Chapter 10

When Oliver Queen walked into the lair Barry was already waiting for him. Felicity was sitting in front of her computers looking very worried. She was nervously biting her lower lip, while Diggle was sitting next to her, arms folded in front of his chest, trying not to show how worried he was as well. Oliver couldn't deny or hide his own anxiousness. His stomach had become a tight knot ever since Barry's call and Oliver for the first time wished the speedster had picked him up first so that he wouldn't take this long to arrive. The waiting for the news was killing him.

"What did you find?" Oliver was straightforward and blunt.

At the sound of his entrance, Felicity jumped and her eyes searched automatically for him. She sighed and got up.

"Thank God you're here, Oliver. Barry wouldn't tell us anything until you got here."

The speedster walked closer to the Green Arrow, who did the same. The two men met at the center of the room. Barry pushed his hands inside the pockets of his trousers and sighed. Oliver didn't like the sound of it. It was the same one he had heard on the phone. Felicity looked impatiently between them, her eye wondering from Barry to Oliver and back.

"It's bad, Oliver." was the first thing that came out of the speedster's mouth.

"Yea, I got that impression. The question is how bad."

"You want the long or the short version?"

"Start with the short version and then we go to the long one." Diggle said. "Knowing you, it's going to be a weird one."

Barry eyed him shaking his head. "Man, you have no idea." Then he looked back at Oliver and sighed before deciding to just tell them and get it over with. "So, short story, our Earth and Kara's Earth have merged."

"Like, they have become one?" Felicity asked as she was the only one capable of speaking.

John and Oliver still needed some time to get to grips with the news. Barry nodded his head confirming Felicity's words.

"Oh. My. God." the computer genius mumbled.

Diggle shook his head and gave the speedster a look. "I swear to God Barry, every time I see you the world becomes weirder and weirder."

Barry offered him an apologetic smile. Oliver, on the other hand, didn't seem so freaked.

"That's Barry for you. You should've got used to it by now. So, do you know how this happened? And how are we going to deal with it?"

Barry took a deep breath and eyed each member of team arrow. "That's the long story."

#

Winn had left his computer running an algorithm to pinpoint the differences of their data with the data the Flash had given him access to before he left. He trusted Barry of course, but he still wanted to create a file with all the information. Winn was currently sitting in J'onn's office with Alex discussing this particular matter.

"Do you think we can trust the Green Arrow and the other people Flash talked about?" Alex asked J'onn.

"Kara trust's them and they're Barry's friends." Winn defended them quickly. He trusted the scarlet speedster from another world. Despite the short time he had spent with him the first time Barry arrived by accident, Winn thought of him as a very good friend.

"They are vigilantes. And we don't know anything about these time travelers. It's weird even saying it." Alex argued.

"So is James Olsen." J'onn reminded her.

Alex sighed. The Martian was right after all.

"And Barry can time travel. It's real Alex."

The woman looked at Winn overwhelmed. "He can do that?"

"I don't find it surprising." J'onn said calmly.

"He can." Winn confirmed. "He told us when he was explaining the multiverse to me, Kara and James."

Alex combed her short hair with her hands. She looked frustrated once again. In the 24 hours that they had learned that the Flash was on their world, Kara's sister had a permanent frown on her face.

"Let me guess, one of the things I don't remember." she groaned.

Before either Winn or J'onn could answer Alex's phone rang. "It's James." she told them before answering and putting it on speaker. "Hey, James."

"Alex. Something is wrong with Kara. She just attacked Snapper as Supergirl." James' voice sounded worried over the phone.

"She what?" three shocked voices said at the same time.

"I don't know what to tell you, she doesn't seem like herself. She was very angry before she attacked him like she couldn't control herself."

Alex felt her pulse rise. She tightened her fists and glared at the phone. It was only one thing that could make Kara lose control. Red Kryptonite. Maxwell Lord, a royal bastard, had created the substance by accident when he was trying to create green Kryptonite in order to use it against the Kryptonians that threatened the world - along with them Kara's aunt. The red Kryptonite had disastrous effects on Kara. It brought the worst traits on the surface and highlighted them. It was a crisis that her little sister struggled hard to come back from. What was worse, Alex wasn't there for Kara when she needed her, but had left with J'onn to find her father. When Alex came back Kara and the people of National City had gotten past that. Unfortunately, another ordeal was in store for them. After the Myriad crisis, in which Maxwell Lord helped Supergirl, Alex thought that the man had given up on trying to declare Supergirl unfit to be a hero and wanting to make a hero of his own – one that he could control. But as it turns out, Alex thought wrong. He must have waited long enough to make his next move so that they wouldn't suspect him. Unfortunately for him, Alex knew better.

"Maxwell Lord." she spat the name out like a curse. "The bastard. I'm going to find him and beat him until he reverses the effects of the red kryptonite." Determined she got up and started walking towards the door. Before she got out she paused and turned to Winn. "Call Mon-El. He might be the only one who can stop her."

#

Iris West parked her car close to Central City Picture News and made her way to her job. Her mind was consumed by the new situation the team (and the other teams) was in. To Iris, it seemed that disasters never stopped coming and lately the next one was worse than the previous. But Iris was glad that she knew. As difficult as this life is, protecting people in secret, lying to everyone and the constant danger of villains that kidnap you, Iris still felt that she wouldn't take it back. Finding out that her best friend was the Flash and being a small part in team Flash, was everything she ever wanted. And most of all an eye-opener. Iris was infatuated with the mysterious Streak that ran through the streets of her city from the start. Afterward, she learned that behind the mask hid her nerdy best friend. At first, Iris was mad at both Barry and her father for keeping this big secret from her, but later she started seeing the differences in Barry, those she couldn't put a finger on after his coma, now they were more obvious and made more sense. And Iris found herself admitting what she had tried to deny for a long time. She had feelings for her best friend. After Barry's change in personality (he was more confident, more sure of himself, but still compassionate and caring), Iris' infatuation grew like fire and she couldn't refuse it anymore. And she didn't regret it. Not a bit. Barry Allen was everything a woman could hope for according to her. She felt loved beyond reason and he made her happier than she had ever been. She was madly in love with him, thus the reason she said yes to his most rushed marriage proposal.

Iris knew she couldn't really help like the other people with the problem they were currently facing, but she still wanted to do something, she couldn't just stay standby. She was an investigating reporter after all. She had skills and she knew very well how to use them. Reaching CCPN she knew there was one thing she could do.

"Good morning Iris." Ethan, the new intern said to Iris, as he walked past her.

"Morning Ethan." she said back smiling.

Iris sat behind her desk and opened her computer. She had investigating to do.

A few hours later Iris clicked her nails on the desk, while she went through various articles. She sighed in frustration.

"Ethan." she called.

The intern rushed quickly to her side. "Yes, Iris?"

"I need you to bring me copies of the newspapers we published the last two years."

Ethan's eyes widened. "So many? Is it important?"

Iris looked him dead on the eyes and said seriously. "Utmost important."

Ethan gulped and nodded his head. "I'll get right to it."

#

Lord industries were very well guarded, not that it was a problem for Alex Danvers.

"You bastard." Alex burst into Max's office kicking the door.

Someone watching nearby would say that there was smoke coming out of the secret agent's ears. Max looked up surprised and a little shaken (not that anyone could blame him with the way Alex stormed into his office) from his work. When his mysterious eyes spotted the fuming Alex Danvers, he relaxed and a playful, arrogant smirk spread on his lips.

"Agent Danvers, to what do I own this wonderful visit?"

Alex glared at him and stormed to his desk. She points a finger at him and spits out.

"I thought you were done messing with my sister Max. Why did you do this to her?" she demanded beyond angry.

"I'm afraid I don't understand Alex. I haven't done anything to Supergirl." Max explained calmly.

Alex huffed, while she continued glaring at him. Maxwell Lord had been accustomed to her glare over a year ago. So he wasn't as intimidated by it as another person would be. Max was a smart man though, he knew that Alex was a dangerous woman and her threats were not made in vain. If she thought that there was a danger towards her beloved sister, Max felt sorry for the man who would suffer her wrath.

"Cut the crap, Max. I know you poisoned Kara with red kryptonite. What I don't understand is why? I thought that after Myriad you and she were on good terms."

Maxwell Lord slowly folded his fingers together on top of his expensive desk and looked blankly at Alex. As she had learned over her many encounters with the man, Max was capable of the perfect poker face. That's why she paid extra close attention to everything he did and how he talked, down to the exact words he used when he spoke. Alex didn't want to be played by him again. Max, on the other hand, had no idea what agent Danvers was talking about. Truth be told, Max had tried to create his own super protector – using not so humane methods – and cast the Kryptonian aside, but it was never his intention to hurt Supergirl. He just had trust issues, like many others. The only mistake he made was the fact that he took too extreme measures – one mistake he promised he wouldn't repeat again. Max learned that lesson during the crisis National City faced, by fellow Kryptonians who wanted to conquer the world, and the only people awake to save Earth was himself, Cat Grant and Supergirl. After seeing Supergirl returning the stolen hope back to the citizens of the city, awakening them from the influence of Myriad and experiencing the power of her speech, Max put this ego aside and called a truce with the Kryptonian. And he never got mixed with anything that had to do with the Danvers sisters.

"I'm sorry Alex, but I don't know what you are talking about." He shook negatively his head. "I didn't create any more red Kryptonite and you know I destroyed the last one. Whatever data I had on my servers, I erased completely. There is not a trace of my research."

Alex narrowed her eyes on his sitting figure. Then she rested her palms on the desk and leaned closer. There were sparks full of hatred flying from her heated gaze.

"I don't believe you." she said slowly.

Max's arm hair rose from the dangerous vibe of her voice. Alex's voice very well could be as cold as Captain Cold's cold gun. Max, though, managed to maintain his unaffected posture.

"I don't really care if you believe me, Alex. I said I had nothing to do with whatever you think happened to Supergirl and I mean it. Now if that's all you came here for, I have work to do."

It was clear that Maxwell Lord was done talking. Alex wasn't particularly happy with how the situation went. She knew one thing though, Maxwell Lord was a stubborn son of a bitch. She wasn't going to pry anything more out of him. Alex felt mad at herself for not getting Max to talk or help reverse Kara's altered personality. She huffed angrily and straightened her back.

"I know you had something to do with Kara going mad and I'm going to prove it." she said before turning on her heels and exiting the room fuming.

"I haven't done anything wrong." she heard him shout behind her. Alex didn't stop or gave any sign of acknowledgment, as she left the building to go back to the D.E.O.

#

Winn back at the D.E.O. was overlooking the video footage of the CatCo building, particularly Kara's working area, in order to determine how exactly Kara got affected by the red kryptonite. He had gotten over the video over and over again and so far he was unable to detect a red substance anywhere near Kara. Winn was confused. His friend's behavior was completely normal up until she spoke briefly with a strange man, who he assumed hadn't said anything interesting and then all hell broke loose. Winn watched as Kara got up from her seat, walked away and then entered her boss' office from the window as Supergirl. She had then yelled at him and in the end, grabbed him by the neck of his coat and flew with him out of the window. The computerer was sure that she hadn't taken him on a nice air trip to show Snapper the view from above.

Alex walked to Winn fuming with rage and sat on his desk. "Please tell me you got something." she said desperately.

Winn arched his eyebrow. "So, I'm assuming it didn't go so well with Maxwell Lord."

She huffed and folded her arms in front of her chest. "No. He wouldn't say anything. He even had the nerve to say that he didn't know what I was talking about and that he had nothing to do with it." she spat angrily. "I mean, that's a dead giveaway that he's guilty."

"Any of you got something?" J'onn approached them.

Alex stood on her feet and nodded her head at her boss, acknowledging him. Then she and Winn both sighed simultaneously. "No, sir." Alex answered. "Lord wouldn't say anything. He claims that everything related to the red kryptonite was destroyed and he never made more of it."

J'onn looked thoughtful over Alex's words. "You believe him?" he finally asked her.

Alex rested her hands on her hips. She wore a determined look on her face. J'onn knew that that look meant business. "He sure was very convincing. But I know Max better. I don't think we have the luxury to check him out of the list. He is unpredictable and he has shown in the past that he loves playing games."

J'onn nodded his head. "Ok. Let's keep an eye on him for now. If he is involved, he will make a mistake at some point." He sighed and then turned his attention to Winn. "What about you mister Schott?"

Winn twisted his pen around his fingers. He shook his head negatively. "Not really. Kara seems fine until she speaks to this guy for a short time and then she went all Avengers on Snapper."

To be honest, Winn didn't feel not the least bit sorry for Snapper. The guy deserved everything he was currently getting from Kara. The way he treated her, Winn wanted to beat him up too and give him a piece of his mind. Winn pointed at the screen of his computer and replayed the scene of Kara talking to the weird looking guy.

"You think this guy was carrying the kryptonite on him? We don't know if Kara can only be affected by touch or by just being near it." J'onn pointed out.

Winn nodded. He hadn't thought the problem by this point of view. If J'onn was correct, the man could have easily carried the substance on his trench coat and Kara would still be affected by it. He zoomed the video on the man and replayed it. Three pairs of eyes watched carefully the footage. They were so still, that someone would question if they were even breathing. Their eyes surely weren't moving.

"Can you play it slower?" J'onn asked.

"Did you see anything?" Alex asked hopefully.

The Martian made an unsure sound. "I'm not sure."

Winn replayed the video in slow motion. The three of them saw Roy Bivolo lower quickly his sunglasses and looking at Kara straight in the eyes. The action was very fast and curt that in normal speed it went undetected. Now though, it was clear that Bivolo had affected the Kryptonian with his eyes and not red kryptonite.

"Oh, my God." Winn mumbled quietly. "I think Maxwell Lord was telling the truth."

Alex looked quickly at him. She didn't know if she wanted to glare at him or look him questionably. J'onn relieved her from that debate.

"How do you mean?"

"Kara wasn't affected by red kryptonite, but a metahuman." Winn explained.

"A metahuman? How do you know that?" J'onn pressed.

"From Barry." Alex sighed starting to get annoyed by how many times the Flash's name had been mentioned the past day. "When we met him, Kara was still straggling with getting the people's trust back. I remember Kara telling me that Barry told her that he had gone through a similar thing. And according to him, there's a metahuman that can make people angry. I don't think he mentioned a name though."

J'onn nodded taking the information in. "If this is a metahuman and mister Allen has encountered him in the past I think we should inform him and his team and bring them for help." Alex was about to object that she was more than capable of dealing with a metahuman, when J'onn continued. "Even if we manage to detain Supergirl, we still don't know how to reverse whatever he did to her. Their team has more experience."

Winn nodded. "That's exactly what I was thinking."

Alex and J'onn walked away talking in hushed voices. Winn picked up his cell phone and smiled dialing the number. One of the perks of living in this new merged world, they could just call each other when one of them needed help. And Winn could now spend much more time with his favorite superhero from another Earth and finally get to meet this Cisco Ramon, who built the inter-dimensional extrapolator. Winn was certain that the two of them would hit it off.