Cover – A baby-doll with a broken glass face has her hands up and is walking towards the reader. She has a wide smile, one bright-blue eye, and the gears in her head can be easily seen through the broken face.

INFINITE SUPERGIRL

By KryptoKin

Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing

Kansas City International Airport

Kansas City, Missouri

A green taxi was parked in the front of the airport amongst a line of yellow taxis. The taxi driver, a tall Caucasian man with a thick blond beard, was helping Kara take bags out of the trunk. Lana Lang was on the sidewalk fiddling with an iPad and talking into a Bluetooth device. Both women were wearing sneakers and jeans, with Lana wearing a white button-up and Kara wearing a lime-green t-shirt. The man was struggling to get a particularly large, tan suitcase out of the trunk. When pulling it by the handle didn't work he wrapped his arms around it and tried pulling it out that way. His effort proved fruitless. When Kara tapped him on the shoulder, he stepped back slightly and watched as she easily picked up the suitcase.

His mouth hung open as she set it next to Lana. "Must've been stuck," said Lana.

He scratched the back of his head and nodded. "Yeah, must've." She stepped forward and paid the taxi driver.

"Keep the change." He looked at the 50 dollar bill in his hand then walked away, still dumbfounded by what happened and mumbling under his breath about bad tips and women on steroids. "I'll get a trolley. Stay here with the bags," she said to Kara once the taxi drove away.

"I still don't see why I couldn't have flown us to Metropolis."
"Because you may be strong but there's no way you can carry three bags, two carry-ons, and me at the same time."

"Not if you don't let me try." Kara laughed as Lana walked away. "It could've been fun." She waved her hand to dismiss the teen's comment as she walked through a set of automatic doors.

Kara looked up at the clear blue sky and smiled. Metropolis, here I come.

Secret Laboratory

Undisclosed Location

Two men in West Point-like attire, with the uniform being black where it would be light grey with blue lining instead of black, were walking down a hallway when the wall behind them exploded. Engulfed in a fiery rage, Volcana stormed out of the hole and charged in the opposite direction of the two men. Dr. Smith, a thin gangly man with brown hair and a thinning spot on his crown, stumbled through the hole after her.

"Please Miss Selton. He meant no harm by the comment."

Volcana turned on him and grabbed his white lab coat by the lapel. "No harm? He called me an old woman!"

"All he said was ma'am." Volcana's hands heated up and his coat caught on fire. She let him go as he ripped it off and threw it on the ground. "I really wish you stop setting these on fire. I only own three."

"I guess this makes it two," she said as she walked away from him and through double doors.

"Please Miss Selton, he was only being polite. Is there-" the doors slammed back on him with a thud. He pushed them open and rubbed his nose as he ran after her. "Please Miss Selton. Is there anything I can do to help ease the situation?"

She stopped for a moment and tapped her lips with a finger as she stood in front of him. "You can take me to see Percussion."

"You know I can't do that Miss-"

"Stop calling me Miss Selton. It's Volcana."

"We prefer to call people by their real names here." Dr. Smith and Volcana looked in the direction they had been going to see Lieutenant Rodgers approaching them. He was dressed in the black and blue uniform with a service coat and his pants bloused over black boots.

"So how come I've never heard Percussion's?"

"It's complicated."

"Dumb it down for me."

Lieutenant Rodgers stared at Volcana for a moment, "I have a better idea," then turned to the doctor. "Prepare the room. I think it is high-time Miss Selton met her co-worker."

Merino Industries

Metropolis, California

Winslow Schott, a short man with unruly black hair and large glasses, wearing a blue lab coat and khaki pants, sat hunched over a workbench. He was tinkering with the inside of a toy pug the size of a football. On closer inspection, the inside was not plastic gears, but metal gears and a circular core that showed a green rock inside of it.

"Schott!" The man flinched and looked over the rim of his glasses. Standing in front of him was Geoffrey Johns, a tall man in a dark-blue business suit with a blood-red tie. He had caramel-colored hair and a thick mustache to go with it. "Two days Schott. Two days I've been waiting for those new schematics for our power-cycle. And what do I find?" The man yanked the toy off the workbench and waved it in the air. "You're playing with toys."

Winslow reached for the toy. "PleaseMister Johns. That's very delicate." He ran across the lab and grabbed two long rolls of paper. "The schematics are right here. I finished them-" Mr. Johns yanked them out of his hand, "this morning."

"Excellent! I'll bring these up to Mister Merino immediately."

"Could I do it instead?" Mr. Johns raised an eyebrow and looked down on the scientist. "W-What I meant to say, is would it be okay if I presented the bike with you?"

Mr. John's face softened slightly. "Winslow, you knowI would let you do that but you just don't have the charisma I do. If this bike is going to be approved, someone with enough experience and the right look is needed. And Winslow my boy," Mr. Johns smacked Winslow hard in the arm with the hand holding the papers, "you just don't have it."

He walked away from Winslow but stopped when the younger man called out to him. "Wait, Mister Johns. Th-The dog." He looked down at the toy and snorted before tossing it at Winslow, who jumped to catch it.

"Really Winslow, aren't you a little old for toys?" Winslow frowned as Mr. Johns let out a hearty laugh while leaving the lab. He petted the small dog as he walked to a different workbench.

"Come on Casper," he said while turning on a desk lamp and spreading his hands over a set of plans. "Let's show Mister Johns I'm not too old for toys."

The Metropolis Hilton, Room 704

Kara stood on the balcony and stared at the street below. The honking cars, talking people, and other miscellaneous noises made their way up to her. Even sounds from across the city, such as arguments, police sirens, and similar noises could be heard. Kara took her glasses off and placed her middle finger and thumb on her temples. As she massaged them, the sounds filtered out until the only one left was the sound of Lana saying goodbye to the bellboy.

"Kara?" said Lana from inside the hotel room.

"Out here," she replied while keeping her back to the balcony's doorway.

Lana came up behind Kara and leaned on the door frame. "Why do I always find you outside?"

"What do you mean?"

A small gust of wind came and blew Lana's red hair in her face. She brushed it back as she spoke. "You always find some spot where you can hear the world. In Smallville it was on top of the water tower. In Kansas City it's that spot above the house."

"I really do that?"

"Almost every night."

"Huh. I never thought about it. I just did it."

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Lana went inside and stood by the door. Before opening it, she turned to Kara who was putting her glasses on. "Who is it?" she whispered.

"It's me." Lana's eyebrows raised as she opened the door. Standing in a baby-blue business suit with a white blouse was Karen Starr. She was smiling with her hands on her hips; a manila folder in her right hand and a water bottle in her left. "Hello girls. Miss me?"

Merino Industries

Geoffrey Johns whistled a perky tune as he spun his keys around his right index finger. He walked through an efficiently lit parking garage packed with vehicles. When he reached his car his jacket rang. Johns pulled out his cellphone.

"Hey honey…Yeah, I'm on my way…Yes, I got the plans from Schott…No, I did-…but honey." Johns sighed as he pressed a button on the small remote on his keychain. The lights on the car lit up. "I remember what we talked about…Okay, I'll apologize to him tomorrow…I love you too. Bye."

He reached for the car door but stopped and looked down. A toy soldier the size of a coffee mug was repeatedly walking into his foot. Johns picked it up and turned it around in his hand. The soldier had a blue battle uniform and a gun that aimed forward. I haven't seen a Captain USA toy since I was five.

Johns pushed the toy's belt buckle and a translucent liquid squirted on his jacket. "Ha, it still works." He went to brush the liquid off his jacket but found it had eaten through it. He dropped the toy and yanked his jacket off. "What the #&%$!"

He left the jacket on the ground and got in the car door. As he started his car, a wind-up taxi sped towards it. It stopped under the vehicle but the wind-up key kept turning. Just as the front bumper cleared the toy the key stopped. The explosion consumed Johns' car as well as four other vehicles parallel to it. In the midst of the flames and debris, the half-melted Captain USA toy laid face up.

The Metropolis Hilton, Room 704

The Metropolis night was filled with bright lights. Vehicles zig-zagged between skyscrapers and people rushed to and fro on the sidewalk. The balcony doors of Room 704 were wide open to let in a breeze. Kara, Karen, and Lana sat at the dinner table laughing, their meals mostly finished.

Karen sat back in her seat with Kara's glasses in hand. "What is with these glasses?"

"Lana's idea."

Karen cocked her eyebrow at the red-head and handed the glasses to Kara. Then she went into the kitchen and pulled the wine out of its cooler as the other two women spoke.

"Shut-up. I had to do something. I couldn't let her walk around as is."

"You do realize these do nothing?" said Kara while waving them in the air.

"It works on Katherine Kane."

Karen set three glasses of wine on the table. "Isn't she suspicious of you two?"

"That has more to do with my actions than my weak disguise," replied Kara.

Lana narrowed her eyes at the teen then quickly said to Karen, "Kara has a boyfriend now."

"Really?" Kara's face turned pink and a big smile was plastered on Karen's face. "Who is it?"

"Derrick Albright. And he knows she's Supergirl."

The smile on Karen's face dissipated. "What?"

Kara caressed the wine glass with her left hand. "Relax. He figured it out on his own. Plus, he won't tell anyone."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Smart boy. How long have you been dating?"

"A month," she replied with a cheesy grin. "I've never had a boyfriend before. It's nice." She was about to take a sip of wine when a hand reached out and took it away.

"You'retoo young for this," said Lana as she placed the glass on the island.

"Oh come on Lana. Let her have one drink. It won't affect her," contested Karen.

"I know that. But the legal drinking age is still twenty-one. I'm not about to have her break a law just because it won't hurt her." Karen rolled her eyes. "Because once the little laws go, the big ones do to. Like stealing."

A frown flashed across the blonde billionaire's face. "I suppose you're right."

Lana handed Kara a Capri Sun pack. "I know I am." Karen got up from her chair and stepped out to the balcony. Kara and Lana looked each other confused.

Karen was leaning on the balcony taking a sip of wine when Kara joined her. "Something on your mind?" asked the blonde teenager.

"Do you think I'm a villain?"

Kara took a sip from her pouch then said out of the corner of her mouth, "you'd need a costume for that."

Karen smiled and set her wine on the balcony. "I actually do have a costume. My best-friend Helena doesn't approve though. Thinks there's too much cleavage." Below the women, a fire truck and two police cars raced down the street. "I can't keep hiding behind my money anymore, can I?"

"What do you think?"

Karen picked up her glass with Kara mirroring her with the juice pouch. "I think you coming to Earth will do a lot more than bring hope." The two "clinked" drinks and simultaneously drank from them before looking up at the night sky with smiles on their face.

Secret Laboratory, Room 003

Room 003 was an all-white hospital room with no windows, no television, one bathroom, one nightstand, and one chair that sat next to the only bed in the room. A clear vase of assorted flowers was the only spot of color in the room, with the added exception of the bed's occupant. Hooked to an EKG machine, an I-V, and another machine hooked to his temples was Adam Harper. His brown hair was slightly unkempt and his tan skin had paled out to the color of cream. A dark-brown set of prayer beads hung from his neck.

"He's been in a coma since we picked him up from the gas station," said Lt. Rodgers as he stood in the doorway of the room. Volcana approached Adam as the lieutenant spoke. "We've tried multiple tests but nothing seems to work." She stood on the left side of his bed and placed her hand on its railing. "He'll have to wake on his own time."

"Who brought the flowers?" she asked while focused on Adam.

"His sister. She's the only one who knows he's here."

Family, she thought. He has one that misses him like I miss mine. "Could I sit here with him?"

Rodgers was surprised by the request but fulfilled it by stepping out of the room and closing the door behind him. Volcana sat down in the chair and stared at her comatose companion. "Okay Percussion. You need to wake up. I can't take another day with these nerds. I need an ally. You got that?"

A few seconds passed before Adam's brow scrunched slightly and there was a slight spike in brain activity. Volcana smiled. "Good boy."

Merino Industries

Winslow pushed through a set of double doors with a messy pile of papers in his arms. In his rush he knocked into several men and women, all whom yelled at him to watch where he was going. His black hair was a mess and he was wearing a Black Sabbath t-shirt, jeans, and Converse sneakers. Gotta get outta here. Gotta get outta here.

He rushed into his lab and dropped the papers on the large workbench in the middle of the room. Papers flew on the floor but he didn't bother to pick them up as he jerked open the door of a closet to pull out cardboard boxes. He threw them on the table and began to run around his lab collecting papers and gadgets. As he stuffed them in the boxes, a man dressed in a grey pin-stripe suit came in.

"Ah-hem." Winslow stopped in mid-stuffing and stared at the man. "In light of recent events, Mister Johns will no longer be able to present the power-cycle. Since you are the only one who worked on the bike, Mister Merino was hoping you could present."

Winslow blinked a few times. "Now? Um, are you sure?"

The man scanned the messy lab, his lip curling up in disgust. "No but you are the only who knows how to explain it in full detail. Who else are we going to ask?"

Winslow placed the papers in his hands in the box. He brushed his hair back with his hand as he fixed his appearance. "Of course."

"Good." The man's brow scrunched as he looked around again. "What are you doing?"

"Spring cleaning," said Winslow with an awkward smile.

"I see. Well, don't be late. You'll need to show at room 1504. It's a conference room. Got that?" Winslow nodded furiously. The man turned on his heels and left Winslow to his thoughts.

I can't do a presentation, not after what I've just done. Winslow looked to his right at a small mirror hanging on the wall. No. No, I can do this. This is your chance to make it big Schott. It's time to take it.

The streets of Metropolis.

The bright sun caused the bronze ball that was the Daily Planet globe to shine profusely. Kara aimed her camera at it and took a picture.

"Anyone ever tell you, you scream 'tourist'." Kara focused the camera on a lanky ginger man standing in front of her. He looked to be in his early-twenties and was dressed in khaki pants, a white button-up shirt, and a dark-green bowtie. A Nikon camera hung on his neck.

Kara looked down at her sneakers, black cargo shorts, and white t-shirt. She adjusted her Metropolis Sharks ball-cap and smiled. "I guess I do."

The man stuck out his hand with a smile. "Name's Jimmy Olsen, what's yours?"

She placed her hand in his. "Kara Lang."

"Well Kara, how about I give you Jimmy Olsen's personal tour of Metropolis?"

Kara adjusted her glasses with her free hand and smiled. "Sure."

Merino Industries

Winslow Schott stood shakily with his back to a large bay window and a small presentation board on his left. His black hair was combed down and he wore a brown tweed jacket to go over his t-shirt. Sweat was trickling down his face as he spoke in stops and starts. "Um…I…Well…"

Sitting at a conference table were six men and four women dressed in various business suits; all of them with bored expressions on their faces with the exception of the grey-haired gentlemen sitting on the farthest end of the oval table. "Relax Mister Schott. I understand this is your first presentation but you designed the cycle. Explain it like you would if you were talking to a fellow scientist. Just dumb it down a little would you?"

The comment elicited dry chuckles from the room and Winslow relaxed. He turned to the board and ran his fingertips over the artistic rendition of the power-cycle. You can do it Schott. Just like you rehearsed it. Winslow took a breath and stepped to the side. Just as he was about to open his mouth to speak a knock sounded on the door.

The grey-haired man spoke. "Come in." In walked a man and woman dressed professionally and two uniformed Metropolis Police Department officers.

"Excuse me. We're looking for Winslow Schott," said the female detective. Everyone at the table looked at Winslow. A look of fear flashed on his pale face. "You need to come with me sir.

"W-Why?"

"You are being arrested for the murder of Geoffrey Isaac Johns."

Winslow was cuffed and led down a hallway past offices and cubicles. Several people watched as he entered the elevator with the police. After pressing the button for the ground floor, the male detective leaned over to his partner and whispered, "Why do I always get the weird ones?" As the elevator descended, a dark expression came over Winslow's face.

The streets of Metropolis.

"…and that's how the Metropolis Sharks got their name," said Jimmy as he and Kara walked out of the Metropolis Museum of Modern Art.

"A shark did not drop in the middle of the field."

Jimmy held up the first three fingers of his right hand. "Scouts honor." Kara rolled her eyes and pushed him in the shoulder. The two walked silently for a moment until Jimmy asked a question. "So Kara, you have a boyfriend?"

"If I did, what makes you think we would work? I'm from Kansas and you're from Metropolis. Two very different places."

"We'd find a way," said Jimmy with a crooked grin.

Kara smiled. "Maybe, but it would be difficult."

"Difficult is my middle name," said Jimmy while pulling on his bowtie proudly. "Okay, so maybe it's actually Bartholomew. What difference does that make?"

Kara reached up and fixed Jimmy's crooked bowtie. "None. Unfortunately for your sake, I do have a boyfriend. I like him a lot."

Jimmy kicked at an imaginary rock and frowned. "Can't blame a guy for trying."

"I suppose not."

He pointed to a hotdog cart in front of the Merino Industries building. "Want one?"

"Sure."

As Jimmy ordered his hotdog with a pile of condiments, Kara looked at the passing people. I can see why Kal-El likes it here. She turned her attention across the street and noticed an old beggar sitting at the corner of a bank. He had grey hair that came to his shoulders and an equally long scruffy beard. He was wearing no shoes, torn dirty jeans, a dingy red flannel shirt, and a brown overcoat with frayed edges. A coffee can sat between his feet that said "Food Money," yet no one was dropping any money in.

Kara looked both ways before crossing the street. Jimmy watched her and smiled when she stopped in front of the man. "I don't have cash but I do have this." She held out two sandwiches and four Capri sun packs. He looked at them pointedly before taking them.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome.

Suddenly, a woman next to Kara screamed and pointed up at the buildings across the street. Standing on the edge of the Merino Industries roof was Winslow Schott.

Police cars suddenly came around the corner and parked in front of the building. Several uniformed officers and three men in suits ran inside. Jimmy rapidly took pictures.

"Think he's gonna jump?" Kara looked at the old man who stared at Winslow with a stoic expression. Kara looked around then slipped into the alley between the bank and another building. The old man watched the spectacle across the street. His hair blew to his right when a red and blue blur flew out of the alley.

Supergirl stopped fifteen feet in front of Winslow. "Get back! Get back Supergirl! You come any closer, I'll jump."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why jump?"

"I killed a man. It's only fair I die too. Like they say, 'an eye for an eye-"

"Makes the whole world blind. What does a life for a life accomplish?" The door to the roof flew open behind Winslow as the police ran out.

"It doesn't matter. I'm not going anywhere. Especially jail." Winslow raised his hands and swan-dived off the roof. Before he even fell teen feet Supergirl caught him by the left leg. "Let me go! Let me die!"

Supergirl felt a whoosh of air and there was a stirring from the crowd. Superman floated down until he was at eye-level with Supergirl. "I thought you were away," she said.

"I came back early." He looked down at the upside down Winslow. "What's your decision? Let him drop like he wants or give him to the police?"

Supergirl looked at the squirming man. "He wants to die, not out of remorse or to 'even the balance' but so he won't live with the guilt. I think he needs to learn and understand what he has done."

"And you're the one to decide that?"

"No. He is."

Supergirl gently laid Winslow on the ground. The police cuffed him and carried him away. The superheroes watched Winslow hang his head as he and the police disappeared through the roof's door.

"Are you ready?" asked Superman.

"For what?"

Superman smiled then floated away from the building. "People of Metropolis! For almost nine months, you have speculated about the mystery that is the girl next to me. The mystery is over. This is Kara Zor-El, my cousin."

Jimmy Olsen brought the camera down and smiled. "Cool."

"But she is more than that," Superman continued. "This girl is a hero who wishes to help those in need and who stands for the same things I do." He floated down and backwards so that Supergirl was in the foreground. "Let me officially introduce you to the one, the only, SUPERGIRL!"

Everyone cheered at the official announcement. Amidst the joyful crowd, the homeless beggar smiled then stood up. He slipped into the alley and pulled out an expensive looking phone from the inside pocket of his overcoat. "Pull the car around Alfred. It's time I officially introduce myself to Supergirl."

Author's Note: Do not give homeless people money. They could use it for drugs. If they ask you for money, tell them you don't have cash but you would gladly get them food or pay for a meal. If they say no, they most likely wanted your money for drugs.