"What a surprise," Max says turning to see General Lane and Lucy entering his office that afternoon.
"I doubt that you are surprised to see me though," Lucy remarks sharply.
"Lord, we pulled your contract, this project was supposed to end," General Lane barks.
"And let all that research go to waste? I don't think so General," Max replies smugly. "I have new funding and a new collaborator, slightly different project plan too."
"This is unsanctioned testing on humans," General Lane protests.
"Not exactly. General, each participant has agreed to be part of the project," Lord explains with a smile, "and this isn't really your jurisdiction, sir. Nor yours ma'am," he adds referring to Lucy.
"Oh, it's within my jurisdiction," she counters quickly. "You are creating metahumans by using the DNA and stem cells of known metahumans, which you acquired under false pretense."
"The DNA and stem cells that you received as part of a government contract and that you were supposed to surrender when the contract was terminated," General Lane points out. "Now, we are here to shut this whole thing down. Do I need to bring in my men or will you turn everything over to us this time?"
"You have no authority to shut anything down. This is a private enterprise and you are on private property, I'll have you escorted out now," Lord snaps, no longer playing nice and smarmy.
"I don't think so," Lucy replies pulling a document out of her breast pocket. "I have a Homeland Security Warrant that allows me to seize control of your lab and I have my own scientists coming in here tomorrow to sort this out," she adds.
"No, no, that's not possible!" Max exclaims loudly before rushing over to look at the document.
"I'm sure that you thought Agent Jensen would give you a heads up, but it turns out he was reassigned to the Detroit office yesterday," Lucy says smugly.
"I've done everything I promised to do for you, Raf." Lena exclaims as they walk back towards his room with two guards escorting them.
"Yes, but you're still holding my family hostage so that I'll agree to whatever it is that you're doing to me. What have you done to me Ms Luthor?" He asks frantically.
"We've injected you with stem cells to help protect you. The accident has made you quite special, Raf. I don't think that you understand how special. Do you not understand that this project will revolutionize burn treatments across the world? This will change lives," she explains.
"At what cost to me and my family?" He asks, not buying her argument. "What happened to Thomas?"
"Thomas isn't any of your concern. He's being well taken care of now off site," Lena lies easily.
"He escaped last night because he was able to shoot fire out of his hands and the guards had no defense against it," Raf says turning on her. "Will I be able to do that soon? What's to stop me from using this against you to save myself and my family?"
The guards step in, wearing additional protective gear, they don't flinch when one protects Lena and the other steps in front of Raf to block him.
Lena leans around the guard nearest her, "Do I need to remind you that our agreement states that your parents' care is contingent upon your participation in this project?" Lena asks trying to regain control of the situation.
"I may need to renegotiate that now," Raf says throwing fire at her feet making the guard jump back.
The other guard pulls out his weapon to shoot, but Raf sends a blast of fire at the gun and it explodes in his hand as the man tries to throw the gun down.
"Hank?" Alex says stepping out on to the balcony of the penthouse to answer her phone.
"Alex, we have a situation," Hank begins, explaining that Lucy and the General are at Lord Technologies with a warrant to secure the lab, but now Lena Luthor was assaulted by another fireball wielding man and they are enroute to assist.
"I'm at Cat Grant's. I can be there in five minutes, sir." Alex replies quickly. "My gear is in the truck," she adds.
"Vasquez is on the scene and I'm 5 minutes out, we'll meet up and put a plan together," he says stepping out of the DEO to transform.
"Alex, what's going on? Kara asks stepping out onto the balcony.
"There's another incident near Prometheus, I'm going to help," Alex replies briefly.
"Then I'm coming with you," Kara says firmly.
"Kara, no. General Lane and Lucy are there now, Vasqueze and Hank are enroute, we've got this," Alex says reaching out to squeeze her sister's shoulder before going past her.
Kara grabs Alex and turns her around. "Alex, I am still an agent of the DEO and I am available to assist," Kara protests.
"Hank didn't call you in and I'm your senior agent and I'm telling you to stand down," Alex snaps, glancing into the living room where Cat and Carter are watching them argue.
"Stay here, keep them safe," Alex adds gesturing to Cat and Carter. "Those are your orders, got it?" She says waiting for Kara to respond.
Kara huffs and nods, but crosses her arms angrily. Turning away from the window, while Alex leaves the penthouse.
Cat walks out to the balcony. "Kara?"
"Something's happening, I've been told to stand down. I'm useless right now," Kara exclaims crossing the balcony to look out at the city.
"You're not useless Kara, but your role has changed," Cat says softly, touching her shoulder.
"I don't have a role. Someone is endangering the city and I'm helpless to stop them," she points out frustrated as she shrugs Cat's hand off of her shoulder.
"Darling, Alex mentioned that you would stay here to protect us," Cat counters touching her palms together in front of her.
"Protect you? Cat, neither of you are in any danger. Besides, this place is a fortress," Kara quips angrily. "The only one of us being protected right now is me."
"There's nothing wrong with you staying with us and being safe," Cat argues.
"I wasn't sent here to sit around and be safe," Kara shouts at her, before turning around angrily and punching the wall of the balcony. It crumbles around her hand, she looks up at Cat and smiles thankfully before leaping up and flying off the balcony.
"Kara!" Cat calls after her frantically, rushing to the wall to make sure she doesn't crash to the ground before rushing back into the house to find her phone.
"Mom, what just happened?" Carter asks confused. "Kara just flew off the balcony... Mom, this whole time Kara was Supergirl?"
"Um, Carter we need to talk about that, but not right now," Cat says grabbing her cell phone.
"Susannah, do you have an extra tac suit here?" Alex asks after taking Cat's call.
"Yeah," she replies then glancing up she spots Kara landing a few feet away. "Supergirl is back?" She asks.
"It would appear so, get her in the van and into that tac suit. then try to keep her busy here until I can figure out what we've got. We don't know if her powers are normal yet," Alex says before rushing over to talk with Hank.
"He's taken Lucy hostage, he says that he'll release her in exchange for his parents," Hank explains.
"Okay, so what's the plan?" Alex asks keeping her emotions in check.
"I'm going in to talk to him," Hank explains.
"Sir, no offense, but I'm going with you. I think that I can get through to him and if I can't then you can take over," she counters.
"Just talking, Agent Danvers. We don't know what this guy is capable of," Hank reminds her.
"I can do talking," Alex replies. "Uh and Supergirl is here, sir."
"What? How?" He stammers.
"Apparently her powers returned and she flew here. She's in the van suiting up," Alex explains.
"Vasquez?" Hank says into his coms. "How's the new agent doing?"
"She's suiting up, sir." Vasquez replies evenly. "We're going to do some evaluations before she..."
The back of the van bursts open and suddenly Kara is standing before Hank and Alex in a black tac suit. "I'm ready," she declares placing her hands on her hips in her classic warrior pose.
"You were told to stand down Agent," Alex snaps.
"Supergirl, we've got this under control," Hank replies firmly.
"Is that Supergirl?" A murmur goes through the crowd.
Kara smiles broadly and waves to them.
"Supergirl! Where have you been? Where's your suit?" Questions fly out of the crowd distracting Kara just long enough for Hank and Alex to slip into the building.
Several police officers come over to hold back the crowd among them are Maggie and Brett.
"Good to see you back in action Supergirl," Brett shouts over his shoulder.
Maggie glances at Supergirl, then does a double take because she's certain that she's seen her before.
Kara turns to say something to Alex, but finds herself standing alone with two other agents.
"What's the situation?" Kara asks into her coms.
"We have eyes on Director Lane," Alex states.
"Ms Grant?" Nick is surprised to see Cat Grant calling him from her private cell. "I'm enroute now, I was golfing with my dad, but I'll be there soon," he explains.
"Mr Farrow, I want you at Lord Technology, there's a rumor that Homeland Security has served a warrant there," Cat replies quickly.
"Uh, Ms Grant, my sources tell me that Supergirl just arrived at Prometheus," Nick counters.
"Yes, and every media outlet will be covering that and we have a crew there. I need you at Lord Technology, can you get there or should I get Olsen and Danvers to cover it?" She asks as a bluff.
"I've got it, I'm ten minutes away," he replies flooring it and praying that the police are all tied up
Cat hangs up the phone and turns back to the tv, where two DEO agents are standing beside Kara, who is now wearing a DEO issue tac suit. "She should have an extra super suit," Cat mumbles to herself.
"Mom, can we talk about Kara now?" Carter asks entering her office.
"Darling, I am sure that you have many questions, but I think that this should wait until Kara returns, don't you?" Cat questions.
"Yes, Mom. But can I just ask how long have you known that she was Supergirl?" Carter asks curiously. "Did you know before you two started dating?
"I did, but honey, I'm not with Supergirl. I'm with Kara," Cat explains carefully.
"But Mom, Kara is Supergirl. So you are dating Supergirl," he protests.
"No, Supergirl is only one part of her," Cat explains. "There is so much more to Kara than being a superhero, Carter. Think about all the things that you loved about her before you knew that she was Supergirl, did any of those change or are there just a few more things that you love?" She questions.
"There's more things that I love," he replies considering her point. "It's still really cool that Kara is Supergirl," Carter admits with a big smile. Then turning to look at the tv, he asks, "Where's her suit?" Then turning back to Cat he exclaims, "Wait, she hasn't been sick. Her powers were out!"
Cat nods slowly. "We'll talk about all of this later," she replies smiling that her beautiful boy is so damn smart. Looking up at the tv, her smile fades as she remembers the angry conversation on the balcony before Kara flew off. Cat can understand Kara's frustration, but she's still angry with her for leaving that way.
"Raf, you don't need to do this. I can help you, my organization is investigating the lab right now. We're taking it over and shutting it down," Lucy blurts out, trying to reason with him now that Alex and Hank are standing in front of them.
"It's not just for me, they have my parents," he explains, his eyes brimming with tears of frustration.
"Who has your parents?" Alex asks.
"Lex and Lena Luthor, my father is an invalid, they depended on me. I paid for the extra care that he needed, when I was hurt we couldn't afford it and the Luthors offered to help," he answers.
"We can help with them," Lucy says wishing that she could turn around to see the man's face. Her father shot him in the leg, but he stopped bleeding almost immediately and doesn't seem to have been affected by the wound any longer.
"Let Director Lane go and we'll sort this out. What they're doing to you isn't right, we know it and we want to help you," Alex replies holding her hands out to show that she's unarmed.
Raf relaxes his grip on Lucy, but doesn't let her go. She can tell that he's considering it, but he's still not sure.
She hears something behind them and she tries not to react, instead she watches Alex's face.
"General Lane has Lena Luthor and Maxwell Lord in custody," Supergirl announces from behind them.
Raf turns quickly and flames shoot out of his hands, Kara counters with her arctic breath, then darts in and snatches Lucy from his grasp before he can react.
Alex quickly moves in front of Lucy and Raf turns to face them.
"It's okay, we don't want to hurt you. We just want to help you," she explains.
He stands to the side glancing from Alex to Supergirl. "No one can help me, they've made me into a monster," he yells.
"Let us try to help you," Lucy pleads, moving around Alex. "Raf, we're not the military. We specialize in people like you and Supergirl works with us," she explains.
"It's true, Raf." Supergirl adds. "They have helped me understand my abilities and powers, they can do the same for you."
"I just want to be normal again," he replies.
"Then let us take you to our base and see if we can figure out how to do that," Alex suggests.
"What about my parents?" He asks.
"We stopped the van that was taking them back to Metropolis," Hank informs him. "They'll be at the base waiting for you," he adds.
"Okay," Raf says the fight going out of him.
"Supergirl, do you want to escort him out to the truck?" Hank asks.
"Shouldn't Director Lane and Agent Danvers get that honor sir?" Supergirl questions.
"I think they can follow you out, but we all think you should lead," he replies as the others nod in agreement. "Welcome back Supergirl," Hank adds warmly.
"It's great to be back, Hank." Kara replies smiling broadly as she takes Raf's arm to lead him out to the waiting transport.
A/N: last chapter and I'm going to pause the series here. But don't worry, I have several other stories that I've been working on that I'll post in the meantime!