Alex strolled into Hank's private investigator's office to wish him a Happy Valentine. There was already a collection of Valentine's gifts on a table. "Hey, Happy Valentine's Day," Alex greeted warmly.
"Thank you," Hank smiled.
"Oh my gosh, this place is awesome," Alex said looking around.
"Well, it wouldn't be possible without my financier," Hank said pointing to Mara who was looking through Hank's library.
"Oh, am I interrupting anything?" Alex asked awkwardly.
"Yes," Mara replied coldly.
"No, not at all," Hank told her.
"I can't believe its taken weeks for you to have me over," Alex said focusing entirely on Hank.
"Well, I just wanted to have the place fully set up before you saw it," Hank lied.
"I am so proud of you," Alex said condescendingly. "And I see you have lots of admirers."
"Most of these are from the aliens in my support group," Hank said.
"It's amazing how many clients you have already helped," Alex complimented. "You left the DEO so you could make the changes in your life."
"Actually, it was to keep you from changing yours," Hank corrected.
"Seeing how much you accomplished, reminds me of how little I have done since I took over the DEO," Alex said disappointed in herself.
"Well, I saved the world from evil Kryptonians, Myriad, an Insane fleet, and angels of Rao. So far, you haven't had to deal with shit," Hank agreed.
"I know," Alex sighed.
"It's not your fault. It's the writers," Hank excused.
"The what now?" Alex asked confused. "Anyway, I meant in my personal life. I took over the DEO to give me the stability to do the things I wanted to do with my life. I did, at first. I dated a lot."
"And failed a lot," Hank smiled amused.
"I was also working on my adoption portfolio. When Vice President Pence was exposed, it all fell to the wayside. It's weird because I feel like I have this capacity for so much more," Alex sighed.
"Have you ever considered conceiving naturally?" Hank asked.
"Like...with a man?" Alex wondered.
"It wouldn't hurt you to have a one-night stand," Hank suggested.
"No, that's fucked up. I could get a disease that way. I don't want to have a kid with someone I've just met. What if their genetic history is all fucked up? I want my kid to have two parents," Alex said.
"Why stop at two?" Mara interjected.
"I'm sorry. This is a personal conversation," Alex said annoyed with her.
"As it happens, I know someone who is just as flawed as you are. You two should hang out," Mara said helpfully.
"Thanks but no thanks," Alex said crossly. "Well, look at that: Police found a vehicle that crashed avoiding an asteroid. What are the odds of that?"
"Stupid low," Hank said.
"So, I'm going to go," Alex said giving Hank a hug. Alex then turned to Mara. "Thanks for making Hank's dream come true," she said sincerely.
"I'm like the Make a Wish foundation only I get results," Mara said.
"Good to see you," Alex said to Hank and then walked out.
"You seem a little sad," Hank noticed of Mara.
"I lost my parents, my brother is often off-world, and my aunt doesn't remember me," Mara said sadly.
"You have a scheme in mind. What is it?" Hank asked.
"I got this intern," Mara smiled.
Nia opened the door to Brainiac 5. "Barney, what a pleasant surprise," she said haunted by him.
"It is I," Brainiac 5 confirmed and waltzed into the apartment. "I want to make myself clear since I didn't last time. This is not a date."
"Happy Valentine's Day to you, too," Nia rolled her eyes.
"I'm here because I heard of your mother's passing. I was sorry to hear it," Brainiac 5 said with false sincerity.
"Cut the bullshit, Barney," Nia scolded him.
"I want to train you as a Vindicator. I can enhance your skills and help you interpret your dreams," Brainiac 5 said.
"Barney, I know it's my destiny to have these powers, but I am still grieving. My mother passed so suddenly," Nia said.
"Oh, yes, the grieving process. For some, it is longer than others," Brainiac 5 observed. "So unproductive."
"I would love to be a Vindicator someday, but I am not ready to train, right now," Nia told him.
"As an old colleague used to tell me, we can either do this the easy way or the hard way," Brainiac 5 threatened her.
"I prefer it hard," Nia stared him down.
Brainiac 5 and Nia stared at each other with neither backing down. "Well, give me a call when you're done grieving," he said walking out.
"Yeah, sure, asshole," Nia said as he left.
Alex and Col. Haley arrived at the asteroid impact site. "Col. Haley, I didn't expect you so soon," Alex dreaded.
"Well, I came back early to help my daughter," Col. Haley said.
"You have a daughter?" Alex wondered.
"Someone obviously didn't read my file. Unlike you, I have a life outside the service," Col. Haley burned her.
"It must be nice," Alex said lamely.
"Yes, much more pleasant than having to deal with the president," Col. Haley shuddered.
"I'm guessing meeting him didn't go so well," Alex assumed.
"He denied any Russian collusion into the rage-drug fiasco. He's also dismayed that Ben Lockwood is polling better than he is," Col. Haley said.
"We are all dismayed but not surprised," Alex said dryly.
"Whatever came out of this asteroid ate this man's heart," an analyst said to them.
"Happy Valentine's Day," Col. Haley said as she got a closer look.
Alex did an autopsy on the dead man. "It looks like the creature extracted his heart perfectly with minimal tissue damage, no blood loss, and the wound looks like it cauterized itself."
"A sophisticated killing!" Brainiac 5 said nearly freaking her out as he got close to her. "What's also interesting is that the creature sheds its skin upon arrival, like a snake."
"I hate snakes," Alex shuddered. "How about you?"
"I fear nothing," Brainiac 5 reminded her.
"Well, seeing as how you don't have a heart, you have nothing to worry about," Alex said to him.
"Two more victims showed up with the same exact wounds. We need to find whatever did this before we have a panic on our hands," Col. Haley said urgently.
"This is what we're looking for," Brainiac 5 said showing them both a picture of an alien snake creature.
"I have updated the president. He wants this out of the press. He's concerned about fake news," Col. Haley said seriously.
"I will initiate control over the Internet like usual," Brainiac 5 said.
"Update me on any progress," Col. Haley ordered.
Hank came into Catco and complimented Mara. "I like what you've done with the place. It actually looks like a newsroom."
"So, what do I owe this surprise?" Mara asked.
"The lady that came in after you, her husband is the director of alien affairs," Hank said.
"Anthony Stewart," Mara identified.
"That's right. He helped with the Amnesty Act. He and his wife have received a lot of threats from Lockwood's people. Last night, he never came home," Hank said.
"She thinks he was kidnapped," Mara realized.
"Catco has a lot of resources. I was hoping to give you the scoop and in return help with my investigation. The DEO might be interested, too," Hank said.
"I am a consultant at the DEO now. I can make them listen," Mara said confidently.
"How's your Bro?" Hank asked seeing him stare at a computer.
"I've been having him read news articles all day. He'll do anything I ask no matter how mundane without question," Mara said.
"Sounds perfect," Hank said impressed.
"There's a part of me that calls to him. That overrides my judgment," Mara admitted.
"It's because he's Insane, right?" Hank questioned.
"Yeah," Mara nodded.
"It's called being smitten," Hank smiled amused.
"Is this the answer for the hole in my heart? Can I allow myself to be hurt again? It just seems like I lose everyone around me," Mara said uncertainly.
"I've been around for two hundred years. In that time, I've seen a lot of death, some of which I caused, but I've also met a lot of new people, too. That's what life is all about. People will come and go through your life. You will never end with the people you started with. Someday, I will pass from your life as your parents passed from mine," Hank said seriously.
"Alright, sure," Mara agreed.
"Have fun, kid," Hank encouraged and took off.
James came into Lena's office with a present in his arms. "That's a big present," Lena said excitedly.
"Open it," James said putting it on her desk.
Lena opened it and saw a framed picture of a sketch of her. "It's how I see you when you're sleeping," James told her.
"This must have taken hours with careful skill," Lena said amazed. "It's also creepy as fuck that you sketched this while I was asleep," Lena said impressed.
"I know," James said, proud of himself.
"Let's go to Paris, tonight. Let's get away from everything," Lena invited.
"Are you serious? We have companies to run and whatnot," James wondered.
"Have you ever known me to make a joke?" Lena asked with a crazy girlfriend expression.
"No, but I have never known you to offer spontaneous trips, either," James pointed out. "Is everything okay?"
"Let's live in the moment. We should do that more, because we never know what tomorrow will bring," Lena argued.
"I can almost guarantee it will be either an alien monster or one of your lab monsters," James rolled his eyes.
"Come on, if your billionaire girlfriend can't whisk you away for a romantic holiday then there is truly something wrong with the world," Lena said.
"The lady has a point," James said ignoring war, poverty, disease, and starvation in the world.
"The lady usually does," Lena told him as they kissed.
At the DEO, Brainiac 5 was looking at Valentine's gifts on his tablet as Alex strolled over to him. "Any luck finding that weird-ass alien snake?" she asked.
"Still working on it," Brainiac 5 said as he monitored all Internet traffic for it.
"Then why are you looking up Valentine's gifts?" Alex asked scornfully.
"It's call multi-tasking, director," Brainiac 5 said condescendingly. "Would you like to help out?"
"I hate Valentine's Day," Alex said instantly pissed-off.
"Is it because your last real girlfriend destroyed all your illusions about it?" Brainiac 5 asked knowing the answer.
"Fuck you, Barney," Alex said crossly.
"As it happens, Nia Nal has invited me to her Valentine's Day party," Brainiac 5 brought up.
"So, what is it that you want?" Alex asked.
"I wish to ensure the survival of her distant descendant Nura Nal, a fellow Vindicator we left behind," Brainiac 5 said.
"Why did you leave her behind?" Alex wondered.
"A certain colleague of mine wanted to live dangerously and didn't appreciate being told the future for every single action she took," Brainiac 5 said vaguely.
"The original Supergirl," Alex nodded. "I looked up her file. She was quite the character," Alex said amused.
"Indeed she was," Brainiac 5 agreed.
"So, how are you going to preserve your future colleague?" Alex asked curiously.
"I intend to capture her sperm," Brainiac 5 replied.
Alex started laughing shaking her head. "That's a good one."
"I am entirely serious. If she won't reproduce on her own, I must do it for her," Brainiac 5 said.
"You can't force someone to have a baby," Alex said obviously.
"Texas begs to differ. Anyway, if I do not succeed my very good friend Nura will never exist," Brainiac 5 said concernedly.
"Hate to break it to you, Barney, but you need both sperm and an egg," Alex scoffed.
Brainiac 5 stared intently at Alex. "I am still working on that side of the equation."
"Let's refocus back to the task at hand," Alex said uncomfortably.
"The two newest victims were stripped of their jewelry. That is the only thing they have in common," Brainiac 5 said showing the police reports on screen. "The first victim was involved in a jewel heist."
"Jewels could be a source of nutrition for this animal," Alex theorized.
"Or more likely, our jewel thief had an accomplice. As they say, diamonds are a girl's best friend," Brainiac 5 said.
"Shit, the snake is inside a host like Venom," Alex realized.
"I do not know of this Venom, but he sounds awesome," Brainiac 5 remarked.
"Have forensic teams on that car. I want every DNA sample we can find from that car," Alex ordered. Alex then picked up her cell phone. "Hey, J'onn. What's up?"
"I have a client of mine that may have been a victim of a hate crime," Hank said seriously.
Alex rolled her eyes. "I'm too busy to deal with your bullshit."
"I'm super-serious this time," Hank pressed.
"Dump it on Barney. He can multi-task on it," Alex redirected.
Brainiac 5 overheard the conversation and went to work on the problem as Hank started sending information to him via cell phone.
Lena greeted a guest in her office. "I'm Colonel Haley," she shook Lena's hand.
"So...how can I help you?" Lena asked.
"You're not surprised to see me in your office," Col. Haley realized.
"I have learned to expect the unexpected," Lena said as they both sat down across from each other.
"I'm here on behalf of the president to give you a government contract," Col. Haley said.
There was a long awkward pause. "For what purpose?" Lena asked finally.
"The drug that gave people super-human strength intrigued us. The president understands that your research is in this arena. We need to make the American military as powerful as our alien adversaries," Col. Haley said. "We need more people like Steve Rodgers: super-soldiers."
"Email me the proposal," Lena said interested.
Mara and Hank came across the house where Anthony Stewart could be. "Nice real estate value," Mara judged as they went inside the affluent house. Mara took her glasses off and scanned the entire house for potential threats. She then found two bodies on the floor. "He's here," Mara pointed out to Hank. "And his heart is missing."
Hank sensed a DEO SWAT team approaching. "The DEO is on us," he warned.
"Want to play a game," Mara smirked putting her glasses back on.
"Read my mind," Hank smiled back.
The DEO barged into the house with guns blazing. They found Supergirl and Mara inside the house. "Wait, hold your fire," Alex said upon seeing Mara. "What are you two doing here?"
"The better question is why are you here?" Supergirl asked suspiciously.
"Barney called it in," Alex said.
Supergirl and Mara gave each other a look. Somehow, Brainiac 5 was tracking their movements. "Miss Jade, you should go," Alex said to her.
"How about no?" Mara smirked back at her.
Supergirl came over to the wall and punched a hole in it revealing a safe. There was already a hole in the safe. "Looks like some kind of acid," Alex said taking a sample.
Alex then looked at Supergirl and Mara. "You two look alike," she remarked.
Mara and Supergirl looked at each other. "If only our bank accounts were alike," Supergirl chuckled.
"And if only I had your super-powers," Mara played along.
"Okay, enough of this nonsense. I need you both to leave while we do forensics," Alex ordered.
"Fine," Mara and Supergirl said at the same time leaving the scene.
After work, Alex and Hank came to Nia's Valentine's Day party. Mara was already there standing by herself not interacting with the collection of degenerates as she saw them. "What are you doing here?" Alex asked Mara.
"This is my intern's party," Mara said offended.
"Have you seen Barney?" Alex asked her.
"No," Mara realized looking around.
"Alex?" a random woman came up to her.
"Err...?" Alex wondered.
"It's Rebecca, remember?" she asked hopefully. "We had drinks and then we went back to my place."
"Not ringing a bell," Alex admitted. "Look, my life has gone a little crazy. I can't remember who's dead and who's alive these days."
"It's okay. You were a one-night stand for me, too," Rebecca assured her.
Brainiac 5 overheard the conversation the two were having. Mara gave him a nod. He nodded back to her. Hank also gave him the nod. Brainiac 5 nodded back to him as well. Still out of sight of Alex, Brainiac 5 used his DEO phone to send Alex a text message to come back immediately to work.
"Oh, I have to go. We'll catch up later," Alex said to Rebecca and ran out.
"Nice cock-blocking," Hank said to Brainiac 5.
"Can it be called such if you don't have a cock?" Brainiac 5 wondered as they fist-bumped.
"What of Nia?" Mara asked concernedly.
"She's still in the grieving process. It was ill timing for her mother to die like she did," Brainiac 5 remarked.
"I'll talk to her," Mara said going to Nia's room. "You okay?"
"Sure, boss," Nia said glumly.
"You're going to get through this...or not. I'm still not over my mother's death," Mara admitted.
"Your mother's dead, too?" Nia asked surprised.
"And my father. I'm like Bruce Wayne only more tragic," Mara said. "Go easy on yourself. You have me."
"That doesn't make me feel better," Nia said shaking her head.
"I don't know the answer. I only know what not to do. Don't substitute your mother for someone else. Your mother was a unique individual that is not replaceable. Don't use drugs to dull the pain. Don't get black-out drunk whenever it starts to hurt," Mara said to her.
"Sure," Nia nodded.
"And if it gets too hard, and you're thinking about killing yourself, I have a good friend that can mind-wipe you for free," Mara told her.
"Thanks," Nia said weirded out by her. "I think that my mother would have wanted me to use my powers even though I'm still biologically male."
"Maybe," Mara doubted. "You're part of the Catco family now. Always remember that," Mara said to her as she left the room.
"The DEO will be swarming the home of Pamela Ferra shortly. She lives not far from here. Want to come?" Brainiac 5 offered Hank and Mara.
"Absolutely," Mara said thrilled.
Once they got there, Alex had Pamela cornered with a DEO SWAT team present. "What the fuck is your problem?" Pamela asked Alex.
"Your DNA was found in the same vehicle as a man named Chuck. He had his heart eaten," Alex accused.
"Yeah, he's my ex-boyfriend. What did you find? A hair sample?" Pamela rolled her eyes.
"Search the apartment," Alex ordered her men.
"Hey, you can't do that without a warrant," Pamela said outraged.
"We don't really exist," Alex said dismissively.
"Found this," a SWAT member found a bag filled with jewels.
"That's inadmissible now," Pamela pointed out.
"We don't send people to jail for trial," Alex said to her. "We hold people for as long as we like, sometimes forever."
"You see, this is why I vote Libertarian," Pamela nodded.
Brainiac 5, Hank, and Mara entered the apartment. "There is a ninety-eight percent chance she is the host," Brainiac 5 said.
"Try one hundred," Mara said as she lowered her glasses.
Brainiac 5 took out his laser gun to vaporize her when Pamela suddenly unleashed snakes everywhere. "We just want to talk, Pamela," Hank said as he saw the snake come out of her back.
"Pamela is gone. We are Menagerie," she smirked.
The snakes wrapped around Hank's neck and went after Alex. She fired her laser pistol at them hitting a few of them. "Let me go or he dies," Menagerie said to Hank.
"Joke's on you," Hank said as he phased through the snake and stomped its head dead.
Brainiac 5 and the SWAT team opened fire on Menagerie hitting her several times as she leaped out the window. "Care to fly out after her," Alex asked Brainiac 5.
"I have better things to do," Brainiac 5 said looking at his phone.
"What about you, Hank?" Alex asked.
"Not a fan of snakes," Hank shook his head.
"Well, we sure as hell know you can't," Alex said to Mara as she walked off with her SWAT team.
"This is like a joke that has gone way too far," Hank said to Brainiac 5 and Mara.
"You know what's not a joke: these jewels," Brainiac 5 said handing the bag over to Hank.
"This is evidence," Hank objected.
"For a trial that will never happen," Brainiac 5 reminded him.
In Paris, Lena dropped a bombshell on James. "The government wants to give me a contract to make humans super," Lena revealed.
"Nice," James smiled.
"Wait...what?" Lena wondered.
"Can I be the first one to get it?" James asked eagerly.
"My last two subjects died within twenty-four hours of getting treatment," Lena pointed out.
"Yeah, but that was under extremely unlikely circumstances," James reminded her.
"I just thought you would be more against this," Lena said confused.
"I love the government. I trust them with my health care, my education, my housing, and my future disability. The bigger the government, the better. I'm just surprised you're not into this. I thought you hated the government," James said confused.
"I do, but they're willing to give me a lot of money," Lena pointed out.
"You already have a lot of money," James said.
"I'm being beaten out by that Jade bitch," Lena said crazy-eyed.
"Oh," James said awkwardly.
"She just comes in out of nowhere and inherits all of Edge's wealth and his company and then multiplies it by ten like she were Gordon Gekko," Lena said bitterly.
"Do you listen to yourself?" James asked her.
"Are you saying this is a mistake?" Lena asked.
"Could be," James warned.
"Maybe, we're a mistake, James," Lena said suddenly upset.
"Oh, shit. No, baby, I'm totally on board with you making super-soldiers for President Trump," James told her.
"Okay, good," Lena said on the verge of having an anxiety attack.
A frustrated Mara ate ice cream at Hank's PI office. "I bring Alex and Nia together to the same party, and they don't even talk to each other."
"At least we're keeping them both from seeing other people," Hank said.
"Breaking Alex and Maggie up was easy. This is so hard," Mara said crushing her empty ice cream cup.
"Do you ever feel guilty about that episode?" Hank asked her.
"No...why?" Mara wondered. "By the way, wasn't it a little weird that one of Alex's lovers happened to be at the party."
"Truth be told, after your mother's death, she plowed the field hard," Hank revealed.
"You mind-wiped her. How many were there?" Mara asked.
Hank held out ten fingers, closed his fist, opened another ten, closed his fist, and then opened another ten. "You must be joking," Mara said disgustedly.
"Afraid so," Hank frowned.
"I'm going to need their phone numbers and addresses. We can't be having Alex meeting any of these women again," Mara said.
"You delete their phone numbers from Alex's phone. I'll take care of the girls with mind-wipes," Hank said to her.
"Will do," Mara agreed.
"Maybe we should get Alex fired from the DEO while we're at it," Hank suggested.
"Let's not get too crazy," Mara stopped him there.
At the Heart Society masquerade ball, Pamela found a rich guy with a watch. "I have a weakness for gold Rolex," she confessed.
"I have a weakness for materialistic sluts," Bruce smiled back. "Where's your mask?" he asked her.
"We all wear masks," she replied.
"Isn't that the damn truth," Bruce agreed.
"So, I asked her, 'Do you want to see my trouser snake?'," Dick said to some rich types.
"Really?" Bruce shook his head dismayed. "Sorry, I have to go get my Dick," Bruce told her.
"But your heart is right here," Pamela said touching his shirt.
"You don't have to dirty talk to me. You're already hawt as fuck," Bruce complimented.
Pamela struck at Bruce's heart slicing through his shirt only to be blocked by a bulletproof vest. "What the fuck?" Pamela wondered.
"Never leave the cave without it," Bruce smiled and then took her by the throat. "Does Bruce Wayne...have to choke a bitch?"
The alien snake emerged from Pamela's back and hissed at Bruce. "You know what? I've assessed the situation and I'm leaving," Bruce said dropping Pamela to the floor. "Dick, we're taking off," he called out to him.
"Damn it! He's such a cock-blocker," Dick said frustrated as he left with Bruce.
The Children of Liberty then barged in. "We want the alien bitch!" the leader said.
"My dear Sirs, dress shoes, slacks, a collared shirt, a tie, and a dinner jacket at a minimum are required for this event," a snooty rich man informed them all.
"Hey, at least we brought masks," the leader told him off.
Menagerie proceeded to kick ass on the Children of Liberty. Mara was in a black dress watching the fight unsure of whom to root for. "Champagne, my dear," a rich man offered her.
"No, I don't drink," Mara waved him off.
"Will you allow me to be your sugar daddy?" he asked her. "I promise to only live a few more years."
"Tempting but no," Mara refused. "In fact, I'm leaving."
Alex and the DEO stormed the party but the Children of Liberty got in their way of a clean shot on Menagerie. "Stand down, Children of Liberty," she ordered.
Nia and her roommate watched the chaos on live TV. "What did I tell you? Didn't I tell you? Cuz, I told you. And when did I tell you? A long time ago. And what did I say would happen? Exactly what happened," she pointed to the screen.
"This neighborhood has gone to the pits," she added.
Nia then took off. "Where you going?" she called after her.
Mara as Supergirl rushed into the masquerade ball, took hold of Menagerie, and threw her out the window. Menagerie fell a few stories and crashed on the roof of a limo. As Mara landed, Menagerie fired snakes at her from the limo. Mara powered up incinerating the snakes.
"You should have better tastes than to protect those people," Menagerie said scornfully as she walked towards Mara.
"Don't worry. They're next," Mara promised her.
Nia then smacked Menagerie hard with a metal staff while wearing her Dreamer costume. Mara watched as Nia beat Menagerie's ass with the staff until she was down on the ground."Nice," Mara said approvingly.
"I saw it in a dream," Nia smiled.
Mara then fired heat vision off Nia's shoulder killing a remaining snake. "Probably should have seen that coming," Nia said sheepishly.
"Stay by me in case you get a dream that can be useful to me," Mara ordered her.
Menagerie got back to her feet and extended out her alien snake monster. "No matter how many of those snakes you make, I will always stop you," Mara said to her.
"You Kryptonians think you're so powerful on your own. You know nothing of the symbiosis of being on a team," Menagerie said confidently.
"Take your best shot," Mara said to her.
The snake creature spit acid saliva at Mara. It evaporated before it reached Mara's eyes. Mara then blasted her with frost breath. Menagerie slammed into a pillar hard and dropped. Mara then powered up an energy disc and flung it at the alien snake cutting its head off.
Mara created an energy orb in her hand ready to finish Menagerie off for good and then stopped herself. She evaporated the orb as the press arrived. Using her X-ray vision, Mara found traces of the alien still inside her. "I'm giving you over to the DEO," Mara said to her.
The press rushed towards Mara and took photos of her next to Menagerie. "Do you think this good deed makes up for all those you killed?" a reporter asked her.
"The truth is that I was not in control of myself. I was possessed by an alien presence that forced me to murder all those people including my own parents. I don't expect you to believe me but the alien threat is real. I cannot allow my poor reputation to stop me from protecting this world. I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to resist Reign when it mattered," Mara said wiping away a tear.
Children of Liberty thugs watched the scene from a distance wondering what Mara would say next. "I have seen the dangers of alien infiltration. They can be anyone and everyone. They can hide under the surface like this woman," Mara pointed out the fallen Menagerie.
"We must control our planetary borders and intimately know each and every alien resident that is already here. I suggest that until we do so, we should stop the flow of alien residents to this world. That's just my two cents," Mara said to the press to the amazement of the Children of Liberty.
"You sound like a Children of Liberty member," a reporter remarked.
"I am liberty, but I am no child," Mara said and walked off towards Col. Haley and Alex. "I recommend she be put in quarantine. I detect the alien presence is still in her."
"We're giving her up to the public authorities to make an example out of her," Col. Haley said.
"I don't think you understood me," Mara said crossly.
"I understood quite well, Supergirl, but you can't be trusted. Until you tell me your secret identity, there will be no cooperation," Col. Haley said to her.
"Well, okay then," Mara said dismissively and then flew off.
Col. Haley turned to Alex. "This was a weak-ass threat. We could have handled it on our own."
Mara flew over to Nia on the balcony. "Well, how was that?" Nia asked.
Mara looked over her suit. "It's not bullet-proof or knife-proof and that mask barely conceals your face," she critiqued.
"It was my mother's," Nia said nostalgically.
"I understand all too well," Mara said painfully. "I'll have Barney modify the suit to protect you better."
"I'm okay with a little danger," Nia said embarrassed by Mara's attention to her.
"You don't understand. You must live," Mara said seriously clutching her shoulders. "The future, my future depends on it."
Nia came back to her apartment in civilian clothes and saw Brainiac 5 with her roommate. "And just because you're fat and look like a man, doesn't mean you're not beautiful," Brainiac 5 lied to her.
"Oh, you're so sweet," her roommate hugged Brainiac 5.
"What the fuck?" Nia wondered.
"Look what he brought me?" her roommate said to Nia referring to the chocolate gift.
"Try not to eat all of them in one night," Brainiac 5 advised her.
"You'll be happy to know I kicked ass tonight," Nia said impressed with herself.
"That's not what Dreamers do. They belong in supporting roles behind the scenes like myself," Brainiac 5 said.
"Well, train me then," Nia said finally.
"First, from now on you will call me...master," Brainiac 5 ordered.
"Oh no, he didn't," Nia's roommate chuckled behind them.
"Fine, train me, master," Nia agreed. She then snapped to attention as she experienced a dream. "Supergirl is in trouble."
"Where?" Brainiac 5 demanded.
Alina arrived at the MPD jail dressed as a police officer. "ID please," a clerk asked her. Alina eyed the cops around her eating doughnuts and enjoying their coffee. They all suddenly collapsed on the floor unconscious. Before the clerk passed out, he hit the alarm system putting the jail on lockdown. Alina quickly took a security card and tried to open the jail door. It was instantly denied.
"Shit," Alina realized.
On the other side of the door, water began to collect until it formed a humanoid. It then took on the appearance and black suit of Alina. Fully formed, Alina went down the halls looking for the right jail cell. Guards shot at her but the bullets went right through her. Alina extended her hand out to them and forced them unconscious. She then took a pistol from one of them.
As Alina made her way down the corridors, a number of prisoners harassed her. As she went down each cell, the prisoners fell to the floor unconscious. A gated door blocked Alina's path to Ben Lockwood's cell. She simply pushed her body through it. Upon arriving at Ben Lockwood's cell, Alina put her finger in the keyhole and then used water pressure to break the locking mechanism. Alina then opened the cell.
"Come with me," Alina said to him.
"You're Russian?" Ben detected her accent. "No fucking way will I take your help."
"If you do not, I will kill your wife and son," Alina threatened.
"Okay," Ben relented.
"Let's move," Alina told him as she busted him out.
Mara came back to her apartment and found Bro watching TV memorized by it. "I saw you on the news," Bro pointed out smiling.
"You disagree?" Mara asked him.
"Not for me to say. No one on this planet is stronger than me. Security is for those too weak to defend themselves," Bro said.
"Right," Mara understood.
"I got you these. James said you like them," Bro said handing her a collection of Valentine chocolate suckers.
"Do you know what this holiday represents?" Mara asked him.
"A priest that married couples despite the threat of death by his emperor. I can relate to it," Bro said bitterly.
"Yes, of course, but its more modern meaning?" Mara questioned.
"Romantic love," Bro shrugged. "Everyone was doing it."
Mara sat down in her easy chair while Bro was on the couch across from her. "I am the granddaughter of King Mon, the man that exiled you and your father."
"But you're so old," Bro said confused.
"I had accelerated growth," Mara explained.
"Oh, okay," Bro acknowledged.
There was a long awkward pause. "Don't you hate me?" Mara asked.
"No, it's not your fault," he said dismissively.
"I'm half-Insane, half-Kryptonian. You realize that?" Mara continued.
"Yep," Bro nodded.
Mara gave him a flustered look. "I am the most powerful female on this planet and one of the wealthiest. I can give you anything you want. Anything you want."
"I'm good," Bro smiled eating some beef jerky.
"Well, there are things I want from you. I want to make you a Vindicator. I want to train with you. I want you to work with me at Catco and OCP," Mara listed off.
"Sure," Bro eagerly volunteered.
"And in return, I'll give you that male heir," Mara said kneeling next to him.
"Oh," Bro realized. "Like now?"
"Yes, now," Mara stood up impatiently. "I mean, after we date, get engaged, get married, finish school, and create a retirement plan then maybe."
"That's a big to-do list," Bro frowned.
"We have to start somewhere. I'm the only Insane female on this planet and perhaps the galaxy. I'm your only option," Mara said to him.
"Okay, I consent," Bro smiled.
"You know what this means, don't you?" Mara said seriously.
Bro nodded. "Father taught me the tradition. Do you want to do it here?" he asked unsure of the apartment.
"No, I'll show you," Mara said.
Mara took Bro to the desert. "You ready?" Mara said as she tensed up going Super Insane.
Bro nodded not intimidated by her brilliant aura. Mara powered up to her maximum without Reign's help and punched at Bro's chest as hard as she could. Bro's feet dug into the ground, but he didn't make a move against her. Mara punched him rapidly to the chest and to the face within a split second. She leaped up behind him and kicked him hard to the back of the head. Still, he didn't fall.
Mara then leaped back and fired off an energy attack that ripped up the ground. It went around Bro and destroyed a rock formation behind him. Mara then fired off multiple shots at Bro all missing him. He looked around himself and saw the floating orbs surrounding him. Mara clapped her hands together sending all the orbs down on him in a powerful explosion.
Mara didn't let up firing everything she had into the dust cloud. She then fired off razor-sharp discs into the cloud. When the cloud dispersed, Bro was still standing unharmed. Mara powered up a pizza-sized disc and threw it at Bro. The disc shattered as it hit his neck.
Mara panted from the effort and then fired everything she had at Bro using heat vision, frost breath, and energy attacks from her hands. Bro cried out as he started to lose control powering up to Mara's level. Brainiac 5 then dropped in.
"This is none of your business," Mara said scornfully.
"It is when the planet is in danger of being destroyed," Brainiac 5 said obviously. "Is this really necessary?"
"It's tradition. If a male Insane wants a female, he must withstand all of her attacks until she exhausts herself. Otherwise, he is not worthy. You of all people should know that," Mara said.
"Yes, of course, but I abhor archaic mating rituals," Brainiac 5 said insensitively.
Mara bristled at that. "If he strikes me back, he loses."
"Yes," Brainiac 5 agreed.
Mara focused her energy in a singular attack and blasted Bro off his feet and into a rock formation. Mara then took a knee. "I'm spent."
Bro exploded the rock formation off him and walked towards Mara. "What the hell is going on over there?" Alex asked Brainiac 5 by cell phone.
"I have it under control, possibly, maybe," Brainiac 5 said vaguely.
Bro gave Mara a furious look as his muscles bulged. "I thought his power-level was the same as his opponent," Mara said dropping out of Super Insane.
"He may have a base power-level that exceeds us," Brainiac 5 considered.
"I'm sorry," Mara said lamely.
"It wouldn't be the first time a Kryptonian female risked the world for a love interest," Brainiac 5 said dryly.
To their surprise, Bro regained control of himself and powered down. He looked around relieved he didn't destroy the entire landscape. Mara cautiously walked towards him. "You good?" Mara asked him.
"Yes," he replied.
"I'm yours," Mara said positively smitten with him. Bro took her by the waist up to his level and kissed her.
"What do we do now?" Bro asked.
"We get some good sleep and go back to work tomorrow," Mara told him.
"Okay," Bro smiled.
Brainiac 5 walked with the two of them. "Nia already dreamed your fight."
"We need a way to shield ourselves from her ability. I prefer she not dream about my relationships," Mara said.
"I'll look into it," Brainiac 5 promised her.
The next morning, President Trump and Vice President Pence were briefed on the Syria situation by Brainiac 5 via hologram that had been installed in the oval office. "The Russians are using their version of Supergirl as an asset in Syria. She is in uniform and working with Russian special forces to not make herself obvious, but I know she is there. She's responsible for a number of airstrikes and successful raids," Brainiac 5 reported.
"Sounds good," Trump smiled.
"Yes, but it could also endanger US troops stationed in Syria. American conventional forces will be no match against this asset," Brainiac 5 said.
Trump's orange-colored face became white. "We need to get them out of there," he realized alarmed.
"Congress isn't going to like this," Pence warned.
"Fuck congress and the press. I can't have two thousand or however many troops we have over there killed on my watch," Trump said.
"Syria is of little strategic importance to American interests. We can safely cede it to the Russians," Brainiac 5 advised.
"This is going fuel the Russian collusion narrative," Pence sighed.
Trump looked out the window of the oval office. "I hate writing those death letters. Can you imagine what it would be like to write two thousand of them? No, I won't have it. I never wanted us there, to begin with. I'm going to order American troop withdrawals from Syria," Trump said.
"Tell us the moment Supergirl is out of Syria," Pence said to Brainiac 5.
"Of course," Brainiac 5 said and then disappeared.
"Congress will rebuke us," Pence warned.
"I swear to God, I will veto it," Trump replied.