Her first day as acting Editor is nearly done. Nia sits back comfortably in the chair at Kara's desk, eyes transfixed out the balcony opening at the breathtaking cornucopia of dazzling colors illuminating the sky as the sun slowly sets over National City. She closes her eyes for a moment as she ruminates on how overwhelmed she felt when she walked in first thing that morning, her relief and renewed confidence after reviewing the plans for the day with Jess and Nathalie, how exhilarated she felt after successfully navigating the in-and-outs of managing her first pitch meeting without Cat or Kara, and, as the day's exhaustion settles in, her amazement at how effortlessly Kara makes it all look so easy everyday. She smiles to herself and chuckles quietly at the thought of her extraordinary friend and mentor.

As she turns the chair to look out on the nearly empty bullpen area she notices just a few reporters still busy at their stations, as well as Jess and Nathalie together at the assistant's desk outside of her temporary office. Nia rises from the chair, walks across the office, steps outside, and addresses the pair, "Ladies, I trust you're both starting to wind down for the day." She smiles slyly, winks, and jokingly continues, "Don't need everyone to think I'm a vicious, tyrannical slave driver on my first day in charge."

Both ladies grin broadly and chuckle as Nathalie puts a hand on Nia's shoulder and says, "No danager of that, Ms. Nal. You did a great job today."

Nia smiles appreciatively. "Nat, after everything you've done for me the last few months and, given our present working circumstances, I think you've more than earned the right to call me Nia. Besides," Nia puts a hand on Jess' shoulder and grins, "Jess has been calling me Nia for years now. Isn't that right, Jess?"

Jess looks up at her with a mischievous grin and says, "That's right, Ms. Nal."

Nia feins emotional distress as she grasps at her chest, giggles, and says, "Et tu, Brute?!"

All three of them laugh gregariously for a moment but then quickly stop as they hear the ding of the service bell on the private elevator as the cab stops, door slides open, and Cat Grant steps out."

"Ms. Grant," Nia acknowledges her. "How can we help you?"

Cat looks at the three of them in her usual commanding and overtly intimidating demeanor for a moment before softening her expression a bit. "Ladies, I just wanted to stop by to make sure that our first day sans Kiera didn't result in any irreparable complications. Though I imagine the hysterical laughter I heard before the elevator door opened should be a positive sign… I wouldn't be me if I wasn't just a bit skeptical." She turns her head to Nia, smiles slyly, and motions for Nia to follow her into Kara's office.

Nia gives them both a relaxed nod and smiles as she follows Cat, but giggles a bit to herself as she hears Jess ask Nathalie, "Who's Kiera?" She closes the office doors behind her, turns, and finds Cat sitting comfortably on one of the sofas, with her back to the doors, tapping the cushion with her hand. She makes her way over, sits down, and asks, "How are you this evening, Ms. Grant?"

Cat smiles warmly at her and replies, "I'm good, Nia. Now that we're alone… you can dispense with the formalities." Cat relaxes herself a bit which Nia picks up on, relaxing herself. Cat continues, "I did want to stop by and make sure the first day went well. I imagine with your husband and two of your closest friends halfway across the galaxy things might have been a bit overwhelming. I know I don't typically come off as the most compassionate, warm person, but you and your family have become very important to me and I wanted to make sure you knew that I would be here for you while they're away, if you need me."

Nia smiles affectionately and responds, "Cat, thank you. I appreciate your supportive and kind words. Today was a bit overwhelming at first, but those two amazing ladies out there stepped up in a big way to help keep me grounded and focused. With their continued assistance and your support I'm confident I can see this through until my family is all safely back home again."

Cat's grin widens and she nods encouragingly. "Good." Her expression shifts to a more serious demeanor as she remarks, "I would like for you to stop by my office to check in with me at the end of each day. Keep me posted on how things are running down here…. and, if you hear anything from Argo..".

"Absolutely," Nia agrees.

As Cat stands up she quietly refocuses herself, her expression and demeanor transforming back into "Queen of All Media" mode. She looks down at Nia, winks, turns, and makes her way out of Kara's office.

After the door to the private elevator closes Nia stands up and makes her way back out to Jess and Nathalie.

"And here I thought Lena was just exaggerating about her," Jess adds astonished.

"Nope," Nia comments, "if anything, I'd guess that Lena probably undersold it a bit, am I right?"

Jess smirks, holds up her thumb and forefinger with a just a slight separation, and says sarcastically, "Just a bit." As she puts her fingers down she asks, "Everything good, Nia?"

Nia nods affirmatively. "Yes, but do me a favor. Add a 5:15 pm meeting between Cat and me in her office to the calendar each day until Kara returns. Copy Nat on it in case I get called away for some reason."

Jokingly, Nathalie adds, "Gee, thanks, Nia. I didn't get you anything!"

Nia smiles warmly as she puts a comforting hand on Nathalie's shoulder and replies, "Sure you did! You just called me 'Nia'!" They all laugh again for a few moments before the sound of heels clicking behind them catches their attention. Nia turns around to find Alex and Maeve walking up to them.

Maeve gives her sister a playful smile, taps her wrist watch's face, and says, "Did you lose track of time? We told you we'd be here at 5:30 to pick you up."

Nia walks over, hugs them both, and says, "Sorry, Cat dropped by unexpectedly. Let me go grab my things and we can head out." As she turns to head back in to grab her stuff from Kara's office she says to Jess and Nathalie, "I'll see you two in the morning. Don't stick around here too much longer, okay?" They both nod in agreement.

Later that evening at Nia's and Brainy's loft, it's ladies night to celebrate Dana's 21st birthday. The dining room table is littered with partially consumed and nearly empty takeout food containers, bottles of white wine, red wine, and scotch sit upon the kitchen island, and boisterous conversation fills the whole space. In the living room Alex and Kelly are seated comfortably on the loveseat, next to them Dana has taken up residence in Lena's favorite Game Night chair, and Maeve and Nia are seated next to each other on the sofa.

"I don't know how to thank you all for this impromptu birthday dinner," Dana exclaims. "Between everything that happened earlier this year, my transfer, and the move… I wasn't sure I really wanted to make a fuss about it."

Alex lifts her scotch glass and says, "Are you kidding, you don't turn 21 everyday. There was no way we were going to let you spend your first birthday in National City alone. You're a part of this team… this family… now. Happy Birthday, Dana!" They all tap glasses in honor of the special occassion.

"Thank you," Dana replies appreciatively as she takes a sip of her red wine.

Nia smiles devilishly and remarks, "I'm just sorry Kara didn't leave a bottle of alien alcohol behind when she moved out. When she, Lena, and Brainy get a back from Argo we'll have to go to Al's for Karaoke Night and get you something you'll actually feel."

"You heard me sing up there over the summer," Dana retorts jovially, "you think getting me drunk is gonna help that!?"

They laugh as Alex adds, "Don't beat yourself up. Apparently Kara's 'Glee'-ready voice isn't a byproduct of her exposure to Earth's yellow sun. Just be thankful our friend Winn isn't still here, too. Having to follow a Kara and Winn Karaoke duet was like staring down Cat Grant when her morning latte isn't the correct temperature." The laughter intensifies at Alex's remark.

Nia takes a deep breath to calm herself, turns toward Dana, and changing the subject, mentions, "Hey, Alex mentioned your Mom's selling the farm and planning to move to National City."

Dana nods, "She is. Wasn't an easy decision for her. She and my Dad inherited that farm from her parents who had worked that land for more than forty years before them. Our family has a lot of amazing memories there, but after what happened to me earlier this year and all the chaos that X-Kryptonite has caused in Smallville… she decided it is time for a fresh start."

"Speaking of X-Kryptonite," Kelly inquires, "is that going to cause any issues for her putting the farm on the market?"

"Unfortunately," Dana nods and responds, "the DOD has stepped in and invoked 'eminent domain'. They want to excavate the land and remove all the X-Kryptonite. When they discovered she was going to put the farm on the market they immediately stepped in. They're paying her a generous price for the land, but we're pretty sure they're going to tear down all the structures so they can unearth every last bit of the stuff. My Mom and Mayor Cushing were not too happy."

Alex asks, "Did your Mom talk to Lois or Clark to see if maybe they could get Lois' Dad to help?"

"She did," Dana confirms. "It was Lois' Dad that got the DOD to double their initial proposed offer for the land. He tried to get them to agree to not destroy the house and barn, but they refused to guarantee that in the final agreement."

Maeve takes a sip of her wine and asks, "When does she anticipate moving out here?"

"Well," Dana answers, "the DOD is being very flexible with her about vacating the farm. Her final crops should be ready to harvest in the next few weeks and then she asked for at least eight more weeks after that to find a new place here. So far they've been very accommodating. Lena was kind enough to put us in contact with the real estate agent she said helped her friend Sam find a nice place here several years ago. My Mom will be out week after next so we can start looking at places together."

Alex takes a sip of her scotch, smiles reassuringly, and comments, "If that agent can find you a place even half as nice as the house they found for Sam and Ruby, you and your Mom will be very happy. Their house was beautiful."

"Good to know," Dana remarks with an appreciative grin before asking, "Hey, I know it's only been a couple of days, but have you heard anything from Argo?"

"Not much," Alex answers. "Kelex contacted me at the DEO yesterday to confirm that the Legion ship had arrived safely on Argo, but that's all I've heard so far."

"Kelex?" Maeve questions curiously.

Nia puts a hand on her sister's knee and replies, "Kelex is a caretaker android that maintains Kal's and Kara's Artic fortress. Whenever Alura or Zor-El need to contact us they contact Kelex at the Fortress and Kelex reaches out to us."

Maeve turns to face her sister with an inquisitive grin. "Okay, not that my curiosity isn't now peaked about caretaker androids and Arctic fortresses, but I'm still not sure I totally understand what Brainy, Kara, and Lena traveled to Argo for."

Alex's finishes the last of the scotch in her glass, leans forward to set her glass on the coffee table, sits back, snuggles up against her wife, and begins to impart the story surrounding Kandor's final days that Kara and Lena shared with them the other night, as well as their rescue of the city from Brainiac. As Maeve and Dana listen intently to Alex, Nia sits back, relaxes, and closes her eyes…

A moment later her eyes pop back open only to be blinded by the bright glow of a radiant red sun overhead. She lifts a hand to shield her eyes as she looks around at her unfamiliar surroundings. In the distance behind her she can just make out a small rural village comprised of several rustic dwellings, an artisans' pavilion, and well maintained fields full of bountiful crops. A quarter mile or so ahead of her she spots the ornate, towering metallic spires of a grand, but unfamiliar metropolis. As she begins to make her way towards the alien metroplex she blinks her eyes and when they reopen she instantly finds herself in center of the vast, sprawling city she was on the outskirts of just moments before.

Curiousity grips her as she turns to begin exploring her new surroundings, admiring the grand architecture of the majestic buildings and the scenic landscaping of the park-like city hub, but her attention is immediately diverted by the disturbing realization that nothing else in her vicinity appears to be moving. A couple sitting on a bench staring at each other with smiles frozen on their faces… bird-like creatures hanging still in the sky, wings mid-flap… men and women making their way in-and-out of a building close by, some anchored in place mid-step in the process of making their way up or down the stairs. Even the stillness in the air around her is unnerving as she observes flags attached to posts and poles all around her hanging freely, but are fixed and inexplicably rigid.

A chill travels up her spine as she maneuvers her way through the unanimated populous, careful not to disturb anyone as she desperately tries to determine where she is. Looking around at the buildings, signs, and flags she realizes that even though she cannot decipher the language… it is not wholly unfamiliar. The symbols that comprise most of what she assumes to be words are geometric in nature. Diamonds, lines, rectangles, dots, and circles, but one symbol in particular… a familiar pentagonal shape around what appears to be a figure eight… is eerily reminiscent of Kara's El family crest. As her mind begins to register what she is seeing she lifts a hand over her eyes, looks up, and realizes that the glowing sunshine isn't falling upon her from the atmosphere above, but shining through what appears to be a protective shell encompassing everything around her. In that moment she understands… she's dreamed herself inside the stasis jar containing Krypton's capital city… she's in Kandor.

Taking a moment to allow the astonishment of her current circumstance to soak in a blinding white light fills her field of view and she places a hand over her tightly closed eyes until the light begins to fade. When she lowers her hand and opens her eyes she finds herself standing in a dimly lite, unoccupied atrium. Looking around she catches sight of a cloaked, hooded figure at the top of a staircase, but unlike all the other people she has encountered so far this person is slowly walking out of her line of sight. "Hey!" Nia shouts at the figure as she turns and quickly starts making her way up the staircase in pursuit.

At the top of the stairs Nia pauses, looking down the corridors ahead of her and to her left. As her head pivots around to her right she catches a glimpse of the mysterious hooded individual at the far end of a sparsely lite hall. Hurrying to follow them she notices the figure turn left into an open doorway about 30 feet ahead. Continuing down the hall towards the opening Nia's attention is caputured by the heavily refortified door about 10 feet away at the end of the corridor. Two thick, horizontal metal arms are locked in place near the top and bottom of the door and a heavy rotating latch and handle securing the arm bolts in place.

Etched into the arm at the top of the door is what appears to be a single word comprised of six symbols… a shallow L shape with a dot above it and the mirror reflection of the L shape below, a small square with a line below it, a small circle with dots above and below, a larger circle with a smaller, lined through circle below it, a small square with one dot above and two dots below, and a rectangle with a thick right side and a line to the right of it . On the lower arm she notices the symbols for two words inscribed… the first made up of a figure eight on its side with a line below it next to it a vertical line with a dot at the top right … the second consisting of five symbols ... she commits to memory before she turns to her left, looking into the open doorway.

Inside the dark room she observes what appears to be a female figure standing on a lite circular platform with a blinding white light shining down on her and two large rings spinning around her. Crumpled on the floor to the left of the figure is a tattered banner with familiar House of El crest torn in half. Laid neatly on the floor to the figure's right is a pristine banner emblazoned with an unfamiliar house crest… within the interior of the customary pentagonal boarder is what appears to be a slanted "5" with the top of the symbol bleeding into the outer rim of the boarder. As Nia crosses the threshold to try and get a better look at the woman the room goes completely dark and blue dream energy engulfs her. Her eyes go dark for a moment before her vision refocuses and she's looking at her sister, sitting on her sofa beside holding her hand, with Alex, Dana, and Kelly looking on curiously.

With concern in her voice, Maeve remarks, "Are you okay, Nia? While Alex was explaining what's happening on Argo you slipped into the dream realm."

Alex walks over, sits down next to Nia, puts a hand on her knee, and asks, "Nia, was it about Brainy, Kara, and Lena? What did you see?"

Nia takes a deep breath, looks at Maeve for a moment, squeezes her hand gently, then looks around at Alex, Dana, and Kelly before beginning to share with them the details of what she saw and experienced in dream Kandor. As she reaches the end of her tale Alex stands up from the sofa and comments, "We need to know what those words on that door meant and whose crest you saw in that room. Do you think you'd be able to draw them so we could take them to the Fortress for Kelex to identify?"

Nia looks at Alex, stands up, smiles, and begins to shift her hands around to generate dream energy. As the energy begins to flow out of her hands, she closes her eyes to concentrate on the memory of what she saw in the dream causing the energy to begin to form Kryptonian symbols in the air around the living room. She opens her eyes to see the astonished looks on her family members' faces, looks back at Alex with a pleased smile, and asks, "Think Kelex can figure it out from this?"

With a playfully sardonic grin Alex replies, "Yeah, you show off, I'm pretty sure that will work." She taps a few buttons on her wrist device to send a quick message to J'onn before looking around at everyone and asking, "Who's up for a trip to the Fortress?