Chapter 12
"Sam." It was a pained whisper but Sam heard it nonetheless. After Kara had left her apartment, Sam stuck around in Kara's bedroom reading magazines. Shooting up off the chair she had been sitting on Sam hurriedly put on her shoes before running out the door. She heard as Eliza shouted asking where she was off to but was too concerned with getting to Kara to answer.
"I'm coming Kara hold on," Sam promised once she got outside and took off at lightning fast speed towards the direction of the voice. Yet once she arrived at the parking garage Sam saw Kara writhing in agony three feet above the pavement. Sam didn't know what was going on but knew immediately not to take Kara home. Eliza would probably make things worse and honestly there was probably one-person Kara would respond well to. So, after gently scooping Kara up Sam leaped into the air. Using her newly awaken skill Sam blasted through the air like a rocket.
Bursting into the DEO, Sam looked around the room, "Get me Agent Lane!" Kara's skin was burning hotter than any fire they had taken care of and it was really freaking Sam out to see her in such a state. Out of the corner of her eye Sam saw Kara's eyelids glow and realized Kara was protecting all of them by fighting to keep her eyes shut.
"Sam what happened," Alex asked coming from the science lab across the main hall.
"I-I don't know. She just called out for me. When I got there, it looked like she crashed but she was hovering above the pavement." Sam looked at Alex with worry, "She's in pain Alex and she's burning hotter every second. Do you know where Lucy is?" Sam asked as Alex put her hand to her sister's face. She saw as Alex pulled her hand away as if burned as Kara's temperature fluxed.
Suddenly the two realized they were standing in the center of the main hall when they heard items crashing to the floor. "Kara!" Lucy yelled as she ran down the stairs. Looking at Sam and then Alex silently asking for details. Gently, Lucy took hold of Kara's face and winced at the heat but did not let go as quickly as Alex. "Can we use the simulator room."
"What are you thinking," Alex asked as she nodded at her best friend's idea and began leading them towards that very room.
"Its Kryptonian tech so if we program it to simulate a red sun..."
"It'll shut down her powers and then we can focus on bringing her down from this...whatever this is." Alex finished as they got to the room. She then quickly opened the door and allowed Sam with Kara and Lucy into the room before closing it.
Sam looked at Lucy who was looking at Kara with concern. "Baby Lane you need to talk to her."
Placing her hand on Kara's sweaty forehead, Lucy gently pushed Kara's hair out of her face careful not to actually touch her skin again. "Kara, were going to try something ok." Lucy looked up at Sam wondering if this would do any good. Sam nodded and took hold of one of Kara's hands, placing it directly over Lucy's heart. Lucy blushed but didn't back away or move the hand now clutching the thick material on her chest.
"Hurts," Kara whimpered. "Make it stop I Zhor."
Lucy then placed both her hands over Kara's ears and winced at the temperature. The pain was worth it though as she saw Kara begin to slowly relax. "You'll feel better in a second Kara. Alex just needs to get the program running." Lucy rubbed her thumb across Kara's cheek and prayed Alex got the simulation running quickly. It was just a couple of more minutes until a red light shined down on them and Kara calmed even more. "Does it feel better?" Lucy asked leaning her forehead against Kara's.
"Your heartbeat is soothing," Kara muttered.
Lucy snorted and kissed Kara's cheek. "That doesn't answer my question but thank you. I'm glad it soothes you." Lucy backed away slightly until she could see all of Kara's face and smiled when she saw Kara open her eyes.
"I'm sorry for worrying..." Kara paused when sat up enough and saw where Alex decided to send them. "Turn it off." Kara's hands were shaking.
"Kara what's wrong?" Lucy asked as she looked around to what Kara was looking at.
"I said turn it off Alex!"
"It's the only red planet in the system Kara I had no other choice." Alex said through a speaker.
"I don't want to see this," Kara said her voice shaking with emotion as she stared out from what appeared to be a window on Krypton. Kara backed up until her back collided with something. Everything was the same but when Kara blinked she saw the crumbling walls and the flames that raged outside.
"Close your eyes Kara," Lucy said as she blocked Kara's gaze from the scenery. Once Lucy had Kara's full attention she watched as Kara obeyed her without question. "Good now just listen to me. We're at the DEO and you're with me. Ok." Lucy leaned her forehead against Kara's again. "You're with me, just breath."
"I don't want to remember," Kara whispered, her eyes still closed.
"Kara what happened after I left to go after Alex? Can you tell me that?" Lucy asked after hearing Kara and wanting to distract her.
"I argued with Eliza…I yelled at her and then I heard Carter. He was in trouble so I flew to him." Kara went on to explain what she had found once she had arrived at the house. Lucy and Sam couldn't believe what they were hearing as Kara described how she went in guns blazing. "I was interrogated by the police for what felt like forever before I was able to go check on him."
"What did you tell Cat, Kara?"
"I told her the truth. And she's not going to tell she just wants me to continue looking out for Carter." Lucy and Sam both breathed a sigh of relief after hearing Cat's decision. Kara made a face as she continued to explain what happened next. "Then I flew back home but I was tackled out of the sky."
Sam spoke next as she went closer to her two friends. "By what Kara? Cause when I got to you, there was a crater in the pavement."
[A While Earlier]
"Astra."
Kara watched her Aunt stagger to get on her feet and when she looked at Kara she looked ill. Breathing heavily, Astra began to talk, "Little one I don't have much time…you must listen."
Kara glared at her Aunt, "I told you not to call me that besides why should I listen to you when you tried to kill my family!"
"Kara please. Non has been planning with some very powerful people to bring destruction to this planet. When we met I was not under my own control, I had no choice."
"Why come to me now? Why wait so long to tell me?" Kara asked as she slowly circled her Aunt who appeared to be in pain as she clutched her head.
"I couldn't get to you without them knowing. But they were called away to discuss the next stage. I don't have much time. You must stop them. You must stop them from releasing project myriad." Astra raised her head to look at Kara with a crazed look in her eyes. Kara gasped not from the look her aunt was showing her but the fact that her aunt was bleeding profusely from her nose.
"Astra…"
"Warn your people little one and be wary of Indigo. She has been monitoring your place of work." Astra gasped in pain again and went down to one knee. Reacting without thinking Kara sped forward and grabbed hold of her aunt. Taking a napkin out of her pocket Kara began to clean her aunt's face but stopped when Astra pushed her hand away. "The next time we meet I won't be able to stop myself from hurting you."
"My sister is a scientist whatever they are doing to you she can stop it."
Astra shook her head and coughed into her arm, "She would need time to figure out a counter measure and time is something we have little to waste." Kara noticed there was now blood on Astra's arm where she used it to cover her mouth. Using Kara as a crutch to lift herself Astra looked down at her beloved niece with tears rolling down her face. "I love you little one and I am so sorry you had to experience so many horrors alone but I'm glad the brave one was with you and that I could see you grown."
Kara felt as her aunt's hand pressed down on her shoulder as if she was about to take off. Finally, able to see the woman she knew from her childhood, the woman who helped raise her, Kara didn't want to let go. "Please Aunt Astra don't leave me. Not again…please," Kara choked out as she grasped her aunt's hand.
"I will always be with you little one. No matter what happens, no matter what I say the next time we meet," Astra bent down slightly and kissed Kara's forehead before leaning her forehead against hers. "Rao be my witness I will do my best to protect you." In her close proximity, Astra stuck Kara's neck with something that was able to pierce her skin. In shock, Kara tried to push her away to see what it was but Astra injected liquid that burned as it went through her system. "Be safe Little one."
With that Astra tore away from Kara's grasp and flew away leaving Kara distraught and in an enormous amount of pain on the top floor of a parking garage. Kara screamed for her aunt to come back but her voice soon vanished and left her with her mouth ajar in a silent scream. Kara tried to get ahold of herself but was so shaken up she couldn't. Kara quickly realized she was losing control. Looking around Kara's eyes were going from human, to x-ray, to burning the ground with her heat vision. Her other senses were starting to go such as her hearing and center of gravity which caused Kara to slam her hands over her ears. "Sam," Kara whimpered afraid of how this was affecting her, "help."
In just a few moments, Kara felt as someone plucked her hovering body and pulled her close to them before they took off. When her hearing focused for a second before picking up everyone else in the area Kara was able to tell it was Sam. When they landed Kara couldn't tell where they were but felt a hand against her cheek that was cold before retreated from her burning skin.
The next thing Kara heard was Lucy's voice calling out to her and then her hands upon her ears. The beat of Lucy's heart canceled all others but Kara didn't dare open her eyes in case she was unable to control her heat vision. She wouldn't be able to live with herself if she accidently caused Lucy harm. After a few more minutes, Kara felt the restlessness of her powers finally settle and the tension to leave.
[Back at the DEO]
"I think that was long enough Alex you can turn it off now." Sam said looking in the general direction Alex was in. A second later and the simulator shut down leaving them standing in a white room. Looking down at her sister and Lucy, Sam noticed a small trace of blood on Kara's neck where she thought Astra had injected her.
"Kara, I'm going to have to run tests just to make sure whatever that was its out of your system." Alex said as she opened the door to the simulator chamber. Kara looked up at her big sister and nodded but didn't make a move to get up. "I'll be quick about it I promise." Alex extended her hand and was glad Kara took hold of it. When she was up on her feet though Kara swayed causing Alex to respond quickly enough to pick her up.
Kara nuzzled into Alex's neck and let her sister carry her to the lab without protest of being babied. "She called you brave one."
"Who did?" Alex asked as she readjusted Kara so that she could wrap her arms under her thighs and shift her weight so she could climb the stairs that led to the lab.
"Aunt Astra…she must like you…to give you a nickname like me."
"She used to call you little one." Alex felt as Kara hugged her sister tighter.
"I don't think whatever she did was meant to hurt me."
Alex didn't acknowledge what Kara had said. In her mind, Astra had declared war the second she touched Kara and this was just another attempt to harm her. Instead Alex applied pressure to Kara's shoulder with her chin and felt as Kara practically purred from so much physical contact. When Alex got to the lab she gently placed Kara on the table and threw a blanket over her. "Just sit tight ok."
"Will it hurt?"
When Alex looked over at her sister she seemed so small lying on the metal table. Leaning over Alex touched Kara forehead with her hand, "It shouldn't. But if it does or you want to stop just tell me ok." Kara nodded and closed her eyes as Alex took out a tiny sliver of kryptonite to be able to extract blood from Kara. Just as Alex was about to pierce Kara's skin Lucy grabbed hold of Kara's hand further relaxing her.
Several hours later, Alex came back in with a clipboard that held stacks of paperwork. Alex sat down at her desk going through the paperwork with a frown on her face. Seeing this Lucy stood up and approached the older Danvers. "What is it Lexie?"
"I ran the test three times." Alex muttered before looking up, "It doesn't make any sense."
"Why what does it say?"
"It doesn't say anything. By the computer's result Kara is perfectly fine. She just has a few more white blood cells but that's nothing to be concerned with."
"I'm telling you she was different this time. Whatever she gave me must be for something else."
"She nearly killed Lucy and she sure as hell tried to kill you!"
Kara got off the table and staggered slightly before catching herself. "If she really wanted me dead I would be!" Frustrated Kara walked out of the lab and headed to the one person who had the answers to so many of her questions.
"Hello Kara. Do you wish to continue our lesson on your Zhao"
Kara blushed before shaking her head, "What no that's not what I…Can you sense any other presences within your system?"
"No." Kara sighed in relief.
"Do you know of any species capable of controlling Kryptonians. That fighting against their control would cause an enormous amount of pain?"
"There are several magical beings as well as telepaths who could cause what you speak of but none of whom were powerful enough aboard Fort Rozz."
Kara sat on the floor and began to think. There are many magical beings that even the Amazons feared. So maybe just maybe Non made friends with one of them while on Earth. She'd have to ask Sam later about it. "Can you tell me again how dad courted you?"
On the other side of the door, Sam smiled to herself as she listened to what was left of Alura's memory retell the story of how Zor-El courted her as his Zhao. Sam had closed her eyes as she listened to Kara's now regular heartbeat until she felt someone poke her cheek. Opening one eye, Sam looked down to see it was Alex. "What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering. Has Kara told you anything about Astra?"
"No, she hasn't really been forthcoming with things as of late. She did say she was pretty certain Astra was not acting of her own freewill. Personally, I don't know what to believe especially since what happened."
"No, I understand. That's what I believe as well. I just get so frustrated with her when she won't listen to me. Especially when its…"
"When its about her safety," Sam finished glancing to Alex who nodded. "Well, you know Kara. Its always about others safety over her own." Alex leaned against the wall beside Sam and placed her head on her taller companion. Just as Sam began to look down, the door to the room slid open and Kara walked out. "Kar?"
Kara stopped in front of her sister and produced the napkin still cover in Astra's blood. Gasping uncertain as to who's it was Alex looked at her younger sister in question. "If you don't believe me. Maybe your beliefs will change with proof. After all science never lies right." Making sure Alex had taken the napkin, Kara walked away leaving them both staring at her retreating form.
"What was that about."
"Its probably Astra's." Sam took a step forward and turned towards Alex. "Probably shouldn't talk about those things when she's not far. I mean super hearing what a bitch." Sam chuckled before poking Alex in the middle of her forehead, "See ya around Danvers."
Alex pushed off the wall, "Wait where are you off to?"
Sam began to walk backwards, "I'm not the one who got suspended remember." She then turned around and continued on her way out with her hands stuffed in her front pockets.
Alex just shook her head before looking down at the napkin Kara had given her. Seeing the blood Alex was filled with determination to show her sister once and for all she could not let her heart cloud her judgement. Holding it to her chest, Alex took in a breath. "Science never lies." She then proceeded towards her lab.
[Kara's Apartment]
"Eliza are you here?" Kara called as she kicked the door open softly while carrying an enormous amount of take-out. Entering her home Kara looked around and noticed she was alone once again. Placing the food down on the countertop Kara noticed a note was left on her fridge. Kara, I went back to Alex's apartment. I figured it would be the best place to catch her to apologize, Love Eliza.
Kara sighed, "I hope that goes well."
It wasn't until several hours later that Kara's front door opened and Sam walked through. "I wasn't expecting you tonight. Here to tell me to my face that I'm delusional." Kara spat from the opening into her bedroom.
Sam smirked, "Yeah figured you heard that. Listen I can't tell you what you feel but I can tell you how it looks from my perspective." Sam walked in and tried to appear as none threatening as she could with Kara's angry voice. "I don't have family. I just have the ties to people care about. So, when someone who's supposed to care about you tries to kill you I cannot see what it is you see. How can you see that and still believe she's who you used to know."
"Because it's the same way I believe in you and that you'll return when your anger takes control." Kara shouted. Sam's eyes widened before she looked away from Kara ashamed. "She is being used as a puppet. A strong magician or telepath could control a Kryptonian and cause internal damage. The proof will be in the blood sample I gave Alex."
"Why would it be in a sample of blood. If its magic or a telepath how would that show in her blood?" Sam asked still not looking at Kara.
"Because its killing her," Kara deadpanned.
Sam's head snapped towards Kara in shock. "Her blood wouldn't have regenerated after being continuously under control for so long. Besides, under the sun simulation even if it had tried to regenerate the red sun would've stopped the process."
Sam's phone beeped while Kara continued to talk. Looking down at it she saw that it was from Alex. Apologize to Kara, seems she was right. "Damn," Sam muttered. "Look Kara…"
Kara shook her head, "You didn't see her Sam. She looked so sick." Kara walked towards Sam and sat beside her visibly deflating. "So no matter what Alex or even you think. I will do everything to save her!"
Sam looked at Kara with determination, "Then let me be by your side to fight whatever is coming. Let me protect you. Don't push me away Kara, after all we've been through don't do that."
Kara shook her head, "I don't know if I could let you. Not when I have absolutely no clue what's going on." Kara looked at the time, "Its getting late and I know you have work tomorrow. Why don't we save the rest of this conversation for another time." Sam knew she had lost Kara's interest and nodded before exiting the apartment.
[Next Day]
"I'm so going to win!" Carter squealed as he animatedly swung his controller about. In his mind the extra motion would give him some form of advantage over Kara. Laughing at the kid Kara adored she didn't go easy on him but thought it was a valiant try. When Kara had crossed the line in her mushroom cart Carter pouted but Kara simply chuckled.
"Want another go?"
"I will get my revenge! Just wait. I promise to get you this time." Carter exclaimed looking at Kara with determination in his eyes. Kara laughed and rubbed his head until his hair was all over the place.
Just as they were on the last leg of the race, there was a knock on the door of Kara's apartment. Looking over her shoulder and using her x-ray vision Kara smiled when she saw it was Lucy. Just then Kara heard as Carter won and smirked at the boy taking advantage of her distraction. "Nice one." Kara laughed before getting up and speeding over to the door. When she swung the door open Kara smiled down at Lucy, "Hey."
"I'm here for the leftovers I was promised." Lucy said smiling widely. "Any chance I got a piece of pie?"
Kara scoffed, "Eliza actually left a separate pie just for you." She closed the door and pouted, "As if I would have eaten it without her note plastered on the lid."
"There's pie?" Carter piped up as he got up from the floor.
"Oh hey Carter, how are you?" Lucy asked before bursting into laughter when Kara brought out the pie Eliza had marked as hers. The sheer number of notes plastered to the container was laughable. Kara continued to pout as Lucy laughed and Carter joined in.
"I'm good Lucy," Carter said once he could breathe.
Kara smiled at Lucy when her attention was on the kid. Carter saw and smiled, "So Kara…Lucy knows right?"
"Yes, Carter Lucy knows about the whole alien thing." Kara looked back at Lucy, "You've known for awhile now right."
"Yup so if you have any questions about Kara let me know." Lucy smiled at Kara who's eyebrows were raised in question. "I have you all figured out," Lucy winked and chuckled when Kara blushed in reaction. "Anyway what are guys up to today?"
"Kara's watching me for two days until my mom gets back from her award thing." Carter got animated as he explained all that had happened after Kara had picked him up from his home. "And right before you got here we were playing Mario Kart!"
"Oh and who was winning."
"I was but I got careless and he won the last round." Kara murmured.
"You only won one round?" Lucy asked in astonishment.
"Kara said she wasn't going to hold back. Because the time I would win I'd know it was because I was better. So that last one doesn't really count cause Kara wasn't paying attention."
Lucy laughed and poked Kara in her cheek, "Couldn't even let him win huh?"
"I'm teaching him the gracious art of losing. With the slight hope that one day he may get revenge."
There was a knock at the door and then it was opened. "Kara we need to talk sweetheart." Kara stood up and froze as Eliza walked through the door. Lucy was aware of the fight between all the Danvers and grabbed Carter's hand urging him to come along with her. Once they were out the door, Eliza stepped towards her youngest.
"Have you fixed things with Alex?"
"Yes, Kara which is why I'm here. You were right about the way I treated you and your sister. It was unfair and I'm sorry. Can you forgive me for putting you both through that?"
"So long as you stop blaming Alex for the things I do."
"Of course, now since Lucy is out how about you tell me what's going on."
That seemed to immediately shock Kara back into her awkward self. "Uh I uh she we…do you remember when I first arrived we had a talk about how Krypton and Earth were different."
Eliza smiled before grabbing Kara's hand and leading her to the sofa to sit. Once she was seated she nodded, "Yes we talked about a number of topics. I believe the one you are referring to is when we talked of how the houses thought of marriage."
Kara nodded, "Well we also have a very sacred marriage. One that was rare and a blessing to find. It was considered a gift Rao bestowed on only those he thought were pure of heart." Kara began to explain, "You would call it finding your soulmate. But its much stronger than that. When two souls call out to one another we call it Zhao. Once the bond was established through meeting it grows stronger with each encounter. So much so that they start to feel each other. In those instances, the rules of how the houses would approach marriage were abandoned. Regardless of if their partner was from a lower house or one of high standing the two could marry. It was always done with a special ceremony and I only ever saw it once with my Uncle Jor-El." Kara looked at Eliza and tried to figure out the best way to phrase it. "You know how in all those Disney movies love always broke the most powerful of spells." Eliza nodded having had to sit through hours of movies Alex had to introduce to Kara. "Khao is our one chance to actually achieve that."
"Do you believe Lucy is that for you?"
Kara clutched the front of her shirt, "My heart looks for hers when it feels she's near. She is my heart but I do not want to force this on her. I want her to choose me on her own. That way I know she feels the same."
Eliza smiled and reached out to place her hand on Kara's cheek. "Having met Lucy, I couldn't ask for a better partner for you. Keep her safe and I hope you don't have to wait long for her to really see you. Tell her goodbye for me, I have to go catch my flight." As Eliza got up and readied herself to leave she looked back at Kara, "Remember actions speak louder than words. If you want to remain silent just show her how much you care with everything you do."
[Two blocks away]
"Kara says you're really special to her. Do you know why?" Carter asked after receiving his ice cream cone for the nice guy behind the counter. Innocently he looked up at Lucy who had paused in digging out the money from her wallet to look down at the boy.
"I mean Kara and I are just really good friends. I'm not sure what would make me special." Lucy just shrugged not seeing what it was the boy wanted to hear. "I mean I'm not to the standard of Sam or Alex but I'd like to think I'm close." Once Lucy had gotten her change and taken her ice cream she turned to leave with Carter hot on her heels. As Lucy opened the door she heard a car door slam. Not thinking anything of it she turned to continue holding the door open for Carter as he passed her. As she turned it was only to slam into a tall man. "Oh I'm sorry I didn't…Colonel Harper?" She took a step backwards grabbing hold of Carter's hand.
"Lucy?" Carter whispered looking up at the now steel faced Major.
"I've been looking for you Lucy. Why haven't you answered your phone." The Colonel looked down at the boy with cold eyes before looking back up at the Major. "I had to track your phone's signal just to find you here."
Finding this very odd and highly inappropriate of a Colonel of the United States Army Lucy went into defensive mode. Scoffing, Lucy tried to get some space between them, "What is it I can do for you Colonel Harper? I know you didn't just come to chat." She led them away from the parlor but it ended up making things worse when she saw fewer people around.
"I got a message from your father." Lucy's eyes widened in shock not knowing why her father would contact someone in the army concerning her. "And I need you to take me to your place of work." Lucy opened her mouth to refuse but Harper was one step ahead. "Now before you refuse I have a legal document that should you refuse could be quite troublesome for you."
"I can't take you. I'm watching Carter at the moment. Perhaps later this week would be best." Lucy stated pulling Carter closer to her as she saw five men slowly block their exits as Harper talked.
"Major Lane you should reconsider and follow these orders. You will not like the consequences if you go against this."
"Well I'm afraid I'm going to have to refuse seeing as I cannot leave Carter on his own."
"I was hoping you'd come quietly simply because I asked but looks like I'll have to give you some motivation." Harper's voice went dark with anger, "Lucy Lane you are under arrest for aiding and abetting alien vigilantes." As he finished the men who surrounded them moved in and tried separating Lucy from Carter. Going into protective mode, Lucy took down three of the guys before getting overpowered by the fourth
"Let go," Carter yelled as he struck the last man standing. He quickly realized this was a mistake when the man four times his size threw him over his shoulder.
"Carter," Lucy shouted but just as she moved to get off the floor she felt blinding pain on her neck and the sound of crackling. As she fell forward she heard Carter yell for help and hoped Kara would hear. Lucy saw her Harper's boots next to her face and managed to look up towards him in distain. "Why."
"A few of your father's men, whom he's stationed in your little hideaway, told him about a new alien. One you've been working with secretly. One who needs to learn her place is in a cell."
[After the incident]
"Come on Lucy…answer your phone." Kara mumbled as she paced her apartment. After Eliza had left to catch her flight, Kara waited patiently for Lucy to bring back Carter. Yet once she realized it had been an hour Kara's worry began to increase. When the voicemail picked up again Kara threw her phone at the couch and watched as it bounced off it's soft cushion ending up on the floor. "Where are you I Zhor."
Closing her eyes, Kara began to concentrate on the woman who captured more of her heart and soul with each passing day. She blocked out all other sounds and instantly heard the heartbeat of Lucy Lane. Then Kara felt a burning yet shocking sensation on the back of her neck. Placing her hand there Kara wondered what it could be but focused back on Lucy. "Hang on you two. I'm coming," Kara mumbled as she changed into the disguise Alex had given her for her first DEO trip.
As she jumped out of her window into the sky, Kara reached out to Alex. When the line picked up Kara heard arguing in the background. One of the voices was Henshaw but the other was unrecognizable. "Alex, Lucy and Carter were taken. They seem to be headed your way."
"No Kara don't come here." Kara almost stopped flying as her sister harshly whispered at her. "Some of our men put us on lock down. They are waiting for someone to arrive. It doesn't look good."
"Carter was taken with Lucy, Alex. He's scared and Lucy is unconscious. I…you know I can't just wait."
"Don't rush into this Kara. You have no idea what's going on."
"If anything happens to them…Alex I don't know what I'd do." Kara said angrily as she hovered over the DEO.
"Someone new is coming into the room. I'll keep the line on but don't speak, just listen."
Alex shoved her phone into her shirt pocket and walked out into the room which was now filled with army colors. She stopped next to Henshaw and was shocked when General Lane walked into the room. "Where is it?"
"General Lane with all due respect you cannot just waltz in here and demand things from me. You have no power here."
"On the contrary, I do. You see I have legal documents from the president that you are to release an alien of my choosing to me…for testing." General Lane stated as he drew closer and handed Alex the paperwork.
"Let go of me."
"Carter? What is the meaning of this?" Alex growled as she saw how terrified Carter was.
"Alex help!"
"Sorry for the delay Sir. Major Lane refused to cooperate and the boy was…resisting." Colonel Harper appeared and Alex growled when she saw her best friend laying limp in his arms.
"Its one thing to take the Major but the boy. That's crossing a line," The General stated. Colonel Harper simply shrugged at the General who didn't say anything else on the matter.
"What the hell did you do to my agent Colonel!" Henshaw shouted as he took a step forward. It was then that Lucy started to wake up and Alex was glad when she witnessed Lucy elbow the Colonel in the face with her elbow.
"Carter?" Lucy asked as she wiggled her way out of Harper's arms. Before she really got a hold of what was going on her father stepped in front of her. "General what do you think you are doing?"
"Major Lane how nice of you to drop in. I am here to put this whole organization under investigation!" He bellowed and nodded his head at the man holding Carter. When he did the man released Carter who ran towards Lucy.
"Leave Lucy alone!" Carter yelled.
"Carter no go to Alex," Lucy said pushing Carter towards Alex.
"Now all I want is for you to bring out your secret weapon. The Kryptonian."
"No." Lucy shouted and her father turned his attention back onto his daughter. Seeing his cold stare Lucy hid behind her military training rather than flinching. Honestly, Lucy should have seen it coming but having been at the DEO for a while now she had forgotten what it had been like in her father's presence. So, when the slap came across her face Lucy was stunned, but what she truly wasn't expecting was the rush of wind to come from the main hallway.
"Don't you touch her." Kara was seething with anger as she stood in front of the General. Kara placed Lucy close to her body and knew this might not be the best idea but her protective nature was overriding her logic.
"Stand down," Alex whispered harshly at her sister in Kryptonian. "General Lane I would very much like that you restrain yourself from physically assaulting my fellow DEO agent."
"So this is the Kryptonian." He asked ignoring Alex's request.
"What is it you need, General Lane." Kara asked as politely as should could. It was difficult not to growl with her current level of anger but she knew by rushing in she had made things far worse.
"Oh well I just needed to test some new material on you."
"Fine. I will…" Kara tensed as she felt the presence of kryptonite. "How did you get ahold of it." General Lane smirked at Kara as she realized how bad things could get. She grew weaker and began to lean on Lucy. Kara knew Lucy could feel her weakening when she felt Lucy wrap an arm around her waist to keep her up.
"Director Henshaw, they have Kryptonite." Lucy looked at Alex with a worried expression.
Alex drew her weapon but was shocked when Hank pushed the tip of it towards the floor. "Stand down Agent Danvers. You know his paperwork is perfectly fine. We have no control over this." Alex growled but did as she was told.
Kara grew weaker and pushed Lucy towards Alex when she felt someone move behind them. Lucy stumbled into her best friend and turned around to look back at Kara who was smiling just as Colonel Harper stabbed her with a syringe full of Kryptonite. "No," Lucy shouted. "You're going to kill her!" Lucy fought against Alex's grip but it wasn't much of a fight as she felt her energy escape her.
Kara grunted as she hit the floor. Yet she was surprised she wasn't weaker than she was. The amount of Kryptonite in her syringe should have killed her. Yet, she was still breathing on her knees looking at General Lane when she was restrained. General Lane put a hand under Kara's chin lifting her eyes so that she could see her. "I won't kill it. Not yet at least. Tomorrow it will test out our latest toy. I hope it'll prove interesting results."
Kara cried out as they injected her again. It was then that Alex noticed Lucy's weakening state. Glancing at her sister who, against all odds, was still alive. However, Lucy seemed to be growing weaker and Alex worried it was part of the Zhao bond her sister had described. "General you don't need to use torture as a means for her to cooperate with you," Henshaw stepped forward also noticing the change in his agents.
General Lane completely missed how his daughter was now a very pale color. Alex was now holding her up and looking at Kara who was looking at Lucy with worry. "I will need a cell to lock it away until we are ready to test out our new material."
"I can show you the way General. We have a special cell just for the likes of her." A DEO agent had stepped forward and both Alex, as well as Henshaw glared daggers at the betrayal. Seeing this had the agent flinching but it did not deter him from showing the army men the way to the holding cells.
Once they had dragged Kara away, Alex looked down at Carter who had remained quiet by her side. "Carter sweetie. She's going to be ok." Alex was nearly heartbroken when Carter looked up at her with tears coming down his face. Henshaw saw this and scooped Carter up and carried him.
"Alex lets take them to your office and have them sleep off the shock. Agent Vasquez and Donavan," Hank looked over at his trusted agents, "I want you to monitor Supergirl. Make sure her vitals don't drop. She is one of our own and we take care of our own." They both saluted him and went off to do as he asked.
[0900 Hours]
Eighteen hours after being injected with Kryptonite and left in a cell with kryptonite emitters Kara was thrown out into the desert. The sand was hot on her hands and the sun was blinding but even with the sun's UV rays flowing into her she was incredibly weak. Coughing Kara sat back on her legs and took in a deep breath. She then tested out her powers discreetly as she searched the surrounding area for Lucy. Once she heard her strong heartbeat Kara knew that though yesterday Lucy had felt her pain it hadn't been enough to cause damage. She also took the time to see if Carter was still at the base and was glad to hear he was fast asleep.
The sand shifted in front of her and then a shadow blocked the sun from her face. "I take it you're enjoy your nice trip outside." It was the General. Kara remained silent but opened her eyes to look up at him. "Ah not going to say anything are we. That's fine. I only need you to test out our weapon." He stepped away so Kara could see what was behind him. Not very far was a red robot not sure what it was capable of Kara tried to scan it.
Kara stood to her feet and dusted herself off. While doing so she heard as the general walked away and knew he wasn't going to tell her the fight had begun. Just as she suspected the second she looked up the robot was already hitting her with some sort of wind blast that came from its hands. In her weakened state the blast proved to be a significant blow. Kara coughed and felt has her lungs burned with the effort of inflating.
"Supergirl."
"Alex, this machine was designed specifically for Kryptonians." Kara wheezed out as she dodged another attack but grunted in pain when the robot fired missiles at her. She hit the ground hard and was fighting to get back up when the robot vanished from sight. "You covered it with lead. Nice touch." Kara spat out some blood and looked up at the sky.
Alex could see Kara was fatigued and simply being out in the sun was not doing her any good. After being exposed for so long to Kryptonite and having it in her blood she could not absorb UV rays fast enough to reverse the effects. "Come on. You can do it." Kara was then hit by a huge gust of wind that seemed to come from nowhere. Again, and again she was hit but each time she tried to return the favor she hit air.
"Listen for it."
Kara's attention snapped over to the entrance of the DEO and saw Lucy standing there looking right at her. "Did you just…" Kara was astonished but she was sure she had just heard Lucy speak Kryptonian. She thought she was just hearing things due to the Kryptonite but as she looked at her sister who wasn't far she knew she wasn't. Nodding at Lucy, Kara did as she said and closed her eyes to listen. That was when she heard the windup before the wind attack and flew behind the sound. As the attack was launched Kara exhaled a large amount of cold air and was glad when the robot's outline was caught in ice. From how high up they were Kara knew that on impact the robot would shatter.
She heard as her sister proudly gained money from Agent Donavan who had thought the robot would win. Then Kara blacked out and plummeted to the ground.
When she came to it was three hours later and a hyper Carter was talking Alex's ear off about all her instruments inside her lab. Kara felt a fingers brush against her forehead lightly before her eyes fluttered open. "Hey sleeping beauty. How are you feeling?"
"Like I went up against my cousin and lost." Kara whined before reaching out to hold Lucy's face in her hand. "How are you feeling I Zhor." Kara watched as Lucy actually paused to think of the question.
"Actually, now that you mention it I'm feeling a lot better." Lucy saw as Kara smiled. "Oh and you don't have to worry about the General. Director Henshaw spoke with the president and she lifted his reign of terror on the DEO. Also, she has honored you with the title of DEO alien and weapons specialist."
"Oh I don't know if I can live up to that title. I will try to though." Kara winked at her sister who looked over as soon as she heard them talking. "How you doing little man?" Carter rushed over and put his face in her stomach. "Hey now still sore. Be gentle."
"I was scared."
"Hey I'm tough ok."
"Actually, as much as I hate to admit it. I believe Astra is the reason you are alive right now," Alex stated as she pulled up a chart on her computer.
"What are you talking about Alex," Kara asked sitting up and wincing.
"I finally was able to figure out the substance she injected you with." Kara looked at her expectantly and Alex pulled up another file. The two side by side looked like regular line graphs so Kara looked back at her sister with a questioning gaze. "The one on the right is the amount of Kryptonite capable of killing you." Alex paused looked at her sister to see if she understood what was on the other chart.
"Is the one on the left…what they exposed me to?" Kara asked scared to hear the answer.
"It is." Alex stated. Lucy grab Kara's hand seeing that it was almost triple the amount necessary to kill Kara. "The substance I believe Astra used was a mineral that counteracts the effects of Kryptonite."
"So why did it cause me to lose control like that?" Kara asked confused.
"Well like with anything here on earth you're going to get your side effects. With this mineral it looks like you had a Kryptonian version of an allergic reaction when its introduced into your blood stream."
"What!" Kara shouted, "Of all the things. I'm allergic to something that saved my life. Un-freaking-believable. Rao if this is your form of humor it isn't funny!" Kara folded her arms across her chest and pouted.
"Hey now put that away," Lucy said poking Kara's cheek. "Shouldn't you be glad it wasn't something harmful."
"I mean I am but…how did my Aunt know I would need it…" Lucy dropped her hand at what Kara had said. Kara furrowed her brows before asking what had been on her mind since she flew in to the DEO. "Does your father normally…"
"Yes." Kara looked up at Alex who was looking at her best friend shocked. "But he's not the one who was acting strange. My father would do anything to get an upper hand on aliens especially a Kryptonian." Lucy paused, "The one I would look at would be Colonel Harper. I've worked with him closely overseas and he is not a man who would track me down the way he did or kidnap a child. I don't know what is going on but that is not the man I served with."
[Later]
Colonel Harper walked down a dark tunnel where the only light was coming from beneath the door at the end. Once he was there he turned the handle and entered a room that had a circular table glowing at its center. As he walked towards it his appearance began to change starting from his boots that turned into heels, his military suit was substituted for a green dress detailed in gold, and ended with his face that turned into that of a woman. Her purple hair was striking against her tanned skin and piercing blue eyes. "Your niece seems to have been given a type of antibody that allowed her to survive our little test run."
A man emerged from the shadows, and stood tall over the woman. "Seems my wife escaped the other day while we were away. She must have given her something to fight off the effects of Kryptonite. No matter she did not prevent our plans. It's not like she could speak of you and live after that spell you cast."
"Ah yes. Its something I learned from a fellow magician. Except his prevented any woman from speaking in his domain." The woman toyed with her hair as she looked at Non. "Now then shall we discuss the step to bring out the heavy hitters."
Non smirked, "Your revenge will come. But for now, we must stay on course. Indigo is doing her job of extracting any data she can find out about their little organization while you shall continue with your meddling. Do not expose yourself or our element of surprise is ruined and you know he would not be pleased with that."
She sighed and jumped onto the table top, "Fine I'll continue doing as he pleases. I look forward to once we get the big guns out. What do you think of me impersonating Maxwell Lord next. We'll need his facilities later on so why not take him out now?"
"Impersonate or give him the right motivation to do as we want." Non looked at her with an eyebrow raised in question.
"Hm, I do like the way you think. Staying in the shadows and playing him like a marionette does sound rather enjoyable." Hoping off the desk she strutted for the door she had come in through. "Oh how I do rather enjoy being a sorceress."