Chapter 41
"I don't have access to the technology to deal with Nth metal poisoning. A cure was discovered but it was in between this time and my time. It is why the Legion rings can be made of Nth metal and not affect us as it seems the suit is affecting Lillian," Brainy explained on the phone.
"So, what do we do?" Nia wanted to know; she'd put him on speaker. Lillian was definitely not looking good. Her color had started to change – instead of bright, lively tissue, she was looking as gray as the floor of the bunker.
"The only thing we can hope for is to get her body into some kind of stasis chamber. That would at least slow it down so you can fly back here, and I can run more tests to see if I can somehow create what I need to try and defeat it," the Coluan told them.
"What happened the first-time man tried to use the Nth metal? They didn't figure out a way to cure the humans that were working with it?" Nia asked him, completely confused.
"They wear suits because the first guys who tried to work with it with only regular metal working gloves, died. They didn't realize that any shard of the material would try and find a new host. You have to inert the metal before you touch it with bare hands. That's why the protective suits are worn in the smelting facilities. That's why the metal is tested at least a dozen times before it leaves the factory so the poor guys loading and unloading it from the trucks don't get it in their bodies. It's also why they wear protective suits when welding!" Brainy knew the more time they spent talking the worse Lillian was going to get.
"Would a medically induced coma help?" Lena asked.
"Possibly but I could not guarantee it," the Coluan admitted.
"Where is the medical bay for this facility?" M'gann wanted to know.
"I'll take you there," Lena offered. The Martian grabbed her shoulder and they disappeared.
"Let me die," Lillian said from her spot, lying on the cold floor.
"As nice as that may sound, I'm not letting Lena have that on her conscious," Clark spoke up.
"Did you not hear the Coluan?" The elder Luthor asked.
"We get a kick out of proving him wrong," Nia said. M'gann and Lena were back but the group could tell that they didn't find what they were hoping for.
"All we found are sedatives," M'gann told Clark after moving close to him, keeping her tone low.
"That might work. I have an idea but I'm not sure if it'll fly as it were," he admitted, keeping his tone just as low.
"What are you thinking?" The White Martian raised an eyebrow.
"Give her the sedative, put her in the long metal box over there, and then I use my freeze breath to just freeze the box. It would drop her core temperature and I could fly the box to Brainy," the Kryptonian suggested. M'gann didn't hesitate. It was the best option they had, and it would get Lillian to help the fastest. The White Martian grabbed Nia's phone, took it off speakers, and quickly gave Brainy the idea. There were risks – if Clark over froze the container, it could kill Lillian. If he flew too quickly, he'd melt the freezing he did. Still, he could think of no better idea give their limited resources. The Coluan told them to get on it and get Lillian to him as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, J'onn held the Maiden of Might in space, just outside the planet's atmosphere, allowing her to bask in as much direct sunlight that he could. Silently, he prayed to any Martian Gods that were listening. He could not lose her; not like he'd lost his own daughters.
It seemed like an eternity before he suddenly heard Kara take in a breath. He pulled her close, glad to feel her arms wrap around him. The Martian could almost feel her strength returning as her hug became tighter.
"You gave us a good scare," he told her.
"It was pretty scary. I could feel myself losing control of everything, my strength leaving me. That Nth metal is dangerous," Kara said.
"Come on. I know there are some people who will be glad to see you," J'onn smiled. The two quickly flew back toward the secret Luthor base.
To Be Continued…