Hard Times

Kara remembered the precise moment when her consciousness started back up. It was what made her arm shot up like a major reflex and tightened the emergency medical officer's wrist. Gasping, and looking as if she were in shock, Kara struggled to understand the scenery. She didn't want anyone attending her as if she were someone inferior. Breathing in and out, she struggled to find the words but all she could hear were incoherent statements from everyone, including Lois, who finally got out of the rubble she was in moments ago. Everything was moving in an incredibly slow motion. 'What the hell just happened?' she thought. 'Was the bomb stopped?'

"Miss? Miss?" a soft voice was heard but all Kara could do was look around in a daze, looking almost astounded. Until, finally she looked at the medical officer in the eye. Kara saw that he was still gripping the man's wrist. She also saw that his hand held Kara's blue kryptonite shard hanging from her neck. She wanted no one to touch her necklace. One thing was certain, she was never going to take off her necklace. Kara already lost her powers but she preferred wearing the necklace as a reminder of where she came from.

"Miss?" the medical officer repeated louder.

"Yeah. Yeah. I-I'm alright." she nodded.

"Miss, you sustained a major concussion to the back of your head. You have to come with us to the hospital." The man suggested.

Remembering that it was not her time to be revealed, Kara objected at once. "No! No…I'm alright really." she then got up with minor difficulty and it was then that she felt the pain on the backside of her head which made her stumble a bit. Not letting anyone helping her walk, she had convinced them that she could manage.

Lois spoke up to the medical officer's behalf. "Kara, I mean Linda, you have to get yourself checked out. You could have serious brain damage."

Seeing as she was surrounded by people telling her what to do, Kara surrendered. "Fine. But I don't want to be in a stretcher. I want to walk." she sighed.

As soon as she was outside, Kara was careful not to be seen by the overwhelming swarm of reporters pushing their cameras to the victims. Kara had seen the governors she and Lois saved and they were soon in ambulances as well. Because she didn't want to be recognized, Kara put her head down, not letting her eyes be seen. She had used a red blanket that the EMTs had given her and used it as a long cloak that wrapped her head to her waist.

She was already on the ambulance and when news reporters wanted to question her, Kara simply closed the doors. So disappointed with how she had handled things, Kara refused to think now. Nothing and nobody could help her dry her tears that were running down her eyelids. 'My powers…' she sobbed. By then, the ambulance started up and drove away from the scene. It was then that Kara wanted to sleep now.

Three Months Later

Writing on a piece of paper as fast as possible was strenuous. It was necessary to jot everything down for it would be erased from memory in a second. A Daily Planet newspaper laid on the table, next to the young man's notebook: ECONOMY SAVED. A section below the title read 'Rates are readjusted, inflation unchanged, thanks to fellow news reporter Lois Lane.' A picture of her had been shown in a hospital room apparently smiling at the camera and giving a thumbs up. The article had been written by Jimmy Olsen.

Jim Malverne, looked back at the screen of his laptop where a list of pictures from that day where seen. He struggled to look closer at the images while at the same time eating a chocolate doughnut.

"How could something like this happen?" he said out loud.

Ever since the event, Jim Malverne could not help but be obsessed by the day in which the country's economy was almost destroyed. The entire world was in constant talk about it. In the school's library, he tried to find answers as best he could. He continued to do so as soon as he ate another doughnut, he began writing again fast as he could that he actually began to sweat. He had found another interesting note. 'There had to be someone physically powerful to do this kind of attack!' he realized. Jim tried to write down his theory but he began to get tired before he could even put the words 'Alien?' or 'Meta-human?'

As he gave up, Jim packed up his things and left. The school was vacant but he stayed after school for reasons of knowledge and activities still being given. He was a school's aide. But now anxious to leave, he was already feeling hungry again. He scolded himself for being so. With the superheroes in exile and the economy being systematically attacked three months ago, everyone had been on stress. 'Everybody is still on stress because the news today keeps covering the event and even making up stories about more attacks coming, which is preposterous!' he thought. As he exited the building, the overwhelming heat hit him like an unstoppable force. Jim hated the summer.

He also hated that everyday news kept spreading fear and lies. People had been getting depressed about such an attack of epic proportions almost happening. Jim had been so scared about what might have happened that he had turned to food as an outlet. Looking at his wide, protruding belly, he felt frustrated. 'I've gained 25 pounds and I need to stop this before I get even more enormous!' he thought frantically but it was no use, he was too timid. It was the reason he kept to himself now these days. Just so that no one would see him. His grades had been declining a bit as well. Seeing as graduation was coming next year, he had to make a change soon. The reason being was simple. 'I want to see Linda again...' he thought. Jim hadn't seen her in a while.

Passing by places, Jim took a glance at the people with their arms to their chests as if they were protecting themselves from something. Litter was all over the ground making it a permanent decoration. People were yelling at each other over petty differences. At Joe's Hamburger's and Shakes, Jim, drinking his third vanilla shake, could not help but feel in ecstasy at the taste and creaminess of it. As he swallowed, his pants began to budge as his bulging gut started to make him feel uncomfortable. He frowned at his growing girth. 'Just this last one and I'm out.' He thought and continued to sip.

Trying to focus on something else, Jim began to think of his findings and tried to ascertain what he had found out. 'The reason the press won't say anything is because they haven't found anything rational by the police and SWAT who were there in the first place. They're hiding something. No wonder! Hardly anything is conclusive!' thought Jim.

It was that revelation that he realized something else and spoke in a shocked whisper. "A hero had stayed behind!" It was the only logical explanation. Thinking fast, Jim tried to put his own theory to the test. 'The authorities denied reporters' claims that a superpowered being saved the Federal Reserve and its workers, while another superpowered being was about to push the button on economic collapse. The rumor is still there but not taken seriously. If a superpowered villain was the one pulling the strings, it's obvious a hero may have saved the day...'

Jim was so happy that his theory was plausible that he had ordered another shake.

Frustration. The word was beyond what she felt. She had felt incredible anger and depression for what seemed like countless days. Before she had lost her powers, she had the world in her hands. The excitement of having almost driving the human race further down the evolutionary chain, was intoxicating but having such glory taken away so sudden was unacceptable to her. It was official, she had to escape and get her powers back. In an orange jumpsuit, Zora Vi-Lar kept her silent mode apparent as she walked alongside with the other human women to the prison lunchroom.

The tasteless food was acceptable to her for the time being. Zora nevertheless kept a disappointed attitude placed upon her. 'It is to remind me of the first time I have failed.' she thought bitterly. Having failed her objective made her feel completely disillusioned that she felt she could crack at any moment. Sitting alone as she liked to be, Zora was glad for that. She had shown that she was not to be messed with by the guards nor by any other inmates the first day she arrived to the prison. Her fighting skills were evidence of that.

Lunch had been over and as she was sent back to her room. As she sat in a cell all by herself, she was about to meditate some more when a guard approached her door. "Vi-Lar!" the guard said.

Zora looking annoyed turned slowly to the man addressing her. "You got a visitor." He said and then walked away from the barred door.

Confused, Zora never had any accomplices nor shared any friendships with the people on Earth. So it was difficult to believe someone wanted to see her. Nevertheless, she was then led to a booth with a glass window separating two seats. A phone was placed on the wall next to her. As she sat down, a familiar-looking man was seen from the other side of the glass. The phone was placed to his ear indicating she should do the same.

Suspicious, she paused for a second to fully understand what he wanted. When nothing came to mind, the phone was picked up and placed to her ear now. She spoke carefully. "Why are you here?"

"You fascinate me."

"I'm not sure I know what you mean."

"You know exactly what I mean. But don't worry, you're secret's safe with me. I came here because, as I said, I have an interest in what you are, I plan on releasing you."

"And giving away the point first before a proper introduction makes you trustworthy?" Zora asked skeptically.

The man went with a different approach. "I spent three months trying to decide when and how to approach you. Nothing else came to mind, except the truth."

"It was wise of you not to lie to me, so you may begin." agreed Zora.

"I don't underestimate you. I came here because maybe we may yet reach a mutual understanding."

"If you say you know all about me, what makes you think I would ally with an inferior being like you?" Zora growled.

"If I was inferior, I wouldn't be very smart, now would I? After all, I have information that is very important to you. Information about your lost abilities."

Zora's eyes widened apparently she was taken aback by the man's sudden knowledge about her powers. "What?"

"Oh yes." He nodded. "I know that it was someone as powerful as you."

"No one is as powerful as me!" Zora whispered.

"Not even another Kryptonian?"

"Another of my kind is here? If you mean Kal-El-"

"No, not him. His cousin. Your ancestor to be exact. She has been depowered and that is why your powers are gone."

Zora looked more confused than ever.

"Let's just say it's all a matter of time management. Because we have to assume that if things stayed as they were, as days, weeks and years go by, this very Kryptonian will never get her powers back either. This girl is just sitting around doing nothing."

"My ancestor?...This cannot be possible. But what is it that you want?" Zora insisted as she looked at him in desperation.

"I came here to release you as I said before. If you agree to accept me as your ally, I will help in regaining your powers as well as give you your answers. But also..." he then came closer until he was an inch away from the screen. "Because I want that crystal back." a serious Lex Luthor said.

It didn't take long for Jim to realize that he had to find Linda. 'She's the only one who's friends with Lois Lane. She can give me her contact number...' he thought. Lois Lane was a major victim at the scene and he needed to keep her updated on his theory that could turn into a possible fact. At this point, he didn't care if Linda saw him in such a way, he had to get her to see what was going on. Seeing as he was out of shape to even walk, let alone jog, Jim had to ride in a taxi cab to get to Linda's house. The neighborhoods looked as if all life had been deprived. 'Everyone thinks they're safe in their houses. But there's no danger right now!' he thought.

The Kent Farm was composed of several barns a few feet away from each other. It was many acres long and beautiful as he observed it through the cab window. Taking a deep breath in and putting his hands in his pockets, Jim knew that he was potentially going to get called on for his appearance. But the day hot as it was made him go on. As he made his way to the main barn where hay was stored, Jim saw a figure on top of the loft.

Arriving at the right moment, Jim took the chance and walked up the stairs wanting to make as little noise as he could. He gulped as he saw a young woman doing push-ups with one hand. He cleared his throat trying to make his presence known but it mostly sounded like he was whimpering. The heavily-tanned young woman got up, turned around and her steely blue eyes were trained on him like they were daggers.

Dressed in a weird sports bra and jeans. It was a weary-looking Linda completely soaked in sweat. Beautiful, due to being muscular yet curvy and feminine. Breathing heavily, she was that exhausted from her workout.

"Hi, Linda." Jim croaked and pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose as a nervous habit. He cleared his throat before he went on.

"I understand it's been a while...I know you're probably very busy so I just wanted to say-" Jim's sentence went incomplete as Linda went up to him and gave him a big hug.

"I missed you too, Jim." she whispered to him.