Adventures of Supergirl 7x19
9th Circle
In the 9th circle, it was deadly quiet as the cries, moans, and screams were no more. All the shades of this region were silenced by the ice. Only a cold wind could be heard. While the ice glowed eerily, the sky could not be seen from this depth. Lucifer remained on his throne as if expecting them. He appeared as John Milton but his face was ancient and his hair was white appearing to be in his eighties. He wore white robes that shined like all the other demons. There was a glow of power about him.
Kara and Jeremiah cautiously approached him not sure what to expect. "I've been expecting you," Lucifer said to them. "I congratulate you for getting this far of your own accord."
"Angel of Light, the Morning Star, Seraphim," Kara listed off. "No, you no longer have the right to be called such things, the traitorous criminal, Lucifer."
"Kara Zor-El, I thought it was about time for you to come if you could," Lucifer smiled gently.
"Are you here to hide or are you confined to this circle for your punishment?" Kara asked rudely.
"Your analysis is quite mistaken, Kara Zor-El. First, I do not come here to hide. This place is my very own Fortress of Solitude upon which I can see all the circles of hell in every pit in every universe. I am the ruler of hell for every race and every universe within the multiverse. Secondly, every punishment in hell is according to my design," Lucifer said. He then lifted Alex's corpse from nowhere for them to see.
"You only see what I wish for you to see," Lucifer said and then shattered Alex's body into frozen shards revealing his double-bladed sword in his hand. "My sword has an ability called 'Complete Hypnotism.' Everything a soul experiences in this hell, sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch are according to my thoughts and design. There was a time when hell was merely a void, eternally separated from God. The damned would suffer internally with their regret and loneliness replaying their sins in their own minds. But this was not enough, so I introduced this creation to give the damn eternal punishments worthy of their sins."
"You're responsible for all these imaginative tortures?" Kara questioned.
"In this pit and every other pit in the multiverse for thousands of years. Do you now understand what you are up against, Kryptonian?" Lucifer asked condescendingly. "As you are here, your friends in the first circle will be overwhelmed by my army. They will be beaten, tortured, and torn apart unceasingly for as long as you remain here."
Lucifer then showed them images of the battle in limbo with Ulquiorra beating back the Super-Friends and the limbo army forced to retreat back. Kara and Jeremiah eyed the visuals as they reflected off the ice around them. "You know why we're here," Jeremiah said to him.
Lucifer sat back down on his throne. "You cannot force my hand and I am not inclined to give her up."
"Our crosses have the power to absolve sins. In the name of God, you will not hinder us," Jeremiah said taking the cross out to show him.
"Is that what you think? Did you really think those crosses could absolve the damned? Are you even certain the shades you absolved are even real? You have been weighed down for nothing. No...they are useless here. You might as well abandon them here," Lucifer told them.
"You lie," Jeremiah accused.
"Did you notice how convenient it was that you always ran into your past adversaries? Did you notice some of these souls didn't seem to belong where they were placed?" Lucifer smiled amused.
Kara gave Jeremiah an uncertain look as doubt began to creep in. Lucifer then walked off his throne towards them. "You were expecting a giant up to his waist in ice, sobbing, and flapping his wings in futility?" he asked them. "Quite the opposite, in fact. I prowl the multiverse seeking souls to devour like a lion completely free. I am the god of your world. Every kingdom and nation including your pitiful creation in the 31st century...is mine."
1st Circle
Ulquiorra looked over the injured Super-Friends as the battle raged around them. "You fight well in the new style but you have caused me enough trouble. Now, I will shred you apart."
"I got him," Kelly volunteered. She attacked Ulquiorra one-on-one with her stinger blade. Ulquiorra easily blocked her blade and then spun her to the ground with his staff.
Mon charged Ulquiorra only to miss him entirely. Ulquiorra swung his staff down on his back slamming him to the ground and then kicked him away. The others didn't fare much better forcing them into a defensive huddle. "Now...exactly at what point did we lose control here?" Nia asked incredulously.
"Maybe somebody needs to tell him we're the good guys," James said dryly.
"Any thoughts?" Winn asked.
"I only have one thought. This asshole knows where Jeremiah is," Mon said getting back up. The group charged Ulquiorra on all sides except for Lena who kept back to get a shot on him.
Winn clashed with Ulquiorra with his staff. He was quickly disarmed. Winn then resorted to kicks and punches that all missed. Ulquiorra then used his staff to flip him away. Nia then came next whirling her whip sword. Ulquiorra took the offensive forcing her to retract her whip into a compact blade to block him. Ulquiorra then positioned his staff inside her leg and flipped her away. James swung at Ulquiorra with his shield missing each time. Ulquiorra got behind him and flipped him away at the leg. Mon engaged Ulquiorra next and stood his ground for several seconds with clashes on both sides. Mon sliced into Ulquiorra's shoulder. Finally, Ulquiorra swatted Mon away with a hit to his back. Ulquiorra's shoulder wound quickly regenerated.
The Super-Friends regrouped smarting from getting their asses kicked. "Where's Jeremiah?" Mon demanded.
"Oh, the Crusader. So, he has a name? He had a name," Ulquiorra taunted.
"You lie," Mon accused and then charged him.
Ulquiorra quickly disarmed Mon, flipped him over, and then placed his staff at his throat. "Surrender your weapons. Now!"
9th Circle
Lucifer walked between Kara and Jeremiah without fear of them. "Your friends in the first circle will not survive and your sister will soon be a permanent resident of my forest. At this point, you should be on your knees begging for mercy."
"We did not come here to beg or make deals with you. You will release my daughter or I will destroy you," Jeremiah said confidently.
Lucifer gave an amused smile. "After everything I told you, you still feel you have a chance against me?"
"With God, I can do anything," Jeremiah replied.
"God does not exist in this place," Lucifer sneered. "It is absolute zero here where God's presence cannot even be detected. You are alone."
"Even if we are alone, we can still take down a schmuck like you," Kara said confidently.
"You two are the epitome of a broken system. You both have committed grievous sins of murder, blasphemy, corruption, lies, and treason. And yet, here you stand before me believing yourselves completely vindicated because of your faith alone. It is an obscene loophole lacking all justice," Lucifer accused.
"You ask for justice. We only ask for mercy," Jeremiah replied.
"When this battle is finished, you will beg for me to encase you completely in the ice. And being a generous lord, I will grant your request," Lucifer told them.
1st Circle
The Super-Friends threw their weapons over the side of the plateau. Ulquiorra smirked keeping his staff at Mon's throat. "Fools. Even with the loss of one, you might still have been able to defeat me," Ulquiorra chided.
In the battle, living trees threw debris at the limbo army. The castles and walls were blasted open by catapult fire and rams. Hell's army swarmed the city of limbo forcing the defenders to block them at every level of their fortress. Giant worms from the third circle erupted from the ground scattering limbo formations. The hurricane from the second circle began to rise and move towards limbo. The limbo infantry dug in as Hell's army pushed on their shields. Towards the rear, medics went to work healing as many of the men as they could with orange shields.
"You are defenseless and your armies are lost. There is no hope for you," Ulquiorra told them.
9th Circle
Jeremiah and Kara took either side of Lucifer with their swords drawn. Lucifer whirled his double-bladed sword as he eyed them both. For a moment, two additional faces appeared on his head, one to his right, and the other to the left as if to mock their strategy. Kara attacked aggressively from behind while Jeremiah charged forward. The three clashed violently several times until Lucifer was able to escape to the side. Jeremiah and Kara both clashed with Lucifer's double-blade hoping to slice it in two and get to him.
Lucifer kept up a defensive posture as the two aggressively circled around him and tried to find an opening. While blocking Kara, Lucifer kicked Jeremiah to the icy floor stunning him. Kara rushed Lucifer forcing him back towards the very center of hell filled with bridges overlooking a bottomless pit. Lucifer retreated towards the bridge leading to the pit with Kara casually following him.
"You're not so bad," Kara said becoming more confident.
By herself, Kara struck at Lucifer several times, blocked each time. Lucifer twirled his double-bladed sword to try to disarm her without success. Jeremiah joined the fight once more. With their combined efforts, Jeremiah and Kara forced Lucifer to retreat further still towards the bridge. Lucifer blocked Jeremiah's blade and kicked Kara to the chin sending her to the floor. Jeremiah took the fight to Lucifer as Kara quickly got back up. Lucifer cast Jeremiah aside only to be nearly struck by Kara. Jeremiah and Kara then forced Lucifer towards the pit. Seeing the danger, Lucifer jumped onto the bridge. Without hesitation, Jeremiah and Kara followed him landing on the bridge and striking at him at the same time. Lucifer blocked their blades at the same time and grinned menacingly.
7th Circle
Alex's transformation became more rapid as her arms were forced over her head and became tree branches. Her fingers extended into smaller branches. Her legs were now forced together into a trunk. All that remained human at this point were her torso and her head. The Harpies flew around Alex waiting to get at her. There was nothing more satisfying than hearing the screams of a fresh tree.
"With your permission," John asked her.
Alex nodded tearfully, the transformation being excruciating to her body. John then climbed onto her branches until he reached as high as he could. As the Harpies came closer, John fired his shotgun and pistol at them causing their bodies to explode in midair. John kept this up until the Harpies retreated away.
1st Circle
Ulquiorra turned away from the Super-Friends and back towards the pit as if sensing something was wrong. "It has begun," he realized, a look of genuine concern on his face.
9th Circle
On the bridge, Jeremiah and Kara engaged Lucifer at the same time from different sides. Lucifer struggled to fend them off at the same time. Finally, he forced Kara's blade to the floor and kicked her off the bridge. Jeremiah gave a horrified look as Kara fell into the bottomless pit. However, under this bridge were several lower bridges all connecting to deeper levels of the pit. Kara slammed onto a lower bridge and nearly lost her grip. With the weight of her cross, she was barely able to hold on. Jeremiah retaliated by bitch-slapping Lucifer off the bridge. Lucifer slammed his back onto a lower bridge stunned. Jeremiah dropped down and continued to engage him one-on-one. Lucifer kicked him away and got back to his feet. Jeremiah aggressively charged after Lucifer at an entirely new level of power. With each clash, Jeremiah's sword created sparks of fire while Lucifer's blade remained ice solid.
Kara was tempted to toss her cross to get back up. Upon seeing Jeremiah fighting Lucifer, she quickly realized he had been holding back for her sake. He was fine on his own. With a cry of effort, she pulled herself back onto the bridge. Jeremiah gave no fucks as he went for Lucifer's legs, attempted to disarm him, and went for his head. Lucifer was forced back to the other side of the pit. Kara attempted to join them but the ice began to freeze her boots to the floor. She fell to a knee exhausted as the cross weighed her down. The ice went up to her legs making it difficult for her to move. At this rate, she would never be able to catch up. As she placed her hand on the bridge to steady herself, it also became frozen.
Jeremiah kept his focus on Lucifer and continued to duel him on the other side of the pit on an icy plain. Lucifer continued to remain defensive but then tried a trick move. He took the hilt of his double blade to ram into Jeremiah's chin to stun him. Jeremiah slammed his sword down on the hilt cutting it in half. There was a loud echo off the wall upon the hit. Jeremiah then kicked Lucifer to the ground and immediately went for the kill. Lucifer kicked Jeremiah's blade sending it into the floor and scrambled to get back to his feet. Jeremiah chased after him nearly slicing his back. Lucifer turned around and fought back with only a single blade. The two clashed repeatedly with expert swordsmanship until Jeremiah slammed his blade on Lucifer's and attempted to overpower him. Lucifer resisted Jeremiah from slicing into his shoulder. Suddenly, Lucifer punched Jeremiah to the face with enough force to send him into the pit.
"No!" Kara shrieked as she saw it from a distance.
Lucifer went over the edge of the pit to inspect and found Jeremiah gone.
1st Circle
As Ulquiorra stared down in the pit, a dagger sliced through his back. "What?" he gasped. Lena smirked as Hank's dagger made its mark.
"When did you take that?" Nia asked surprised.
"I found Hank before the battle," Lena explained.
Mon freed himself, disarmed Ulquiorra of his staff, and then sliced off his left arm, wing, and leg with it. Ulquiorra fell to the ground dumbfounded.
9th Circle
Kara gave a scream of rage as she broke through the ice and charged Lucifer with all her strength. She had lost her entire adopted family to this being and now he was going to pay. "Surrender," Lucifer said to her.
"Never!" Kara shouted at him and then engaged him with a flurry of undisciplined attacks. Her emotions overwhelming her, she frayed about with her sword. Lucifer merely evaded her strikes, backed away, and occasionally blocked her. Kara then got closer to him and went all on offense disregarding any attempt at defense. Lucifer remained on the defensive slamming her back. Kara finally knocked Lucifer off balance and sent him to a knee. Kara slammed him repeatedly with her sword to get the kill. Lucifer blocked several times as he was being slammed and then finally, Kara cut off his hand disarming him. Lucifer fell to the floor stunned and crying out in pain.
A furious Kara placed her sword edge at his neck. Lucifer held out his left hand pathetically to try to keep her blade at bay. Kara smiled with violent energy. She had done it. She had taken down Lucifer like the OP superhero that she was. Nothing could stop her, not even an angel. She was the most badass bitch that ever lived. She was going to slice his head off and then throw it into the pit. Just as Kara was about to do so, she heard an amused crackle from behind.
Kara turned around and saw Lucifer casually watching her with an amused expression. "Good...good," he complimented. Kara turned back and saw Jeremiah on the floor, maimed, and defeated before her. "Your hate has made you powerful," Lucifer remarked.
Kara backed away horrified at what she had done. She threw away her sword unable to trust her senses or instincts. Everything around her was a lie and nothing could be trusted. "Now, you'll take your rightful place in hell for all your sins," Lucifer taunted.
Kara fell to a knee as the excitement and rush faded away and the weight of her cross came back. "You never had true faith. You only wore it on your sleeves for your own benefit. You're no different than the souls of limbo, worse even. You engaged in unnatural lust with a great many lovers. Even your lust for your husband is not grounded in the creation of life but mere pleasure. You drank and ate the richest foods while others starved to death. Your greed could never be satisfied. Your wrath could be triggered by the slightest provocation. You preached heresies of all sorts to the masses as if it were some kind of game. Your violence has sent a great many souls to my care, always killing as a first resort. You're full of lies, fraud, corruption, theft, false counsel, and mockery. You're a traitor to your kin, your guests, your land, and your God. You deserve to be here, Kara Zor-El," Lucifer accused.
"Fuck you," Kara replied as she became a frozen statue up to her waist.
"Now, you're going to offer yourself in place of your sister, aren't you?" Lucifer asked condescendingly.
"You couldn't get to me so you went after her, instead. I was always your target from the beginning. You exploited my weakness," Kara accused. "There will be no deal. You will free my sister, my father, and all my friends now," Kara ordered.
"Even with all your sin and weakness, you think to give me orders?" Lucifer questioned.
"That's right, asshole," Kara said as she became frozen up to her chest.
Lucifer came closer to her and looked around as nothing happened. "Seems like God no longer has your back anymore."
1st Circle
Ulquiorra quickly regenerated his leg and got back to his feet. He pulled out the dagger with his right arm and threw it on the ground disdainfully. The Super-Friends watched dismayed as his left arm and wing also quickly regenerated. "You're out of tricks now," he said to them.
"What do we do now?" Nia wondered.
"We fucking pray," James realized.
Ulquiorra whirled his staff back into his hands as the Super-Friends knelt down in prayer hoping for deliverance. "Exactly the right position I want you to be when I behead you all and toss your heads off this plateau," he said coldly.
The Super-Friends ignored him and then there were suddenly three flashes of light across limbo in the form of giant crosses the size of skyscrapers. Ulquiorra backed away from the Super-Friends in apprehension. The light from the three crosses bathed the battlefield in blinding light. Hell's army immediately scattered in terror and went back towards the pit. The three large crosses appeared on the corners of limbo for all to see.
"So...you think you have friends...in high places," Ulquiorra muttered and then pinched the air. "You're all still trash," he said insultingly and then went through the portal back to his own circle.
The limbo army got on their knees and then bowed their heads upon the appearance of the three crosses. The battle was over.
9th Circle
Three glowing figures appeared next to Kara. They were Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Lucifer eyed them with annoyance at being interrupted. Gabriel lightly touched the ice on Kara shattering it and freeing her. Raphael went over to Jeremiah and healed his hand. Michael came before Lucifer to declare God's verdict. "You are to release your hold on Alexandra Danvers."
"As you say," Lucifer replied without resistance.
Michael then turned to Jeremiah. "You will return home now. Your quest is complete. Your daughter has been absolved and saved."
"No," Jeremiah replied.
"No?" Michael wondered.
"You will return her soul back to her body and heal her," Jeremiah demanded.
The three angels looked at each other incredulously and then Michael turned back to Jeremiah. "Your daughter is saved. That should be sufficient for you."
"She has the potential to grow in grace and save others. You will not deny her that. She only died because of what God allowed him to do," Jeremiah said referring to Lucifer.
"You're taking a risk she'll end up in hell again. We will not grant you a second time," Gabriel warned.
"I have given you my petition. Let God's will be done," Jeremiah said stubbornly.
"Very well. We shall all go to her spirit together so you collect her spirit, yourself," Raphael said.
Jeremiah shook his head. "Say the word and I'll know it's done."
The three angels stared at Jeremiah. Even Lucifer was smirking from his throne. "It's done," Michael said finally.
Kara began to cry happy tears that froze as they hit the floor. "Thank you," she said appreciatively to the angels.
"Do not thank us. Your father's faith has saved your sister," Michael replied.
"I have one more...request," Jeremiah said fatigued from the battle.
"More to say, do you?" Gabriel asked.
"With the exception of me, erase their memories of this quest," Jeremiah said.
Kara gave Jeremiah a horrified look. "Why? I need to remember this. I need to remember how much I fucked up on. I've learned so much on this quest. This is proof of the afterlife. I need to know this," Kara said to him.
"If you know...you don't have faith," Jeremiah replied.
"So...only you get to know? Why's that?" Kara asked tearfully.
"I'm not long for the living. It's okay if I know," Jeremiah said softly.
"We understand your reasoning, Jeremiah," Raphael allowed. "It will be done at the appropriate time."
Jeremiah then turned to Lucifer casually sitting on his throne drinking a goblet of wine. "Even with the little time you have left, Jeremiah, you will still be tested. We shall see whether you are truly deserving of salvation," Lucifer told him.
"Kneel," Jeremiah ordered him.
Lucifer gave him a disgusted look but then felt compelled to walk over to Jeremiah. He resisted with each step but was then forced into a kneeling position with his head bowed low to Jeremiah. "Now, we can go," Jeremiah said to the angels.
1st Circle
The citizens of limbo celebrated their glorious victory by dancing in the streets, drinking, and fireworks in the skies. Statues of Lucifer and other demons were toppled all over the limbo city. The medics quickly healed all those who had been horribly injured in the battle. The Super-Friends joined in on the celebrations and were later joined by John, Kara, and Jeremiah.
"Where's Alex?" Kelly asked alarmed.
"She's already home," Kara assured her.
Jeremiah shook John's hand for a job well-done and embraced Mon as his son-in-law. Turning back, he saw Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael watching from a distance seemingly amused by the celebrations. Jeremiah gave them a nod and became the man of the hour. After the Super-Friends left to go back home, the limbo painters and sculptures created visual representations of them that would exist for all eternity.
Vatican City
The Super-Friends all came together in St. Peter's Basilica via a portal looking torn up but in good spirits. Priests arrived on the scene to take their weapons and crosses.
Father Luigi then approached the group. "The souls you absolved in hell will be released during next Sunday's mass. How was your journey?"
"It couldn't have gone better," John said dryly.
"The Holy Father will be pleased to hear it. We await your report, John," Father Luigi said.
"I'll get right on it," John said sarcastically.
Father Luigi then departed from the group. "I feel like we're forgetting someone," Nia sensed.
Hank then phased into the basilica looking pissed-off. "Wait...how did you get back?" Kara asked confused.
"Fuck you, that's how," he said grumpily and then handed his cross off to a random priest.
"I'll be on my way. I'm going to take a long vacation," John said to the group.
"Thank you...for everything," Kara embraced him.
"No problem. Just remember, this isn't the end of the spiritual battle. It's just the beginning," John reminded her and then walked off.
"Mon, let's go to the DEO," Jeremiah said eagerly.
Everyone held hands as Mon instantly teleported them all to the DEO.
DEO Fortress, Metropolis
The Super-Friends instantly arrived inside the DEO and immediately settled in the recreation room to chill. "A drink?" Lena offered, getting out bottles of wine.
"Please," James said fatigued.
"Thanks," Winn said as Lena poured him a glass.
"I'm good," Nia said staring off into space.
Brainiac 5 then entered the room starling them all. "Holy shit!" they all shouted upon seeing him as he had the exact appearance of Ulquiorra.
"Interesting reaction. I have been able to reactivate all of my drones and am now back to being fully functional," Brainiac 5 said.
"That's great...Barney," Lena said still shell-shocked at seeing him. Nia simply looked away and walked off.
"Is there data I'm missing here?" Brainiac 5 asked.
Kelly eyed Brainiac 5 tearfully and saw the face of the demon that had tortured her and buried her alive. "How is Alex?"
"She's made a remarkable recovery that I cannot explain," Brainiac 5 said. "I think it best to see her one at a time." Kelly nodded and then went to see Alex in her hospital room.
Meanwhile, Kara and Jeremiah were outside. "You going to see Alex?" Kara asked.
"After the others. I know she's fine," Jeremiah replied.
"I know we saved her from hell and that's a really impressive accomplishment but I feel guilty for putting her in that situation in the first place," Kara admitted.
"You won't feel guilt for much longer," Jeremiah told her.
"Why must you carry everything on your shoulders?" Kara asked him.
"I'm her father. When your children get into trouble, the burden will be yours," Jeremiah said gently.
"If she doesn't remember what you did for her, she may still hate you again," Kara pointed out.
"It's okay," Jeremiah allowed. "It will all work out in the end. Go inside and be with her."
In her hospital room, Alex and Kelly embraced and kissed. Her brain had been fully repaired to what it had been, the bullet wounds were gone, and her hair was back to before. It was as if nothing had happened to her. Brainiac 5 merely watched as the two held each other not wanting to let go. Nia then came up to Brainiac 5 but kept her distance.
"I'm sensing hostility from you all," Brainiac 5 noted.
"We went to hell to bring back Alex's soul. There was a demon that looked and talked just like you. He did horrible things to us," Nia explained.
"I see," Brainiac 5 said without emotion.
"Do you believe me?" Nia asked.
"I don't believe in anything. Suffice to say I cannot explain what has happened here. Can you tell me if I change my appearance to someone else?" Brainiac 5 asked.
"No, stay as you are. This face is yours. That demon shall not take your face from you...or from me," Nia replied.
"As you wish," Brainiac 5 said and then gestured for them to talk alone.
Alex then entered the recreation room where she was embraced by every Super-Friend. "I'm sorry I wasn't much help," Hank said sincerely.
"Are you at peace now?" Alex asked him.
"I am...at last," Hank said smiling.
Lena found Kara alone in the command center. "It's a miracle. Alex is on her feet and talking like it never happened," she told her.
"I know," Kara said looking at the surveillance cameras.
"Why don't you see her?" Lena asked concernedly.
"I shouldn't see any of you. It was my fault Alex was targeted by Lucifer and killed. It was my fault her soul was sent to hell. It's my fault you all had to suffer in hell. We could have lost. I risked all of your souls down there," Kara said sadly. "I should go back to my time and never come back."
Lena gave her a sympathetic look. "Lucifer went after you and Alex because you are forces for good in this world. If you isolate yourself in your sorrow, then Lucifer will have won."
Kara nodded. "I absolved your mother," she brought up.
"Thank you," Lena said sincerely. "I saw my father in hell. I absolved him, too."
"Lionel?" Kara questioned.
"The last years of his life, I rarely saw him. I was gone to prep school and getting into all sorts of trouble. But you were there with him all the time in Midvale with Lex, right?" Lena asked hopefully.
"Yeah," Kara said wondering where she was going with this.
"Could you tell me how he was up to the end?" Lena asked.
"It's a long story," Kara began.
Outside on the balcony, Mon and Jeremiah rested in armchairs while smoking cigars and having glasses of whiskey. Alex finally came outside and noticed them. "Can I speak to my father alone?" she asked Mon.
"Of course," Mon allowed and proceeded to finish his cigar before going back inside.
Alex eyed Jeremiah as he looked aged and exhausted in his chair. "I can never repay for you what you have done for me. You saved my soul and my life. You fought Lucifer, himself. There's not a man on this Earth in all of human history that is braver than you."
"It's okay, Alex," Jeremiah said softly. "It's just a father's duty."
"I am so sorry for how I have treated you. I was so wrong about you," Alex said apologetically.
"We have both been wrong about each other," Jeremiah allowed.
"For the rest of my life, I will feel indebted to you," Alex said sincerely.
Jeremiah got to his feet. "No, you won't. In a few hours, you won't remember any of this."
Alex gave him a shocked look. "I'll be back to being a bitch to you," she said horrified.
"I know," Jeremiah said unconcernedly.
"What if I fail again?" Alex asked fearfully.
Jeremiah went to embrace her. "You didn't fail the first time. Go to your sister while you still can."
Alex entered the command center and found Kara and Lena smiling and chuckling about Lionel and Lex back during the Midvale days. Upon seeing Alex enter, Lena took her leave. "We'll take later," Lena said and then exited.
"You avoiding me?" Alex asked Kara.
"Yeah," Kara said honestly.
"Dad says we only have a few more hours to remember what happened," Alex brought up. "So, we should talk."
"What's the point?" Kara wondered.
"Maybe even if we don't remember, a part of our soul still does. Why, Kara? Why do you fight so hard for me?" Alex asked.
"To fill the gap my parents failed to fill during my childhood," Kara said clinically.
"Don't bullshit me, Kara," Alex shook her head.
"It's because deep down you're a really good person and...deep down...I am not," Kara replied tearfully. "I want to be like you and I can't no matter how much I try. So, just being around you, makes me a better person, the person I want to be."
"If that's true...we should never be separated," Alex vowed. "In this time or any other time."
"You're not going to remember this promise," Kara shook her head.
"This last hour, I want to spend it with you. Give me all your pain and struggle," Alex offered.
Kara suddenly broke down and began to sob bitterly with Alex embracing her.
Midvale
The next day, the only one to remember what had happened was Jeremiah. He went before Eliza's grave. As it happened, Alex came up to him having been told where he was. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for the funeral. I got Covid and had to be quarantined," Alex said apologetically.
"It's alright," Jeremiah allowed.
"I would have wished for her to have seen my wedding. I know she would have been happy to come," Alex said mournfully.
"Wedding?" Jeremiah asked.
"Kelly and I are getting married soon. It has to be after your birthday because Kara has something big planned for you. You going to show up?" Alex asked.
"No," Jeremiah said softly.
Alex gave him a pissed-off expression. "If only you had died...and she had lived," she said tearfully and then walked off.
Jeremiah sighed deep in thought. As soon as Alex had left, Jeremiah saw the spirit of Eliza before him. "Thank you, for saving our daughter. Peace be with you for the remainder of your days." Eliza said then disappeared.
Jeremiah felt an ache in his heart. "I'll be seeing you soon, my love," he said and then placed flowers at her grave.
Author's Notes:
*Jeremiah's importance to AOS and his heroism is the inverse to CW. He has always been in the background of Midvale and AOS for better or worse. For some, he is the epitome of awesome and virtue. For others, his religious views and conservative politics are troublesome. In the middle of all this is whether CW canceling Dean Cain was appropriate for the story and in general. He wasn't a character I wanted everyone to accept. He simply represents ideas and people that exist in our world. Fatherhood trumps all other considerations in AOS.
*Hank kind of got the shaft in this adventure but he got his desired wish for his family and has centuries left in him. I felt Rising Spirit was his shining moment.
*I tried to give James, Nia, Winn, Kelly, Mon, and John Constantine healthy amounts of respect for their efforts. While Kelly wasn't the main hero of this adventure, her life with Alex has just begun. A recent spouse is important but there must be time to grow in the relationship. Mon remains Kara's greatest support and finally has a moral/spiritual awakening of his own.
*Alex was the 'victim' of this adventure in the harshest realities but the determination of her friends and family hopefully showed how important she is to them. She's my favorite AOS character for her complexity and keeping it real as a grounded human character.
*Kara does the maximum good by absolving all those she had killed in previous seasons while also contributing to saving Alex. I wanted to show her constant struggle with her conscience and goal.
For the religious, I hope this was a spiritual journey of a sort. For the non-religious, I hope it was entertaining. I invite anyone of any stripe to dive deep into Dante's Divine Comedy and other theological works. We're reaching the end of AOS and I appreciate those who were able to make it this far. You are, indeed, in the 9th Circle of AOS.