Supergirl took to the sky and listened intently for a child's voice. Zeroing in on Esme's location, she sped towards the North American continent at super-sonic speed and found the girl in a lab. Going inside, she easily punched through the doors of the lab and found Esme fast asleep in her room with power-dampener cuffs on her wrists.
"Supergirl?" she wondered spooked.
"I'm here to take you to your mom...and your other mom," Kara smiled.
The next morning, Brainiac 5 casually made pancakes in Nia's apartment. "Your sister took everything, your mom's books, journals, and research."
"Would have been nice to have told me that before I went back home," Nia said peeved.
"Then, perhaps we need a fresh start," Brainiac 5 suggested. Nia looked rather different than usual with her hair cut short, no make-up, and wearing masculine clothing. For the last two weeks, she seemed to have reverted back to her boyhood.
"Right," Nia agreed.
"You've been so focused on the dream totem. Perhaps, you should cast a larger net in the dream realm," Brainiac 5 advised.
"Sounds really vague," Nia frowned.
"You shouldn't doubt me. I'm a subject matter expert on Dreamers and transsexuals," Brainiac 5 said.
"Speaking of which," Nia said as she ate a pancake. "I think I've made a terrible mistake."
"Oh?" Brainiac 5 wondered.
"I mean, I've been able to cut my hair and make myself look more like a boy but I'll need surgery to get rid of these breasts. I can't believe I have these on my chest," she said aghast.
"Let's not be too hasty. You're a boy in a woman's body. It's a rare experience," Brainiac 5 advised.
"Yeah," Nia said thoughtfully. "But after a few weeks, this going to get old real fast. I need you to fix this."
"And so I shall at the right moment," Brainiac 5 stalled.
Nia suddenly had a dream flash to Crippen University and a Dr. Revee, specifically. "Holy shit!"
"You okay?" Brainiac 5 asked.
"Yes, it worked. I saw an address, a Crippen University. I think whatever is there will help me find the totem," Nia said optimistically.
"It's where your sister currently works," Brainiac 5 said knowingly.
"Okay, but I saw a door with Dr. Revee's name on it," Nia said.
"She got a name change recently," Brainiac 5 revealed.
"Well, okay then," Nia said weirded out by Brainiac 5 tracking her sister's movements. "These spinach pancakes are...interesting," she said unenthusiastically.
"It will help you build muscle like Popeye," Brainiac 5 joked.
"I don't know if this reunion will help with finding the dream totem but I do want to tell her she was right about everything. I can't wait to show her how I am now," Nia said excitedly.
Alex entered the Tower as Lena was studying her book of spells. "Okay, I come bearing gifts," she said cheerfully. "This is for you," she said giving Lena a picture of herself from Esme. Lena chuckled condescendingly at it.
"Kids," she shook her head.
"This is for you," Alex said to Hank.
"Looks like crap," he critiqued.
Alex gave him a glare but then smiled upon seeing Kara. "And, of course, last but not least, Supergirl," she said giving Kara the picture of herself in uniform.
"Oh my gosh, my niece is one hell of an artist," Kara said amazed.
"When do Esme and Kelly come back from Calvintown?" Lena asked.
"After the weekend. Kelly wants to give Esme the full Olsen family experience," Alex said.
"Do you think that's wise," Hank mocked.
"It's catching fireflies, climbing trees, and enormous chili bowls," Alex listed off.
"Things have been calm around here. You should go there and join them," Hank suggested.
"You trying to get rid of me, Hank?" Alex asked crossly.
"I know Nyxly has several totems now, but I think I have time to do my interview," Kara said thoughtfully.
"What interview?" Lena wondered.
"Well, you know, Russia and the United States have agreed to a truce over Corto-Maltese. Now, both President Putin and Biden are in town negotiating it out. My sources tell me things are getting tense," Kara said wide-eyed. "But then I remembered this boring-as-fuck interview by Larry King and...I lost my train of thought."
"It was with the Middle Eastern leaders," Lena recalled.
"They called it World Diplomacy Live," Hank recalled. "Were you on Earth back then?" he asked Kara.
"No, I was still in my pod," Kara said.
"And how did you see it?" Alex questioned.
"There are TVs in Peru," Hank told her off.
"I remember being so moved...that a reporter could be part of something momentous," Kara said excitedly.
"Well, sounds great. I have to get going," Alex said leaving the tower.
Hank advanced on Kara. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" he asked her.
"What's wrong with a little optimism, hope, and dreams for a better tomorrow filled with peace and rainbows?" Kara asked offended.
Hank zapped her mind freeing her of the mind-control. Kara looked around completely befuddled. "What the fuck?"
"Exactly," Hank agreed.
Kara entered the Daily Planet and met up with Cat in her office. "The Daily Planet has a once-in-a-generation chance to give me the most important interview of all time. I can get these two assholes to cross the divide and come together...or I'll kick their asses on national television. When people really set their minds to it, they can give me more power and influence on this world. I've seen it...in the future."
"Wow, very inspiring," Cat rolled her eyes. "But I'm bored, Kara. You're boring me with your little schemes."
"What!" Kara shouted. "This could be historic."
"Better than Oprah and the Royals?" Cat questioned.
"Unlike Oprah, I won't allow them to lie through their teeth about...everything," Kara promised. "I'm also going to avoid pre-rehearsed emotional reactions to obvious misinformation."
"You know, I have a better idea," Cat said knowingly.
"Oh, yeah?" Kara asked intrigued.
"I should do the interview," Cat said obviously.
"Did you just steal...my idea?" Kara asked pissed off.
"You may have won a Pulitzer and been on national TV a few times but no one gives a fuck about Kara Danvers. Cat Grant is the brand," Cat said obviously.
"I really don't think you're getting this. This is supposed to be about me," Kara said to her.
"But I am which is why I have already prepared a broadcast crew for my interview," Cat said.
"So, what am I supposed to do?" Kara wondered.
"You'll do your primary job which is being my bodyguard," Cat said obviously.
"You bitch, you will not get away with this," Kara said as she leaned onto Cat's desk to look her straight in the eye.
"You can do anything you want, Kara. Just not all at once," Cat smirked.
Nia went to Crippen university where students learned how to be professional Crips. She passed by several gangbangers with blue bandana face masks...due to Covid. "You looking fine, boy," one of them said to her.
"Thanks," Nia gushed and then went to Dr. Revee's office. She knocked on the door despite not being her office hours.
Maeve opened the door and gave Nia an odd look. "Office hours are 3-to-5:30," she pointed to the sign.
"I know but this might be important," Nia said.
"You tracked me down?" Maeve asked unsettled as they entered her office.
"Well, my robot friend did," Nia said.
"Since you're here, I've been thinking about things, and...you look greatly improved," Maeve said astounded.
"Well, I have been working hard on it," Nia said appreciatively.
"You almost look like a real boy," she said amazed.
"I'm getting there," Nia nodded.
"I owe you an apology. My blunt way of telling you that you weren't a real woman wasn't really effective. I see now that your friends did a marvelous job turning you around," Maeve said.
"I know, right?" Nia agreed. "A dream led me here. I'm looking for the dream totem."
"It's real?" Maeve asked interested.
"What do you know about it?" Nia asked curiously.
"It's a relic from the fifth dimension that can bestow dream power to whoever wields it," Maeve said.
"Do you know where it is?" Nia asked.
"In the dream realm supposedly but why are you looking for it?" Maeve questioned.
"The fate of the universe depends on it. I have to get it before Nyxly does. I need your help to know everything about this," Nia beseeched her.
"Sure thing, little brother," Maeve smiled. "But where to begin?"
"A book?" Nia asked helpfully.
"I have a whole library," Maeve said showing it to her.
"Which one?" Nia asked.
"All of them," Maeve rolled her eyes.
"You're not...fucking with me, are you?" Nia asked hopefully.
"Afraid not," Maeve frowned.
"Shit," Nia realized.
At the Daily Planet, Kara casually listened to speeches made by President Putin and Biden at the fasted speed possible for the player on her laptop. Brainiac 5 came over to meet with her. "I can increase the speed on your player," Brainiac 5 offered.
"Holy shit," Kara said startled, and took off her headphones. "I've been working on Cat Grant's interview that should be mine."
"The interview won't make a difference in the scheme of things," Brainiac 5 assured her.
"I feel a sense of belonging here even if it is totally pointless," Kara said looking over all the reporters in the room. "That said, I feel as though I wasn't in control of myself when I brought Esme back to Alex."
"Indeed," Brainiac 5 agreed. "Nia has decided to go back to being a boy."
"What could it mean?" Kara wondered.
"It's the Imperius curse Lena has been practicing. She may have inadvertently cursed you both," Brainiac 5 said.
"The what now?" Kara asked confused.
"It's a curse that allows the wand user to control another person's thoughts and actions. Lena may have unintentionally passed on the thoughts of others onto you," Brainiac 5 said calmly.
"She couldn't defeat me with Myriad so now she's using magical curses," Kara said peeved. "Now that Kelly and Alex have their little girl back, it's going to be difficult to take her away from them again."
"I agree," Brainiac 5 concurred.
"Fuck, I feel like such a horrible person but my heart is in the right place. They can't manage a child like that, no human can," Kara said distressed. "What if she kills them both?"
"Perhaps you need to train yourself to let Alex go. Your sisterly affection towards her is above and beyond the norm. It may cost you your life, your liberty, and your pursuit of happiness. I have serious doubts the Galactic Federation of the 31st century will continue to exist without you," Brainiac 5 said.
Kara considered that thoughtfully. "I messed up, big time," she admitted. "I just feel there's not enough of me to get everything done. Even days when I do check off all the sanity boxes, I wake up the next day and realize I'm still incomplete. It just never ends and I'm drowning. I'm worried I'm taking everyone down with me."
"You are allowed occasional insanity," Brainiac 5 permitted.
"I don't know if that's true," Kara doubted.
"What is it that you really want? Whatever it is, it's yours for the taking," Brainiac 5 said to her.
Nyxly waltzed into the Metropolis dream Institute and met up with Lex Luthor who owned the building and the project. Before them was a sleeping man hooked up to a machine that resembled a CAT scanner. "What does a sleeping man have to do with me getting the dream totem?" Nyxly asked Lex.
"Absolutely nothing," Lex said flatly.
"You better not be fucking with me, Lex," Nyxly warned him.
"This machine will help you enter the dream realm. All you need to do is access the machine and then use the gauntlet to access the dream realm," Lex said simply.
"Alright," Nyxly said as she turned her gauntlet to the computer to get the coordinates. She was about to create a portal to the dream realm when Supergirl, J'onn, and Brainiac 5 arrived on the scene.
"No rest for the wicked," Nyxly," Kara smirked.
"Lex, the fuck you doing?" J'onn demanded of him.
Lex merely shrugged. Nyxly fired her gauntlet at the three Super-Friends blasting them to the floor. She then opened a portal to the dream realm. "Don't worry. I'll give you something to occupy yourselves with," Nyxly said as she and Lex entered the dream realm. As she entered, a liquid metal monster emerged. It was human-size and then threw itself through the window to the streets below where it grew to the size of a skyscraper.
"Lex has a lot of explaining to do," J'onn said irritably.
The three Super-Friends exited the building and went after the monster as it reached several stories tall. J'onn hit it with a psychic attack with no result. Kara flew behind it and fired heat vision to the back of its head without effect.
"It's headed towards a nuclear plant," Kara noticed with her falcon eyes.
"If the reactor is compromised, it will expose the entire area to radiation," Lena said to Alex at the Tower.
"Hank, can you calm the creature?" Alex asked via radio.
"I'm only making it more pissed off," J'onn reported. "It's almost at the power plant."
"Okay, nuclear power is bad. We get it," Kara rolled her eyes. "Lena, you got a spell that could work on this thing?"
"Err...no," Lena said awkwardly.
"Activating forcefield," Brainiac 5 radioed.
A forcefield generator in the city created a dome that kept the monster from getting any closer to the nuclear power plant. A great many civilians were stunned as they were hit with the forcefield on either side. "It seems to have worked," Kara noticed.
The monster then became invisible and took off. "Well...shit," J'onn muttered.
Nia couldn't help but notice a wall of news clippings of Dreamer. "You collected these?" she asked surprised.
"I might be furious with you for keeping secrets, but you're still my little brother," Maeve smiled.
"Why don't you come with me to the dream realm?" Nia suggested.
"Really?" Maeve asked excitedly.
"I need you to help me find the totem. I'll just tell Barney the plan," Nia said.
"Who exactly is this Barney?" Maeve asked.
"You know, a boyfriend. He's a twelfth-level intellect," Nia said.
"I'm really liking this improvement in you, Nia, but it's not enough. We need to get you straight as well," Maeve said.
"As soon as we find the dream totem, we can get to work on that," Nia invited.
Maeve touched Nia's hand as she touched a map of the dream world.
Kara entered the Tower and met up with Hank. "I crisscrossed the city a dozen times and couldn't find the bastard. Did you have any luck?" Kara asked.
"Nope," Hank shook his head. "When the creature goes invisible so does its energy signature."
"I want Alex out of the energy dome. She is priority one," Kara said seriously.
"Oh, fuck me, right?" Lena said dismayed at her desk.
"You got anything for me?" Kara asked impatiently.
"Very slowly. I could engineer some sci-fi bullshit that will allow me to connect the dream machine to the dream realm with our portal technology," Lena said.
"What is she doing there anyway?" Kara asked.
"That's where the dream totem is," Brainiac 5 said obviously. "Nia and Maeve are entering the dream realm to find it first."
"If Nyxly gets a hold of that dream totem, she'll be able to neutralize all Naltorian dreamers. We'll be cut off from that needed intelligence," Hank said grimly.
"Lena, hurry the fuck up," Kara ordered. She then got a call from Cat. "Yes, I can totally come by the office to help you do your mock interview that really should have been mine instead of saving the city."
"Go, we got this handled. We'll call you if we find anything," Hank assured her.
"Fuck you, Hank, I'd rather be here than there," Kara frowned and then took off.
Nia and Maeve entered a dark creepy forest. "This forest reminds me of a camping trip mom had us go on in middle school. She forget all the flashlights so we were scared as fuck and it took forever to put up the tent. You acted like a terrified little girl," Maeve recalled.
"Wait...I am a girl," Nia realized.
"This again," Maeve rolled her eyes.
In the dream realm, Nia was in a blouse and pants looking feminine again with long hair and make-up. "What the fuck?" she wondered.
"So, anyway, you thought this witch was scratching at the tent when it was really tree branches," Maeve continued.
"How much farther is it?" Nia asked befuddled.
"Beyond the forest, it looks like," Maeve said looking at the map.
"There's something beyond the forest?" Nia wondered.
"You've never accessed it? The dream Expanse is like an entire planet. Don't tell me you haven't read books by M.K. Nessler?" Maeve chided.
"No," Nia said sheepishly.
"You're dumb as fuck," Maeve shook her head dismayed.
"Alright, bitch, if you're so smart, how do you access the dream expanse?" Nia asked impatiently.
"Don't turn this around on me," Maeve said as she walked past her.
"Stop," Nia said suddenly.
"What is it now?" Maeve frowned.
"Your necklace is glowing," Nia pointed out. "Get your ass back to the tree."
"It's never done that before," Maeve considered.
Nia started touching the tree and activated a trap that created a door in front of them. The door opened revealing a cheap carnival maze with a glowing path and glowing giant crystals everywhere. "We found it. The dream Expanse," Nia said stunned.
The doors then closed behind them. "Well...shit," Maeve realized.
"I wonder what would have happened if you hadn't brought that necklace," Nia said thoughtfully.
"We would have been fucked," Maeve said obviously.
Kara sat across from Cat in her office. "Mr. President, Corto-Maltese is to blame for these recent hostilities. What the fuck are you going to do about it? And are these Russian sanctions doing anything but starving poor innocent civilians?" Cat asked.
"My opinion on the matter doesn't matter. What does matter is the actions of the countries involved," Kara said.
"That answer was vague as fuck. Answer the damn question," Cat raged.
"No, go fuck yourself," Kara told her off. "Next question."
"I got you a meeting between you and the Russian chief treaty negotiator. I think her name is Colonel Alina Lanina," Cat noted as she looked at her phone.
"I'm thrilled," Kara rolled her eyes.
"Her original meeting was canceled because of the energy dome you put up," Cat pointed out. "By the way, that dome better come down before I leave the office."
"We are working as fast and as efficiently as possible to find that monster," Kara lied.
"Meeting is at 2," Cat said to her.
"I'll be sure to be there late," Kara said.
Cat and Kara then noticed the new female governor of New York talking shit about Supergirl on the news. "Take down this dome...or else," the governor said.
Kara gave her the appropriate middle finger. "This dome of yours is madness. Do you have any idea how insane traffic will be once your dome is lifted? Did you even bother to consult with anyone?"
"There was no time. The creature was about to take down a nuclear plant. Also, I don't consult anyone. I'm in charge," Kara said arrogantly.
"People are cut off from their work, parents separated from their children. It's like the Berlin Wall all over again," Cat said dramatically.
"And I'll remind you, that I prevented Metropolis from being a nuclear wasteland. So, I think these people that are complaining about the situation should stop being ungrateful bitches and shut the fuck up. That's what I would do if I was saved from horrible radiation. I would shut...the...fuck...up," Kara said defensively.
"I hope you have this handled," Cat doubted.
"In truth, I'm fighting a fifth-dimensional being that can imagine anything into existence. The only reason we're not totally fucked right now is that she's toying with us," Kara said honestly.
"Sounds like someone I know," Cat pointed out.
Nyxly and Lex walked through the dream realm and marveled at all the spires of light. "The spires of light represent all the dreams on Earth but only one contains the dream totem," Nyxly said to Lex.
"I think there is a path," Lex pointed out.
"We've passed these spires before. I'm heading back," Nyxly said impatiently.
"Perhaps we can take a look around the corner," Lex suggested.
"I'm not entirely sure I trust you, Lex Luthor," Nyxly said suspiciously.
"You can trust in our mutual interests. I want to return to the man I was once before, and you want the Allstone complete," Lex said simply.
"You'll get what you desire, my slippery friend if you deliver," Nyxly said to him.
"They're there," Lex pointed Nia and Maeve out. "Nia and her sister, Maeve."
"I'll be damned," Nyxly said astonished by how easy her task was. "Maybe you're not so bad after all."
"Oh, I'm bad," Lex assured her.
At the Tower, Alex argued with the pissed-off NY governor. "As I said before, governor, we didn't have a choice," Alex told her off via a tablet.
"If you don't take down the dome, the National Guard will," the governor threatened.
"The National Guard," Alex rolled her eyes. "I mean, they're just as professional and competent as the active component but this is still way over their heads. This creature is from the dream world. Bullets won't hurt it. If you take down that dome, it will go straight for the nuclear power plant making matters even worse," Alex said.
"We've already shut down the plant and secured the fuel rods," the governor told her.
"Well...we don't want the thing to escape either," Alex said lamely.
"Thousands of citizens are trapped in a bubble with some other-dimensional terror. My phone is ringing off the hook with people pissed off not sure when they're going to see their families again. Do us both a favor and lift the dome. Hopefully, this monster will become New Jersey's problem," the governor said.
"Just give me twenty-four hours," Alex negotiated.
"You have twelve," the governor told her.
Hank turned off the monitor. "I learned long ago not to argue with these people."
"We won't be finished within twelve hours," Brainiac 5 said to her.
"How long then?" Alex asked.
"Uncertain," Brainiac 5 said as he worked on the device.
"Don't you have thousands of drones at your disposal?" Alex wondered.
"They all have assigned tasks," Brainiac 5 said dismissively.
"That's just great. What could be more important than this?" Alex asked incredulously.
"If I taught you, the class would be longer than twelve hours," Brainiac 5 said condescendingly.
"Would one of those tasks be Nia?" Lena asked knowingly.
"I am appropriately concerned with her absence," Brainiac 5 said calmly.
"A mob is approaching the dome," Alex reported.
"They won't get through," Brainiac 5 said unconcernedly.
"They might get burned or shocked in the attempt though," Alex said concernedly.
"I'm a firm believer in Darwin's Law," Brainiac 5 said dismissively.
"Well, I'm not. I'm going out there," Alex said rushing off.
Kara and Alina gave each other fake smiles at the Daily Planet. "It would appear your people can't handle a wall for more than a day," Alina mocked. "Even to save them from a monster."
"Look, I have to deal with this bullshit and then I'll be right back to deal with your bullshit," Kara said about to take off.
"Don't worry. You can be in two places at once," Alina said as she activated her watch.
Immediately, Karina landed in front of the crowd right next to the energy dome wall. The crowd threw insults and debris at her as they came closer. Taking in a good breath, Karina blew the people back down the street. As she did, everything not bolted down flew down the street including cars. People tumbled down the streets from the hurricane wind.
"Now, shall we get back to these talks?" Alina asked as Kara winced at the TV's live news coverage.
In the dream realm, Maeve came to an epiphany. "I think I've figured something out. Do you see these small diamond shapes here? I always thought they were just decorative but what if these small diamonds represent these spires here?" she asked.
"Sure, why not?" Nia sighed.
"Maybe this big diamond in the center is the actual location of the dream totem," Maeve said.
"I thought you said the dream realm was this really big place that I was completely ignorant of," Nia said annoyed.
"Right," Maeve confirmed.
"So, we ended up finding the dream totem on foot within a few hours?" Nia wondered.
"I know. I'm such a genius," Maeve said impressed with herself. "But which one of these spires?"
"Maybe we can get a better view if I flew around," Nia considered.
"Wait, you could have done this the entire time?" Maeve asked dumbfounded.
"I didn't want to give our position away," Nia said defensively.
"That sounds like bullshit," Maeve doubted.
"Okay, I'll go up real fast and then come back right down," Nia said. "But I'm going to need your necklace."
"Fine," Maeve relented.
Nia took the necklace and flew up into the air where she found the gold spire. "I found it," she said victoriously.
Hank listened to the governor for a few minutes. "Go fuck yourself," he said and then hung up.
"What's up?" Alex asked concernedly.
"The governor has been in contact with the White House. In one hour, the US Airforce will try to take down the dome with a group of National Guardsman charging in," Hank said grimly.
"Well, within one hour is what Barney and Lena said they could get the device down," Alex said worriedly. "The governor is scared. The people are scared. In the past few weeks, the people have seen buildings explode, giant cats, mass riots, and now a dome with Nyxly's nightmare monster."
Brainiac 5 then entered the Tower. "You may put your mind at ease. The shield will not be going down until the monster is found and destroyed."
"And what of the National Guard and the AirForce?" Alex asked.
"What of it?" Brainiac 5 said dismissively.
In the dream realm, Nia and Maeve finally came before the golden spire. "Here it is," Maeve said pleased.
"We must be ready for anything," Nia said anxiously.
"So, what do we do?" Maeve wondered.
Nia formed her Dreamer suit to increase her power level. "That suit looks so goofy," Maeve rolled her eyes. "Why isn't it pink? Is it blue because you're still holding onto your male past? That mask provides no protection at all. I can totally tell it's you."
"Maeve...shut the fuck up and let me take the lead," Nia silenced her mocking.
Inside the golden spire was the dream totem. "There it is," Maeve said excitedly.
"I'll grab it. Then, we get the hell out of here," Nia said urgently.
"Go ahead," Maeve gestured.
Nia went to get to the totem when she was sent back. "You're not pure, Nia Nal. The power you have is not your own."
"What the fuck?" Nia wondered.
"The power was supposed to be mine. I worked my entire life to become the Dreamer. Studying, preparing, every decision I made was for that. It was my purpose, my identity, and you took it," Maeve accused Nia.
"I didn't have a choice," Nia said defensively. "I tried to transfer the powers to you. I told you that but I couldn't so what do you want me to say? That you should be the Dreamer. That I don't know what I'm doing most of the time? That I'm over my head?"
"Honesty, finally," Maeve said pleased.
"You want honesty, huh? I have no pity for you! I'm sorry you read all those books believe you'd be the Dreamer, without cause, by the way...," Nia said.
"Without cause?" Maeve gave her an odd look. "You were born a male. Nothing can change that fact. When people refer to you as she or her, it's out of sympathy. It is a concession of logic and science to call you such so that we can all get along. The reason you're not worthy of the dream totem is that you're not the true Dreamer," Maeve revealed.
"What?" Nia questioned.
"Your powers are the result of my unleashing my own powers. I didn't realize it at first. It's not you that can transfer your powers to me but the other way around. I am the true Dreamer and you have a mere sample of my power," Maeve revealed. "Nura Nal of the 31st century comes from my line."
"So, you just sat back and watched as I struggled to fight threats to this world? How selfish can you be? The universe is at stake now and you're in your office reading books when you could have helped," Nia accused. "Maybe I don't deserve these powers, but I know who I am. As pathetic as I am, I'm still out there fighting. The fuck did you do?"
"Am I interrupting a family fight or something?" Nyxly mocked as she entered the gold spire. "I'll make this quick then," she said and then blasted the both of them away from the dream totem.
Nia fired off a blast at Nyxly that she easily deflected. "Wow, nice move. Who taught you that one? Your mom or your sister?" Nyxly mocked and then fired on Maeve. Nia got in the way and created a forcefield around herself and Maeve.
"You should take the totem while you can," Lex advised.
"Don't I have to be pure of heart or some shit?" Nyxly considered.
"Simply destroy the oracle holding the totem in place," Lex said obviously.
Nyxly fired on the oracle releasing the totem. Nia immediately got in her face. Nyxly punched at Nia several times missing or being blocked until she finally gave her an uppercut stunning her. Nyxly then punched her hard to the gut and to the face a few times. Nyxly kept it up kicking her to the gut and then to the back of her head sending Nia to the floor.
"I knew you were strong, but I didn't think it would be over that quickly," Maeve said of Nia to Nyxly.
"Perhaps you can give me a better challenge," Nyxly smirked.
Nia tried to intervene again only to get bitch-slapped back down the floor where she lay unconscious. "You shouldn't have done that. Now, I can reveal my true power," Maeve said to Nyxly.
"Show me," Nyxly challenged.
Maeve powered up causing the golden spire to shatter away into the air. Her body glowed intensely with her golden necklace as bright as a star. Maeve sped towards Nyxly and gave her a solid punch to the face stunning her. She then kicked her to the chin. Maeve gave Nyxly a few solid punches to the face and then a kick to the gut that sent her backward.
"She's even stronger than Nia," Lex remarked.
Nyxly crashed through several spires until she came to a stop. Maeve sped towards Nyxly and punched her several times in succession. Nyxly took to the air to get her bearings when Maeve rose as well. "Take this," Maeve said as she blasted Nyxly with an explosion that annihilated thousands of dream spires.
"Impressive light show," Nyxly mocked completely unphased. She lightly touched Maeve's forehead knocking her out and then went back to Lex.
"You have the totem. We should leave," Lex said urgently.
"And so we shall," Nyxly agreed, teleporting them both out of the dream realm.
Just outside the dome, US Army tanks and helicopters arrived on the scene. Behind them were troop transport vehicles with hundreds of troops. "Open fire," the general ordered.
The tanks and helicopters fired on the dome creating explosions on impact as the shells and missiles landed. The tanks fired dozens of shells in a powerful onslaught against the shield but still had no effect. "Ceasefire," the general ordered.
US Army troops then exited the troop transport vehicles and marched towards the dome. "Send the troops in," the general ordered. In marching formation, the troops moved towards the dome, impacted the shield, and were forced back. "Oh, fuck!" they exclaimed painfully as they were forced back.
"What do we do now, general?" the governor standing next to him asked him.
"We'll just keep sending more troops into the dome until whoever is responsible for this feels guilty for all these casualties mounting up and shuts it down," the general said.
Meanwhile, Hank, Alex, Brainiac 5, and Lena set up the portal towers. "Now that the portal is up, the monster should be drawn here," Brainiac 5 figured.
"You see anything, Hank?" Alex asked as she looked around with her binoculars.
"No trace of the monster," J'onn replied.
Karina then dropped down on the field. "Any sign?" she asked.
"Motion detectors sense the creature approaching," Brainiac 5 informed her.
Trees were ripped apart as the monster approached and then materialized in front of them. It noticed the portal and decided to keep its distance. Karina went behind the monster, cocked her left fist back, and punched it hard towards the portal. The monster roared in pain as it was pushed back. J'onn flew in and punched the creature to the head pushing it closer still towards the portal. The monster took hold of J'onn, slammed him to the ground, and placed his knee on his chest. J'onn phased into the ground to escape.
Brainiac 5 fired metal tentacles around the monster's arm to keep it from moving forward. Karina punched the monster to the head and then did a flip as she kicked it to the jaw. Karina grabbed the monster's hideous head and fired heat vision into its eyes. She then threw the monster closer to the portal. Karina and J'onn both fired on the monster with some success as it came inches closer to the portal. Karina and J'onn swooped in and punched the monster to the face hard. The two continuously punched the monster but were thrown back.
Alex fired a TOW missile at the monster's chest greatly irritating it. "The creature's power-level matches my own no matter how high I make myself," Karina realized.
"We'll soon run out of power," Brainiac 5 warned.
Lena hesitated but then pointed her wand at the creature. "Crucio," she said as she pointed the wand at the monster. A red beam hit the monster causing it to roar in excruciating pain. Karina and J'onn then punched the monster inside the portal where it disappeared into the dream world.
At the Daily Planet studio, Cat Grant faced off against President Putin. Kara and Alina were in the background to assure the interview went smoothly and to provide security. Kara wore a headset with a microphone to assist Cat during the interview. The two sat down with President Putin relaxed and confident. "How would you describe President Biden?" Cat asked.
"President Biden is a career man who has spent his entire adult life in politics. Just think of all years he was in the Senate accomplishing virtually nothing of note. So, there are definitely advantages to negotiating with a man who has spent his entire career trying to diminish the US military and global position and has been wrong on every single foreign policy decision for the last fifty years," President Putin said smugly.
"What if I called you a killer?" Cat asked aggressively.
President Putin chuckled at her. "Of course, I was once KGB. I killed a lot of traitorous mother-fuckers in East Germany. It's not like Hollywood. I didn't go about wearing tuxedos, sleeping with women, getting drunk, and driving expensive cars. It was never cinematic like the West portrays."
"Are you worried about being called a killer?" Cat asked.
"I'm not worried in the least. The Russian people know who and what I am and they think I'm a badass. And they're not wrong," President Putin replied.
"What about all of your political opponents who have died under suspicious circumstances? Are they all coincidences?" Cat asked.
"No, I had them killed," President Putin said bluntly and then chuckled.
"Are you helping Iran launch satellites that will help them target the US military in the region?" Cat asked.
"Yes," President Putin said flatly.
"Are you sending warships to Corto Maltese to make us nervous, to shake us up?" Cat asked.
"Absolutely," President Putin confirmed. "When I am in Corto Maltese, I'm doing judo moves and schooling every communist suka. I'm a president in my prime, my enemies don't distract me. The last man who attacked me lived a half-life so come at me. You don't know what you're doing what you try to question a mind like Putin. You'll find that the ex-KGB is the best MC in the ex-CCCP."
"How many dictators does it take to turn your federation into a failed state?" Cat asked as her tone became more hostile.
"Look into my eyes, you perverted witch, see the soul of the man who made Russia his bitch," President Putin glared at her.
"It's disgrace what you have done to your own people. Countries don't deserve to be invaded, like Georgia, sweet Georgia. The history books will unfold ya. You think you've built a superpower, but you've only caused the destruction of countless lives. You think you're the man of steel, I spit Kryptonite. I can end you with a whisper to your wife," Cat said to him.
"You think I give a fuck about my wife? I divorced her ass and don't give a shit about her life. You're getting off easy. I could starve you for days until only plastic remains. I took Yeltsin out of the picture and drop a hammer on you harder than what I gave your mother," President Putin fired back.
"Our whole future was bright, but you let your heart grow dark. When it comes to Russian leaders if your name ends with 'in' it's time to get out," Cat said fiercely.
During the interview, Kara went off to the side to get a phone call from Brainiac 5. "Nia and Maeve exited the dream realm in one piece but Nyxly got away with the dream totem," he reported.
"Well...shit," Kara frowned.
At Crippen university, Nia and Maeve walked out into the night. "Nia, you have to understand, I never even thought about you or the ramifications my words may have on us," Maeve admitted.
There was a long awkward silence. "Thanks for sharing," Nia said bitterly.
"I'm sorry I failed you while we were young. It's just, I never thought of you as a real woman. It's just women have gone through so much in Earth's history, I've gone through so much. Throughout history, the only thing that seemed to belong to us was our sex, our identity as women. So, seeing men take it away from us little by little in sports, entertainment, politics, and even superheroes is sending us back. What it means to be a woman doesn't belong to you but to us. We decide what is and what isn't because we own it," Maeve said to her.
"We just got our asses kicked by a fifth-dimensional being who now has the dream totem and this is what you want to talk about?" Nia asked impatiently.
"I just want you to know that I'll continue to share my powers with you despite your obvious deviancy," Nia assured her.
"Maeve, you may be the real Dreamer and you may know a hell of a lot more than me, but all I ever wanted to do was make people happy and safe. You were my best friend and you tore me down like it was nothing. Then, you ran away, changed your name, pretended as nothing had ever happened. I had to grieve for mom alone. And I had to learn these powers I didn't ask for alone. I needed you. I needed my big sister. And no amount of political bullshit is going to explain that away. You're just like Kara who doesn't give a shit about the world despite her great power. But, you know what? It's not how much power you have but what you do with it that counts. You may be ten times, a hundred times more powerful than me, but I put my life on the line while you sat behind your desk. And that's...fucked up," Nia said passionately.
"You have to forgive me. It's what a real hero would do," Maeve cornered her.
"Damn...it," Nia realized.
At the Tower, Lena came in to find Hank and Alex eating Big Burgers. "Nyxly now has four totems but she'll need three more to create the Allstone," Lena said anxiously.
"Yeah, well, what about the negative press?" Alex pointed to the TV.
"Super-Friends Fucked Us All," was the news headline.
"People will always disagree with us," Hank smiled amused.
"Don't we need the public on our side against Nyxly?" Alex asked.
"When has the public ever been useful before?" Hank asked.
"Well...," Alex sighed as she tried to think of an instance.
"Look at that," Lena pointed to the TV as Supergirl did an interview.
Kara went before a camera to give a live address to Metropolis. "Citizens of the world, I come to you tonight with an urgent plea. I know you have always placed your trust and hope in me," Kara said arrogantly. "There are several items I'm looking for that will help me kill Nyxly. These items, these Horcruxes, and their description will be released soon. They are scattered across the globe. You will find them for me or what happened in Metropolis will just be the beginning. I will sack this world if I have to in order to save it. You're either with me or you're with the imp, Nyxly."
Nyxly and Lex Luthor had a chat on a field. "You've done well, Luthor. What is it that you really want?" Nyxly asked him.
"I only wish to be the key to your success," Lex replied bowing his head to her.