"She got hit on." MJ said to the other teens as the trio sat the table, half heartedly doing homework.
"But she didn't know." Kara countered.
"She never dates. As in never." Alex added. "And whatever that weird thing was last night no way would it lead dating."
"Lena goes to functions all the time." MJ said. "But I guess that doesn't count."
"Why?" The teenage Kara asked.
"Because she just hires the plus one."
"You are making it sound like she using an escort service." Kara pointed out confusing her cousin who asked.
"What's an escort service?"
"What's going on?" The older Kara asked entering the room.
"Nothing." All three teenagers said.
"Then why are you talking about escort services?"
"Alex doesn't know what they are." The teenage Kara said.
"Wait, Lena uses these?" The teenage Alex asked having used the internet to figure out what everyone was talking about.
"What are you three doing?" Kara repeated.
"Nothing." The teenage Kara said.
"MJ, do you want me to fly you Midvale next time we visit?" The older Kara offered her nephew.
"Yes."
"Then what are you doing?"
"Just debating who was going to date next, you, mom or Lena." MJ explained.
"You are such a sell out." His sister griped.
"Or Eliza." The teenage Alex chipped in. Just as everyone's phone seemed to buzz.
"What did you say to Lena?" The adult Kara asked.
"I was just asking for verification." Alex said.
"About wha-" Kara started as she phone buzzed again. "You asked if she was a hooker?" Kara asked reading the message.
"A what?" Alex asked searching the internet again.
"No. The user of hookers and the male equivalent." Alex said trying to get to grips with what she was reading. "It was MJ who said it."
"Lena is going to kill us." MJ said.
"Well I suggest all three of you apologise to Lena and then reflect on the fact that Luthors are infamous for holding grudges." Kara said.
"I didn't do anything wrong." The teenage Alex said. "It was them that said it."
"You are really good at shirking responsibility." MJ said looking at his cousin.
"Why are you even discussing this?" Kara asked. "Actually I don't want to know." She added as the adult Alex walked in carrying a large bag while looking at her phone. "What have you two done to upset Lena?" She asked looking at her children.
"See nothing to do with me." The teenage Alex said to her cousins.
"Don't ask." The adult Kara said to her sister.
"Okay then. You ready?"
"I am." The adult Kara said.
"Let's go upstairs then." Alex said said leading her to her bedroom where she put the bag on the bed and started to pull out the contents.
"Just in case it is a trap and they have Kryptonite, the dress is bullet proof." Alex said. "This necklace will detect Red Kryptonite. These glasses have a camera in, it will feed everything back to me. Remember tonight is about gathering intelligence not taking them down."
"This isn't the first time I have done this." Kara reminded her.
"I know. But last time I talked to Sloane Syndicate we were kidnapped." Alex reminded her.
"I'll be careful. Just make sure Alex is okay."
"She will be." Her sister promised. "Ruby will be watching the kids and I have doubled the DEO patrol. Alex will be fine, you just need to concentrate on being safe. Which is why J'onn will be on the inside as a waiter." She then paused and picked up a card. "Okay, this card should unlock any RFID pads." Alex said handing her the card.
"This is so Mission Impossible." Kara said happily.
"Kara, this is dangerous. Please pay attention." Alex said.
"Sorry." Kara said. "So where is the safe cracker?"
"I'm starting to think the goat plan was the more common sense plan." Alex complained.
-00-
"An unfamiliar face in the tide of normalcy." The young Sloane Syndicate CEO greeted as he approached Kara.
"I'm Kara Danvers from CatCo magazine."
"Ah, the press. I will be on my best behaviour then. Wait. Danvers? That name sounds familiar." The CEO said. "Have me met?"
"No."
"But I have met a Danvers recently." He said, trying to think where. "That's right. Director Danvers."
"That's not me." Kara said. "I am just a reporter, from CatCo."
"I can see that." He smiled. "Well enjoy your evening."
"Actually I was hoping to ask you a few questions." Kara said.
"Right now I am on meet and greet. But perhaps later we can have a dance, you will have the length of the dance to ask any questions you like. Let's say 21:32." He said looking at his phone.
"21:32 it is." Kara said.
"That was awfully specific." Kara said over the radio link once he had gone.
"CEOs are quirky." Alex said.
"I am sitting right here." Lena said from Alex's side.
"Anyway that gives you 71 minutes to plant the device and get to the dance floor." Alex said.
"Easy." Kara said heading off down a corridor as she did so she saw another familiar face.
"Is that Aptil?" Kara asked over the radio.
"Looks like it." Alex said.
"What's he doing here?" Kara asked.
"No idea. He didn't tell us anything." Alex said. "Have you met him as you?"
"Don't think so." Kara said. "What do you want me to do?"
"Stick with the plan, but watch your back."
-00-
"What are you doing?" Alex asked when she noticed Lena get up.
"Making my entrance."
"You're going in?"
"Of course. I'll try to make sure Kara doesn't get into too much trouble."
"And who is going to be watching you?"
"They expect trouble from me, I would hate to disappoint." Lena smiled.
"Please be careful." Alex asked.
"Of course." Lena said leaving.
-00-
"Told you this would be easy." Kara said as she slipped into an office.
"Don't get cocky." Alex warned.
"You sure this computer is okay? I mean it was a kinda easy to get in here."
"As long as it is on the network it is fine." Alex said. "You just need to place the device." She said as Kara removed the cover of the laptop.
"Anywhere?" Kara asked.
"On the chip."
"The black thing?" Kara asked.
"Yes." Alex said before seeing Kara's hands move to the heat sink and saying the other black think. She then watched Kara's hands move again before saying. "That's the one." Once it was placed Alex said. "Okay, put the cover on and get out of there."
"I know." Kara said placing the laptop back on the desk.
"Does the Director know you are here?" Aptil asked as he entered the room.
"Um well I don't know where I am, so I'd be surprised if the Director knew. Um, who is the Director?" Kara said, trying and failing to act natural.
"You can drop the act. I know who you are and I am pretty sure you know who I am. And I am pretty sure we are here for the same reason. But my life will be easier if I never saw you. Just make sure you are out of here in six minutes, that's when the next patrol comes this way." He said leaving the office.
-00-
"So Ms Danvers what is it that CatCo magazine wants to know? How I made it to CEO so young? If I was helped by my family? My story is even better. I came from nothing. I am completely self made. Not even a degree to my nam-"
"Actually, no. The young CEO angle has got a little boring." Kara said cutting Joiner off as they danced. "The readers are more interested in the criminal CEOs."
"Criminal? And what crimes am I meant to have committed? Is this because I have shaken the business world to the core?"
"Supplying the Kai gang with weapons and contact lenses designed to control teenagers." Kara listed.
"The latter sounds like every parents dream." He said without missing a beat.
"Is that an admission?"
"No, just acknowledging the idea." He smiled. "I can assure you, just in case my designer suit and lack of tattoos doesn't give it away, I'm not part of any gang."
"I didn't say you were part of it. I said supplying it."
"Why would I do that?"
"Control, driving property prices down, profit."
"I wish my life was as exciting as you make it sound. I am merely a spreadsheet jockey."
"Are you good at that?"
"The best."
"So you know how to hide funds?"
"So now you are accusing me of embezzlement?"
"I was just asking if you were skilful enough, not if you were actually hiding funds." Kara pointed out before asking. "So how is business going since all your power plants got shut down?"
"This is a very different interview to the one I was expecting." Joiner said.
"So you were controlling the guest list so you were only asked easy questions?" Kara asked. "You wanted to use the press as a way of publishing your rhetoric rather than the truth?"
"Look at that we are out of time." He said walking off the dance floor.
"I feel like you might need to brush up on tact." Cat said to Kara walking past her.
-00-
"What happened to keeping a low profile?" Alex asked over the radio as Kara walked away.
"I am."
"That sounded like you were kicking a hornets nest." Alex pointed out.
"I took it straight from your playbook." Kara countered.
"That's what worried me." Alex said.
"So where next?" Kara asked.
"Go up to the fifth floor."
"Why? I thought you said there was nothing up there." Kara said.
"Precisely. If they think you are digging round in safe places they may see you as less of a threat and not realise what happened earlier."