Nine Down
Deanlu
Supergirl is the property of DC comics and the CW. I am borrowing the characters for a little fun and storytelling. I am writing weird shorts because I have been having trouble writing lately. Not to mention I am in stay at home once more for Covid19. Please leave comments. I could really use them right now.
"I will end you Kara Zor El! I will utterly destroy the memory of your people and line." Time master yelled as Kara reached him at the last second grabbing the glimmering, purple Stone of Measure out of his hands. "NOOOOooooooo! You will not stop me." TimeMaster attempted to take it back. Supergirl wasn't letting him get it back. He had killed Lena Luthor before her eyes shattering her into a million fragments until those fragments had exploded into nothing. He had maimed Alex striking her with energy bolts that erupted from the stone so badly she may never walk again. He had altered time making Lex Luthor the President and bent on killing every alien. He had shaken the earth's core causing catastrophic events around the world that Kara had not seen the likes of since she had resided on Krypton. Billions suffered because of his changes to time. It could not go on.
"I will stop you even if I have to die trying." Supergirl screamed as she raised her hand to smash the glistening stone.
"If you smash that stone you will destroy your entire line of existence. No one will know who Kara Zor El was or has been." Time Master yelled desperately trying to persuade the Girl of Steel to get the stone out of her hands.
"So be it!" Kara growled, her hand never wavering as it was raised above her head. "At least everyone else will live." Supergirl yelled as she slammed her hand down onto the asphalt shattering and turning the stone to dust." The explosion from the stone threw Kara backwards through ripples of white sound and light that felt like her body was being dragged over broken glass. People appeared before her as she passed through each ripple.
"Kara, it is forbidden for you to intervene in man's history." Jor El's voice echoed in her dreams.
"You may not turn back time." Alura's voice echoed in her mind.
"To tamper with time can only create chaos." Zor El her father said to her. "Many have tried only to be destroyed utterly in the end."
"I turned back time once for Lois. I would never do it again. It changed things horribly for everyone else." Clark said as he looked toward the horizon.
"For every action there is a reaction. For every change, a new consequence must be suffered." Zantana said as they looked at the time loop that was closing. "There is a price to be paid Supergril for changing time."
"Kara. Kara, do you have something else to add about the Graxions?" Director Danvers asked as the others around the conference table looked toward her. Kara looked confused and off kilter. Almost like she hadn't been listening or she had just arrived. Alex looked at her with a puzzled face and tilt of the head. Supergirl shook her head.
"No, they are good people." Kara looked around the table. Time had reset right into a DEO meeting. What the hell? Alex was not injured. Her sister sat fully healthy at the conference table, looking at her weirdly.
'Are you okay?' her sister mouthed to her. Kara didn't know how to respond to that question as her sister continued to look at her worriedly. Lena was alive looking at her strangely even as she was seated next to her brother, Lex. The images of Lena being hit by the purple beam of energy and shattering into a million pieces before exploding warred with her reality. A soft tear slipped from the corner of Supergirl's eye alarming several around the table.
"Supergirl, Are you okay?" Agent Davies whispered from where he sat next to her. Supergirl looked at a very alive agent. She had seen him cut down as he fought with her against the TimeMaster. She desperately needed a minute, but knew she couldn't leave the meeting.
"Yes." she whispered as she looked around the table. The live people haunting her like ghosts against the separate timeline she had gone through. Agent Davies, Scientists Megan Sanchez, Pam from HR, Alpha, Beta, and Epsilon shifts leaders, Lex, Lena, Alex, and J'onn were all seated around the table. Vasquez had not joined in this session obviously. She looked down to see her crossword book and pencil. She had just filled in fifteen across...stole or boa….WRAP. Kara grasped on to it with her mind to calm and settle her best she could for now.
"They seem to enjoy the old growth forests and the natural environment." Alex had continued on with her report about settling the Graxionns, an elf like race in western Washington state. Kara trembled as she sat nervously glancing around the room seeing people she had watched die or be injured grievously.
"Item five the new solar wind driven vessel that was seized in orbit. Seems Hakarian Raiders decided we looked ripe for the pickings. Lena, where are we with the breakdown on their technology and Director Danvers do we have any ongoing concerns of these raiders showing up. Lena, first. Then Director Danvers." Lex said as he looked toward his sister smiling. Lena took the floor and began talking about the technology. She explained how they could use several of the items found on board and what to be on a lookout for when on patrol. Kara shook a little harder. Shock, it was shock or an adrenaline rush that came after battle. Whatever it was Davies had noticed. Davies, who was sitting next to Supergirl, placed a hand on her and gave her a concerned look. The warmth of Davies' hand provided a connection she needed to stop Kara trembling somewhat. She had to get herself under control. Lena finished her presentation as Alex began with her part breaking her attention from her sister who she was very much worried about now. She looked down at her black book containing her crosswords. She took slow, deep quiet breaths to slow her heart and mind.
'One across...bread with a pocket... took slow deep breaths. She needed to find out if Eliza was in this time zone. She needed to check on Nia and Cat. Lex had the rule of no cell phones during meetings. So she had to wait. At this moment, time moved excruciatingly slow. She needed to find out if TimeMaster existed and if he had found the stone. The stone. She needed to get it and move it. She stood suddenly causing everyone to stop. She looked at the door, her heart beating harshly. 'Don't. Don't act rashly. Don't alert your friends.'
"Supergirl is everything okay?" Lex asked as his forehead scrunched together watching the Super. Something was wrong. Kara fought with herself as pieces attempted to realign themselves in this time reality.
"Supergirl." Alex called out to her sister as she stood. "What is it?" Alex was ready to respond to anything even as the Squad Leaders around her tensed to respond. Kara closed her eyes and took a deep slow breath. She had to calm down.
"No. It's nothing." Supergirl responded as she sat back down. Everyone stared at her for long minutes. Kara took another deep breath and looked down at her crossword. Lex stared at her for a long time. Something was wrong. He just couldn't tell what. He touched his watch.
"Agent Vasquez, how can I help Mr. Luthor?" The communications agent voice resounded in the conference room.
"Agent Vasquez, quick scan world and space with results." Lex ordered still watching the Super as he ordered for the scans. Everyone waited for about four minutes. Lex saw it then, the Supers hand trembling that held the pen. Why?
"All scans of the world and space are all clear. No abnormalities." Agent Vasquez informed over the comms.
"Thank you Vasquez." Lex acknowledged as he went back to the agenda while keeping an eye on the Super. While he didn't like Kara and he wanted her dead, he knew that when she was off in such a manner something else was going on that the Super was aware of and they were not. Kara in the meantime concentrated on her crossword.
'Seventeen across...drop in the mail...send." Kara tried to calm herself down. She reached for the one thing that might help her get through the meeting. She listened to Lena's heart… she concentrated hard… listening to the steady...thud..thud..thud..thud…
"There is a virus running around right now. It is affecting both humans and aliens. So we have put in a mask requirement on the DEO starting Friday, washing your hands regularly, and hand sanitizer is to be used. Agents are to use their gloves and clean them on a regular basis. We don't know where it has come from, but it is a concern." Megan, one of the scientists explains to those gathered.
"How much of a concern is this virus?" Lena asked even as she watched Supergirl seem to calm and loosen up some.
"We're just not sure yet. However, we have about sixty cases right now in National City. Human, metahuman, and alien. We are working on coming up with the symptoms leading in, analysis, and hopefully a vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization are working with us. There are several information data banks from aliens and humans that talk of a virus that caused problems in each of their races. The virus is similar. We are working on it. We just haven't collected enough data yet. We will keep you apprised." Megan explained as she finished. Lex nodded thinking for a moment.
"What is the death rate for the virus right now?" Lex asked as Lena leaned forward to listen more fully, casting her attention away from the Super.
"Ten percent at this time." Megan responded causing everyone to set out a gasp.
"Do we have an idea who the more vulnerable are?" Lena inquired of the scientist now.
"The very young. Birth to about seven years old. The elderly over the age of sixty. Those with pre-existing conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions." Megan answered while waiting for any more questions. Lena glanced toward Supergirl thinking about her kryptonite issue.
"Alright keep us informed. Send a warning out to the alien and metahumans through their channels. Also start pushing the information through health groups. Make them stress the precautions you mentioned." Lex ordered as he continued to look at the agenda and think. He looked back at the Kryptonian. "Supergirl, I want you to have a full check up in the med bay after the meeting." Kara went to speak up when Lex cut her off. "That's an order. If this virus spreads too rapidly we are going to need you greatly." Kara nodded and looked away from Lex.
'Forty-three across...cherished child...eleven letters...begins with a P…' She looked across to Lawrence, the leader of Beta Squad. He had four boys and one girl. He was always calling Jennifer his...hmmmmm...oh yeah, Pride and joy. She looked back down at the crossword and wrote the letters into the boxes. Just then the DEO alarm went off as there was the sound of a tussle with multiple people shouting and the door burst open.
"YOU FILTHY KRYPTONIAN!" The man screamed as he ran into the room, threw himself across the conference table at Supergirl, only to land on his feet and grab her by the throat to shove her against the wall. "I warned you. I warned you I would kill you. I don't care how many timelines I have to pursue you through." He saw movement out of the corner of his eyes. He holds the Kryptonian tightly by the throat squeezing tightly as a particle shield surrounds them. "Don't! You don't want to all die." No one moved. He turned back to Supergirl. "You thought you were so smart shattering the stone and destroying it. You got them all back. Lex, Lena, Alex, Davies, and all the others. But I told you there is a price to pay for what you have done."
"And...What's your...Consequence? You...destroyed more...than people…*gasp*...Did she come back? Did you find what you were looking for?" Supergirl asked the TimeMaster. Kara stared deeply into his eyes seeing she had returned. "What happened? *gasp* Kara could see her sister, Lena, J'onn and Lex tapping out orders as quietly as possible on their wrist communicators. Kara continued to watch the man's eyes. "Henry.."
"NOOOOOOO! Henry is dead! Only the TimeMaster remains." He squeezed harder and those in the conference room could hear bones popping.
"She loves you Henry. She loves you, but not your evil." Supergirl chokes out as Henry pulls her away and slams her against the wall three times.
"Does your love know Supergirl? Have you told your love?" He hissed as he squeezed tighter. Kara's face had turned red, but now was turning purple. Kara watched as signals were flashed around the table between the squad leaders, Lex, Alex, Lena and J'onn.
"Yes." Supergirl gasps out. Henry grinned evilly.
"At least you will have one that will mourn over your death!" Henry growled out as she heard a snap and a pop. She watched as his energy shield failed, Pam and Megan dropped below the table to stay out of the line of fire. Davies hit him with two bullets that bounced off TimeMaster's chest, but caused him to loosen his grip on Supergirl. She saw Lena's eyes grab hers as Alex fired off her plasma gun hitting Henry directly in the chest. Supergirl felt herself falling to the ground as Henry's grip released and hit hard sending sparkles and darkness edging her vision.
"Neutralize him immediately Alpha and Beta Squad! Agent Danvers tend to Supergirl." She heard Lex order even as Lena's alert for medical came over the speakers. Supergirl saw feet approaching her on the floor. She tried to reach for breath, but all that sounded was a strangled gurgling. She laughed thinking she was going to die in one of Lex's meetings instead of fighting him out in the real world.
"I need a cervical collar stat!" Alex yelled even as she dropped next to her sister. "Get a back board and intubation kit immediately. Lena I need you here."
"HAHA! Die Supergirl! Die!" Henry yelled, still conscious. He was now cuffed and restrained by Alpha and Beta leaders. The Leaders were wrangling him out of the room. "I will come for you Supergirl. I'm not done with you." He watched as they placed the cervical collar was put in place before he was shoved out the door toward holding.
"I want to know how he breached the security of the DEO! " Lex ordered as Hamilton entered with a backboard and intubation kit. Now everyone watched, but kept back as Alex, Lena, and Hamilton worked on Supergirl. "Backboard in place and strapped down. Lift her onto the conference table. They moved as one lifting with Theta shift leaders' help."
"Intubating" Lena shouted out even as Hamilton injected Supergirl. Her skin pierced with no problem. "How is her skin vulnerable? She shouldn't need this." Lena looked toward Lex. "Check the prisoner. Have him stripped and confiscate any device you find. Something is not right here." Lex moved out of the room toward where the prisoner had been taken.
"She's not breathing." They attached the ambu bag and began resuscitating. "We need to move her to medical." Supergirl was lifted and carried to medical. Two hours later she was stabilized with sun lamps recharging her. Twelve hours later she was awake and breathing on her own. The cervical collar still in place while her healing went on, but better than she was in the conference room. Lex was sitting next to her bed talking with her.
"He had kryptonite in the particle shield he put up around you. He is also a metahuman. He has incredible strength and intelligence." Lex explained as Kara shifted in the bed. Lex examined the data on her chart.
"Not smarter than you." Kara said through a gravelly voice. Her throat, spine, and vocal cords are still healing. Lex chuckled acknowledging her words.
"Can you tell me what happened?" Lex asked honestly, wanting to know. Slowly, haltingly Kara explained what happened in the other timeline. By the time she finished she was exhausted.
"Kara, it is forbidden for you to intervene in humanity's history." Jor El's voice echoed in her mind.
"You did the right thing. If what I have gleaned from what you have said happened you probably saved the earth from Krypton's fate." Lex assured her as he brought the ipad in front of her. Kara signed her recorded statement for Lex. He signed off and filed it.
"Why are you being nice to me? I know you don't like me." Lex smiled at her.
"True, but even I'm not stupid. We need you right now." Lex said as he turned to leave. He stopped before he left. "Agent Danvers says you have another twelve hours in medical. You are then off for three to four days to rest and recoup. I will see you next week." Lex left, leaving her to rest. She didn't trust him. She knew he would use Henry in some way. She just needed to figure out when and how. She was just drifting off when she heard the click of the medical room door. She heard whoever was moving around the room. They set something down and came near. Kara's eyes fluttered open to see the forest green eyes of Lena Luthor.
"Hey." Lena whispered as she ran her hands around the Supers face.
"Hi." Kara whispered back in a gravelly voice. Lena examined her before she spoke once more. Kara was healing, but there was still bruising and a weird slight green tinge to her skin.
"Alex said she checked on you earlier. She also said you could have something from outside to eat. I brought some broth to start with and pot stickers. I got you the steamed ones so they were a little softer. I also brought Uno if you feel up to it after." Lena explained as she ran her fingers over Supergirl's brow, watching the heroes eyes close and relax. Supergirl still had the cervical collar on, but the breathing tube was gone thankfully.
"Alex was in earlier scolding me. I did point out I wasn't doing anything wrong at the time." Kara argued softly, stopping when it became too hard to speak. She cleared her throat a couple of times while Lena handed her a glass of water with a straw.
"I saw my brother in here. He didn't bother you did he?" Lena asked as Supergirl took several sips
"Lex was actually nice. I can see the part you love in him." Kara's rough voice whispered back to her love. She was still waiting for Lena's answer, but no matter what Lena was it for her. Lena smiled as she moved away to bring the broth over. Lena worked quietly helping feed Kara until the whole container was gone. She then moved on to the pot stickers helping Kara eat.
"How's the throat?" Lena asked as she cleared the food away. She poured Kara a ginger ale and dealt out the Uno cards. A green four came up to start. Kara set down a green eight. Lena placed down a green draw two.
"Better." Kara picked up two cards. Lena seemed to have something on her mind so Kara waited.
"Can you do me a favor?" Lena asked as Kara nodded waiting for her to play. "Can you be more careful? I know this wasn't your fault. Just be careful." Kara seemed to be considering something.
"I get in a lot of trouble. I might need some help with that." Kara whispered as she watched Lena play a red draw two changing the color. Lena had been given a careful opening. It was in her hands now.
"Yeah?" Lena whispered back as Kara played a red skip and a red five. Lena's eyes softly ran over Kara's face and throat area where the collar rested. "Maybe I can take care of that." Kara's head popped up which wasn't easy with the cervical collar still on. Kara looked closely to see whether Lena was joking with her. All she could see was clear honesty.
"Well, are you applying?" Kara asked as Lena played a reverse, skip, and a red six. Lena leaned in close.
"Uno." Lena kissed Kara softly on the lips. "Yes." Kara smiled widely and leaned back in kissing Lena's lips.
"Accepted." Kara whispered across Lena's lips before they were joined once more.