Author's Notes: Episode Reset (Arrow 8x6) runs concurrently with this episode.
In the Fortress of Solitude, Kara centered herself as the Kryptonite energy was purged from her system. "That...hurt," she said pissed-off.
"How did Lena Luthor manage to outsmart you?" Karina asked.
"She didn't outsmart me. I merely allowed her to make the first move," Kara said defensively.
"And move she has," Brainiac 5 said showing her current location on the computer. "She's at North Norquay, an old Lex hideout. The facility is deep inside the mountain. Your X-ray vision will not be able to penetrate it. It also has a series of ion cannon defenses that can utilize Kryptonite."
"Are you there with her now?" Karina asked.
"Yes, Eve is at Lena's side. The best I could describe Lena's current emotional state is one of manic," Brainiac 5 reported.
"Understandable reaction. She just made the strongest being in the universe her enemy," Kara smirked.
"I can level the mountain, killing her, and ending this threat for good," Karina volunteered.
"No, we don't kill her," Kara objected.
"Why not?" Karina asked.
"Because then you won't learn anything. I'll go over there and see if she has the balls to actually try to shoot me down," Kara said.
"The ion cannons will fire automatically as you approach. I am switching them over to manual targeting. Lena will now have to actually pull the trigger for them to fire," Brainiac 5 said.
"This is a stupid game you're playing," Karina scolded.
"Look, when you have friends of your own you can handle them the way you want to. This is how I play. Now, watch and learn because this is how you find out what your friends are really capable of deep down below the surface," Kara said to her and then took off.
North Norquay
Lena was quite tense as she arrived at the Lex facility. "Get Myriad online and operational," she ordered Eve who was Hope who was Brainiac 5. "I want it up and running within the hour. And Hope, excellent work with the move."
"Our Q-wave generator is ready to integrate with Myriad," Brainiac 5 informed her.
The alarm bells went off as Kara flew into the immediate area. "Supergirl?" Lena wondered.
"Don't worry, the bunker is lined with lead. She can't find us," Brainiac 5 informed her.
"She'll blast the whole mountain away," Lena said freaked out.
"Activating counter-measures," Brainiac 5 said as three ion cannons emerged from the snow pointed at Kara. The computer targeted Kara.
"What do we do?" Brainiac 5 asked Lena baiting her to pull the trigger. She hesitated not sure whether to fire on her so-called friend and hero. "Miss Luthor?" Brainiac 5 pressed.
"Deploy," Lena ordered finally.
The three ion cannons fired on Kara with no effect. Brainiac 5 then reprogramed the cannons to Kryptonite. "The system is relaying the cannons with Kryptonite. This shot should prove effective," Brainiac 5 predicted.
As the cannons went green, Kara held her hands up having no fear that the cannons would actually fire. "The system is ready to fire on your command, Miss Luthor," Brainiac 5 said to her.
"Fire," Lena said softly.
Brainiac 5 quickly reprogramed the cannons and fired at Kara. As the beams hit Kara, she pretended to fall out of the sky slamming into a nearby mountain. "Is she dead?" Lena asked tearfully.
"Inconclusive," Brainiac 5 lied.
"We must remain true to our mission. Get Myriad ready," Lena ordered Brainiac 5.
Metropolis
Kara casually flew into the DEO and met up with Alex and Brainiac 5. "Hey, did you find Lena?" Alex asked. "What is she doing in Lex's bunker?"
"Can you create a hologram message for me to send to Lena?" Kara asked Brainiac 5 ignoring Alex.
"Of course, but depending on the processing power...," Brainiac 5 began.
"Okay, stop!" Alex interrupted. "What the hell is going on?"
"So, I finally told Lena my secret identity at the Fortress, but she had already been told by Lex months ago. She's been pissed-off about it ever since," Kara said.
"Lex was killed at Shelley Island. I saw the video of you blasting him out of the sky," Alex refuted.
"We saw his suit destroyed. We didn't actually collect any actual remains," Brainiac 5 reminded her.
"That's because we assumed he was incinerated completely," Alex shot back.
"Play the clip," Kara ordered Brainiac 5.
He proceeded to show them all Lex's final moments as Lena supposedly shot Lex dead. "Jesus," Alex realized as she stared at the screen.
"If she was willing to kill her own brother, who knows what she could be capable of," Brainiac 5 said thoughtfully.
Kara tried hard not to laugh. "She's been lying to us for months," Alex said peeved.
"Shocking betrayal," Kara agreed.
"Why is she attacking you now?" Alex asked.
"So, she could steal Myriad from the Fortress," Kara said nonchalantly.
"Lena stole Myriad?" Alex questioned wide-eyed.
"It's how I tracked her to Norquay. Pretty smart, right?" Kara smiled.
"With Myriad, she could mind-control a city," Alex said alarmed.
"Actually, with my modifications to it, it could mind-control the entire planet assuming proper coordination with satellites," Brainiac 5 said.
"What the fuck is wrong with you two?" Alex wondered.
"I think I might know," Hank said phasing into the DEO with Malefic at his side.
Alex and the DEO men immediately took out their pistols. "Engage psychic inhibitors," Alex ordered her men. They all humored her.
"Alex, please," Hank said to her.
"Apprehend the suspect," Alex ordered her men.
"Malefic and I mind-melded. I know his true intentions now. We're cool. He's here to help," Hank said to her. "He has some information...about Lena."
"I was her prisoner," Malefic revealed.
Malefic was placed in truth-seeker handcuffs in the interrogation room. Alex, Kara, Brainiac 5, and Hank were all present to hear what he had to say. "Okay, how did you escape your tube?"
"I didn't escape. I was let out and allowed to reform myself in Lena's lab," Malefic replied.
"What did she need you for?" Alex asked.
"Mind-control. She was experimenting with my ability to incept," Malefic said.
"Q-waves plus Myriad could successfully mind-control the entire planet," Brainiac 5 said knowingly.
"We don't know her true intentions," Kara played along. "She's trying to make people less violent."
"You use Myriad to impose your will on the population. Not save it," Alex said.
"But she's hurting like really deep inside. Clearly, she thinks she's doing good," Kara said.
"Cut the crap. You killed your own kind without hesitation when it came to Myriad. We both know that if used improperly it could kill the entire human race," Alex scolded her.
"She's a real bitch," Malefic agreed.
"She hasn't hurt anyone yet. I can still save her," Kara said dramatically.
Alex eyed everyone in the room. "This is one big conspiracy, isn't it?"
"What do you mean?" Kara asked innocently.
"Barney hacked into Lena's Hope program so he knows every move Lena makes. Malefic was her prisoner so he knows her intentions psychically. And you...have been baiting her this entire time," Alex turned to Kara.
Kara gave her the slow clap. "So, we're all on the same page now."
"No, we're not. This is beyond fucked-up. This goes beyond just keeping your identity from her. You have entrapped her," Alex accused.
"This was all her idea. She made her own choices," Kara said defensively.
"You better fix this before she gets someone killed or worse," Alex ordered her.
"Fine, let's get that hologram started, Barney," Kara called over.
"Right away," he agreed.
Kara entered the hologram room with Brainiac 5 and closed the door behind them. She then forced Brainiac 5 up against a wall. "You led me to believe I had killed Lex but it was you all along. You fucking lied to me," she accused.
"You told me to take the shot," Brainiac 5 reminded her.
Kara softened at that and lowered Brainiac 5 back down. "I did," she recalled. "But you didn't tell me you did it. You didn't tell me it was you that sent all those files to Lena."
"I interpreted your intentions to the best of my abilities," Brainiac 5 replied.
"That's bullshit. You have a plan underneath the plan, don't you? You think you can manipulate me as you did to Lena? Well, think again," Kara said to him. "I thought I had ended the nightmare myself. I felt so happy and peaceful knowing I had been the one to kill him."
"And that is why I didn't let you know," Brainiac 5 said obviously. "Your mental state is deteriorating. You need someone like me to point you in the right direction."
"Okay," Kara allowed. "Let's just get this over with."
Kara then stood on the hologram platform.
North Norquay
Eve that was Hope that was Brainiac 5 tinkered with the Myriad device. "It's almost ready, Miss Luthor," Brainiac 5 told her.
"We are so close, Hope," Lena said pleased.
"I'll continue compiling the data," Brainiac 5 said.
"We can save them. All of them," Lena said with a crazed expression on her face.
"Right...," Brainiac 5 agreed and walked off.
Kara's hologram then appeared in the bunker. "Lena," she addressed.
"Supergirl," Lena realized.
"Please, hear me out," Kara pleaded.
"Save your breath. You've shown me who you really are and I believe you," Lena said angrily.
"Lena, I have walked across the surface of the sun. I have seen things so small and so fast they might as well have not occurred at all. But you, Lena, are just a human. The world's smartest woman is no more a threat to me than its smartest termite," Kara said arrogantly.
"Is that what you've come to tell me?" Lena asked insulted.
"You can't win this game of yours, Lena," Kara said.
"What game?" Lena asked innocently.
"Whatever it is that you're planning with Myriad and Malefic's Q-waves," Kara said vaguely.
"Did it ever occur to you that I might be trying to do some good in the world?" Lena asked.
"Well...no," Kara said flatly.
"Of course, you assumed the worse," Lena said disappointed in her.
"Lena, I have the power and the resources to make your dream a reality. What you have is a mere toy compared to what we can build together. With our combined strength and intellect we can bring an end to destructive conflicts and bring order to this world. Join me...and together we can change this world as partners, as equals, as rulers," Kara tempted.
"I'll never join you," Lena said spitefully.
"If you only knew the power of a Kryptonian. Lena...you don't yet realize your importance. You can slay the Monitor. He has foreseen this. Don't give in to hate. Give in to love. Give in to me," Kara continued.
"You are nothing but lies and deceit, Kara. You're what has inspired me to do this, to make everyone truthful and non-violent. To create a heaven on Earth," Lena said.
"Lena, haven't you ever watched the Invention of Lying with Ricky Gervais? What you want...is boring as fuck," Kara chided.
"Your words mean nothing to me so spare us the drama and leave me alone," Lena said bitterly as blocked Kara's signal.
Metropolis
Kara hung out at the balcony of the DEO feeling subdued. "Hey, you okay?" Alex asked her.
"Not really," Kara said bummed out.
"Want to talk about it?" Alex asked.
"I feel so conflicted. A part of me wants to drill a hole in that mountain, smash Myriad, and bring Lena in," Kara admitted.
"But the other part?" Alex wondered.
"Wants to keep playing this game," Kara shook her head.
Alex frowned and then realized moralizing wouldn't work on her. "What happens if Lena gets locked up forever or killed? What happens to your game then?"
"I made her trust me over-and-over. I made her believe her best friend would never ever hurt her," Kara mused.
There was a long awkward pause. "And?" Alex asked her.
"That's it," Kara concluded.
"Wow, you're a real piece of work," Alex said dismayed. "Look, I love Lena too...," she began.
"Like, in a sexual way?" Kara wondered suddenly intrigued.
"No, shut up for one minute. I love Lena, too, but what she is doing is very upsetting. This isn't just two friends in a fight. This is someone who has turned a corner. Lives and freedoms are at stake. You may be invincible but us little people are not," Alex said.
"I can turn her back to the light-side," Kara said confidently.
"When has she ever been of the light, Kara? She's been shady as fuck since we first met her. That's why you want to play these games with her. Because, deep down, she reminds you of you," Alex said.
"You're making her sound like a Luthor," Kara said dismissively.
"That's because she is one...and, in a way, you are, too," Alex said reflectively.
"What do you mean?" Kara asked confused.
"Ever since you were with Lex in Midvale, you changed. That's when all the killings started happening and all the drama we faced as teenagers. It all started when you saved Lex from drowning when he drove off that bridge. That family fucked you up," Alex recalled.
"No, they didn't. It was me that fucked them up. I killed scores of people as soon as I arrived on Earth. I was the poison that made the Luthors go bad," Kara said.
"What did you do to Lex to make him go evil?" Alex asked.
"He was..experimenting with Kryptonite and he actually managed to make Harun-El. But there was an accident and he was split in two. His evil counterpart killed the one I knew and loved and then impersonated him for years. I only found out recently," Kara said.
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry," Alex said stunned by the revelation.
"So, it's okay if Lena goes super-villain on me," Kara said reflectively.
"It is?" Alex wondered.
"Yeah, because once she goes full-blown evil I can just kill her and clone her," Kara said simply.
"Wait...what the fuck?" Alex thought she misheard. "No, you fix the Lena we have, right now. You fix this or...I walk out," Alex threatened.
"Your threats are getting real old, Alex," Kara rolled her eyes.
"It's all I got. If you still love the old Lex, you will not dishonor his memory by corrupting his sister," Alex told her.
"Fine," Kara sighed.
Kara and Alex went back inside the DEO. "Barney, on my command, shut down Hope and Myriad," Kara ordered.
"Standing by," Brainiac 5 replied.
North Norquay
Brainiac 5 came up to Lena as Hope as Eve. "Supergirl has caused you a great deal of pain. I can see it in your eyes," he said sympathetically.
"After everything I've been through, I can't trust anyone except you, Hope," Lena said sadly.
"All the anguish you appear to be going through, it doesn't seem worth it," Brainiac 5 tempted.
"Well, it inspired you, my greatest creation," Lena said adoringly. "Who needs friends when I have you."
"Myriad is ready to launch," Brainiac 5 reported. "Miss Luthor, this is your moment. Shall I activate?" he baited her.
Lena merely nodded. "Three-two-one," Brainiac 5 said and then activated the program.
The screen immediately indicated a connection lost on the dish array. "What's happening?" Lena demanded.
"It's not logging onto the satellite," Brainiac 5 reported. "Something is interfering with the dish's ability to move. It's a virus. It's working through our mainframe. Miss Luthor, the hologram."
"Of course, it was a Trojan horse," Lena said pissed-off by yet another betrayal. "How could I be so naive to think that all Supergirl wanted to do was just talk?"
"If the virus spreads, the DEO will be able to deactivate our security measures in twenty minutes. We need a work-around before then. We can manually unlock the arrays," Brainiac 5 said.
"No, Lex has traps all over the place, a lethal fail-safe if I tamper with the dishes," Lena shot down.
"Then, I'll go," Brainiac 5 said obviously.
"No, you can't," Lena said quickly. "I mean, you're too great an asset," she caught herself.
"Ensuring Myriad goes online is my primary directive. If that means self-sacrifice, I'm okay with it," Brainiac 5 said having zero concern for Eve's life.
"No, even if you reset it, there's no telling the damage the virus has caused. I may need you. If we could replicate the virus, we could reverse engineer it and shut it down remotely. I just need some help," Lena said frantically.
"Very well. Accessing files," Brainiac 5 agreed.
Metropolis
At the DEO, Brainiac 5 gave a play-by-play of what was going on. "She's attempting to reverse engineer the virus instead of manual override. Wise decision seeing as how the entire mountain has explosive triggers all around it," Brainiac 5 said.
"Can she successfully override your virus?" Kara asked.
"Not without help," Brainiac 5 smirked.
"You're helping Lena reverse engineer your own virus?" Alex asked incredulously.
"I have given Lena some extra time to reconsider her position," Brainiac 5 said simply.
Kara entered the prison cells and saw Hank shit-talking Malefic. "Why am I in this cage?" Malefic asked.
"To show you who's boss. You'll be allowed out when I need you," Hank told him.
"Hank, Alex thinks Lena has turned a corner. Do you know what the fuck that means?" Kara asked freaked out.
"Well...no shit," Hank agreed.
"I mean, we have missiles directly aimed at her, we have a Brainiac 5 unit with her to take her out, our virus has stopped all of her systems, and it's just too easy," Kara said.
"You think I can change her?" Hank asked.
"Sure, I mean, look at you and Malefic," Kara pointed out.
"He's still an asshole and that's why he's still locked up," Hank said.
"So, there's no hope. I'm just fucked?" Kara asked.
"Cut the bullshit, Kara. You could have stopped Lena at any time. You're just too self-absorbed to realize that what she's doing is not out of spite against you. You were merely the trigger. Lena has wanted a peaceful honest world for a long time years before she ever met you. This is an idea and you can't kill an idea no matter how many times you mind-wipe them or incept them away," Hank said to her.
"So, what do I do?" Kara asked impatiently.
"You have to show Lena that her ideas are wrong by showing her what can come of them. You must show her what Myriad would be like if you were in control of it," Hank said.
The next morning, Karina was at the DEO as Kara slept. A sudden earthquake hit Metropolis. "It's him," Brainiac 5 determined. "Rama Khan, he'll destroy the world!" Acrata said as she suddenly appeared and disappeared in the shadows.
"That was weird," Karina commented.
"Indeed," Brainiac 5 said. "So, in eleven minutes, Lena's bunker defenses will go down."
"You've said that for the last several hours," Alex said impatiently and sleep-deprived.
"It's for real this time," Brainiac 5 assured her.
"What about that tremor?" Karina asked bored over the Lena drama.
"Rama Khan is in Hawaii. He has a very unique staff from the Mesopotamian era, the staff of shadows. Bring it to me," Brainiac 5 requested.
"And Rama Khan?" Karina asked.
"Do as you wish," Brainiac 5 dismissed her.
Alex eyed Karina's submissive behavior with confusion. It was as if Brainiac 5 could control Supergirl. Alex went over to Hank. "This is hard for me too. Lena is my friend as well, but I can't risk the lives of the entire planet for just one."
"If I were the DEO Director, I would have already taken the shot," Hank replied. "As it happens, I think I figured out a way to stop Lena's Q-waves by using Malefic. He could counteract Myriad."
"Theoretically," Brainiac 5 allowed.
"You want me to hand over that kind of power to a terrorist? What if he changes his mind once we free him?" Alex questioned.
"Then, we beat the shit out of him," Hank shrugged.
"Supergirl, get the sonic cannon from the Fortress before you tangle with Rama Khan," Alex said to her as she walked out
"I don't need it," she said dismissively and flew off.
"What the fuck?" Alex wondered what the whole point of bringing Lena to the Fortress was in the first place.
"Follow her, please," Alex requested of Hank.
North Norquay
Eve that was Hope that was Brainiac 5 came to Lena's side. "The DEO sent another message. Our defenses will be down in nine minutes."
"Delete it," Lena ordered.
The two then felt a tremor. "What was that?" Lena asked.
"A residual aftershock, 5.4 on the Ritcher scale," Brainiac 5 told her.
"It's knocked the entire satellite array offline," Lena said peeved. "There's no way I can reverse engineer anything now."
"I can still try a manual override. I can reposition the dishes myself," Brainiac 5 offered.
"We've discussed this. Absolutely not. You could be killed, both Eve and Hope, gone forever," Lena objected.
"But it would be worth it for the both of us. Because I believe in you. Eve did, too. I have seen the depravity of humans. I have seen the betrayal and the pain. Let me help so we can stop them from committing these horrible acts, once and for all," Brainiac 5 tempted.
"No, I will not allow it. We will find another way. Your partnership has meant the world to me. You're the only friend I can count on," Lena denied.
"But Miss Luthor, I'm not your friend. I am something you created to serve a purpose," Brainiac 5 said, utilizing reverse psychology on her.
"You're right. It is the only way," Lena realized.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Karina and Hank landed down at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park visitor center. "You sense anything?" Karina asked.
"Nothing," Hank reported looking around. "Could Barney be wrong?"
"Brainy is never wrong," Karina replied.
The ground burst open as Rama Khan appeared. Karina fired on him with heat vision. Rama immediately created a rock shield to protect himself on his right arm. Karina intensified her beam blasting his right arm clean off. Hank came around to outflank him. Rama threw rock debris at him. Hank phased through the debris and kept coming. As Karina and Hank charged him, Rama quickly reformed his arm and then summoned volcanic gasses at them from the ground. He then created a new volcano off the coast of Hawaii that was erupting lava.
Karina blew the volcanic gas away from her and looked around seeing the staff and someone in the basement level of the visitor center. "I see someone down there with the staff," Karina pointed out.
"I got this," Hank said and then phased beneath the ground.
Karina eyed Rama and blasted him to pieces with her heat vision. He quickly reformed from the pieces and then slammed Karina into the concrete floor cracking it up. Rama then forced her down against the Earth with all of his power.
"That's the problem with you, super-heroes. You align yourself with the weak. You fight for these humans but time-and-time again all they do is destroy everything around them," Rama said to her.
"What do you call this?" Karina wondered looking around.
"I know I destroy but with a cleansing fire. That is the only way to deal with the scourge of humanity. I have been here for millions of years. It's how it's always been and now it always will be," Rama said to her.
Karina merely listened as Rama continued his rant. "I have the staff," Hank radioed to her.
Karina tossed the concrete off of her and punched Rama into the air. Karina kept it up punching him several times in the air and taking him away from the island. Karina then slammed Rama into the volcano lava. As Rama struggled in the lava pit, Karina blasted him with frost breath turning him into a metallic statue inside the volcano caldera.
Karina came back to the visitor center and found Hank and Acrata. She walked up to Acrata and in a flash of light went Prime lighting up the whole room so no shadow could manifest. "God damn," Hank squinted through the intense brightness.
"I have your Russell Rodgers. If you want him back, you will do as I say," Karina said to her.
"I saw Russell die," Acrata doubted.
"That was merely someone impersonating him. From this time forth, you belong to PATRIOT," Karina ordered. She then lowered her power-level allowing Acrata to escape.
Karina took the staff of shadows from Hank. "Brainy will be so pleased when he sees this."
Metropolis
At the DEO, Alex asked for another status update. "Has Lena heeded any of our warnings?" Alex asked stressed out.
"No, she has deleted them," Brainiac 5 said calmly. "Her defenses will be disabled in five minutes."
"So, what's your plan if she launches Myriad before her defenses go down?" Alex asked.
"The student finally seeks the teacher," Brainiac 5 smiled. "We may use Malefic's ability to counter Myriad in the event Lena actually triggers it."
"But he could turn against us or escape," Alex protested.
"That's true but it would be a test to see if he as 'turned the corner', so to speak," Brainiac 5 said using her own phrase.
"What if he fails?" Alex asked.
"Then we are given a great opportunity to mock him for his ineptitude," Brainiac 5 replied.
"I'm being serious," Alex said impatiently.
"There are backup plans in the event Malefic fails. The decision is up to you, director. Do you trust Malefic? Do you trust me to stop Myriad if he fails? Or do you trust your missile strike that will most certainly kill Lena?" Brainiac 5 asked her.
"What does it matter what I decide. You already know what you're going to do," Alex said bitterly.
"I am only interested in collecting intriguing information. It doesn't matter to me whether Lena succeeds or fails, lives, or dies. Whatever course of action you decide will satisfy me. This time, the decision is entirely yours," Brainiac 5 said to her.
"Prep the missile launch...and put a guard on Malefic. If he so much as smiles, kill him," Alex said finally.
"Very well," Brainiac 5 said as he sent his DEO drones to the prison cells.
North Norquay
Eve as Hope as Brainiac 5 opened a door and was now outside on the mountainside near a satellite dish. Already knowing the password, he typed it in accessing the dish. He then used a joystick to manually move the dish into position. "We are locked and ready to launch Myriad," he reported to Lena.
"Amazing, Hope, you've done it. And so will I," Lena said pleased. She then pushed the button activating Myriad.
Metropolis
Brainiac 5 immediately became aware, at the DEO, that Myriad was launched. "Myriad is launched. We have thirty seconds before it hits us," he reported.
"Launch the inception," Alex ordered.
With two DEO drones pointing pistols at him, Malefic's eyes glowed green as he worked to counter the Myriad wave. Brainiac 5 monitored the situation as Malefic's inception blocked Myriad. However, it soon became apparent that Malefic's power wasn't going to be enough.
"Malefic's abilities are not sufficient enough to stop Myriad," Brainiac 5 said to Alex.
"Is there a way to up his power?" Alex asked.
"We could turn off our psychic inhibitors," Brainiac 5 suggested.
"Don't even joke about that," Alex said impatiently.
"I'm not joking. Our psychic inhibitors put a drag on Malefic's powers. If we want him to succeed, we have to shut down the inhibitors," Brainiac 5 told her.
"I will not expose my agents to that kind of risk," Alex said, completely oblivious that all her agents were drones.
"Of course. The decision is yours, director," Brainiac 5 said coyly. "Oh, and you have ten seconds to decide."
"Alright, turn them off," Alex said finally.
Brainiac 5 smiled amused and then turned Myriad off using Hope, a power he had from the very beginning. He then sent an electrical shock through Malefic's electrodes knocking him out. Alex stared at the screen as Myriad simply shut down.
"Did we do it?" she wondered.
"Everyone did something," Brainiac 5 replied.
North Norquay
Lena stared at her screen completely dismayed as Myriad was shut down. Eve then entered the room. "They stopped Myriad. I don't understand," she said to a defeated Lena.
"There's nothing to understand. I lost. This is a life lesson to learn. Sometimes, the good guys don't win," she said somberly.
Lena and Eve took a portal to their lab in L Tower. Immediately, Brainiac 5 at the DEO was aware of their location. "I'm sorry I failed," Eve that was Hope that was Brainiac 5 lied to her. "I wish there was more I could do for you, Miss Luthor."
Lena took out a revolver and looked it over. She then gave it over to Brainiac 5. "There is."
Brainiac 5 did some quick calculations to ascertain whether Lena wanted to commit suicide or be used as a hostage. Eyeing her pupils, Brainiac 5 decided to take hold of Lena with the revolver to her throat as DEO drones flooded in. "It was me. I did all of it," Brainiac 5 said to his drones.
"Put the gun down," the squad leader told him.
"Eve, please," Lena pleaded.
Brainiac 5 dropped the revolver and allowed Eve to be arrested by his own drones. He smiled at Lena as he left. "Miss Luthor, are you alright?" the DEO squad leader asked.
"I've been better," Lena admitted.
At the DEO, Alex gave Brainiac 5 a peeved expression. "You could have shut down Myriad from the beginning?" she accused.
"Yes," Brainiac 5 said honestly.
"So, why all the drama?" Alex asked.
"I wanted to see if Lena would actually trigger it and she did. I wanted to see if Malefic could be trusted and he proved trustworthy. I wanted to see if you would make a decision where you put global security ahead of your men...and you did. These revelations are important character moments even if they all amount to nothing plot-wise," Brainiac 5 explained.
"So, we're all toys in your sandbox," Alex realized.
"I merely set the stage. Everyone else made their own decisions, right or wrong," Brainiac 5 said simply.
"You fashion yourself God controlling and knowing everything that is going to happen. What happens when you finally lose?" Alex asked him.
"As long as there is information to be acquired, I cannot lose," Brainiac 5 replied.
"I don't think I can stand you just playing me like this," Alex said pissed-off.
"Then end the charade. Hand the DEO over to me and quit," Brainiac 5 suggested.
"You know what? Fuck you, Barney. I'm staying put only to keep you in check," Alex said angrily.
"No one puts me in check. Lena tried and failed. What makes you think you can?" Brainiac 5 asked her.
"Kara will never let anything bad happen to me. You know this. As long as that's the case, she'll be on my side...against you," Alex said confidently.
"Indeed," Brainiac 5 agreed. Karina then flew in with the staff of shadows. She ignored Alex and handed the staff to Brainiac 5. He looked over it impressed.
"Thank you, Supergirl. I hope Rama Khan wasn't too much for you," Brainiac 5 said to her.
"No problem," Karina smirked.
"You may go now," Brainiac 5 said dismissing her.
"Wait, don't you want to know what happened with Lena?" Alex asked her.
Karina gave Alex a confused look. "No," she shook her head and flew off.
Brainiac 5 smirked at Alex as he held the staff. Alex gave him a haunted look realizing that maybe Supergirl wasn't on her side, after all.
At Catco, Andrea Rojas found Obsidian lenses on her desk. Putting them on, she saw Russell Rodgers finally free of armor on his back. He looked like his normal self again. He was placed before Alina at a table. "How are you feeling, today?"
"Much better, thank you," he replied.
"Andrea Rojas loves you very much. It is the reason you're still alive," Alina said to him.
"I know that now," Russell replied.
"And you shall remain alive so long as she works to undermine Leviathan," Alina continued.
"Yes," Russell nodded.
The recording then ended. Andrea took the lenses off her eyes and began to sob feeling trapped between powers that were truly beyond her.
Hank walked with Malefic around the shady area of town. "Well, Mal, you saved us," Hank lied.
"But how can I make up for what I've done?" Malefic asked.
"You can't. You've fucked up royally and I doubt a lifetime of good could cover it. But if there is anything I have learned about Earth, it is that karma is bullshit. If there is no God, then fuck it. If there is one, then His grace is the only thing that's going to save your ass," Hank told him.
"Speaking of fuck-ups, there's someone I'd like to meet. Her name is M'gann. She's a White Martian resistance fighter and she can help you when you arrive," Hank said.
"A friend of yours?" Malefic wondered.
"Friend is too strong a word," Hank replied.
"Why do I get the feeling you're sending me to them to act as a Trojan Horse?" Malefic asked.
"Because I am. I don't give a shit if a White Martian is resistance or not. I want them all destroyed," Hank said honestly.
"I can't believe the war still wages, the war I helped fuel," Malefic said solemnly.
"Remind me again of that and I'll kick your ass," Hank threatened. "Now, go home and blow shit up."
"But what if I can't?" Malefic asked him.
"Then you will just be doing the same thing you've done for the last couple of centuries: being a total loser. Look, you understand these White devils. You know how they think. You can appeal to them. Gain their trust and then destroy them all. It is your destiny. You were never meant to be a pariah. You were meant to be the promise," Hank said.
"Thank you, my brother. I will strive to make you proud and to end what I have started," Malefic said.
"Tall order. Come back with your shield or your body upon it," Hank told him. "Take my ride."
Malefic eyed Hank's car as he lifted the garage door. "Not a scratch on it," Hank ordered.
"I'll do my best," Malefic said as he got into the car.
"That car is so fucked," Hank realized as Malefic drove off.
Hank then felt an ominous presence behind him. "Well done, J'onn J'onzz," Monitor said to him. "You passed the test."
"You're the bastard that released my brother from the Phantom Zone. You brought my brother here," Hank accused.
"I could see that you were a great warrior but one plagued by his past. That made you vulnerable. You believed it was because you left Mars but it was something far greater: your brother. But now that you have faced those demons, you have come to learn all your vulnerabilities and strengths. You are now ready," Monitor said.
"Ready for what?" Hank asked.
"The Crisis," Monitor replied.
Supergirl entered Lena's apartment. Immediately, Hope activated its security system. "Hope, deactivate security systems," Kara ordered.
"Security systems deactivated," Hope replied.
Kara smirked at Lena as she got herself a drink. "To living to fight another day," Kara toasted her.
"Why are you here?" Lena asked spooked.
Kara handed her a drink. "I just wanted to see what you would do...and you didn't disappoint. You turned Eve into your slave, your tech-support, your fall-guy. You tortured and experimented on Malefic. You tried to hurt me and you almost turned the world into peace-loving zombies. Not bad, not bad at all."
"You here to kill me?" Lena asked.
Kara barked out a laugh. "Kill you? What would I do without you? No, you complete me, Lena. It was I that made sure you never killed anyone or did any permanent damage to the planet. As far as the world knows, you're the perfect Luthor. I can't wait for the next game we play," Kara said brightly.
"I wasn't playing a game," Lena said annoyed.
"And that made it all the more exciting. It's too bad the next game won't be as nearly as dramatic," Kara said.
"You know what? I'm done playing," Lena said frustrated.
"Don't be a sore loser," Kara rolled her eyes. "You were up against the most powerful being in the universe and the smartest machine ever made. You did great for your first try."
"Barney hacked into Hope," Lena realized.
"No shit," Kara said obviously.
"I feel so embarrassed, right now," Lena admitted.
"Don't be. You were right to be bitter about me not telling you my secret identity and making you risk your own life to save me. But I was also right to not tell you to keep our unique friendship alive. Sometimes, good people can be on opposite sides of the battlefield for all the right reasons," Kara said.
"So, you're not mad?" Lena asked.
"How can I be mad at something I designed?" Kara chuckled. She then took out a red and blue pill and put them in her hands. "Look, you got two choices here. If you take the blue pill you forget you know who I am and you get the fuck out of town. We never see each other again. If you take the red pill, you continue to be my 'super-friend' and we go on awesome adventures where I show you technology, lifeforms, and even universes beyond your wildest dreams," Kara offered.
"And what if I refuse both pills?" Lena asked argumentatively.
Kara frowned at her. "There's no place in this story where you become a villain, Lena. And anyone that opposes me is a villain, understand? I won't let it happen. I saw you become a villain. I saw your fall. I saw your death in another timeline. I'll keep resetting the timeline until you realize that your envy of me will be your downfall," Kara said to her.
Lena eyed the blue and red pill. She finally chose the red pill. "Nice," Kara smiled.
"I don't feel anything," Lena said swallowing the red pill.
"It's just cherry," Kara said and then ate the blueberry one. "So, since you chose the right pill, I'm going to show you something cool."
"Hope: show video file: Kara_is_awesom_at_chess_always," Kara ordered.
Lena watched her TV screen showing her a video of Supergirl playing chess with Lex Luthor.
PATRIOT-Moscow
"Checkmate...again. In your face," Kara said immaturely as she defeated Lex yet again in his room.
Lex sighed. "Don't you find this game a bit stale?"
"Not when I win every time. Don't feel bad. You were the one that taught me how to play," Kara said as she set up the pieces again.
"What do you really want from me?" Lex asked her.
"The multiverse needs a mind like yours," Kara said.
"Someone who can checkmate anyone but you?" Lex wondered.
"It's time for you to fulfill your destiny, Lex. You can now become the hero you were always meant to be," Kara said to him.
"Happy to help," Lex agreed.
Author's Notes: This was my favorite episode of the season. The battle of wits between Kara and Lena made this really fun even if the outcome was totally controlled. You may be wondering how Kara can be with Oliver at the same time she's trapped in the Fortress of Solitude. It's not an oversight, I assure you. Episode Reset occurs at the same time as this episode but on different Earths. In CW, it's pretty clear Lena is on the wrong side of the argument. Here, I wanted it to be more shades of grey with neither side being truly in the light.