Notes:
I have finished the first draft of Devils in the Dark. The Current Word Count is 415,580, according to word. In short, this thing is LONG. I think it might actually be in the top ten longest Supergirl fics if you don't count the ones that are just a collection of shorts and one shots, and is headed for the number one slot for SuperCat. The ff dot net wordcount will probably be a bit shorter, but even so, OMFG writing this fic was a LOT of work.
Which means I need a freaking break. So, I'm going to finish my revision pass, and this thing off to my beta, and go work on something else for a while. Because I need to. I really, really need to work on someone else before I start A Plague of Righteousness.
Why? Because this fic was not only really freaking large, but it is an emotional roller coaster that goes to some very dark, very grim places, and I need to do someone light and cheerful and happy for a bit to refuel before I dive back into this universe.
What does that mean for you? Mostly that this story will continue at the chapter a week pace for at least the next few weeks. One I have gotten through a story or two, and had a chance to rest and recharge, I'll be able to hit the ground running on A Plague of Righteousness, which will, if I'm lucky, be a LOT shorter than this monstrosity.
Also, please, please note the new tags I've added to the story. I don't want to spoil anything, but I'm giving you guys ample warning. This story deals with the fact that Kara is mentally ill in a big, big way. It also deals with the fact that these characters are in a war for the survival of the entire multi-verse. Shit is going to get real in a big, big way, and a lot of that is going to start next week.
For those of you who have stuck around this far, thank you. For those of you who are going to stick it out until the end, thank you. The journey will be dark, but I can say without spoiling anything, there is a happy ending waiting for you all. Even if it takes a me a million words to get there.
Kara stood in the desert, staring at the ship that had been at the center of so many horrible things in her life.
"I truly hate that ship," Fendra said. She stood next to Kara, holding a tablet and keeping track of the inventory as the drones from Sanctuary flowed in and out of the ship. "I hate everything about it."
"I understand the sentiment," Kara said as she watched the Kryptonians working alongside the drones. "I'd love to just toss it into the sun and forget it ever existed, but it's too valuable a resource to just leave here."
"How did the humans react when you asked for it back?" Fendra asked.
"I've always found that it's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission," Kara said.
Fendra laughed. "Now that sounds a great deal like the General," she said.
Kara felt a grin tug at her lips. "Where do you think I learned it?" she asked. "Astra used to drive mother insane. She'd show up and take me all sorts of places. Kryptonopolis, Erkol, the Rainbow Canyon, the Fire Falls, the Golden Volcano, the Jewel Mountains, the Sky Palace, Vathlo, the Valley of Juru, the Magnetic Mountain, Jerat, the ruins of Xan, Meteor Valley, the Boiling Sea. I think the worst was when she took me to Bokos."
"Astra took you to the Island of Thieves?" Fendra asked.
"When I was twenty / ahmzeht/ old," Kara said, grinning.
"No wonder your mother was angry," Fendra said.
"Oh, the shouting went on for /wol/. At one-point father tried to separate them, and mother stomped on his foot," Kara said. "He limped for a week."
Fendra laughed, but their amusement was cut short when Fendra's tablet beeped. "That's it. All the stasis pods are clear of the ship and have been transmatted to Sanctuary."
"Good," Kara said. "Anyone we should worry about?"
Fendra looked down at the list. "Only if you consider Jindah Kol-Rozz someone to worry about."
"The Priestess of Yuda Kal?" Kara asked.
"The very same," Fendra said. "Fort Rozz's first prisoner."
"Make sure her stasis pod gets flagged as a level ten threat," Kara said.
"Already done," Fendra said. "You want to tell me where you're stashing the level tens?"
"I've got a pocket dimension generator," Kara said. "Kolex is shunting the level tens there."
"That will definitely keep them out of the hands of the humans," Fendra said.
"That's the idea," Kara said. "How much longer until she can be moved?"
"Another six hours, if we want to fly her to Sanctuary under her own power," Fendra said. "We could carry her now, if we had to."
"And you're sure your people can strip her as quickly as we discussed?" Kara asked.
"It will be difficult," Fendra said, "but with the drones assisting us we can do it."
"Good," Kara said. "When I give you the go ahead, don't wait for me. Just get it done."
"We will," Fendra said. "I'm not sure how you pulled this off, Kara, but all of us are grateful. The chance to walk in Kryptonian halls again…"
"Thank me when it's done, Fendra," Kara said. "There are still a lot of ways this can all go wrong."
"I know, but if it works, you'll have given us a piece of our home, even if it is carved from the bones of our prison. Two nights ago, when you moved to lift the Eradicator Protocol, I thought for a moment you might be an avatar of Vohc. Today, I think you might be a messenger, sent by Rao himself to guide us towards our second chance," Fendra said.
"I'm not touched by the divine, Fendra," Kara said. "Father Rao has simply given me the gift of perspective." Kara let out a sigh as her phone beeped at her. "He has not, however, given me the gift of time. Keep working. I have to head back to National City. The demolition is about to begin."
"Be well, Lady El," Fendra said.
"May Rao light our way," Kara said before shooting into the sky and heading towards National City.
Kara touched down on top of Siegel stadium, landing next to the spot where Astra stood, surveying their new domain.
"Hello, Little One," Astra said as she glanced down at the tablet in her hand.
"Aunt Astra," Kara said. "How goes it?"
"The drones have cleared the entire area, except for one building," Astra said. "We found people living there. Squatters, Agent Vasquez called them."
"Humans?" Kara asked.
"Yes," Astra said.
"Where are they now?" Kara asked.
"The White Martian took them," Astra said. "I was reluctant to give them over to such a creature, but Agent Vasquez reminded me that you trust this one."
"M'Gann is good people," Kara said. "She might not know it yet, but she is."
"I will trust your judgement on that," Astra said. "How go the preparations in the desert?"
"Almost done," Kara said. "Has the city given the approval to start?"
"Yes," Astra said. "I do not think the Mayor cared for me, but he said that as soon as the squatters are clear, we have permission to begin the excavation."
"And the surrounding areas?" Kara asked.
"The drones have delivered the bottled water and connected the affected buildings to Jara crystals power sources," Astra said.
"How long does Nimda estimate this will take?" Kara asked.
"Twelve hours," Astra said. "It would be faster if we could task more than fifty percent of the AI's computational power."
"I know," Kara said. "It would be faster if I'd had Kolex build full attendants instead of drones, too."
"Why didn't you?" Astra said. "I never understood that."
"I learned that lesson the hard way," Kara said. "Suborned attendants are dangerous. Konex, Kolex and the ones I've brought online since returning to the past are heavily modified to protect against potential reprogramming, and I've built in hardwired self-destruct commands, just in case. Even at their best, I can take out five or ten attendants. A swarm of hundreds would be a lot harder. With drones, all I have to do is take out their controlling computer or jam the control signal."
"Who on this world could reprogram a piece of our technology?" Astra said.
"More people that you'd think," Kara said.
"Can I ask you a question, Little One?"
"Of course," Kara said.
"Why did you not name the computer after your mother?" Astra asked.
"I didn't want the reminder," Kara said.
"That she's gone?" Astra asked.
"No," Kara said. "That she betrayed us both."
"Little One-," Astra started.
"Don't," Kara said. "She used me, she lied to me, and she sent me away. I love her, I always will, but some days, I hate her too."
"I wish I could say I felt differently," Astra said. "I just wish you didn't have to carry this, as well as everything else."
"There's no use cursing the mountain for casting a shadow," Kara said.
"Your / uzheiu/ Nimda used to say that," Astra said.
"I remember," Kara said. "I never wanted to hear it, because that's what she always told me when I complained about anything. It was a long time before I saw her point."
"It's a hard lesson to learn," Astra said.
"I was too stubborn to learn it," Kara said.
"A good thing, too," Astra said. "Otherwise, you might never have learned to move mountains."
"Is that what I'm doing?" Kara asked.
"You're giving our people a future, long after everyone else had written us off as a lost cause," Astra said.
"We," Kara said. "We are giving our people a future. I couldn't have done this if you hadn't surrendered."
"You didn't give me many options, Little One," Astra said.
"No, I didn't," Kara said. She took one last look around the part of the city that she'd arm-twisted the mayor into giving up. The part that was soon to be remade into an alien enclave, which would offer her people a safe haven.
She'd done this. She had help, admittedly, but this was something good that she'd done. A place where her people might find a future.
"Have you decided on a name?" Astra asked.
"/ .zrhygrhahs im shahrrehth/" Kara said.
"A fitting name," Astra said.
Kara nodded. "I wish I could stay, but I have to make a trip out of town."
"Go," Astra said. "I will watch, and all will be well."
Kara turned and threw her arms around Astra, hugging her tightly. "/ .ukiemodh w rraop , eh ,astruh,/"
"/ .ukiem w rrip , eh shed kir/" Astra replied.
Kara let go of her and stepped back, smiling as she took to the air.
The woman didn't have a limp this time, but even her own sister would have been hard pressed to recognize her as the new owner of CatCo, and harder still to recognize her as Supergirl. The glamour she was using, thanks to a bit of time spent with Zatanna, altered her face, and lengthened her hair. It had required additional spells burned into her soul, a way to further anchor her to the Earth's magisphere to allow her to draw more mystical energy to fuel the glamour. Kara hadn't complained, because the additional wards strengthened her magical immunity, making it less likely another attack with Nth Metal would be lethal. Even if it hadn't had that happy benefit, Kara would have endured it for this.
She stepped into the elevator and hit the button for the thirtieth floor. As she rode up, she checked her reflection in the metal elevator door. It wasn't the best mirror, but it did give her a chance to make sure the suit was neat, and the illusionary shoulder length hair was carefully arranged around a rather generic face.
The elevator doors parted. She stepped out onto the thirtieth floor and turned right. She'd never set foot in this building before, but she had the layout memorized for months, and could have found apartment 3010 with her eyes closed. She stopped in front of the door and took advantage of the fact that 'Linda Lee' didn't need glasses, and certainly not ones with leaded glass, to take a quick glance through the wall. Apartment 3010 was a corner unit, bigger than the house in Midvale. It was luxurious without being ostentatious. Not surprising at all, since it had been a graduation present to Adam when he finished his bachelor's degree.
She reached up and knocked, watching as Adam glanced over at the door. He picked up the remote and muted the TV, which had been on the CatCo cable news channel, stood up, and walked over to the door. She saw him frown as he checked the peep hole, then reach over and unlock the door, swinging it open.
"Hello," he said.
"Adam Foster?" Kara asked.
"Yes," he said.
"I'm Linda Lee," Kara said. She reached down and opened the messenger bag she was carrying and took out a heavy black binder. "Kara Danvers sent me."
"Who?" Adam asked.
"Kara Danvers. Up until a couple of weeks ago, she was your mother's executive assistant," Kara said.
"Oh," Adam said.
Kara held out the binder. "She sent you this."
"What is it?" Adam asked.
"I don't know," Kara said. "She said to make sure you got it. Her instructions did not include reading it."
"You weren't curious?" Adam asked.
"I'm not being paid to be curious," Kara said. "I'm being paid to deliver a binder to someone who still hasn't accepted it."
"Oh," Adam said, reaching out and taking the binder.
"Ms. Danvers said you would find everything you need inside, but I was instructed to ask that you do not delay in reading it. Her exact words were, 'Tell him enough time has been wasted already.'"
Adam frowned and looked down at the binder, then back up at her. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I really have no idea, sir. Good day." Kara turned and headed back to the elevator, ignoring Adam calling after her.
Adam stared after the strange woman as she walked away, ignoring his attempts to call her back. When she disappeared into the elevator alcove, he looked down at the binder in his hand. It was a heavy black vinyl three-ring binder filled with plastic sleeves. The kind that was common in offices everywhere.
He stepped back into his apartment, and closed the door, making sure to lock it before he returned to the couch. He picked up the bottle of beer he'd been working on and took a sip, before flipping open the binder. The first sleeve held a crisp, type written letter.
To Adam Foster,
Hello, my name is Kara Danvers. Until recently, I worked as your mother's executive assistant. I'd like to preface this by saying that your mother has no idea that I'm contacting you, and were it still in her power, would probably fire me on the spot if she found out. One of very few advantages of no longer working for her is that she can't fire me anymore, though I have no doubt she'll try.
You may not want to hear this, but your mother loves you very much. I'm sure that you're sitting there rolling your eyes, asking where the proof is. We will get to that momentarily. However, I want to tell you a little bit about the kind of person your mother is.
Your mother is one of the kindest, most forgiving people I have ever met. She hides it so well. Most people never realize it. She takes care of people. She fights for them. Your mother is a hero, Adam. One who inspires hope that people can be better, and that the world can be better. She stands up and demands that everyone around her be better than they are.
I know you must be wondering where this hero was when you needed a mother. That's something I understand better than you might realize. Knowing that your mother made a choice which took her away from you is a pain that never goes away. But you should also know that giving you up is your mother's greatest regret.
In the pages that follow, you will find the proof that your mother loves you. You will find two hundred and eleven unfinished letters addressed to you and written in your mother's hand. Every week for the past fourteen months, I have fished three or four unfinished letters to you out of her trash. I have uncrumpled them, pressed them, and preserved them in this binder, in the hopes that someday I could thank your mother for everything she has done for me, by helping mend her relationship with you.
Please, I know that you don't know me, I know that I have no right to ask, but as someone who watched her parents die in front of them, and as someone who has come to love your mother like family, I ask you to consider that there are people out there who would give anything to have the chance I present to you. The chance for another moment with their mother. I ask you, for your own sake, and for the sake of a good and kind woman who has spent decades hating herself for the decision she made, read her words and know that they were written in the hope that she might one day be a part of your life again, that they were discarded only out of guilt and shame that she failed you, and that they were preserved in the hope that both of you might find peace and healing.
If, after reading these words, you do decide to give your mother another chance, there is an envelope in the back of the binder. In it, you will find two vouchers for an all-expenses paid private charter. Simply present one at the JetSuite counter at Burnley Executive Air Field, and they will fly you to National City. Come any time. I know your mother would love to see you.
Sincerely,
Kara Danvers.
Adam sat, staring at the letter. He was more than a little stunned. He had no idea who this woman was, aside from the fact that she used to be his mother's assistant, or why someone who worked for his mother would do something like this, especially after leaving the job.
Part of him wondered if it was some sort of joke. Another part wondered how this woman even knew he existed. Did his mother talk about him? Did she really care about him? His whole life, she'd been little more than a source of checks and gifts that would arrive without note or comment. Something he'd resented, once he was old enough to understand it. But if what this woman said was true than here were all the words that had been missing right in front of him. Or, at least, the ones that had been missing for the past year.
Did he want to read them? If his mother hadn't cared enough to actually send one of the letters, did it matter that she wrote them?
He looked down, reading the letter from this Kara Danvers again, only this time, when he got to the end, he didn't stop. He turned the page and looked the first letter. It had obviously been crumpled up at some point, but it had been saved, and it had been uncrumpled and pressed, but the tiny creases that crisscrossed the page weren't anywhere near so compelling as the words, written in a neat, elegant hand.
To My Beloved Adam…
Kara descended out of the evening sky, touching down gently in Lafayette Square. All traces of Linda Lee were gone. The black power suit replaced by the formal outfit configuration of her war suit that she'd worn to meet with the Mayor the day before, the illusionary hair replaced with her own, currently short blonde hair. She's stopped at a small apartment Konex had rented for her and equipped through a personal concierge service to check her makeup. In the old timeline she had eventually found a brand of lipstick that stood up pretty well to supersonic flight, but it wouldn't be on the market for almost a year, so she'd retouched and flown over at a much more sedate pace.
It was just after 8:00 PM local time, and as Kara crossed the square, people began to take notice. She saw one of the guards at the front gate pick up the phone and speaking frantically. Most of the other guards were on alert by the time she reached Pennsylvania Avenue. A quick glance told her there was a lot of scrambling going on inside the White House.
She'd debated doing this. Argued with herself over whether coming in person was the right thing to do, or whether she should have simply made a phone call. Ultimately, she decided against the phone call, and against letting anyone know in advance that she was coming. It came down, as so much of what she'd done over the past few weeks had, to questions of optics, precedent, and inertia.
Kal had a standing invitation to the White House for years, and to her knowledge, the only time he'd ever used it was to drop off the invitation for the CatCo Gala she'd sent to President Marsdin. That had to change. Not so much Kal using the invitation, but rather the leader of the surviving Kryptonians, and for right now, however much she might wish it could be otherwise, that was her. She had to establish the precedent that the invitation would be used at need, and without prior consent. She had to establish the right of access, or when Olivia left office, she might very well lose that access.
Kara stopped at the gate, giving her biggest smile to the guards there.
"Hey," she said. "I'm Supergirl. Um, well, you probably already noticed that, I mean with the suit and all. Though it's a new suit, so you might not have recognized it, I suppose, but the symbol is the same."
"Yes, ma'am," the guard said, a small grin tugging at the corners of his lips. "I did recognize you."
"Oh, good," she said. "I'm sorry to drop by unannounced, but I needed to see President Marsdin, and she did say I could drop by any time, so here I am."
"Yes, ma'am," the guard said. "You can head on up."
Kara used a quick burst of X-Ray vision to check his wallet, then smiled at him. "Thank you, Gary," she said, stepping past him as the gate opened.
The walk up the path was short, and a pair of Secret Service agents were waiting at the front door for her. Both of them were black women. One tall with one red eye and one blue one, and the other was short and stocky with deep brown eyes.
"Supergirl," the taller one said. "Sasha Bordeaux, Secret Service. This is Dakota Jamison."
"Nice to meet you," Kara said, hiding her smile as she noticed they were apparently all using their made-up names today.
"You too, ma'am," Sasha said. "I'm a big fan."
Dakota gave a small snort, and Kara noticed the corners of her lips twitching upwards as Sasha shot her a glare.
"Am I missing a joke?" Kara asked.
"No," Sasha said. "My associate *thinks* she's funny sometimes, but the only joke is her sense of humor."
"Well, I don't want to get into the middle of any family squabbles," Kara said, which for some reason caused Dakota to bite her lower lip. Kara frowned for a moment, then just shrugged. "I need to see President Marsdin, if she's available."
"Of course, ma'am," Sasha said. "Follow me."
Sasha and Dakota led her into the White House, through to the West Wing, and finally to the Oval Office, where another pair of agents waited for them. One of the new agents nodded and opened the door for her, and Supergirl stepped inside, smiling as she saw Marsdin sitting behind her desk.
The door was closed behind her, and her super-hearing immediately picked up a giggle she was sure was from Dakota.
"Girl," Dakota said, "you should have just worn your 'I'm gay for Supergirl T-Shirt."
"Shut up," Sasha snapped. "What part of 'super-hearing' did you not understand?"
"Oh shit," Dakota said. "Do you think she heard me?"
Kara shook her head and dialed down her hearing a bit.
"How are you tonight, Olivia?" she asked.
"Wondering if I should be concerned," Marsdin said.
"Maybe," Kara said as she crossed the office. "May I?" she asked, indicating one of the chairs in front of Olivia's desk.
"Please," Marsdin said.
Kara took a seat. "You did say I could stop by any time."
"I did," Marsdin said. "I've said it to your cousin as well, but he's only ever been by to deliver that invitation you sent."
"Yes, well, things are different when you're the last living member of your species. When you have to worry about the survival of your entire race, you don't have the luxury of avoiding politics."
"So, this is an official visit?" Marsdin asked.
"It is," Kara said. "You may be aware that I purchased a section of National City this morning."
"I heard. Almost five thousand acres worth of real estate, plus a large park," Marsdin said.
Kara nodded. "Yes. I want to request that it be declared a Kryptonian Embassy."
"What?" Olivia asked. "I'm sorry, I don't think I heard that correctly."
Kara leaned back in her chair. "There is precedent. The UN currently recognizes both my and my cousin's fortresses as Kryptonian soil."
"Yes, but both of those were established outside of any existing national borders," Marsdin said. "Besides, contrary to popular belief, an embassy doesn't technically count as foreign soil."
"I know that, but I also know it's the closest I'm going to get, since there is no way you would be able to get Congress to declare a chunk of a city in California no longer part of the United States. You and I both know establishing some place outside of current national borders doesn't do anyone any good," Kara said. "Most aliens can't fly, or teleport. They have no way to get to Sanctuary or Solitude, and frankly, Kal and I have some very good reasons for not wanting to turn the Fortresses into tourist attractions. Solitude is a Pandora's box as it is, and Sanctuary is becoming one. It's not out in the open, but I've spent a *lot* of time rounding up all the various pieces of alien tech that have been scattered around and locking it away to protect people from them. There are so many things this world isn't ready for. Not yet."
Kara took out her phone and set it on Marsdin's desk. "On the other hand, this should be more than enough to prove to you that a safe haven that is easy to reach is not only desirable, but necessary."
She pressed play, and Lillian and Mayor Gates' voices filled the office, replaying the conversation she'd overheard the day before.
"Why aren't they in custody?" Marsdin asked.
"Because, now that the DEO officially exists, we have to worry about the legality of our evidence," Supergirl said. "That recording violates pretty much every wiretapping law California has."
Marsdin took a deep breath. "Sometimes I really wish you and your cousin would just throw people into orbit and be done with it."
"Welcome to my world," Kara said.
"I don't suppose you're willing to testify, since you could hear the conversation without the recording," Marsdin said.
Kara shook her head. "No," she said. "That's not a precedent I'll willing to set. Honestly, it's not a precedent you want set."
"Probably not," Marsdin said, "but I'm still going to put the FBI on Gates and Luthor first thing tomorrow morning."
"Just make sure it's Lillian," Kara said. "Lena's clean."
"You seem awfully sure of that," Marsdin said. "Something you want to tell me?"
"Plenty I want to tell you, but honestly, it's better for everyone if you don't know the things I do," Kara said.
"I don't agree," Marsdin said. "I can't make informed decisions without being informed."
"If I told you half of what I knew, you'd be obligated to act on it because you're a decent person," Kara said. "The problem with that is, the moment you acted on it, the people we're after would realize you were on to them. Once we deal with Cadmus, I'll read you in on what else is going on, because at that point, we are going to need all the help we can get."
"God, you are frustrating," Marsdin said.
"I'd tell you to blame my mom, but it would be a lie," Kara said. "Most of what I know about negotiation, diplomatic arm-twisting and getting what I want I learned from Cat."
"I can definitely see her influence," Marsdin said, "but you're a lot more… bare knuckles."
"Now that, you can blame on my sister," Kara said.
"Noted," Marsdin said. She leaned back in her chair, and Kara could see the wheels turning behind her eyes. "The largest embassy in the world is the US Embassy in Beirut. One hundred and four acres."
"Yes," Kara said.
"You're asking me to, effectively, cede almost eight square miles of land to a foreign power," Marsdin said.
"I realize that," Kara said.
"Then you most realize it's not going to happen," Marsdin said. "But I might have a solution that would actually work better for you."
"Oh?" Kara asked.
"I'll make a few off the books phone calls to the city council tonight and see what kind of horses I need to trade, but if we redraw National City's city limits, you could incorporate the area as a city," Marsdin said.
"That would work," Kara said.
"You ready to be a mayor, Supergirl?" Marsdin asked.
"Not me," Kara said. "But I have a good candidate in mind."
"The question is, what do I get in return?" Marsdin asked.
"What do you want?" Kara asked. "A spot on the stage at the next Kryptonian Medical Foundation announcement? A public endorsement when you run for re-election?"
"Nothing so grandiose as all that, though I wouldn't mind a few campaign appearances," Marsdin said. "But I gather you're already familiar with the Durlan."
"Somewhat," Kara said. "I know there's a community here on Earth. Exiles from the losing side of the Durlan civil war about four hundred years back. Shape shifters, so they blend in pretty well."
"And is that all you know?" Marsdin asked.
"You really want me to go on record with what I know?" Kara asked.
"No," Marsdin said, "probably not."
"Let's just say that it's in both of our interests to keep that piece of information off the record," Kara said.
"Agreed," Marsdin said. "There's a medical issue among the Durlan population. This planet is so humid, it's not good for them. It's not normally that big an issue. Most of them settle in desert climates, and they're fine. However, when circumstances force them to spend time in coastal regions, it can be a problem. They can develop respiratory issues. Especially the children."
"I see," Kara said.
"You have access to far more advanced medical technology than Earth does," Marsdin said.
"Once the enclave is established in National City, any Durlan that were to visit would have access to our medical technology, of course. For themselves, or their children. And assurances of anonymity."
Marsdin smiled. "Then I think we have a deal," she said.
Alex double-checked the charge level on her slaver pistol, making sure the power pack read as full before she holstered the gun on her right hip.
"You sure you're ready for this?" Maggie asked.
Alex looked up at her, and the site brought a smile to her face. Maggie stood there in her war suit, house of El crest on her chest, slaver pistol in its holster, looking like an absolute bad ass, except there was nothing on her face but concern.
"Yeah," Alex said. "I've been ready for this ever since Kara told me dad was alive."
Maggie glanced around, making sure they were still alone in the cargo bay, then she stepped closer. She reached up, cupping Alex's cheeks in had hands and pulled Alex down into a kiss. Alex just about melted the moment their lips touched, her arms wrapping around Maggie and pulling her close as the world around them just faded away.
When it ended, Maggie pulled back and smiled up at her. "We've got this," she said. "We're going to bring your dad home."
Alex nodded, too choked up to say anything, because suddenly, this felt real. She was about to see her dad again.
A polite cough broke the moment, and Alex let go of Maggie and turned around to find Sara standing next to Snart, Mick, and Ray with a smug grin on her face.
"You two ready?" Sara asked.
"Yeah," Alex said.
"According to the timeline J'onn gave us, we've got about thirty minutes to get into position," Sara said. "Ray is on overwatch. The rest of us will move through the forest until we reach the clearing. Mission objective is simple. We retrieve Jeremiah Danvers. We do not interfere in any way with Hank Henshaw or J'onn J'onzz." She gave Mick a meaningful look. "That means no setting the big green alien on fire. Everyone got it?" There was a brief round of acknowledgements, and Sara walked over, and opened the hatch.
As soon as they exited the ship, Ray shrunk down and took to the air to do recon as Sara started moving through the jungle, picking their route. Alex was a little surprised at how quiet the group was. She expected that from Sara, and a bit from Maggie, but Snart and Mick both moved almost soundlessly as well. They also moved quickly, finding a spot near the clearing, but far enough away that J'onn wouldn't get a telepathic sense of them while Ray, whose helmet had been upgraded with a telepathic inhibitor to keep J'onn from sensing him, landed on a tree overhanging the clearing.
Once they were settled in, Alex touched a control on her suit, turning on the sensory enhancement features of her war suit. For a moment, it was overwhelming, and she wished she'd taken more time to practice with it, but with a little concentration, she was able to focus, using the X-Ray vision the suit gave her to peel away the vegetation, so she could see J'onn and her dad, sitting by a fire.
"How many others escaped?" Jeremiah asked.
"I am the last," J'onn said.
Alex smiled, watching the way her dad reached out to J'onn, and felt tears prickle the corners of her eyes, when he took out the picture of her and Kara, telling J'onn about them. She felt Maggie's hand on her back and was glad for the anchor against the emotions threatening to overwhelm her.
Her father was here, he was alive, and he was, in that very dad way he had, offering to take in another stray. It was a lot like the day Kara had asked if Streaky could live with them. Right up until Henshaw shot J'onn.
Alex was on her feet almost instantly, but Maggie and Sara were there too, holding her back, blocking her from rushing out to help.
"Not yet," Maggie said.
"We can't," Sara said.
Alex forced herself to stop, to crouch back down, but it was the hardest thing she'd ever done, and it nearly killed her to stay put as she watched Jeremiah tackle Henshaw.
When the knife came out, she felt Maggie's grip on her shoulder tighten, but she forced herself to watch and wait. There was a moment of vicious satisfaction when Henshaw went over the cliff, even knowing he survived. She watched as J'onn covered Jeremiah with a blanket, and then, as he shifted into Henshaw's form, and gathered up Jeremiah's gear, taking the picture of Alex and Kara and heading North.
"We're clear," Ray said, and Alex rushed forward, killing the sensory enhancements. She broke through the clearing a moment later, and dropped down next to her dad, yanking the blanket off him and starting her assessment.
Unconscious, likely due to pain. Coloration of blood indicated a perforated liver. Almost certainly in hypovolemic shock. They didn't have a lot of time.
"I've got to get him to the Waverider, now," Alex said.
"Go," Maggie said.
Alex touched another control on her war suit and the world slowed down around her as time started to crawl along. She slipped her arms under Jeremiah, picking him up as if he were light as a feather, and she lifted off the ground, and shot through the forest. Kara hadn't had time to give her and Maggie more than a very brief introduction to the special abilities the suit granted and had stressed that flight would be the hardest to master, but Alex didn't care. Not when her dad was dying in her arms.
She touched down, right outside the ship, barely keeping her feet, and rushed up the ramp at super-speed, passing Jax, who might as well have been frozen in place. She raced through the corridors until she reached the medical bay and lay her dad on one of the chairs. She snatched up a pair of EMT's shears and cut his shirt away, exposing the spot where the knife had penetrated, then she carefully removed the knife, before dropping out of super-speed.
"Gideon," Alex called.
"Yes, Ms. Danvers?" Gideon said.
"I need a medical assessment now," Alex said.
"Mr. Danvers' injuries are quite severe, but nothing beyond my capability. If you'll stand back and allow me to work, he will make a full recovery."
Alex stepped back as a number of robotic arms swung into action. A stasis field enveloped her dad as Gideon first cleaned, then repaired his wound, even as she began transfusing synthetic blood in to make up for the lost blood volume.
She wasn't quite sure when, but at some point, Maggie appeared beside her, slipping a comforting arm around her. Alex put one of her own arms around Maggie and held her close as she watched her father's vitals begin to get stronger.
"He's going to be okay," Alex said, hardly believing the words, even as she said them.
"He is," Maggie said, leaning up and kissing her on the cheek.
Alex glance over as the door to the medical bay opened, and Sara stepped inside.
"We're on our way back," Sara said. "Rip's going to put us down the day after we left."
Alex nodded. "Thank you," she said. "I owe you one."
"No," Sara said. "Family doesn't keep score." She nodded towards Jeremiah. "Take care of him. And each other."
Alex watched as she left, then turned back to her father, to lost in a swell of feelings to worry about what was going to happen with Sara and Kara.
Nia smiled as she walked through the square. It was a bright day, not a cloud in the sky, and the southern California sun was warm on her face. It was a welcome change from the biting autumn cold that had been the norm for the last few weeks in DC.
The square itself was familiar. She felt at home there, like she'd walked it a thousand times, and she loved it. It was fully of energy and hope and a sense of purpose. A tall building that looked like a cat sitting on its haunches dominated one side, and it felt like every good thing in the square flowed from that building.
But something was off.
She felt something cold, something evil, something malevolent. She turned around and around, looking for it, but she couldn't see it. She moved, feeling it get weaker or stronger depending on the direction, and once she knew which direction to go, she walked towards it.
After a few steps, she realized she was walking towards a group of three men. From a distance they looked normal, but as she got closer, their faces twisted into monstrous, grotesque masks of anger and hatred. Ink appeared as she got closer, covering them with writing and symbols. Slurs and bigotry, all of it. Words so foul they turned her stomach, and symbols of hatred and brutality. The longer she looked, the more she felt like she wanted to vomit.
A phone rang, a sound like a vulture's cry.
The monsters drew guns and turned toward the building. Nia chased after them, desperate to stop them, but she fell behind when she tripped on something. She looked back to see what it was, and her stomach flipped at the sight of a body, riddled with holes. She got up and ran after them, but she tripped again and again over the bodies littering her path.
Finally, she reached the beating heart of the building. The monsters were already there, but there were also four people. A tall, well-built black man with a shaved head. His chest was torn away, his lungs and his left arm missing. A woman with white hair, her face chalky and skeletal, her mouth open in a scream and two bleeding holes in her chest. A boy, maybe twelve, with curly hair and a black eye. A blonde woman with a crown upon her head, holding a bright blue shield in front of the boy.
Nia watched as the one in the middle pointed his gun. She saw past him, saw the warrior with the swords and the short blond hair coming, but it was too late. The one on the middle fired. The bullet struck the woman holding the shield in the center of her chest, and Nia woke up screaming.
Translated from the Kryptonian:
ahmzeht
A unit of time equal to two orbits of Krypton around Rao, which is also equal to three Kryptonian Days, and one hundred and eighty Earth days.
uzheiu
Grandmother
.zrhygrhahs im shahrrehth
City of Hope
ukiemodh w rraop , eh ,astruh,
I love you, Astra
ukiem w rrip , eh shed kir
I love you, Little One