*** * * FIFTH, in a Season's INFINITE Minor 'SHAKE UP' One CRISIS Would Dare.. * * ***
Ch 1: Eclipse of the Tempest
"Ohhhh NICE!" The teenager announced, happy to have a space of her own to do her 'officing' now that Ms. 'tech hacking GENIUS' Parker Torres was settled into her own place. Professionalism did fit her pretty well now. A little snap back into reality a ways past, with a flick of the right role model, didn't hurt things. So when she was on the clock, it was flip into business mode, just..not today. The slight waves in her dark brown, now highlighted in some lighter blends too, shoulder length hair, mildly pulled back, flopped into her new purple and black chair and purred at the comfort of it. Chestnuts looked up to her mentor and boss, with a smile that spoke volumes as to how grateful she was. This was their rearrangement schedule of events, for the time being, which was fine by her.
One look at her young apprentice, that she'd tugged away from the 'criminal' darkside, had Kate Kane grinning from ear to ear, as Parker rambled on about ideas for her own quarters. Even dressed, similar to how she did, when not all 'business' attired out, with the black leather jacket she'd bought her, the rather unique phoenix printed on the black shirt that had the flames of it cast in colors of the rainbow, and a pair of darker jeans with slits here and there, made her chuckle at the sight. She wasn't sure if getting the girl a set of two wheels was the wisest of ideas, but it seemed Parker Torres could definitely handle her own. Now, a light saber or ANY of..the 'bat toys' was out of the question. For now.
"Approve?" Kate asked, watching her employee purr a little more when the pulsations from the backrest of her own X-Chair with two hands up and thumbs directed at the ceiling. "Good. Let's grab some grub and then map out the rest. Sound good?"
"Suuuuuure. This chair is AWESOME Kate." She couldn't believe that her hero, whether by moonlight's grapple, runnin' the 'Hold Up' bar or even now would do so much to get her on her feet like this. Just two days shy of nineteen, one month after that hurdle was jumped called graduation, had her sights set high, but knew who had taken a chance on her, she wouldn't ever let down. With the heating and massage settings turned off, she sat up straight, then stood to walk around her new desk. "Kate, um.."
"No mushy stuff. C'mon, I got a stack of takeout places or we can just say screw it and pop open the 'Door Dash' dining list." They smiled at that, which Kate didn't miss the strange bracelet she'd seen on Parker quite often, but never REALLY noticed in detailed fashion, until today. "What's with your..bracelet? Is it..glowing?"
"This?" Parker mulled over with the pros and cons, how to answer. She went for a little side leaning for now, for the time being, around 'Courage' until she could drift without a ticket's notice. "It's a blend of metals, black gold mostly, and the stone is rather unique. Kinda looks like a ruby huh." Kate nodded, finding herself staring longer than usual. "The symbols are runes. They have specific meanings to them, kinda like...blessings."
Kate swore she'd seen something like that before, the symbols that is, but couldn't for the life of her remember where. "Here." Even the way the hidden clasps separated to have it removed from her wrist, was uncanny.
"It's beautiful." When handed back, it wasn't returned to where it had sat, but placed on the table away from her desk. Their eyes, light greens to dark chestnuts, locked and remained, even when the girl, no woman, spoke. All seriousness kept to her face in the process.
"Thank you. I made it." Parker watched Kate's eyes slip bigger at the revelation, though quickly regulated that balance once more. She broke the contact and walked over to the vast windows standing in front of the glass-like door leading out to the small balcony. Of course though, anything that could be looked through had a bit of..proofing to it. For Parker, her pupil and kinda sorta niece or something, Kane made certain these were bullet and shatter-proof. Better to be safe than sorry. "Kate." It wasn't a question, but a calling sorta.
"No mush." She tried her hand at stern, but the smirk slipped into the party.
"You've seen me for me and that has meant more than anything else in my life. More from anyone and everyone that I know, here. Just like you, I've got secrets," She paused, when her friend, her boss, stood right beside her and both looked out onto the city but more so the sky, which brought with it an incredible sunset. "I would never EVER put you in danger. Ever." She felt the confusion in waves rolling over her hero, but kept from delving further in, instead chuckling and stretching and turning around and clicking her tongue to flip open her Mac and pull up the application. "Okay...hungry now."
"At least you don't have a bottomless pit like my 'sunshine' does." Kate smiled at that with a little warmth in her cheeks, shaking her head some and then glancing at the wall, where a framed copy of the CATCO issue was, signed by the reporter responsible for the exclusive on Batwoman 'coming out' to the world. She wasn't the only one looking at it.
"Does she now?" Parker smirked, bringing up their favorites on the restaurants list. "So Boss," she waited for Kate to flop down in a chair in front of her desk, waiting for a response.
"Hm?"
"So, you got a crush.." In less than a second, her smile was gone, her body had tensed and without meaning to, she started to crunch what she had been holding in her left hand. Kate..HAD..noticed.
"Parker?" With the softest, yet concerning of tones, she treaded carefully.
"Dial..'Para-Love' Kate." The hero was looking at her strangely, until she opened her eyes and Kate gasped at what she saw in them. "FLASH, Batwoman..NOW!"
Tides of emotional turmoil cascaded violently within them, against one another, without any way to cease the agonizing chaos manifested by lies, deceit and vengeance. Treading became impossible, as the surface was abandoned, sinking into a paralyzing darkness. Every word spewed held anger and loss, bringing suffering in its wake to pull them further under and into a blackness, it's endless abyss without any escape. Without…..hope. But she couldn't let her leave with that MONSTROUS of evils! She couldn't! She..
"..and you're right! I made a big mistake. Maybe the BIGGEST mistake of my life, but please…" She gradually walked past her, arms partially raised to convey the message, hoping she wasn't too late, "..Lena, please..don't leave the Fortress with Myriad. Please don't let my mistake push you to do something terrible. You are a good person."
"No! No, you don't ever get to tell me WHO or WHAT I am again." No response was quick enough, when the strangest of manifestations brought a dark sunglass-like visor sliding digitally over the CEO's eyes, along with protective gear over the ears and a handful of what looked like toy jacks were thrown down at her nerve tightening feet. Every impact for each one, released the most deafening of explosive flash grenades of light so intense it would leave any mere human permanently blind. Two out of five were rendered useless, but strangely both cleared up, the moment the alert had been broadcast, just as the shade and ear cuffs had disintegrated by the end of their necessary effectiveness.
***"INTRUDER! INTRUDER!"***
In an INSTANT the 'Paragon of Hope' found herself encased in a crystalized cave-like cage, forcing the toxic environment to layer the walls of it, the atmosphere within, striking without mercy, too quick to even summon that 'fight or flight' mode. One struggled grunt, then another, did nothing to dull what was happening. Barely able to speak, she used the last of what little vocals she had left. One last time. ONE ...last..attempt to..
"D..did..you..re..p.. pro..gram..th..the..f..fortress d..defen..ses..to..a..attack..me?" Kara did her best to lift her head, even with every glowing green streak along her face and neck, where her veins were the most visible. Tears welled and escaped, with devastating affliction as the moisture on her eyeballs littered in an off-white, almost pink-himilayan salt colored dust, felt like multiple bee stings on the outside and in of them. But her ONCE upon a time best friend, shed only two more tears, still exposing her pain, that sadness. Zor-El on the other hand, had lost any steadiness to her stance, blinking in rapid agonizing succession, slipping back until her frame was slumped against hell's cage wall, left on trembling legs, the only reason she was still standing. Kara knew..thought..she felt a burn, worse than the one in both eyes, along her entire back melting away even the nanotech of her suit there, after arctic fires whittled her cape down to ashes scattered in oxygen cast into acidity. It left her disoriented and completely helpless to save herself from this apparent justified punishment. According to the deliverer.
"Yes." One final ounce of the heart that beats, "and I rigged it to answer to this little button I have in my hand." Everything switched off, knowing somehow, what her EX best friend would say, already had ended their mutual gaze to walk away and the coldest of smiles to slip over her lips. "It won't kill you. Nor will I. I'm not a villain. You never should have treated me like one, Supergirl. I will fix humanity, of it's cruelty. Thank you, for making it so easy. Oh, AND..a 'parting'...gift." The watch's top rim, where a dark green oval resided, had been pressed, a portal revealed, yet it wasn't the only one established by her hand. Not even the gasps, the coughs or the heavy thump made her turn around. But OHH did the wrenched out screams bring Lena a whole NEW case of a checkmate, claiming victory. One HOWLED word, wrapped in nightmares, for the traitorous Kara Zor-El's with it's divine historic horror.
"NAAAAAOHH!" This was worse than any evil she'd endured, been plagued with or what night terrors could conjure up. She wasn't even IN the fortress anymore! No, no..NOTHING could compare. It brought on a deathly chill, bone scars by claws as if they were ripping her apart, from the inside out, for the ice to slip into her veins and collapse her muscle movements. Hell. She..was IN..ABSOLUTE HELL! The sharpness of what had dug into her back from the pressure, with the last of some instinctual will to move just once more, caused crimson to find its escape in gashes from how heavy and violently she shook, raked in unrelenting spasms. Their shadowed and deathly floating figures moved closer, until every breath elicited puffs of frigid air. Her sight vanished only for empty white orbs to cloud in that same brush of bone-numbing chill where glacial steam danced across eyes devoid of everything. It was too late for Kara to stop the only thought that came to the tattered forefront. 'Let. Me. Die. RAO..let me JUST perish, for this SUFFERING to END!'
She had chosen the PERFECT location for her controlled experiment. TWO MONTHS to clone those creatures, copying their ominous abilities, before enraging them all the while tossing in some victims to harvest more phantoms, while kept where she knew it would appease their needs. They couldn't use their scare tactical-traps on her due to her technology, both her own and manipulations of various alien tech, meant to keep her thoughts, her doubts, her fears locked up and safe. Perfection, indeed. Lena squeezed the sides of her device, causing the portal to appear, dropping the Super back inside her unescapable black iced purgatory, causing the door to shut and fade from sight as she intended it to. She was just about to enter and escape, until ANOTHER portal opened. Before she could even get a good glimpse as to who it was, a fist had connected with her face, leaving her cast to the shadows without mercy. For her? Blackout calls thee.
"Barry!" She removed the hood from her head and ran to the dashboard, entering what would override the defenses, by a well skilled 'break and enter' hacking method. Just like that, the system announced the deactivation, which was already dissolving what was keeping the one out cold on the Fortress floor trapped. "Flash it!" The red suited hero was ready, gathering her up and dashing into the other portal.
"Kara? Kara, can you..hear me? Kara?" Kate didn't have time to focus on anything else, but her friend, hauntingly ice cold and unconscious with close to blue skin from the dangerous drop of bodily temperature, littered in glowing streaks where her skin was visible. She didn't think, just acted, pulling the blonde onto her lap and into her arms, hoping to use her own body's heat to warm the Kryptonian up some. "Ka.."
"THAT was there too!" Barry was already at their side, but it was this other woman, who had been flung through the portal and out stepped a fuming pair of amber flames, burning in the orbs of Parker Torres. "Find something and BIND the bitches!" Flash didn't need to be told twice, with the return and two moving ratcheting straps and a portal demolished. "Kryptahnium tahrao nim nahv khap. You can BET on..that." 'Kryptonian justice will be, from me!' Her thoughts returned to an Earthian tongue, as if translating what she had spoken out loud, in the dialect her vocals could elicit, due to her origin.
"Parker?" Kate momentarily took her eyes off the one shaking in her arms, throwing her head back down with sheer terror on her face, from what her orbs had just peered into. "Barry?"
"DEO!" The two monsters were already strung together and still out cold, with Barry setting the coordinates and Parker sliding down and gathering Supergirl's body into her arms, easily lifting her up, with orbs still glowing. She indeed hoped her own consistent body heat would help break the chill Kara had been cast into. Batwoman, which her suit was already on, minus the wig which annoyed her greatly, was stunned by what she was seeing. She instead grabbed her pupil's single strapped backpack. "I've got them. You're good!" It was Flash's way of indicating he'd take the garbage to the yard to be disposed of, while Gotham's finest 'Knightress' had the gear and asking for an answer from the one with way more secrets than a locked diary could hold obviously, who kept Supergirl in the safest of very protective arms. It was also his nonchalant method to tell them a location, location, location.
The moment the key had been tossed to her, despite the trembles in her hands, she pressed on it and another portal opened. Batwoman ALREADY heard the barked orders from the other side. Every single cell in her body rippled in courses of a fear unexplainable, while yelling out to the Director, so no one would shoot them.
"COURAGE UNDER 'DIRECTIVE' FIRE!" The commands switched over, to which 'Hope' was carried through by who she thought was Parker Torres, with unbridled belief to be the case still. Where 'Love' was dragging in the trash as far as she was concerned, while her hands held merely items, when they all entered the facility. Agents were unsure what to do, say or otherwise act upon, merely following orders, with Amelia and her team rushing towards them, a stretcher being 'flashed' over, then set down. She noticed though, the amber glow had dissipated for now, which was understandable given the unknown circumstances regardless.
"Cages?" Flash removed the head covering, standing close enough but out of the way of the medical team surrounding his friend, placed down by this teenager he didn't really know squat about. He asked himself, silent as a lamb, inside the depths of his mind, 'Kryptonian?'
"Wha..what hap.." The 'Paragon of Love' pointed again to the two and it was then she noticed who the other woman was with Lena Luthor. "Eve..Teschmacher?" The Director hadn't the mental state to focus right now, to which her Co-Direct took the reins. Agents carted away the bound 'rabid' excuses for hellhounds, taking them to the pound before the keeper decided on the proper punishment. Under her breath, but just loud enough, teeth chattering some, like it was fifty below zero, "No kib..ble. Le..less..laps." Susan nodded, while in the midst of thought. 'No food, MINIMAL water. Appropriate measures GLADFULLY accepted. She's GONNA pay Danvers. You can bet your ass about that. Kara, please, PLEASE be okay. We've got your back, Supergirl.'
"Sorry." Barry Allen caught Alex 'I'm a lethal multi-weapon tool' Danvers before her legs could give way. He nodded to Amelia Hamilton and followed them to the medbay, with Kate Kane and Parker Torres in tow. His heart ached for his friend, who was trembling in his arms. Agent 'Badass' Danvers, the most well known of her titles, NEVER showed vulnerability like this. It had to be something huge for Alex to unbox it in front of others, especially other agents. "I've got you Alex. I'm taking you to her. We aren't going anywhere. I've got you." Oh, he was gonna 'para-comm' up to current conditions later. THAT was for sure.
"Lamps?" All eyes, even the head raised against Barry's chest, whom he put down when she was steady enough to be on her feet, landed on Parker. She carefully, cautiously, stepped forward, to which Amelia and one of the nurses, Kenadi Lugaras, let closer. "Air. She needs fresh air and sunlight. She's also in a state of..well..uh..what do they call it. Ummm oh, like hypothermia?" With the gentlest of touches, she slipped her hand under one of the blonde's that was so bloody brisk cradling it and gradually closed her fingers in such a tender way. "Te ieiu shahr-z vot rrip kahrah,zor,ehl im zrhythrev,ehl."
"Who.." The Director didn't dare rush her steps, but made her way around to the other side of the bed they'd transferred her sister to, with the lamps already curved over the Kryptonian. She took what the doc handed her, who had placed a warmed up blanket over Kara, slipping the mask carefully over her sister's face, letting Hamilton adjust the gage to the accurate level they usually used on Supergirl, when she has been in the worst of conditions.
"You had said..'My' mother believes in her. 'Your' mother? Who is.." Brown on brown confirmed the answer between them, as to what she was. "Nahn ni ieiu kryptahnium?" A nod to the question of what Parker's mother is, exposed the secret between them. "I am..kir aoe to kahrah,zor,ehl. To..Kara Zor-El Danvers."
"I'm honored then. Kara spoke much about you, when she last visited Argo. She shared with us, well..them, which brought my mother, te ieiu great happiness. I hadn't known anything really, until I found out where I came from. What I am. It will be a long story for another time." Parker sighed, shut her eyes and put her head back, opening them again, bringing her chin downwards to a level center. "I am Peikara Ak-Var. It is an honor to meet the one who has kept her safe but shown her love and held such honor while doing so. It goes, without saying, family sometimes needn't be of blood to be such. You. ESPECIALLY you. Her first companion. Here, I'm Parker Kenzi Torres."
"Well, Peikara..Parker, I am Alexandra Lorelie Danvers. Also, Director 'Dangerous Badass' Danvers. So, welcome to the DEO. Don't use Alexandra. Just Alex is fine, or Director Danvers." She shook the girl's hand. A cough from the doorway and a comment brought their orbs split for the time being.
"More like, Director 'DANGER ZONE to a patient room ALL HER OWN' Danvers." Susan announced, popping her head in to give her boss a cheeky grin, then shove it away with worry front and center, on where her eyes landed. "How is she?"
"I'll dock your coffee brewers account if you're not careful Vasquez. She's..Suz." Her second in command walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Co-Director Susan Vasquez, this is Parker Torres. She is to have full access when I am in the building. When not, please give her level 3L-22 Phoenix access. Lamps included." Susan's eyes widened, but reached out to shake this kid's hand. She immediately felt the strength in Parker's grip. When they let go, there was a bracelet tossed one direction only, which was caught, already unlocked at the clasps and handed to Alex. "What is..THESE are.."
"Blessings of Rao. The stone is the equivalent of a red sun. The metals are a mixture of elements from here and Argo. It is layered, per say shielded in a thin covering of lead and black gold, as well as an alloy of Kryptonian metals. It has just enough emissions to dull down the senses to close to the human frequencies." Alex was BEYOND impressed. Further enhanced by the next set of words. "I designed it, created it, in my class's metal shop after school. Here, not on Argo. I can make her one, if she'd like. Hmph, won't rust either." That's when it dawned on Danvers, what was rather close to this full or half-blooded Kryptonian. That had carried her sister, WITHOUT being weakened. 'She's unaffected..by kryptonite. What..the..' _
*** ** FLASHBACK: merged-Earths and a gift of the 'truth'
Such a change of pace, for the first time in her life, bringing a positivity that had been amiss, offering her a whole new view and promises of a real future. True, the community service had sucked ass but it was better than the alternative. Luck had come in the blessings of someone Parker Torres never expected to understand where she came from, not to mention saved her ass from a psychopath to top ALL psychopaths, bringing on a few nightmares and occasional flashbacks when hearing power tools. But hey, it couldn't be all sunshine and rainbows. Well, rainbows being the key to success, not to mention an avenue in the business way of things. It would continue to a whole other degree, starting Tuesday.
"Ohhh wiped!" Her body was ready to cave to a faceplant into the pillow and maybe a meal and DEFINITELY a damn shower. Shower first. Parker may toss her favorite pants at this rate, if the washer and dryer didn't offer the remedies for cement, paint and varnish tossed on them. Still, to be given this taste of a bit of independence, psychological self-healing and a vast amount of responsibility, she couldn't help but smile. Torres was just about to slip the key into the door's lock when a call of her name, but in a manner hell, a pronunciation she hadn't heard before, or..had she..
"Peikahr it IS you! My Rao!" This woman, dressed almost as if she'd stepped right out of a job at 'Medieval Times' just a bit on the side of Robin Hood attire, approached her and instantly Parker shifted her stance, after dropping her pack, to one of a defensive. Yet, these softened blues, the smile alone, brought with it a familiarity all its own. Strands of lighter browns, about shoulder length like her own, escaped the sides somewhat tucked behind the ears. Without a doubt she knew the intricate braids held fast the rest of the loches where they met behind this woman's head. She was probably a good four inches taller, but had a relaxed stance, dressed in dark purples and almost deep chestnut blends to what looked like a leather style vest. Despite being older, she was gorgeous and her skin of a dark complexion radiated even more her absolute beauty. Then there was the symbol, almost a crest, which reminded Parker of the way her friend, her boss, dawned the one upon her chest. 'This symbol.' She shook it away and noticed a dark purple and dark blue package the size of half a shoe box, in protective hands. Her darker chestnut eyes slipped back into warm blues.
"I..know you." She just couldn't place the name with the face, nor where this woman resided from, until one hand with a strange looking VR style glove on, gently touched her shoulder. Instantly, flashes of images, memories, filled a sight for her wide eyes. They slowed some, most though, as a child, maybe about ten, swirling and swaying to the beautiful melodies heard by the gentlest of voices. The serenity of the instrument ceased, as did the lyrical tale. There was a recognizable voice, even without song, that skipped and raised yet in the most delightful of ways:
"Alura, how WONDERFUL it is to see you! Has the Counsel finally taken a much needed reprieve? You've worn yourself down a little TOO much my dear. I am honored you've chosen my home to..Alura?" There was such beauty, to what was spoken, and a smile that could light up the sky around the warmth of their red sun, must of Rao doing the same.
"Thara, she's.." Though heard in a language she knew, she remembered, this woman, this Judicator and crucial part of the High Counsel, was radiating such happiness, when the next words were spoken, in a language well remembered. "Tharah,ak,vahr.. kahrah,zor,ehl.."
"It has..been so long since that light has been seen in your eyes Alura." Their conversation continued, as the accent so SO familiar rang true. "Shall I have another tend to my tasks this eve? Perhaps more." Laughter and glee, as well as a call to her, by.. "Peikarah,ak,vahr come here dear one, i-ni ,alura,yn,ze."_
One sharp gasp, providing nothing for the amount of air she just inhaled by the revelation, coughing some on unsteady legs. No doubt, Parker would have fallen if not for an arm that came around, pulling her against this woman's body. She shut her eyes, calming with a few deep breaths as quick and safely as possible, but refusing to move just yet. The package was handed over to her with the utmost care, while the keys, label and color coded, that had been in her hand were taken to unlock her door. Then arms were picking her up and carrying her in to set her on the rather cozy corner navy blue sectional. She still held the box. Somehow, unsure how, she muttered her security code when the door was shut, which instantly engaged the digital lock, after her backpack had been set by the coffee table, as well as her phone.
"Parker?" The woman knelt down, motioning for the package to be opened. She obliged and before long, what appeared to be a prism, in the darkest of cobalt blues and purples, began to light up, glowing with several vein-like creations in streams. Incredibly..majestic was all Parker could think. The streaks pulsated through it, until the peak of its shape slowly split apart and the walls of the pyramid pulled back, like the flaps on a box, until flat, turning and slipping into the base. On the stand, was a disk in the most beautiful of blues, glowing as well, as were the crystals, resembling amethysts. One single cache crystal rose from the center and with it a hologram appeared, as did the same woman she had seen through images finally free to her. "Parker?"
"It is..peikarah,ak,vahr. Daughter of..inah im..tharah,ak,vahr. Thara. My..khuhtiv ieiu. My...Mother."
"Yes! Yes, honorable one. Yes." Parker embraced these arms, she had known, remembered and would never be forced to forget again..BLESSED...Rao._
*** * * EOF
Two blinks, brought her back to the fold, out of the realm of recollection and to where her eyes kept careful, but cautious watch. Her mother, her true mother, adored this woman, way before their home planet's destruction. They were inseparable! Able to finish each other's sentences and nearly read the other's mind with how in-tuned they had been. When the explanation was given, of how strange their reunion was, their beliefs and ideals, it hadn't made things more difficult, but that rhythm hadn't been easy either. So much time had been lost and with it, her mother's hope for what once was to be again, just wasn't. Surely, over time, things probably would have linked to the right frequency, if not close to it, but regardless, cheh ieiu, her mother, had felt blessed to know whom she had been somewhat named after, in a manner quite honorific, was not only alive but thriving.
"Director?" A click constituting a tongue flicked quickly against the roof of one's mouth signified the corrective communication, including the wonderful aroma of GOOD coffee. "Kona?" A chuckle and delivery, her acceptance and smile, brought their side by side observations, kept on. "Thank you." Parker took a long sip and hummed at the taste.
"Two hazelnut tabs, two sugar flicks and stirred to perfection." Alex smirked, sipping her own. "Mine has a dash of caramel and one shot of espresso too." It was the teen's turn to gain the cheeky grin.
"So what you are saying is, you need candy poured in your cup, and high-octane in the tank." She took another drink, trying to hide the widening smile, but failing miserably. Eyes were on her, narrowed but there, which Parker was okay with. She shifted gears though, lowering the cup and taking a long though slow deep breath in, gradually releasing it. "How long.." Slid to her right, where this 'WAY hard core..BADASS' woman stood, to attention of sorts, but showing just a tinge of pure familial emotion, teetering towards sensitivity, she observed Alex Danvers with respect yet protectiveness too. With lips parted, where she would no doubt get some remark, all sound to escape died down. Once more, her gaze locked through the window, with her boss, mentor and friend, but her hero most of all, entering changed into regular attire.
"Has she..been Supergirl? Or..how long has THAT..that.." Parker reached out, offering the hand closest to Alex's own. Eyes left the observation window, slipping downward where the option was. Her orbs kept front and center, noticing how Kate acted when it came to this INCREDIBLE light, that was Kara Danvers, this..Kara Zor-El. It was the same tune of a heartbeat that she held when looking at the framed issue of CATCO, where Batwoman's interview had been displayed to the world through the art of 'Hope's gift.
"Tul chao..shit. Uh.." Parker cursed quite a sentence that even the Director gave her a gold star for the creative batch of profanity. "Grip. Squeeze." With that? Ohhhhh Danvers did.
"Iahron. THAT is what..I feel. Rage." Alex put everything she had built up, into every squeeze. "Udolkhehd. Fear. F..fear I..I could have..if I hadn't.." She wasn't sure when she had been lifted off the ground or when her ass met a stool, but nonetheless, it was appreciated. "Nahkluv." Thanking her, the hand remained solid and given without any hint of malice or ill-will attached to it.
"You're welcome. I won't leave. I'll answer anything I know, no matter how personal. As long as it keeps Kate safe too." This time, their hands merely gripped with equal measure, but Parker's head tilted down.
"You know..my Sister, she uh..she's more than just..Hope. But something tells me, where Kate got it, is where Kara got the courage to stand without anymore regret." It was time Torres took a leap a little more.
"I told..Kate, before that..BITCH tried to make me..out her, that..if Batwoman goes away, the city's 'hope' goes with it." Parker shut her eyes and in that moment, Alex's grip tightened in a more comforting gesture. "I could tell. The way she wrote that article. How her words fit together, how they weaved through one another that just made you..feel."
"She helped. Ohhhh she helped." The Director reached for some other strength within her, to tether whatever balance she had remaining, from what had transpired after her sister's, "Kar came back and..she was..different. Happy. There was so much joy, excitement and..hope, after meeting her and one helpful convo just the two of them. But then..it all went to hell." The switch over progressed, giving Alex the comfort again, but moderating her strength.
"I don't really know anything about your guys' life here, but what I do know is some about her life on Krypton. On..Argo." She knew that her conversational pal understood what was meant there, which was a breath of fresh air. "Anything you want to share, or not, or ask, I'll answer. But like I said, if it puts Kate in ANY danger, that's it. We're done."
"She met..her..a um.." Alex took a moment to compose herself, center and shift to her agent mode, to balance her dangerous emotions. A squeeze then release gave her the opportunity to pull her hand away if she wanted to. Instead, she just held onto Parkers. "She has known her a little over three or..um..four..no three. Let's um..just stick with three years to make it easier on my worn out brain. Her Cousin and 'THATS' Brother, were good..eh, okay friends but like some men are, not all but some, territory and 'shiny' shows, are what seems to top the list over relations. Lex Luthor, he was jealous of what Clark, well Superman, could do and had. Lex wanted it. He wanted control and he wanted to know everything so he could be better than him. Well, like brother, like sister. She didn't act the way he did, but in the end, because she didn't learn the truth from my Sister or any of us, instead by him she took it as we didn't trust her. Ohhhhh Kara did. I didn't. Not at first. But she didn't try to understand, really understand the reasons behind it. She didn't think about the pros and cons, reasons and rhymes, for someone with more degrees and certificates than Kellogg's has cereals at the store, including the varieties of each. She only felt the childish emotions a tantrum wielding brat does when she doesn't get her way, when she thinks it's time for others to cater to her whim. I'm fuming. I know. Professional isn't holding the fort down very well, when my own emotions waiver and wish to wield a few..dozens..HUNDREDS of weaponized options."
This time, when Parker opened up her hand, Alex removed hers, to place it flat against the observation glass. "Kara. I..I'm here. Come back." Both palms now, head down slightly, eyes shut and tears in streams, caused her own eyes to water, releasing a few. "Please..please Sis. Please..come back. Back to me." Between attempted silent sobs, the shakes revealed themselves, so she did her best, once more, to offer comfort. Even strength. One hand just kept itself on the center of Alex's shoulders. "I..thank.." Heads up, turned, hues dialed, did nothing for the anger they saw on the one approaching, not in his 'Flash-y' wardrobe. "Barry?"
"Unlocked." Dressed down, well DEO training dressed more to agent code, did nothing for the tension radiating off of him. In his hand, looked to be some form of tablet or pad, covered in no doubt something to avoid his..charging issues. While Barry stood at angry attention, he handed it over, turned around and walked away. No sooner had he left, did J'onn come over. His eyes kept solid on his Earth Daughter, but nodded their go ahead.
"The wind has calmed. I'll remain in attendance for two." It was his nonchalant way of dismissing Alex respectfully, but with valid reason, that she needed to quietly step away. Immediately. "You will need a 'silent night' when you look over the files. Barry is running your translation program through them as we speak. Forgive the rude start to this introduction. J'onn J'onzz." Parker took his held out hand and gripped it, gaining a grimace in returned infliction.
"Parker Torres." She didn't need to assert anymore tempered steel in her display of strength. That alone, delivered a greater respect from him, in regards to Alex too, well aware of another name he'll get from her later in a proper introduction. Once both had stepped away, she noticed how the Director had the tablet pressed against her chest, held tight and almost guarded. Parker took the woman's free hand, seeming to balance, well ground, them both by the gesture. "Where are.."
"Keyless entry." She simply strode with her, down the fifth hall, only to realize all sound had bit the dust into the edges of darkness. Her dark chestnuts easily saw, hell followed, every solid and calculated move the Director made. "Damn halls." Alex sighed for the act in show, but her heel had nudged the doorway, without any door attached there, but heard the *click* and quirked up a brow. "I guess Home D. hasn't gotten in the order yet for a slab." An adjustment and turn of the foot, brought the toes of the boots pushing inward where the gap and button was hidden, until two walls slid in different directions than the ones they had been placed in before. "In." Regardless if it was whispered it held absolute, undeniable aggressive authority. Parker didn't need to be told twice. The moment both were inside, all that was left behind them, was once again a solid wall. "Dex. Libra, nine, seven, twenty-two, Orion, base." Every wavering tone, slip, edge, quiver, were eradicated.
"Copy Director Danvers." Lighting flickered on, but at half mast, intentionally set as the stage generally was. "Dreaming BIG Boss. We've got two teams packed in Jet. J'onn and a newly arrived M'gann are with Stone. Tunes are playing for the morning, where Brainy's runnin' the programs. Speed Racer and a team are on the right base, offsite, for soaring eyes."
"Verge and Delta Blue." Three beeps and a rock of the ages, brought Metallica filling the quiet space. "Sandman?"
"When aren't we EVER in Neverland Danvers. Brainy is working with...Barry, right? Anyway, speedstee and the brain boy have the files being tapped and capped. Got your whiz kid there, right?"
"Cute. Anything they find, I'm assuming will be broadcast on one of the six monitors in this spacious conference room?" Parker asked, pointing to a couple of the screens amidst.
"Yeah. It might take a little time though, given the codes all over the jargon. Hey uh...not one to go for long ones so just..thanks. My Boss hasn't shot off rounds in there yet, has.." One growl from an irritated chief brought the word rolling to a halt. "Duly noted Director. Alex, is she.." She moved her gaze to the center of the massive meeting table, where a globe looking speaker was, and back to a now sitting badass offering for her to do the same. Parker took it, waited and gasped when a seventh monitor showed up, well down, to the party, after sliding out from the ceiling, tilted and kept in suspense over the table. When it flicked on, the feed was that of where the 'Paragons of Hope AND Courage' occupied. She watched every method of the woman's posture, her tight shoulders, pinch of the space between the eyes and a hand in a fist beverage upright-held away and enough to the side to try to thwart any visibility of how each digit rattled without any reprieve.
"Yes. Yes and no. Not yet. 'Courage' won't leave after she's been under fire already. But no, she hasn't woken up yet. Listen. I..I need you to.."
"Your beautiful and mind-gifted psychological badass is on her way."
"Did you..just admit you wanna..hit on my girl?" The chuckle brought a sense of normality and with it, a smile finally showed. "Thanks Suz."
"Hey, I had to and yeah, I would. But no. She's good for you Alex. She DOES have new bodyguards though. One you'll be REALLY happy to see on the roster of 'agent-a' base titles and the other, new COMPLETELY to the fold but not. On a different note, are you thinking about calling it quits on me Boss? Hang on. Let them in. Ladies."
"Ladies? Where?! Ohhh you mean us! There's that smirk. Nice to see you STILL take it from Danvers." Parker noticed eyes grow wide and the jaw falling in speechlessness.
"She can hear us?" One hand slammed down on the table, catching her off guard especially when Alex stood up.
"Lucy? Sam..?"
"That it is. Samantha and I were discussing the changes you've made, since she's new to YOUR improved base. Too many adjustments to the courses. A whole new campus. She works for me, well...with me. Isn't that right, Agent Arias."
"It is General Laska. Much better than Lane, for all the horror stories you tell, like a new one to leave me shivering in the corner each time. Come now General. Our last calls should be kept up to date. "
" Well, Lane has such a 'terrifying' backdrop to it. Lucy and Sam here. By the way, Happy Anniversary, Mrs. Amato."
"Why thank you! Yours is, next month yes? How is she handling the change of ship?" Samantha's composed voice soothed everyone so it seemed.
"Depends on the day. How does your Wife like her new medical wing?" Lucy continued right along, like they were ole buddies by how it sounded to Danvers.
"Can't complain. She's taken over 'crash-less' training for Ruby though." A sigh wasn't missed in sted.
"No dents in the Honda yet then? That's a win, so cheers to that, Samantha."
"Brews on the table round later, Lucinda, to discuss Excalibur too."
"You know...Alex, dear DANGEROUS and DEADLY and...DARLING to...welcome to charms out of the 'lucky' box. Anyway..she's dead. You KNOW that right."
"She is gonna be MORE than that! The ONLY reason it isn't by 'unlock, slide, aim, squeeze' is due to charges. Though...I know a pretty good Lawyer who would willingly plead my case. After all, threats to our government, ESPECIALLY when the President of the United States, not to mention leaders of other countries, have been notified of the actions of a SINGLE individual can be positively damning. Isn't that right?"
"Oh, indeed. Okay Danvers. What is..you firing vulgarities ALREADY Alex?" The Director didn't even have an opportunity to stop the splash of lighter fluid on such a fatal blaze of fury. Curses of all kinds flew out, hissed and growled, raised and burning, just like the pair of powerful amber flames. "Alex? That's not you. Who is.."
"Ladies. Yeah yeah. Badasses, I'll have you two delivered to Director Danvers. I THINK that would be the best course of action. Dreamer and I will take it from here."
"Ruby needs a head's..up. Thanks Lucy."
"Got them shut down, all channels, except the one we're on. She's good. Without blockage, seventeen minutes. Time it Director. They've got their credentials and key cards."
"Guys..thank you." Alex tilted back in her adjustable, now mildly reclined head of the table throne. That's when the background 'shockers' popped away.
"Rubes, you CAN'T practice your skills with her tied to a target range wall. Nope. Don't care if..your girlfriend is NOT coming to the base range..again. I will, I promise. When it's clear I'll have you come down. Love you too. Tell Jezzabelle it might be a bit late. Love you both. Hug her for me and you guys keep going on our show. I'll tell double o' Danvers, you love them. Night Rubes."
Parker found her body leaning forward, elbows to the table and fingers somewhat interlocked where her chin rested, not meaning to stare but it surely came across that way, given the look she had been dealt in response. So, options were on the table. This was though, Alexandra's house and Torres had no qualms about Danvers' choices. She went with simple, though repetitive.
"Your call. Q & A or..or law abiding deliberation."
"How about 'E' all the above. Let's start with the basics. There are sodas, energy fueled beverages, juice and just plain water in the cabinet cooler to your right, next to the too tall file cabinet. That's our plan…'X' if push comes to shove. It's actually bolted to the floor, but hides a hidden slide behind it. The third cabinet down, to the left, about a foot and a half in, is the button to move it. The second cabinet to the right, about four inches down is another button. Push that one and it will pop the lock to the cabinet by the coffee maker. That's my 'noms' stash." Parker raised a brow to confusion's attention. "Have to hide the good stuff or Kar will indulge her endless pit, on my goodies."
"Fair enough." She took to the chill, chose wisely as to what tickled her fancy, then to the files, to solve the puzzle and obtain a prize. "Oooooooo." No wonder Alex kept this center on lockdown given as to what the cabinets kept stowed away. Once she'd chosen three items from the treasure chest, setting down one Cherry DP and an IBC flavor to join in the fun, while the Director brought over two Faygos, four snack packs and two candy bars, they took a moment to breathe a little, before returning to reality. "Look, I know.."
"Tagehd nahn otem." The moment she had alerted the boss, that something, someone, was on the other side of the wall, was here, movements were so swiftly orchestrated that Parker almost believed Alex to be the Kryptonian between the two of them. What she got, was a whole other show of force. A glowing gauntlet-like cuff, shifted in its appearance and in doing so, transformed the wielder's attire to that of her own 'Super' suit. Two guns popped up into eager, highly and terrifyingly 'happy place' trigger finger keepers. "Magic trick?" She all but whispered, but switched into fighting mode when several beeps were heard. It wasn't in front of them, but..behind them.
"Par.." She acted on instinct, or a sixth kryptonian sense, merely slipping in front of Alex before she could blink and making herself like an impenetrable wall, which nothing would get through or hell over or around. The Director sighed, which she expected, also the sound of two hums, indicating 'power-ups' surging for the reckoning. Her chestnuts flipped over to 'infernian' ambers, more than just glowing with the heat they were radiating. More depth, three clicks topped with one growl later, got Parker to slide to one side so both could take proper aim. "Tul,i shom peikarah,ak,vahr." Oh that fire? Suuuuure. She was holding alright.
"Don't shoot the Sheriff!" One woman announced.
"Clapton, is that you?" Another deadpanned.
"I pay." A groan had Parker relaxing, especially when the weapons faded as did the suit, and a hand rubbing the face.
"You do. Rather well, might I add."
"You're buying din then, Sam Sam." The banter just went on, with the two entering the fold.
"You are just trying to put me on your 'dating' roster, for your ego..Lucky Lu." Another groan, had the two sealing the traps, to give their ole friend a moment. "Alex." The hand left the post, instead closing the distance of such an arm's length.
"Sam." They hugged tightly, broke apart and switched gears, for the next to step up. "Lucy!" This hug, held a fierce measure to no doubt, matched if not surpassed strength.
"Danvers! Damn girl! Shit, you just re-de she's 'hot damn fine' the view. More like shining it out of any chance at an encore." They hugged again, just as Parker's eyes subsided their glow. "Lucy is fine. Sam for her. Parker?" A nod put them in the right level on the playing field. She watched the hand be held out, but didn't take it when the first of no longer lost on translations met the screens instead. "Hello?" Those hellions lit up again, with a sacrifice of the 32 in monitor kind. "WHOA!? Wha...WHAT?!"
"I'll.." Sam started.
"..fucking.." Lucy continued.
"..MURDER HER!" Three concluded but not before a thickening growled dialect took over.
"Parker." Alex took a moment, but her focus slid down, to where something that shouldn't be possible to crush, the younger Kryptonian had been gripping, with her weaker hand. If they even had such a thing. "Ehwor vo khuhp kir zygai." The glow shut off, like the flip of a light switch, when the Director offered, in Kryptonese, for her to talk to her, calling her 'little warrior' as a term of familial honor. Alex was, indeed, a true warrior in her own right. She couldn't speak, merely pointing, when on the screens, all in the same language, scrambled, flashed and returned, all typed out in English for everyone in the room..to view:
*** * * REVEAL
*** * * L- Project NON NOCERE * * ***
**INCEPTION:
- Krptn: S'g. S'm Off E. Await orbital entry test for S'm.
- green & silver (L-Xndr file)
- red glow gen (lamp, strobe w/flash timer, micro)
- mod lens: K- 3'7 bHt.
- mod comm using G-x R3 chip, stun Luigro for lens
**Q-Wave:
- volunteer trials: mid ROP. Pay ratio in bargain.
- metas: inner works
- switch lens with TL- 40 JcX. Use ret scan activation
- 'Project' Non Nocere. Use Myriad - fix mankind "Do No Harm" Copy tech
**STRIP Fight or Flight:
- manip - guilt, secret, reveal clause
- bargain - use 'false' lead, for FOS invite. Ask to join w/interest, field trip to take big. Alt LC4-01 Lu Vrix patch. Distractive excuse
- hostage negote - use **A.L.D** priority 'enemy' 1 - Axe-ndra Lor-Lie Dngrs
**Restrict/Constrict:
- red glow: cannon, lamp, flare, flash grenade (use sight and sound)
- K nets, emitters, chains, restraints (sewn k, soaked k, layered or infused)
- net sown k infused joker jacket: use sensory deprivation/depletion
- K - CL3X gHb2 KaP inject, inhale, ingest
- Nth metal cage bars w/CL3X k or coffin, box (small confine, burial. Smaller the better. Subject: 'PZ' claustrophobia)
- half mast mask w/restrict O dissolved O2 in tank, tube (emitters under): 'submerge' or in pool "drown afflict"
**PZ - Fear Factor
- use data from projector: make watch size, flashlight, wrist cuff to activate transfer
- threat: banishment - Xndra, Liz (kp A.L.D & Azi for chart)
- controlled simulation - P-zone. Sensory dep, red w/tint bulbs, green glow using black light to mask. Ice box to hot box. Restrict air. Use data from Mal file for process
- cap and incept phantom. Extract its power w/ 'Hope' method on phantom
- contact AA, phobia winds
- PZ-k SgR1 simulation ADAPT, controlled room W/captive incepted phantom
*** * *FILE EXIT. ENGAGE L-Q'
TIDE CLOVER
_LOCKDOWN_