean I can't produce results."
"We will see," Von said before he drank some of his tea again, "And what is our plan for the classification?"
"For now I want to get Earth recognized as a Class 4. At the same time, I want to work with the humans into making them understand they do not need to fear us, that we aren't here to rule them, but to live our lives. To survive… to strive," Kara said, "Once I do I hope humans would realize that we can live in harmony."
"A Class 5 classification," Von said and Kara nodded, "Not everyone will listen immediately, and some will never change their minds."
"I am aware… but that doesn't mean we can't try," Kara said.
"And what then? Get them a seat on the council?" Von asked.
"No," Kara said suddenly, "Humanity isn't ready for that. They squabble over the pettiest things. Their technology still has room to grow and for a species that don't even have space travel to sit on the council is… comical."
"And what of you?" Von said and turned to Winn, "What are your thoughts?"
"I'm- I'm ok with it? I-I mean the citizen thing, not the- the council thing," Winn said, his hands flying as he talked, "I mean, Kara's right. We're not ready for that. But we can't keep ignoring the people that live on our planet that don't have access to basic hum-um people rights."
"I see. And you would have no problem with working with an 'alien'," Von said.
"Dude I already work with an alien," Winn said and pointed at Kara.
"And have you always known what she was?" Von asked.
"No, but that totally explains a lot- Kara breaks a lot of staplers," Winn said, fake whispering the last part.
"No, I don't!" Kara said.
"Kara. You go through like 5 staplers a month. There's a betting pool at work," Winn tells her and Kara's mouth falls open.
Von smirked and turned back to Kara fully, "I still do not trust you would be able to handle the Fort Rozz criminals, but I would be a fool to refuse help for my people, and for all off-worlders on this planet. If you can help… I welcome it."
"Thank you," Kara said, "Shell we iron out what is needed?"
"Lets," Von said.
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End
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Reason for the King thing: The first time we see Kelex, it addresses Kara as Kara Zor-El, but the second time it calls her Lady Kara. Why the sudden change in address? Especially since it doesn't call Superman Lord Kal, it calls him Kal-El.
I took some of the idea from Smallville and what is said in one episode.
In the comics, most of the time Kal and Kara are sent to Earth become it's the only world that can sustain Kryptonian life. They don't know about the yellow sun. But here they know. They send Kara and Kal to earth because of the yellow sun, so that they could get powers… why would they do that to their children? Did they underestimate how much power they will have? Did they know they were sending them off to be outsiders and never feeling like they fit in?
And if they did it on purpose so they could rule, why? What caused them to want to send their children off to be gods?
In Smallville Clark was expected to become a god to the humans, to rule them because he was 'better' than them.
But why Clark and not Kara? She was older, knew more about Krypton. Was her only purpose to raise Kal so he could become Earth's god?
FORT ROZZ
Most of the things are comic history, but with my own twist to it. Phantom Zone gates are also half comic speculation and me translating it into what I need for my story.
Sonder
n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you'll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk.
