*** * * HELLLLLLO FOLKS! Sorry for long ago, far away delay. Schoolin' and life are quite a B ! +...** sometimes. Well, back in the groove, so strap in. Harness your basket of noms and choose your 'energetic' beverage of choice. Let's hope I haven't lost my touch here. Enjoy! * * ***
RECAP:
"Out of everything?" She spoke to her second, whom nodded. "PROTECT those two. With EVERYTHING in you. Please Helena. I...I...please." Nearly a response was met, until another entered the domain where the two sisters slumbered, taking up a spot on the floor in almost a meditative way, alerting the others when a minor *ding* popped up on the monitor, showing the third entity in the training room. "Ken?"
A rush of psychic energy slipped over everyone, but not in an invading manner. It was comforting, almost..protective and when it calmed, a voice met their minds. 'My Son, he wants me with her, to guard her. With them. With YOU. He is safe, Chainsaw. There is more to the tales of her absence from the city, from the planet and beyond. Her past, her Father's past, their family, of El. THEY are how I arrived here. Zor El, is one of my...FIRST of those I met and created a bond with, that was not of our home. I met little Kara, when she was just a cycle of age. So, I can have my crews, my friends, run the business. You have me here. Until I am no longer needed and unwelcome. But I remain. If that is alright with you Maggie Sawyer. We really REALLY did, miss your ass.'
"Help me." The Cap requested, of her second, immediately gaining that aid. Once steadier, her milk chocolate hues found the dark browns of Kelly's and emerald shivering orbs of Lena's, granting a silent response to the question asked. They stepped up and took over Helena's position. "Ya don't gotta carry my derriere, right to there ladies. The companionship where I feel it should be, where you should be, is enough to calm those little bastards on my shoulders, annoying the pearly gates and pits of hell out of me."
"Wordy, she be." Sam muttered to Nia, trying not to crack a smile. Lucy however, released a smirk and bumped fists in amusement. She flipped over to another pathway, when a yawn took place, a cascade's wave rushed through the air, where others felt the action met, completed just the same.
"Maybe..a bit of a snooze would be good for us all. We can run on shifts, so we aren't drowning by exhaustion. As awesome as it would be, we don't have a gift basket of abilities to change the outcomes we all wish for." Lucy was about to continue, until..she saw the tremors of three previous passengers aboard a tower's ship. Terror was the only thing in their shivering orbs.
"Sleep." Nia all but whispered the grotesque word, feeling ill beyond comprehension. Shutting her eyes meant reliving it again, if not something worse. That something had her cursing at her powers. Her..her….weakness.
"Abilities. Right." Kelly's doubts bubbled up, rising higher and higher until she felt herself about to break the surface, only to plunge back into the depths of a frigid nightmare. Well, nightmares.
"Outcomes. Wishes. Still..so much to..do." Lena barely could hold her head up, the moment the realization hit her from left field like a 100 car freight train. Of all the things that scared her the most, even she found herself drowning.
"Guys?" Maggie, Lucy and Sam noticed the three had checked out, far beyond any comparison that darkness allotted. Looks between them, even when Helena joined their much graver concerns. Through all the battles Troy had endured, THIS one? It would take everything of them and more, to cast the phantoms OUT, for good._
Chapter 3: Battle Symphony
"My..gift.." Nia's voice feathered off, to all but a whisper, at the end of the second word, while gripping the chair's bench on either side so tight her knuckles were whitening. Her breathing had quickened, skipped a little, and a heavy lump in her throat she attempted to swallow, scared the living hell out of her. JUST like before..
*** * * Recollective Torment: Shadowed Vision..
"You are forcing yourself to find the meaning without seeing what your gift is attempting to show you. Nia, you have to let the vision lead you. You are pushing it in the direction you think it is headed, only to frustrate you even more. Let's start this routine exercise again. Guide your breathing to level out. Clarity can only reveal itself when.."
"Tower Crew? You guys on? I could REALLY use all hands on deck! Sending coordinates now! J'onn? Dreamer? Sentinel? Folks, we WHOA! J'onn, ANSWER! Please!" Both Nia and he jumped to their feet shifting to his Martian form, where she had suited up to follow him out. They snatched up their fully charged comms, pressing them into an ear, for the Martian Manhunter to take to the night sky with Dreamer in tow. "Guys?!"
"WHOA! This is gettin' a LITTLE eccentric for its own fiery annoyance! WHERE are these flames com.." Lena, in her nanotech gear, suited up as 'Jade' switched from an Irish lilt to a full blown tongue of the Emerald land, complete with more cursive choices than Alex could string into one sentence, EVEN when directed to the run-on kind.
"GOTCHA Jadeite! Holy hell! Okay I'M with Kieran! What the..look OUT! Brain Boy, Legion your ass this way and FAST!" Sentinel kept up her colorful array of linguistics, only further sending Dreamer's anxiety through a crumbling ashen roof. "Dreamer.?"
"I'm right.." The vision manifested once more within her mind, clearing the hazy view, where it had remained indestructible before, when J'onn and her were meditating to gain some perspective, some reason as to what it meant._
*** * * Flashpoint: Woven Insight
The desperate wails of trapped civilians, she made haste to as best she could, with what remained of a collapsing hallway. She slid in front of a door, number 412, noticing how it appeared slanted but embedded into the frame, hearing attempt after attempt, to tug it open. She had IGNORED the cracks in the doorway's shell, instead using a ruthless momentum of rushed determination to make up her mind.
"STEP BACK! BACK! Back AWAY from the door! BACK!" Infusing herself, projecting her oneiric energies she used everything in her Naltorian being, thrusting her foot forward, obliterating a once upon a time hanging entry to exit slab. Free of the obstacle, she manifested a bubbled dome, to protect the family of five, with the youngest having to be two if that. "Stay huddled together, just like that. I'm GOING to get us out of here. I'm going to.." The scream sent ripples of unbridled panic through her body that suddenly seemed paralyzed on the spot. That ONE slip, ANOTHER scream of the howl belonging to Kelly, had DIRE consequences. She lost her concentration and furthermore her hold, with the bubbled dome once secure, no longer even in existence. The screams were no LONGER coming from above and below, but behind. It was too late, when the structure around them, including what had once resided above, collapsed upon the family of five. Part of what had come toppling down, dropped onto her feet, her legs and part of her waist. She screamed bloody murder, only to hear the whimpers to her left. There, before her watery eyes, was the youngest's, a mere toddler, a little foot, sticking out from the rubble…
*** * * Vision-land Escape
"Dreamer? Dreamer! DAMMIT Nia, ANSWER! Oh fuck. FUCK! J'ONN?! GET your ass to..WHOA!" The shouting continued, where a new tone found its way to her ears.
"Dreamer? Hey!" Her head shot up, watching as if the scene before her was in slow motion, barely picking up on J'onn's voice, who was yelling something to her, only to finally grab her by the shoulders and shake her. "Nia?! Go to Sentinel! M'gann is with Jade. Go! GO!" This wasn't right, but maybe the Martian Manhunter could protect the family better than she could. Then..she did. She..had. This must have been the right move, was all she kept thinking, rushing down another hall, hearing his loud echoing voice and the family's shouts of thank yous. She let the smile fade away, booked it around the corner and up the couple of broken steps, picking up on the cursive regulations to Sentinel's vocabulary, but it sounded…
"NO!" The foot sticking out from the pile of rubble, was none other than Alex's booted one. The screams from both Martians, Lena's and Brainy's added to the agony her own escaped howl unleashed. It was then she found more of the roof collapsing and on top of her body. Ecstrutiating strikes of unimaginable pain ripped the rest of the air right out of her failing lungs. If she had JUST taken a moment..to 'SEE' what her vision had revealed..
*** * * Phantom's Menacing Retreat._
"Nia? Nia Nal." They hadn't even felt the breeze hell, seen her move, but there was Kara, knelt down in front of her. Her hands had found who she'd started to think of as a little sister's own, cupping them with a warmth, gentleness and strength all in one. She continued to softly speak, switching into a partial familiar language. "Khap Nahn Dhugh Otem. I'm right here. You, you're not alone. You HAVE a family. Rrip Kehp Khuhp." Oh the words, so POWERFUL as they once were, the first time she'd spoken them, to the young heroine, on that destined day of a reveal to awakening, "you have me." Her eyes kept locked to the Naltorian's, a soft smile piercing her lips which Nia followed suit, now breathing evenly how Kara had hoped she would. The sudden burst of her limited powers had left her depleted but it was well worth it. Someone's hand had found her shoulder, as no doubt by the same person, placing one on Nia's as well. Her instinctive nature told her the answer to that very question.
"You have, all of us." Alex joined in, glancing from left to right as they seemed to gather in a circle and wrap arms around each other. They put their heads down, letting Kara lead in a soft prayer, to strengthen the mind and fill the voids anew, without such doubts the phantom cast, until finally finding a solace relaxing into the enjoyment of incredibly blessed company. Stronger, ALWAYS stronger...together.._
"Again." She had to admit, the girl had spunk and much more than that to her repertoire of hero skills. The set alone was quite the chart, but this?
"Kudos. Well, the 'load' is getting quicker. She slaps it up, like it's goin out of style. She's not used to a quick pull. That comes in time." Lucy commented, using the can to bottle opener, attached to her black lanyard with rainbow streaks from a Nyan Cat on it. One pop, brought the faygo to parched lips, until jacked with the culprit running away laughing. That ended, when a heavy OOOOOF alerted the gang. "CLEAN UP on aisle 9!"
"Ow. Yeah yeah. I'll do it." Lena didn't feel bad for tripping Sam, who had thieved her way to a rather flawed line up. The foot to slide, catch and release of gravity's good measure, face planted Arias and brought a victorious even keel for Lucy who'd flung her hand in a notion she'd handle the shoe shine.. Kelly had been a dear and retrieved the items to clean up the sticky mess, all the while bringing Lucy another of the Faygo flavors she liked, also bringing her own choice and likewise Alex's.
"Well padded ended up being handy apparently Lee." Kara commented, thanking Kelly for bringing her the orange cream flavored Henry's, tossed the tail that Lucy kept attached as much as possible. Popped off, had it dropped off, to be caught, when a hand flew up from the floor, victorious in something apparently. Blue on hazel green, with the grin only Sam could pull off with them. In doing so, guess it instigated her getting a bath, her face and neck anyway, by Helena. "Umm.." She was at a loss for words, which was probably..better that way, when Arias all but purred for Troy.
"Now see that is a win right there." Maggie lifted her Faygo to the air in cheer, holding out two in a blue and red, to the ladies. The purr grew a tad louder. She set her drink down, helping Lucy out with the rug after she placed hers next to it. "I cannot believe you set up a living room of sorts, half kitchen and a bathroom down here, Little Luthor. I mean who has, all this and a fully stocked walk in pantry and hell, walk in cooler, two pool tables and two bowling lanes, AND an air hockey and dart station in the same space as a shooting range! Just Sayin' folks."
"Yeah, full size living room, sectionals and all, massive screen and surround sound? You got parties to play down here. If none of us can find Alex, we will know where to look first." Sam was first to throw it out, cackle and all.
"Haaaa, ha." Alex shot back, contemplating her options before adding, "that's true." Kelly and Lucy both facepalmed. "Not to mention, your chill station has quite the collection of beverages there. Can I take home about...four flats of Faygo, IBC and Henry's with me when I leave?" She watched Lena saunter over to the counter, pulling something out of the upright file slot, bringing what appeared to be a catalog over to them, rolling it and tossing it at her. When she unwound it, her jaw dropped, as did three others.
"Ooooooo." Was the group response, with Lena's mission accomplished. She tossed a pack of pens of different colors to them.
"Mark what you want, but write your name on the back in the shade you chose, so I know where to send them, or stack them in each of the piles that slowly accumulates." She smirked, leaning back only for her emeralds to follow the now up and venturing older sister. They stopped, as did Alex, where Nia had set down the firearm she had been using, grabbing the gun cleaner she had been taught with, on how to keep maintenance on it. Kara stood and too walked to where Sentinel was, already aimed by what she'd projected with her 'Hand of the Soldier' and sheer determination for a precise gathering as tight as any sharp shooter could muster. Lena chose to head over and watch the class of the bonafide Agent 'Badass. She had to admit, ONLY Alex Danvers, could pull off a stunt like that. A quick glance over her left shoulder returned the smirk as the remaining marked the hell out of the book. Cha-CHING. Cha-CHING! That was okay.
"OHH! ANOTHER page of Faygo! I'm in love." Lucy's sigh of glee brought Nia chuckling, who did the same as Lena, just when Kelly yanked the book out of Sam's hand, whom had taken it from Lucy. Helena pointed, with no objection or rebuttal, her choices were marked in the purple she'd been using by Sam, while Kelly held the catalog still for her.
"Freeze it please." Maggie added, which was obliged and her color choice of teal, leaving a check mark, indicated her sugary decisions. "Ooooo THAT one! That one too." Check symbols were in four different colors on one particular flavor. Helena gave Dimples her pen, now making five there. The writing instrument was handed back to the keeper.
"I….will pick mine later." Nia stated to Lena, looking forward just in time to watch the unsuited up Supergirl pull the slide back, in perfect pose and an expression mastered from no doubt watching her sister, pulling the trigger and STRIKING her intended target. The head. At a quick 'human' speed, did she fire again and again, keeping two destined grouped areas, pulling back the slide in the sternest of concentrations. The chest, specifically the heart and at beginning to conclude at the final shot in the head brought it onto the top of the platform, after flicking the safety on. "Wha. Wha...um. Um. Whoa. Jus..fuck..ing..whoa." Dreamer's stammered words, stunningly stringing along one itty bitty expletive, caught the group's attention, momentarily forgoing their shopping and joining those standing at a pedestal, with the longest firing range available. The paper was slowly making it's display known, retracting by the line it was clipped to. Once in reaching distance, SLACK did those jaws...go.
"Thank my Sis. She showed me the basics, under a red sun lamp, so I'd always be prepared, in case that human side of me, no power mode, popped up an ugly head." Kara smiled, tilting her head sideways adding a smirk to the party, where her sister decided to conjure the same gun. They side-stepped away from one another, to two ready to go pages. The minute both raised, SO, did bets begin...
"Jack all three, for hers." Lucy stated, wallet out and a trio of twenties placed on point. Sam clicked a tongue against the roof of her mouth, matching and adding another of the same presidential maker. Hers though, was against Lane's placement. "Braaaaave."
"Oh no brave about it Little Lane. She's 'four squared' your ass, for now. I'll take two by Jack AND a Grant to the tender, counting down from ten, for the move of the century. Who knows, I might go for a second round if it's available top shelf." Maggie snickered, laying a fifty and the duo of twenties next to the eighty in view.
"You cannot help, any opportunity to place a wage, can you Captain." Lena smiled, keeping it low for everyone's piggy bank, writing on a nice bright blue post-it, to share the love, the Benji party of five. 'Fox'ed out.
"Mark." Her sweet little curve up, brought a smack of the lips adding a chuckle just because she could.
"Set." Two to rumble, Kara's stance locked in place, like her centered attention to the simple outline of one's upper body had been unexpectedly interrupted when two shouts of ONE name, shot out the wagered range round. Grunts and profanity, crashes and the same name repeated, didn't do her a damn lick of good when the side of her head had been struck so ruthlessly, it felt as if a crowbar had been the culprit of what was no doubt a brutal bruise forming. With the impact, the gun fell away and her body collapsed to the ground, too out of it to focus just yet. "Ra..Ra….Rao."
"HAVE to!" The agony in a raised voice, coming from Alex's mouth, sent the rest of those that had taken a few licks in the process, pushing up to their feet. "Ha..ve..to." Tear streaks had appeared, unable to stop the rivers that ran down the rapids, bringing them closer and closer before gasping at the positioning Danvers displayed. An arm swung up, level at the height it needed to be, with a hand posed in one of the most lethal ways, as if it had been holding to the grip of a firearm. The way the thumb poised, a finger curled around a trigger, eyes set firmly to her intended target, had everyone holding their breath, refusing to approach in fear that what she wasn't holding, at any moment, could become solid by the gift of the soldier. "Mom. Got...gotta save.."
"Da.." Helena's fingers wrapped to her Cap's forearm, squeezing to alert Maggie not to continue the call. 'Cap, her brain's fighting trickery. Phantoms restrict..' "Got it." She whispered, knowing Ken and her fierce powerhouse Troy could hear. They weren't the only ones to pick up the two words released. Momentarily, cerulean flicked to shades of brown shaking in a danger they didn't know how to disarm. That one action ricocheted and fired into the former Director mentally, snapping her out of the terrifying state she'd been trapped in.
"NO! N...n...no..no..no.." She staggered back, no longer in the stance she was, arms up slightly with upturned hands raked with tremors, as was the rest of her body. Chestnut hues, watering relentlessly, did nothing to stop the rush of tears falling as was her own ability to remain strong for everyone. Eyes held so many mixed emotions, terrified being the strongest of them all. The look in them, her sharp and unlockable stare at her open hands, forced the gang to approach cautiously, until the Kryptonian's arm raised outward to signal for the halt of their steps. When that arm lowered, her gaze finally escaped their entrapment by visible palms. With their freedom, the beauty of an outworldly language wrapped her up in it's warmth, as did the soft voice it came from.
"..I'm here. Right here, Wai Aoe. Not going anywhere. Right...here." Kara slowly rose to her knees, keeping her focussed orbs on Alex's. Finally arms lowered and in doing so, the tattered, tormented and trembling woman hit her own knees, after falling into her open arms, which wrapped her up with the utmost intention to keep the sobbing hero of hers in them, no matter what. Her big sis gripped to her as tightly as possible, almost as if reality would disappear if she let go. Kara understood the sentiment all too well. Hell, she had begged over and over, sometimes not even to Rao, to just let her go back home.
"Kara..I'm so sorry. I failed you. I failed. I failed..failed." The ripples of absolute overwhelming guilt, of sadness, of..failure reverberated in their surroundings but practically through each of them separately. Each listening to the sobs, the tones and words, driving internally where their own hearts wept.
"Not your fault. Not yours, Lexy. Never..yours. You, you did EVERYTHING right. You did. Wai Aoe, you did. You did. I'm here. You came. You saved me." Her sister's self-blame didn't even hold a candle to her violent indiscretions, yet to be unveiled. Unveiled.
"Sorry Kar." Slowly but surely, steadier moment to the next moment did she lift up some and pull back to meet her precious Kryptonian's incredible blue orbs. "I'm..okay. Are..are you?" A brow rose by the expression covering the blonde's face. The crinkle had evidently made its presence known quicker than an explanation could be provided to their crazy little family.
"J'onn." She whispered, willing her thoughts to project themselves out into the sky littered with hundreds of thousands of stars, until finding their desired guardian. Not a minute later, two Martians landed and made their way to them. When eyes stopped on Ms. Martian and the Martian Manhunter, confusion littered their facial structures. Abruptly did he freeze in place, stunned by such a dangerous plan of action. A single blink of the eyes, brought M'gann up to speed, same to Ken and Helena. Gasps rounded the quad pack and J'onn immediately shook his head firmly.
"THAT is..OUT of the question!" Alex shot her gaze upward and sucked in the coldest of air, just by one petrified look in her Space Dad's spheres. 'Mercy, Alex. MERCY!' She couldn't breathe. Couldn't..move. 'Can't..J'onn...I...can't..'
"Ca..can't br...breathe." She thought her legs would be strong enough, steady enough, for her to stand up. Now? No WAY in hell. The panic attack punched any attempt at calm away. Alex felt like she was going to hurl, vertigo adding to the nauseous state accumulating before she could dare to try to sock it as far as possible from her. Hands met her back, her arms and then her head was being turned. One nod from, she wasn't sure who it was from, had Lucy's green hues stable and determined, sliding into her browns. Her friend's hand held firm to her chin, while putting the other flat against her chest. She reached up, gripping to both.
"Squeeze. As hard as you can, or need to, Alex. I'm here. Your Sister's here. Everyone's here with you. When you're ready, anything you need, just ask. You can. No judgement. No faults." J'onn did what he believed was the right course of action, pushing to Lucy and offering her a glimpse of why Alex had reacted the way she had, also as to his own response. No terror compared. None, when it was the cruelest of the TRUEST monstrous evils. The Black Mercy._
Numerous eyes had been locked in place, watching in absolute awe, while upon the work bench, scattered in numerous objects, was the project Kara Zor-El had every ounce of her attention on completing. There were metal scraps, strips, plates, fasteners of various kinds, not to mention what looked like a strip of a motorcycle helmet shade..? Then, to the side of her thousand pieces, so it seemed, were an array of tools, some recognizable but others..
"Makin' a 'Transformer' Little Danvers or.." Lucy cut the Captain off.
"..Preparing to perform a proctocolectomy?" Both ladies, exes to one another, turned heads in unisom and slipped their gazes onto a gulping Co-Dee. A Lucy Lane that was now grinning like the cheeky one she was. "Wrong choice?" Kelly's fingers lightly tapped at the corner on the top of the table, remaining out of Kara's way.
"Had to go anal 'attentive' of ALL the regions of the body." Sam put a closed hand against her lips trying not to laugh, coughing on it, when the former Director beat the Captain to it.
"I actually thought, something to do with the brain." Nia kept away from 'puns' up the ass. She'd rather not have any of the leaders up hers later. Not a minute, perhaps seconds later, part of the table had extended width wise, shocking those gathered. The Kryptonian had left for a moment, causing a WHOOSH rocketed rumble, returning with a reusable bag, from what appeared to be a..
"Heeeeey! You Thief!" Off the brakes, rolling along, had spectator glances ended. The dark green, grey and black grocery holster had six guns on it and a frame of bullets and hand grenades. Lucy's and Maggie's hues bounced from bag to 'badass' back to the bag.
"Dibs." More than two, caused flickering around, as if scoping out the competition for one bag. That all ended, when Alex's growl, along with a quick manifestation of one of the most dangerous firearms alive, appeared in a micro-machine size, decked out in dark blue, black and silver and started to p..play..?' the tunes of its glory in action.
"Can I have that keychain for my collection Alex?" Sam's grin couldn't get any bigger, surpassing the Cheshire Cat's own, when the previous Director handed it to her. Gawks gained growls which Arias just growled back. Kelly looked on, a hand over her eyes to shake her head though smiling as well. "THANK you." It had been added to the ring, with the lanyard clipped to a front loop, so as to make sure no one got any ideas to confiscate her newest toy.
"Children." Everyone looked at each other, to the assembler, to their left, to the assembler, staying on point. What they had missed, was a set up that made even an Apple or Microsoft lab look weak. Sockets, memory boards, slots, CPU mount points, backups and North and Southbridge units were just a few, included in the workshop's layout perfectly lined up tools to play CONNECT for future service indeed.
"Does anyone else feel like their brain has become a shit show of scattered efficiency, scrambled and improperly reassembled?" Lucy brought to the table, all still surrounding it and watching the blonde continue her fastened sense of order. "I mean, she's not even using her standard speed of Super for this, but making it look like a starter kit for toddlers from Lego meant for ten year olds."
"Look who's talking there Lane. I was at a medium level of the bigger 6+ years sets, by five." Maggie countered. But of course the round of Danvers snickered for the next contestant.
"I knocked 12+ by eight." Alex smirked. Her girlfriend however..
"Barracuda on the Black Seas, at age seven." Kelly's grin of triumph brought a glare her way, brought to you by her beloved.
"Shiver me a rum there, Little Olsen." The Captain laughed. She did a double bump, one to Nia and one to Sam. "Just Playin'." Lucy tried not to have her beverage spray out her nose. A clearing of the throat got their silence to rein in their antics.
"That soooooo reminds me of Tron or VR Troopers." Nia pointed out, getting a few weird looks. "90s folks." She just stated such facts, factors and obvious displays.
"First off, you are MUCH too youn.." Sam's voice shut down, the minute they ALL jumped from a slam down on the table, force-fed the action, by the builder's aggravated state. Eyes widened, sharp intakes of shocked breaths echoed and both of the Kryptonian's hands were trembling. The surface, surprisingly? Minor damage upon affliction.
"Kar..?" Her vision had been narrowed, specifically to her sister's tightened fists raked in tremors, she mirrored, the day she had led the boys to the blonde's apartment, when she kicked the door in and found Kara's body on the floor with that monstrous thing wrapped around her motionless frame. All she wished to do was reach out and place her hands over the shivering ones. Unfortunately, her fingers started to twitch, shake and those trembles rippled right up her arms, to her shoulders, where it was growing difficult to keep her fears in check. She must have been caught, because her sister's hands were no longer shaking. It was as if the quakes had never been there at all. Instead, the assembly continued, in absolute silence from everyone else. Alex knew better than to voice her protests again. They wouldn't do her a lick of good. Not with this.
Kara was grateful for the silence, appreciative of her comrades. Her...family. Now, if their heart rates would be as quiet, that would be phenomenal. She flicked her ceruleans to emeralds and one conversation, wordless at that, had Lena swiftly vacating and leaving the gang clueless at what had transpired. The intellectual badass, with or without the business suit, placed the little red crystalized pyramid towards the top of the work table only for it to release a soft glow of that particular shade of the lightest of rubies. A soft sigh of contentment released from the Kryptonian. She smiled at Lena, whom beamed at that beautiful turn up of lips, having Kieran let a little bird fly by a gentle side of her thoughts. Of course no sooner had it done so, did the devil on a shoulder snicker then wink at her. BAD brain, no cookie.
"I am modifying the VR tech Maxi boy had built, well..building my own version of it. It wasn't like he had come up with that himself. He bought the plans for his own selfish needs and it just so happened to be a coincidental moment to share 'his' so-called work of technological art." Her intellect took to another section of the head set, continuing the proper explanation, gaining that confidence to that of her Supergirl persona, but..different. Stronger. "The VR head gear, used by my Sister, allowed her to enter my consciousness, by merging mine with her own. J'onn, if you could just..project..?" 'I know. I know I'm asking a lot of you. Please..forgive me for this.' She presented him, bestowed to him the utmost gratitude for what she wanted his aid with.
"I can do that. I need everyone to sit down." Sam looked at Lena then Lucy, who all quickly gathered the foldable stools in the corners, popping them into their locked positions. "You might want to hold onto something, just in case. I will show each one of you, a couple of Alex's memories, in regards to what she refers to. Firstly, most importantly, regulate your breathing. Kelly, you know some of the best routines for such, given that you roped and wranged," The former Director glared as the Psychologist grinned victoriously, "my Earth Daughter, into yoga classes and yoga in general."
"Bite me. Both of you." The Captain and her second to boot, whom couldn't help but play a little footsies with Sam' Sam' was trying to mask the giggle. Failing miserably, in doing so. As was Arias. All playful punctuation ceased, when the head set had been set down and the blonde creator stepped away from it, daring not to glance back, leaving the room in absolute silence. "J'onn..? Is..she.."
"I need you to be SURE this is something you are permitting Alex. I WILL not do what she asked of me, if I do not have your consent." The former Director, now a vigilante, a hero in her own right, met the Martian's gaze, nodding just once. She swallowed down the giant lump in her throat, trying like hell to get her breathing under control and calm her bloody nerves. It was anxiety's tempest, deriving from memories rattling her in a way she couldn't hide from everyone. 'M'gann' will be here, with us too. Her power, combined with my own, might, no...will, be much stronger Alex. I need you to be prepared for this. You've known my reach. With her, the pressure you will feel, you MUST remain as calm as you possibly can. Rely on your training. Think of it, as one of the tests you were given, when under one of the serums meant for confession. I remember how strong you were through that. Be that strength again. SHOW ME the reason why you were always my second in charge. You can do this Alex. I believe in you. Everyone does.'
His speech, the psychic confidence he eluded, was enough for her, to somewhat smile then 'serious up' and shift into that mode. One closing of her eyes, another nod and she tilted her head back, just as the Martian Manhunter's hands placed the pulsing fingers along the sides of her skull. It was close enough to the temples, while Alex regulated every breath and tempo a little too fast for the setting.
"Re….read..rea..dy." Sharp, extreme..'extreme. Pressure. It..it's..probing. He..he's..dammit Danvers. FOCUS! Ughhhh. Shi..shit J'onn.' She felt light as a feather for just a moment, the next a sensation almost the equivalent of slamming onto the ground but then being forced deeply into it. Her head felt submerged in something thicker than any liquid she'd encountered through all her years as an agent of the DEO, where the rest of her couldn't move at all. His power pushed against the walls of her defensive nature, until it pressed at just the right weak spot, forcing its way into her thoughts. Moreso her memories. HOWEVER.. "Ugh..sh..shit..n...nooo..oh god.."_
*** * * FLASHBACK: Mercy Lacking
"When? Nothing? Yeah. Give me a..a minute." She wasn't sure what came over her, but Alex pulled the phone away from her ear and for that matter her head and just...STARED at it. She shook that off, pressing the 'mute' on it, to set it down and tap the button on her ear comm. Danvers waited. One moment. Another. Another. "Screw this." She straightened herself, posture and all, shut her eyes to tap a spec. dial off mute, to practically growl at her boss, on a private 'oh Captain my Captain' line, with the subtle way she went about handling things. That's when she realized, she MIGHT have, rather loudly have, and not so kindly more of abruptly, mentally enforced that gesture. SURE ENOUGH..
"Alex, really? What can I do for you, Agent Danvers." He did his best to seem stern, but it wasn't working in his favor, when she could hear a tremble in his voice. She wasn't sure what possessed her to do it, but she shot him a text instead of reiterating the message. "Just, keep me informed. Whatever you need Alex." With eyes open and determined, she clicked off one to pick back up the other.
"I'm on my way. Do NOT enter the premises without me. Hopefully it isn't her losing her powers again or I'm gonna be integrating the use of profane terminology in front of her Mother's AI." Alex had already snapped the buckle in place for her helmet, quick to evacuate from the agency's property.
She met up with the boys, already inside the building, cursing at their impatience and lack of listening skills, leading them down the hall, agent mode in high gear. "She's not out on DEO business." Calm but concerned, layered with a tinge of fear in her words, she was shoving down as best she could. Her firearm un-holstered and held firmly in hand.
"There's nothing on the news about Supergirl." Winn sighed, but she could easily hear his worries, walking in a manner of haste.
"I've got a bad feeling about this." James, dear Jimmy, spoke the words she and tech genius dreaded to mutter. Now standing before the door, she cursed inside her head at the ONE mistake made in the mission at hand. 'Oh well.' "You bring your key?"
"Yeah." It was one swing of the leg and a shot forward with momentum, crashing the bottom of her booted foot into the door, kicking it in a heavy course of tenacity. She entered, both hands on the gun, where the other muttered something, she barely acknowledged, but barked something at them regardless. This MONSTROUS thing had latched onto her sister, still in her Super suit. She was unconscious and WORSE? Pale as hell. Alex immediately called the DEO for an extraction team. ….
*** * * FLASH: DEO, Based on Arrival
"..the organism is gripping her torso with over 100 pounds of pressure." Her focus remained on her sister, even when she heard the shouts of her boss at the boys she'd brought with her. She didn't give a rat's ass right now, about that. Whispering a prayer she had been taught, when they were young, silently too asking for Rao's help. THERE went the lecture, which honestly could suck it. Instead, she flung her head up and gave him a stare before adding her voice's request. "You don't know them like I do, sir. They're Kara's family."
"..and what's her condition?" His OWN voice laced a fatherly concern.
"She's unresponsive to outside stimuli, but her brain activity is normal." Alex didn't understand, blurring both her mind and body raked with confusion. "It's like her body is unaware that anything is wrong." She was losing that calm, slipping into the void, the depths of a fear unlike any other." _
*** * * SHOTGUN BLASTED FLASH: Let the Rage Lead: Maxy's Interrogation
Anger, SHEER over-protective nearly POSSESSIVE anger, at who she viewed as a threat, especially his continual verbal arrogance. Slamming Maxwell Lord onto the bench in his little cage. One knee over the bastard, now pushed down in a spot above his solar plexus, adding more and more pressure, giving IN to that burning emotion. "HOW do I get that THING off of Kara." His smile, his cockiness, made her blood boil.
"You MAY have to be a tad more specific." THAT did it. She lowered enough to get right into his face.
"Don't test my patience, Max." _ Words from her followed their intentions..
*** * * FLASH-SLIDESHOW SHIFT: Artificial Archive
Before the AI, the hologram of Kara Zor-El's mother, Alex tried to find a path to the answers she sought to save her sister. Conversative as it had started, it wasn't the responses she needed desperately. "Kara is in trouble and NOTHING I am doing is working."
"I do not have sufficient data regarding this species…" Robotic and annoying and worst of all? UNRELIABLE!
"Damn it! Kara is RELYING on me! She has ALWAYS relied on me. Ever since you sent her here." The volume of her voice lowered, but the tension and panic remained. "I'm sure you had hoped that she would find people that would take care of her. Who would love her like she was their own.." Emotions swirled inside a different calm, but unwelcome though important. "I did." Alex continued her speech, until the last of what she needed to say, spilled out. "...that's what she is to me. She is MY sister, and she needs me..NOW more than ever. So please.." It was bubbling to the surface, leaving only the shout and one CRUCIAL command, "TELL ME how to help MY LITTLE SISTER!" _
*** * * FLASHBACK, BLINKING IN THAT PHOTOGRAPH: A General's Education
The STRENGTH in this kryptonian's grip, left her gasping for air and already lifted off the ground, locking gazes with whom had entered the loft unwelcome but then again..offering a glimmer of hope. Then again, she HAD just dropped a precious picture, grabbed her firearm, turned and started shooting at the intruder, only to switch to a clip with glowing green projectiles. The speed to which the kryptonian soldier had grabbed her around the throat, shouldn't have been surprising. Nor, oddly, letting her free after.
"I came here to help Kara, not fight." Alex picked up on the underlying panic, fear and a warrior's calling to aid. She gasped, free but couldn't help but step back. She remained in a defensive stance. It started out aggressive, but as they continued to communicate, the NEXT words left little cracks in her pounding heart. "The Black Mercy has her trapped in lifelike hallucinations. Her PERFECT fantasy life. One that grows more and more real with each passing moment." She let her mind talk, speaking aloud what seemed to work for her composure awareness.
"How do I wake her out of it." Resolve, strength, dwindled away nearly begging for a way to get to her greatest light, best friend and hero, free from this Black Mercy and back home..to her.
"Kara must reject the fantasy herself."
But if she doesn't know it isn't real, how can she reject it." The AGENT was back, forcing the nervous, fearful and wrecked part of her to the backburner. She was GOING to SAVE Kara! She was GOING to save..HER. LITTLE. SISTER!_
*** * * TURN OF THE PAGE: Before the Plunge, into Mercy's World
She stood, outside the room where her sister lay, to speak to James alone, with one volatile request. "James, I need a favor." In a second flat, he proved this was the right call.
"Name it." It was as simple and direct as that.
"I know Director Henshaw. If he thinks I'm in trouble when I'm plugged into that thing, he's gonna pull me out, whether I've saved Kara or not. I need you to stop him. I either come back with my Sister, or I don't come back at all." His nod was enough for her. They entered the space left between them and the sunrise clouded for the time being. She approached the group, where her sister was, preparing herself for this and strangely TRUSTING Lord.
"The helmet will instantly connect you to Supergirl's consciousness. That will allow you to experience whatever's going on in Supergirl's head in real time." A few more moments, a few other mutters, and what she sat on, she was lowered until her head touched the pad. "Sweet dreams." _
*** * * BLACKOUT to Rollout: Night and Day
The heaviest of gasps, taking in the brightness, the unfamiliar surroundings, thundering the pounding of her heart, never so very out of her range of contemplation or hell..ground to stand on.
"Kara..?" Everything was...so illuminated, entirely different and.. "Oh my god." She turned, then turned again, taking in the sights before her. "...I'm on Krypton." _