"Do you really think it was a coincidence?" Supergirl asked as she stood with Alex in the DEO control room a few days later.
"The anklet?" Alex guessed.
"Yes."
"If it isn't, it is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, conspiracies we will have come across." Alex said.
"Doesn't mean it isn't real."
"Is that why you have the crinkle?"
"No. Alex is mad at me."
"What did you do?"
"Apparently I am stressing out too much."
"You are." Alex pointed out.
"Of course I am. I thought I had lost her."
"I get that. But maybe you should dial it back, at least in front of Alex."
"I do dial it back."
"Remember how a few weeks ago I freaked out and you had to talk me back?" Alex asked.
"Yes."
"Well you are way more freaked out than I was."
"It's worse than that."
"In what way?"
"I have been having nightmares. When I wake up I hug Alex. Probably too tightly. And may have made it a little hard for her to breath, forcing her to relive the drowning."
"I'd heard about that." Alex said.
"How?"
"Kara and MJ, who had been told by Alex, along with the whole using your powers to keep her confined to her room."
"That's not exactly accurate. I just used my powers to make sure she went to bed on time." Kara argued. "Don't look at me like that. I know I am freaking out. I just can't help it."
"Okay, well toning down the hugs should be an easy first step."
"Easy for you to say." Supergirl grumbled before changing topics and asking. "How's Rashid?"
"Still in a coma." Alex said. "Good news is she isn't getting worse, but she isn't showing improvement either."
"What's happening about the Portals and Krej?"
"Ma'am, we are getting reports of aliens fighting." Rose said interrupting them.
"On it." Supergirl said disappearing.
-00-
As Supergirl flew to the source of the disturbance she saw smoke billowing. Stopping mid air she scanned the area before seeing a head fly into the air past her head before gravity took over and pulled it back to the ground where it landed with a sickening thud.
"Pretty sure I am too late." Supergirl said over the radio as she landed by the head. "There is now one dead head. Can't see the body or the other alien." She added before a high pitched buzz sounded in her ear causing her to hiss in pain and take out the ear piece.
"Hey I know you." A deep, but slightly slurred voice said from behind Supergirl.
Turning she saw the infamous cigar smoking bounty hunter leaning against a building looking smug.
"Regretting not meeting you earlier bastich." He said, his voice still slurred.
"Are you drunk?" Supergirl asked confused.
"No. Probably. Not yet. Soon. Plenty to share. Wanna go to my place?" He asked as he sauntered over to her.
"No." Supergirl replied.
"The name's Lobo. That's L as in "Lacerate", O as in "Ob….Obliterate", B as in "disem-Bowel" and O as in, uh…"
"Offensive?" Supergirl asked.
"No. Well, I guess I can use "Obliterate" twice, huh? What do you think?"
"You are mad and drunk." Supergirl said.
"Thanks." He said belching. "Point is, if you don't know me, I simplify the maiming process." He paused again as if searching for words before adding. "What yer doin' later? Drink? I need a drink. Wanna drink?"
"No."
"I don't like no." He said dropping a small metal cannister at the feet of Supergirl which exploded moments later knocking Kara out cold.
"Hope your face is okay." He said reaching down to pick up the unconscious hero.
-00-
"What the hell happened?" Alex asked.
"We don't know." Rose said. "Some sort of explosion, which knocked everything offline. Including radio. We don't know if Supergirl isn't answering because comms are down or she can't."
"Get a team down there." Alex ordered.
"Delta squad are four minutes out." Rose said.
"Where are overheads?"
"Ten minutes until they are in position."
"What about CCTV?"
"Went down with the power." Rose said. "No way to know when power will be back in that area. Whatever took it out, did a good job. I am trying to access any footage that was uploaded before the explosion. But it will take a few moments, the mirror site is slow." Sensing Alex's impatience they added. "But working on it. Should be here any moment." Trying to ignore Alex's gaze Rose furiously typed away, hoping that by looking busy Alex would not get more angry. Finally a beep sounded and Rose announced. "It's here."
"Play it." Alex ordered as she looked at the screen. Moments later they saw the out dated footage of Supergirl talking to a large man.
"That's looks like the drawing Supergirl gave us." Vasquez pointed out.
"It's Lobo." Alex confirmed as she watched the grenade explode before the footage shut off.
"That's all we have." Rose said. "But Delta squad are on scene." The added before listening to report. "There is one dead body, the headless alien. Other than that no one is there."
"He had to move her somehow. His ship is fast but should be detectable by radar. Figure it out." Alex ordered before looking at Vasquez. "I have to do something before the story breaks, let me know if you find anything."
-00-
As Alex walked into her house she saw the three teenagers sitting in the lounge listening to music and talking. For a moment she stood there not wanting to ruin their evening. But after a moment she knew she had no choice and walked into the room.
"Hi." She called.
"Mom." MJ called barely looking over to her. As her daughter looked up though the teenager immediately realised something was wrong. Not saying anything the teen turned off the music and waited for Alex to approach them.
As the adult Alex reached the couch she perched on the coffee table and looked at her niece before saying.
"Earlier tonight you mom was taken by Lobo."
"Lobo? Where is she?" The teenage Alex asked as panic started to rise.
"I don't know. We haven't found her yet. But I promise you that I am looking for her. So is every person at the DEO. And we both know your mom will be doing everything she can to escape." She then took her niece's hand and repeated. "We will find her."
"What if you don't?"
"We will." Alex said with no doubt in her voice. "But I promised your mom that I would look after you. So until I find her I need you need to stay here with Kara and MJ." Alex said. "Mom is coming down and will be here soon." She then looked at her daughter. "In the mean time you are in charge. Don't leave the house."
-00-
When Supergirl woke up she found herself chained from a cave ceiling, while being bathed in red light. Lifting her head slightly she couldn't help the groan that escaped as pain washed through her body.
"Hey bastich." A deep voice said causing her to look up and see Lobo, who was still smoking a cigar. "Like the frag?"
"Where am I?" Supergirl asked trying to get her bearings.
"The Lobo cave. Kinda homely, if you like homes. I added some mood lighting, so we can talk." He said pointing to the red lamps. "We won't be disturbed here." He added. "Which is bad for you. You're mine cheeseball. Drink?"
"No."
"And they say I'm crazy." He said as he had a swig. "This planet has good booze. May have to come back someday."
"What do you want?" Supergirl asked.
"Right now, you are looking pretty good." He said drinking again. "After we conclude business we need that drink."
"You're insane."
"You only say that 'cause you know me." He grinned. "I'm curious. You faced Rensh, without powers. And you won. From here you look pretty feeble." He said punching Supergirl, who without powers groaned into the punch.
-00-
"Tell me you have something." Alex growled as she returned to the DEO.
"No ma'am. Not yet." Harris replied as Vasquez walked over to Alex.
"There is also a chance this is meant as a distraction. If there are portals, they could be about to activate." Vasquez warned.
"Any sign that is happening?" Alex asked.
"Not yet." Vasquez said before adding. "But we have limited resources. Every sensor we use to search for Supergirl is one we can't use to search for portals."
"I know." Alex said. "Right now our only way to find Supergirl is picking up Lobo's ship. To do that radar is our best option. Keep the other sensors on the portal search."
"Yes Ma'am." Rose said.
"Let me know if Rashid's condition changes. I don't care how small a change. I need to know. Worst case is all these events are linked and we have reached the crunch point." She then turned to Vasquez. "I need to brief the President. The second something happens let me know."