Kara could hear it still. Even with the wind roaring in her ears. The ticking clockwork of death that missile carried.
Defending democracy.
"it's a beautiful world, Kara. Worth protecting."
"On that, we agree."
Was Astra…halfright?
"And you would trust it? To them? They will destroy themselves. Leave this planet a ruin. Unless we guide them."
"Not like this. Not by force. We can learn from their mistakes, Astra. As they can learn from our's. Together."
It was 2:45AM. Sleep wasn't happening.
"On that, little one? We don't agree."
Neither does dear Uncle, now. Or ever.
She'd fired up a video of Leonard Bernstein conducting an orchestra, in the former East Berlin. Christmas Day, 1989. The Berlin Wall had fallen, and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony was bringing the world together.
Happily ever after.
She lay on her bed, letting the third movement wash over her. Then, the chirp of an incoming call.
Danni? Three hours ahead, but still…?
She paused the famous concert, and slid on her glasses. Danielle Moran's face appeared on the screen. She looked as tired as Kara felt.
"Hey, Kara."
"Hey," Kara replied, without enthusiasm.
A sad smile came across the screen. "How you doin', kid?"
A shrug. "Oh, nothing like a falling satelliteto make your day."
Danielle nodded. "Yeah. About that satellite, Kara…"
Oh. No.
"My boss woke me out of a sound sleep 25 minutes ago. Wanted to tell me first." She cleared her throat.
"The conference isn't happening, Kara."
She winced.
"Oh, it will. Somewhere. Just not National City."
Kara looked aside. "Danni, I'm so sorry."
Danielle waved a hand. "For what? Doing your job?" She suddenly beamed with pride. "You are…"
Caught. Kara's eyes widened, as Danielle glanced down. Clenched her jaw. Looked back to her, and whispered:
"Awesome."
They eyed at each other. Teared up. Kara knew, in a heartbeat, where Danielle was headed.
"She - ".
Kara softly cleared her throat. It was enough. A nod. And a cool look.
"So. What happens now?"
Kara slowly raised a finger. "I have an idea. Or two. Give me a few days. I WILL get back to you, Danni."
Danielle smiled, slowly. It had the warmth of a barracuda.
"Kara, I really…really hope this does not involve flying to Boston." Danielle paused for effect.
"Cuz last minute air fares? They're a real bitch."
They laughed. For a full half-minute. Caught their breath.
"No," Kara said. "Not today"…
Alex Danvers downed a couple of ibuprofen, with her green tea. The pain in her shoulder was lingering on.
Kara thought she was some world-class martial artist, who could lick anybody. Alex left a thing or two out of that picture.
The skills she'd learned, to defend herself? Her job. Not a calling.
Even those a lot better than her got hurt. All the time. Two days ago, it was her turn.
A lucky kick. Down she went, shoulder first.
She saw her own doctor, on her own time. No need for surgery, thank creation. But she'd need creative excuses for the next month, for not sparring with Kara.
Nobody at the DEO knew. With one exception.
"Vasquez, I will personally waterboard you, if you tell Kara."
"With one good shoulder, ma'am?"
"Ha ha."
She was looking up exercises, to do at home, when a knock came at her door.
Alex peered down the hall. "Kara?", she whispered.
"Yup."
She quickly closed the window on the tablet, and let her sister in. Silently thanked her, for not bringing sticky buns this time. Or hugging her.
Kara took up the offer of green tea. Held the glass up before her, as if peering into the very molecules.
She could. If she cared to.
"I won't keep you long. On your day off." She slowly downed the glass, and washed it in the sink.
"These last six months, Alex? People keep popping into my life. I think I've got them figured out. Until I don't. Henshaw. El grande jefe."
Alex blinked at that one.
"Is the DEO so different? They're just people. They change. They come and go. What if, a year from now, someone else is in charge? Someone who sees the DEO differently? Or J'onn? Or me? Or us?"
Kara saw the worried look on Alex's face. Dialed back the drama, and waved a hand.
"I just want a way to contact you. If worst comes to worst. And be sure nobody is listening in, taking notes." Alex nodded.
"I heard something once about cell phones. Brand new phone calls a brand new phone. Then give them away. Call is untraceable. Does that work?"
Something about this seemed familiar to Alex. Then it hit her.
"'The Sopranos', right?"
Kara rolled her eyes, as Alex tilted her head, in her best Steven Van Zandt impersonation. Minus the shrug.
"Talk on it once, you toss it. Totally untraceable. It's what the Taliban used to do."
"Yes, Silvio."
A smile. "Yeah, Dr. Melfi. It works"…
SATURDAY NIGHT
The chat session didn't take very long. Danielle mentioned to Kara how her roommate, a nurse, was away, helping an aunt.
AMS-GAL/92: Patience of a saint. Poor kid. And she's got the crummy graveyard shift to look forward to, when she comes back. Hates it.
HERSCHEL-C/1750: wow, you IM in complete sentences; what a relic
AMS-GAL/92: LOL - time to turn in. G'night Kara
HERSCHEL-C/1750: sweet dreams
Danielle shut the laptop. Turned to the fully charged phone on her bed. Read the note that came in the box, for the tenth time.
'one and done'
It rang. She answered.
"Nobody likes a smart ass, Kara."
"Huh? What are you - oh, gods. I'd forgotten. Ugh."
They both cracked up, for a bit. Then Kara got down to business.
"It's safe to talk, Danni. Pretty much. Just get rid of the thing, first chance you get. And let's not tempt fate. Don't…"
"Name names?," Danielle shot back.
"Yeah."
A pause.
"Hi."
"Hi."
They cried. Danielle focused on her breathing. And began.
"She gave me a choice, Kara." A beat.
"I will be happy to answer your questions. God knows I have a few of my own. And you know where that will be? Caswell State Forest, same as before."
"Danni - "
"Kara, if you show your face in Jamaica Plain, I am never speaking to you again."
"But…"
"Kara, if you don't agree to this, in the next ten seconds, I am never speaking to you again."
Eight seconds came and went.
Danielle heard a single word, spit out, over the line.
"Deal."
Five minutes later, Danielle was amiably chatting away, while looking up airfares on her laptop.
"I will look up my credit card bill. Next month. And cry"…
WEDNESDAY MORNING
At the American Meteorological Society, two mid-level managers stared out the window, onto the street below.
"Christ all mighty. Supergirl? Really? What the hell got into her?"
"Could have leveled National City. What could the police have done? The army?"
"There's rumors about some flying being or other, who stopped her. Who knows what to believe?" A shrug.
"Glad I'm in Boston. Lots of peace and quiet."
The janitor pushed his cart past them.
A nod. "Damn straight. Where do you want to get lunch?"
The janitor thought he heard something, inside the supply closet. Didn't he have the only key?
Opened the door, and in the dim light, Danielle Moran sat in the corner. Her face a mess, but a stubborn look on it as well.
"Are you…going to…tell anyone?", she whispered.
He stood ramrod straight. "No."
"Would you…give me a…few minutes?"
A nod.
"Gracias, Julio."
He shut the door.
She checked her watch. Gave her herself five. And sobbed.