Chapter Forty-One:
Just another day at the office of the DEO, dealing with some assholes who got their hands on some kind of cannon that was modified alien technology. Thankfully, Alex and Kara managed to stop them before they could hurt themselves or others.
After the day that was, Alex wanted to settle in with a nice long drink. However, there was not much settling in given how much energy Kara was displaying when she bopped up and down. Amusement spread over Alex's face when locking her eyes on Kara.
"I'll bite," Alex said. "What's got you excited?"
Kara almost gasped in horror and Alex wondered exactly what kind of fux pas she committed. Her sister's hands dipped to her hips and she locked eyes onto Alex.
"You're kidding me, right?" Kara asked.
Obviously, Alex did not know what she was talking about, given the fact the DEO agent racked her brain furiously. She came up with absolutely nothing. Unless one counted a very strong desire to use her symbiote to restrain Kara and to give her a proper outlet to expand that extra energy. Which to be perfectly honest, Alex had that desire pretty much every single time she and Kara were in a room.
"You honestly don't know?" Kara asked.
"Yeah, I really don't," Alex said. "It's not your birthday for another couple of months."
"I wouldn't make nearly that big of a deal out of my birthday," Kara said.
Alex begged to differ, but she really decided now was not the time to argue with Kara.
"It's Wonder Woman!" Kara screamed at the top of her lungs.
Despite not having super hearing, Alex could feel Kara's excited squeal hitting her ear. Alex slapped her ear, not sure if it was any better or worse than being waterlogged after diving into the deep end of the pool.
"Oh, her," Alex said.
Kara's expression shifted in the most humorous manner possible, looking supremely indignant. Alex was not sure if she would have gotten this reaction from Kara if she had walked up to a puppy dog and punted it in the face. Kara's sullen expression was one that really amazed Alex.
"Her? You're kidding me right. This isn't just some Senator or something, coming in for a speech. This is Wonder Woman. Do you know who Wonder Woman is?"
"Yes, of course I do," Alex said. "I thought you two met."
"Yeah, one time in passing, but by the time I got there, Superman and Wonder Woman already did most of the work," Kara said. "So, i just stood there, slackjawed, and she turned around, and asked me if I was okay. I said I was, and she smiled at me. Do you get it? Wonder Woman smiled at me."
"Yes, I got it," Alex said. "I'm not sure if you ever told me this story...other than a couple of dozen or so times."
"She flew off, but she's a living legend, and this is the first time I'm going to meet her up close and personal," Kara said. "Oh, and guess what, Cat Grant got be the assignment where I get to talk to Wonder Woman. Oh, what if I freeze? What if I mess up? What if I act like a complete and utter fangirl when she's onstage?"
"You mean like you're doing now," Alex said.
"EXACTLY!" Kara exclaimed. "What if I act like that."
"Well, you won't be the first person to act like that in front of her," Alex said. "I'm sure she deals with at least three dozen men and women acting like blitering idiots in front of her. Just take a deep breath."
"Yeah, you're right, just need to take a deep breath," Kara said.
"If you get nervous, just imagine her in her underwear," Alex said.
Alex smiled, expecting the reaction that Kara gave her, which was plenty of sputtering, stammering, and blushing, when she breathes heavily.
"That doesn't help at all!" Kara gasped.
With a grin, Alex tightened the grip around her sister's shoulder, and kissed her on the forehead. Kara shifted a bit tighter with Alex hoping that she eased Kara a little bit.
"You're in rare form today," Alex said. "Relax, you'll be fine...trust me."
Kara nodded and broke away from Alex for a second. She had to get prepared, because seriously this was Wonder Woman, she was going to talk to Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman, the woman that she strived to be half as awesome as.
Alex smiled, she could hardly blame Kara. If she had a chance, she would test herself against Wonder Woman. Given where she called home, Alex would hazard a guess she had plenty of experience making women feel good. While she wouldn't go as far to call Themyscira non-stop Lesbian orgy like some people did, Alex would be blissfully naive to think the Amazons did not get to enjoy each other from time to time.
Oh, Paradise indeed, and Alex smiled at the fantasy of crash-landing on the island to be taken care of by so many lovely women.
The next few days, Kara was in Washington for the speech. Alex was here, working security, because such a high profile event would be a lightning rod for trouble. Kara hated to see what would happen to anyone who would screw with Wonder Woman, especially since Supergirl was just waiting in the wings. Kara half-hoped for a team up, but she realized quickly that putting people in danger was the opposite of who she was.
She saw a familiar face in the crowd. Kara edged over towards her. Lena caught Kara's eye and smiled.
"Lena, you made it out here," Kara said.
"Well, it isn't every day you here Wonder Woman give a speech," Lena said. "Especially given her presence in Washington...it's caused a stir. It's amazing how both sides of the political spectrum are calling it propaganda for the other. Seems like she's doing something right, then."
Kara smiled, and she thought that Wonder Woman was doing a whole lot right. The truth was, it pained Kara to see that some ultra-radical groups tried to use Wonder Woman as a mascot to denounce all men, regardless of whether they've done anything or not. She felt some of the similar things, with some of those misguided people saying that Supergirl was proof that the era of men were over. That was completely missing the point of who Wonder Woman was and what she meant to so many women.
And who Kara hoped that she was as Supergirl. It was all about standing together against those who would threaten everyone. Unfortunately, far too often these days, people bent over backwards to seem so forward, that they just were as discriminatory as the people who they condemned.
"If only we can judge people by the content of their character, whether who they are, or who they identify themselves to be," Kara said.
"Yes," Lena agreed. "I couldn't have said it any better myself….although I'm sure that Diana is going to say something just as profound."
Kara could rub her hands together in excitement. If it did not make her look like such a scheming villain that was. Kara turned her attention towards the stage. The applause was so loud that Kara could barely hear herself think. The one and only Wonder Woman, Princess Diana of Themyscira walked to the front of the stage. She spent the next few minutes waiting for the warm applause to die down.
"Thank you for coming out today," Diana said. "It's nice...really...it's more than I deserve."
Diana stood up strong and tall. She hoped to be an ambassador to the world of men, but also to bring education back to her sisters on the island. Both worlds, isolated for thousands of years, had much to learn from each other. And yet, Diana felt some of the same warning signs of division that lead to a group of Amazons breaking off, and very nearly going to war with those who had remained behind.
"Today I stand before you, seeing so many of you who have promise," Diana said. "But, it's important...it's important to remember the value of being strong and confident in your own abilities. You shouldn't let anyone dictate what you should be in society, or shame you for who you are. That's a lesson that not only young girls, and women should learn, but everyone should."
There was some applause from Diana. Kara just smiled. She really hoped that the message sank in for some people.
"Which is why you should work hard to achieve upon merit, and not just using who you are as a crutch. Discrimination exists in many forms, and handing someone an opportunity based on a criteria of gender, race, age, or income will not be fulfilling at all. Rather, it will hurt you, more than help you. And this harm will lead to resentment. I know it may seem beneficial in the short term to take the opportunity that is handed to you. Erasing one's perceived privilege to give opportunities is still an unbalanced way to live your life."
Diana eyed a small group of people, who were looking at her very skeptically. But, none of them have the nerve to say anything to her.
"I've fought harder, despite my role as the Princess of my home," Diana said. "You have to find the passion and be the very best. You should not ever use your gender as a shield to get ahead. Instead of propping the blame on others, then you should look within and find what you have to do to accomplish your goals. No one says life will be easy."
Some nodded in agreement. There were many hard working men and women in the crowd, who had their own challenges. But, they preserved and put in the time, and supported their families. They could have taken the easy way.
"Princess Diana, do you think that a woman should be paid as much as a man?" one of the people in the crowd asked.
Lena just tutted by Kara. Kara raised her eyebrow, but said nothing. And Lena did not elaborate why she seemed so disgusted by this question.
"I believe that people should get paid based on merit," Diana tactfully responded.
Before this discussion could go any further, something buzzed over their heads. A silver pod zipped over Kara's head and made its way to the pool outside, crashing inside.
Security moved in to check out the pod. Kara disappeared in the chaos to come back as Supergirl.
Supergirl came back around, as the guards held their weapon at the pod, which waved back and forth. A shrill sound echoed through the air, with Kara almost staggering back from it.
At the edge of the pool, the pod rested. Something about it unsettled Supergirl, and she braced herself for anything.
"Stand back," Kara suggested to them all.
"Don't worry, M'am, it's our job," he said.
The pod broke open and smoke started to ooze out of it. Kara came face to face with quite the striking looking female if her first impression was on point. Said female dressed all in white, and resembled a more mature version of Supergirl, only with shorter blonde hair. The white material stretched to her fabric body.
"Who the devil are you?"
The eyes of the mysterious blonde visitor narrowed as if gauging the worthiness of each and every member of the party. When she apparently decided they were worth, then she gave an answer.
"My name is Galatea," she commented softly. "I'm the savior of this world."
She rose up from the pool and disarmed the guards with a casual flick of her finger. Supergirl grumbled, just what they needed, another Kryptonian with a god complex. The resemblance between them was so striking that it almost floored her.
"And i'm here because i wish to eliminate the obsolete model that is Supergirl," Galatea informed them all.
Those glowing eyes locked onto Supergirl, and fired pinpoint precise heat vision at the Girl of Steel.
To Be Continued.