"We're one minute out." The helicopter pilot said to Alex over the radio. "Looks like there is a good landing spot."
"It could be a trap. We'll abseil down." Alex replied. "Find somewhere suitable to set down within one click and wait for us to call."
"Roger that." The pilot replied as Alex looked round the team.
"We'll take everything with us." Alex said to the team who started to secure ropes to various bags and boxes. "Remember this could be at trap." Seeing everyone nod Alex attached herself to the rope and checked her weapon.
"We're here." The pilot reported. "No sign of anything on scanners."
"Let's go." Alex said moments before the first four agents started their descent. When they were down Alex clipped herself on, nodded to the other three and followed.
As the DEO team reached the ground they spread out and looked for signs of Supergirl.
"Director." Ruby called. "There are big foot prints heading into and out of that cave."
"Spencer, Doyle, Elliott, Ottis spread out and secure this area. Pedersen, Mason, Lewis, with me. Stay alert, the cave could be rigged." Alex ordered as she walked towards the cave.
"Shouldn't I go in first?" Ruby asked.
"If we do our jobs right we won't set off any traps." Alex pointed out as she scanned the entrance.
"And if we don't?" Ruby asked just as Alex stuck her arm out across her chest causing Ruby to come to an abrupt stop.
"There." Alex said pointing downwards. "The ground has been disturbed." She said shining her flashlight on the ground. Seeing a strange reflection she added. "There's a tripwire."
"I've got it." Lewis said stepping forward. Nodding Alex took a step back and started to shine the flashlight further into the cave, hoping to see signs of life. "Mason?" She called.
"Yes Ma'am."
"Get the drone and the bomb disposal robot in here." She ordered.
"Yes Ma'am." He replied leaving the cave.
"Geez." Lewis muttered from in front of Alex.
"What is it?"
"There's enough explosive to bring down this cave." He said. "It's safe now, but if you'd tripped it none of us would have made it out. This goes beyond overkill."
"Whoever set this up wants to make a statement." Alex said. "When Mason gets back we use use the drone and robot and go very slowly. Anything feels off, we stop and check."
"Yes Ma'am." Lewis and Ruby said just as Mason returned.
"We'll send the drone first." Alex said holding out her hand and taking the controller. "Mason, have the robot follow the drone."
"Yes Ma'am." He said powering up the robot as Alex started to fly the drone further into the cave.
Watching the feed on a tablet the group saw the drone go deeper into the cave through small tunnels before it entered a cavern that was lit.
"Do those lights look weird?" Ruby asked.
"It's red light." Alex said looking at the spectrum feed.
"That's good isn't it? I mean that means Supergirl is there right."
"Maybe." Alex said bring the drone to hover before rotating it. As she did so they saw Supergirl hanging unconscious from the ceiling.
Repressing her instinct to run into the cave she looked at Mason and asked.
"Anything?"
"No traps so far. I am still thirty feet from the cavern though."
"Wait. There." Lewis said looking at the images from the drone. "Can you get more light on that spot?" He asked pointing to the screen.
Nodding Alex rotated the drone and moved it to where Lewis had pointed. As she did so she saw a shimmering reflection.
"Another tripwire?" She asked.
"Looks like it. The ground is really disturbed as well." Lewis said. "My guess is there are even more explosives there."
"Can you use the robot to deactivate it?" Alex asked.
"I'd prefer to do it in person, but I can use the robot." He confirmed.
"Do it." Alex said before turning to the others. "You two wait outside."
"But-" Ruby started to argue as Lewis took the robot's controls from Mason.
"That's an order." Alex said.
"Shouldn't you wait outside as well?" Ruby pressed.
"I have every faith in Lewis." Alex said. "Go."
As the other two Agents reluctantly left, Alex continued to fly the drone round the cavern looking for traps as Lewis set to work making the area safe.
-00-
"Done." Lewis said after ten minutes and a lot of sweating.
"Good job." Alex said.
"There were even more explosives on this one." He said. "Whoever set these really didn't want anyone walking away."
"Good news is I haven't seen anything else that looks like a trap. But we'll go slow." Alex said before reaching for her radio and saying to Ruby and Mason. "We're heading in." She then looked back at Lewis and said. "Let's go."
"We're not waiting for the others?" Lewis asked.
"They'll catch up." Alex said. "Keep your eyes open and stick to the path used by the robot."
"Yes Ma'am." Lewis said following Alex down the tunnel.
As they entered the cavern and Alex saw her sister hanging unconscious, as she made out the bruising on her face and felt her blood boil. Forcing herself to stay calm she looked at Lewis and said. "Get those lamps turned off and look out for traps."
Nodding Lewis split off as Alex approached her sister carefully looking for traps. When she finally reached Kara she paused and looked for hidden bombs before reaching out gently holding her sister's shoulder.
"Kara?" She called quietly.
"Alex?" Kara asked forcing her eyes open.
"Right here." Alex assured her.
"Where is he?" Kara asked.
"Gone. I think. Let's get you down."
"No ... Not safe ... The ring."
"What?"
"Where's the ring?" Kara asked trying to look up at her hands.
"What ring? There's no ring." Alex said looking at her sister's hands.
"No ring?"
"No ring." Alex confirmed, worried about her sister. "Let's get you down." She said drawing her gun and blasting the chains causing Supergirl to fall into her.
"I've got you. Can you make it outside?" Alex asked. Seeing Supergirl nod she hooked her arm over her shoulder and led her out of the cavern.
As they reached the start of the small tunnel they passed Ruby and Mason. As they did so Alex ordered. "Secure the cave." With that she kept leading her sister towards the entrance.
As they reached the outside the pre dawn light was not enough to recharge Supergirl so instead Alex sat her down jogged over to one of the bags they brought down form the helicopter. After a moment of digging around she grabbed a small canister and ran back to her sister. She then released the solar grenade, bathing her sister in fake sunlight.
"You okay?" Alex asked as Supergirl healed.
"I think so." Supergirl said, once again checking her hands for the ring.
"What happened?"
"He wanted to talk. He wasn't after me." Supergirl said before looking at her sister. "Alex? Is she ok?"
"She's fine. Worried about you, but okay. Do you want me to take you to her?"
"Yes. No. I need you to run some tests first."
-00-
"These are all normal." Alex said as she approached her sister in a DEO lab.
"How do they compare to when I was exposed to Red K?"
"He exposed you to Red K?"
"No. But he wanted to, well something similar. I don't think he did. But what if he did? Maybe that's what he meant."
"Kara, slow down, you are not making any sense." Alex said. "What happened?"
"He had one of the lantern rings. A red one."
"Anger right?" Alex recalled.
"More like out and out rage. Remember what I was like on Red K?"
"Yeah."
"Think worse. And no cure. Apart from my death."
"Kara, you are the kindest person I know. Yes you have inner rage. Everyone does. But unlike me, you don't let it control you. If Lobo did do something like the ring you can overcome it."
"Once you wear the ring you become controlled by your anger and can't remove it." Kara explained. "He said he was going to give it to me because when I wore it I would lose it and it would be fun."
"But he didn't actually give you the ring." Alex reminded her.
"Apparently I am not broken enough yet. He said I would need a reason and seeing I had got over a planet dying, he would need to think big."
"So what does that mean?"
"I don't know." Kara said. "He kind of left after that."
"Your scans look normal." Alex repeated but seeing how uneasy Kara was looking she added. "But I will run some more." She said hoping to comfort her sister.
"Thank you."
"Kara, if it makes you feel better, he's gone."
-00-
"How is Supergirl?" Vasquez asked as Alex entered the control room.
"Tests are looking okay. I'm just running some final tests to convince her of that." Alex replied before asking. "What's happening about Krej?"
"Claims to not have enough knowledge to point to a map. Apparently the portals are connected to the gems. So if we give him a gem he can then guide us."
"So he was playing us."
"On the very small chance he wasn't, we are currently seeing if our portal causes any resonances in the gems. I'll keep you posted."
"Anything else happening?"
"No. And seeing we aren't about to uncover fifteen portals, I have things covered here. You should take Supergirl and get out of here."
"Thanks. I'll debrief the President before I go." Alex said. "In the meantime upgrade Krej's cell and give him luxury items and keep thanking him."
"But he played us."
"The other Lieutenants don't know that." Alex pointed out. "Let's see if we can cause some disharmony and backstabbing."