Chapter Twenty-Six

Confronting an Unknown Fear...

It wasn't that often that a speedster was wrong. Nor was it to know that the team had a running pool as to when the next time they would be proven wrong. So it came to no surprise when Artemis won the most recent one. What the speedster in question, Bart, had been wrong about was Batman having Artemis enroll Kara in school. Between Mary and the former archer, the two had been homeschooling the young girl.

So to put her back in was almost pointless. What the dark knight actually had planned was to have Kara and her mother join a class that was taking a tour of Wayne Tech's R&D facilities in Gotham. At first it really didn't make any sense to do that, but it wasn't until half way through the tour that Artemis realized the place was a giant, kid friendly, science lab. Each of the students was allowed to build whatever they wanted with help of the staff and their parents in their own little area. But out of all the kids that was there, Kara was the only one that wasn't asking for help.

"That better not be a Zeta tube." Artemis said quietly.

"It's not." Kara said as she continued working on her project.

"Ok then; what are you making?" Artemis asked a little intrigued.

"I don't know," the young girl replied with a shrug, "I'm kind of bored."

"Mind if I see what you made?" Artemis asked as a man in a business suit came walking up.

"Miss. Crock, how are you and your daughter doing?" he asked.

"No offense, Mr. Wayne, but my daughter's bored." Artemis said looking at him.

"You're kidding?" he asked looking from one to the other, "How can you be bored?"

Kara turned on her stool to face him and replied, "Sorry, Mr. Wayne, but there's no challenge here."

"Well, why don't you try and build something out of a movie or a TV show?" he suggested.

"I really don't care for movies," she said looking at him, "And I already built a Sonic Screwdriver."

"Is that so?" he asked.

"Yes sir," she said taking the item out of her jacket and holding it up, "Based it off the ninth Doctor's."

"Well, why don't you try building the eleventh Doctor's version," he suggested.

"She hasn't seen that one yet," Artemis said calmly, "Mr. Wayne, why did you set this up today, other than for PR?"

"Because most people don't realize that research and development is another form of science, Ms. Crock," he said looking at the blonde, "By doing something like this, it may get a child into science."

"That and it's safer than blowing up a garage with a science kit." Kara said before she walked over to one of the part bins.

"That too," he said with a slight chuckle, "Is she always to the point like that?"

"That's what makes her my daughter," Artemis said as her daughter walked back to her table carrying a bunch of parts, "What are you doing?"

"I think I know something to build." Kara said smiling.

"And what's that?" Mr. Wayne asked.

"It's something from one of the movies my dad liked." she said as she started to sort out what she had grabbed.

"And what's that?" he asked, a little intrigued.

"You'll see when it's done." she said before she started to piece the item together.

"Yeah, she normally does that when she gets an idea into her head." Artemis started leaning back in her chair.

"Please make sure she doesn't blow up the building." he said before heading off to one of the other tables.

Artemis waited until he left before sliding her chair over to the table and asked, "What are you building?"

"Possibly a laser sword," Kara said looking at her mother, "I figured I should keep it simple for now."

"Why are you making a laser sword?" Artemis asked.

"Because no one told me I couldn't." Kara said with a smile as she looked at her mother.

"That sounds like something Wally would say." Artemis said with a slight laugh.

"I am his daughter," Kara said before turning back her project, "I talked to him a few nights ago. He said he can't wait to meet me for real."

"I think that also applies to you too," Artemis said. She reached over and placed a hand on her daughters before whispering, "And you need to slow down or someone is going to find out your secret."

Kara let go of what she was working on and slowly closed her eyes. "I'm sorry." the young girl whispered as her shoulders shook slightly.

"Kara, what's wrong?" her mother asked.

"I'm scared." Kara whispered.

"What are you scared of?" Artemis asked.

Kara looked at her mother as tears started to fall and she said, "That I can't bring dad home and I'll lose everything."

"You are never going to lose me, Kara," Artemis said gently pulling her daughter into a hug, "Nothing or no one will ever take me away from you."

"Tuppence almost did," Kara whispered as she buried her face into her mother shoulder.

Artemis tightened her hold before whispering, "And I have you to thank for her NOT taking me away, my little guardian angel." She reached up and stroked her daughter's hair for a few seconds before softly saying, "But more importantly; once we get your father back, we're going home."

"Are we really?" Kara asked looking up at her mother hopefully.

"Yes, really," Artemis said tapping the girl on the nose, "Because I don't know about you, but I miss Palo Alto."

"I miss my friends." Kara said wiping a tear away.

"And I miss my old job, believe it or not," Artemis said before kissing the girl's forehead, "Feel better?"

Kara nodded before saying, "Yeah, love you mom."

"And I love you too, sweetie." her mother said with an affectionate smile.

"Why do you call me that?" Kara asked.

"You'll find out when you get to the eleventh Doctor," Artemis said before leaning back in her chair, "So, are you going to build something other than laser swords?"

"I only made one laser sword." Kara replied before turning back to the table.

"You two ok over here?" a man asked as he walked back up.

"We're fine," Artemis said looking at him, "And you are?"

"Clark Kent, I'm a reporter for the Daily Planet," he said before looking at the table, "So what have you made?"

"I was trying to build a laser sword." Kara said smiling.

"You and quite a few others," he said sounding a little skeptical, "How far did you get?"

She picked up the device and pointed the one up towards the ceiling as she pressed a button; metal pieces started to extend out from the one end and formed a blade and guard.

"You built a collapsible sword instead." he said impressed.

"My dad had a poster that showed the blueprints for the laser sword and I wanted to see if it actually worked." she said hitting the button again so the blade retracted, "It didn't come out the way I wanted, but at least it looks like the Dark Repulser."

"You may not want to show that to anyone here." he said quietly.

"Good idea." she said before putting the item down and went back to assembling something else.

"So what do you think of this event Wayne Industries put together?" he asked a little puzzled.

"It's kind of fun," she said calmly, "Do you think we can go see Grandma Paula before heading home, mom?"

"I think we might be able to." Artemis replied.

"She's your mom?" he asked surprised.

"Long, long story." she said quickly.

"And you already knew that," Kara said quietly glancing at the reporter, "Have you gotten a new suit yet?"

"No. I didn't and not yet, Power Girl," he said just as quiet.

"Do not blow each other's covers here." Artemis said glaring at the two.

"Yes mom." the two said together.

Kara glared at him and said, "Get your own mom, she's mine."

"No offense, but I would love to see if she could punch him out." a voice said from behind Artemis.

"Do not give her ideas." the blonde said turning to find Bruce Wayne standing a few feet away.

"At least that one is better than building Zeta tube components like she currently is." he said motioning towards the table.

All eyes looked at the table as Kara sank a little in her seat and said, "Sorry. Wait, how do you know what a Zeta tube is?"

"You would be surprised." he said before walking away.

"He's hiding something." Kara said before taking apart the item in front of her.

"What do you think he's hiding?" Artemis asked.

"A secret obsession for grown men that run around at night wearing bed sheets and their underwear over their pants," Kara stated bluntly.

Artemis tried to not to laugh as Clark said, "That's not funny."

"Depends on who you ask," the young girl said smiling.

"This not the time or place to get into an argument, you two," Artemis said looking from one to the other.

"Well he asked," Kara stated before they heard what sounded like a buzzer, "What's that?"

"That's just letting everyone know that it's time to go," Artemis said smiling, "Go get your things, sweetie."

"Ok mom." Kara said before going to grab her coat.

"I am really sorry about that, Clark," Artemis said once her daughter was out of earshot.

"Its fine, Artemis," he said holding out a piece of paper, "I walked into that one."

"Not going to argue and what this?" she asked taking the paper.

"The date and location of a Zeta tube that has being set up for you and Kara to try and bring him back," he replied calmly, "You're going to get one shot at this."

"That's all we need," she said putting the paper in her pocket as Kara walked up, "You got everything, Kara?"

The girl handed her mother her coat before grabbing what all she had made and smiled saying, "Now I do."

"You really must be in a slump when it comes to dating if you're hitting on the older sisters, Smallville." a raven haired woman said walking over.

"Who's she?" Kara asked looking at her mother.

"Kara, Artemis; this is Lois Lane. She works with me at the Daily Planet," Clark said making a quick introduction, "Lois, this is Artemis and her daughter, Kara."

"You look pretty young to be a mom." Lois said looking at Artemis.

"I get that a lot," the blonde said with a shrug.

"So you're Lois?" Kara asked looking at the woman, "Someone was telling us a little about you."

"All good I hope," Lois said glancing at her friend.

"I'm not sure," the young girl said with a slightly puzzled look, "Why do you want him to help you act out parts of Fifty Shades of Grey?"

The three adults turned bright red as Lois stammered, "W-w-who told you t-t-that?"

"He did while mom ran to the bathroom," Kara said pointing over at Bruce Wayne, "He also said he would pay for a room for you two if you want. Or was it Dick and Babs he was talking about?"

"Okay, I need to ask Dick….

"Less." Kara said with a smile.

"…..If he can get me a meeting with Mr. Wayne," Artemis said as she had a stern look on her face and was ready to punch out the civilian form of Batman.

"Why say that about Mr. Wayne's first ward?" Lois asked.

"It's something my friend Barbara said….I think she was mad at him and little Kara here picked up on it." Artemis remarked as Clark couldn't stop laughing.

With that, everyone headed out for their next destinations.