It didn't take long for Hank and Alex to show up. Lena continued to read through Project Exodus. Kara watched as Lena became more and more horrified with every word she read. "Ms. Luthor, Agents Henshaw and Danvers are here to see you," Jess' voice called on the intercom.
"Send them down," Lena requested.
Minutes later Hank and Alex were back in Lena's lab. "What's going on Lena?" Alex asked. "Kara said you figured out what Project Exodus."
"Yes," Lena confirmed. "I was scanning through Lex's many files and projects. I finally found Project Exodus." Lena took a deep breath. Of all the things Lex had done this was the worst. She turned to face Hank and Alex…and Kara. "Lex is working on a device that will introduce Kryptonite into the air."
"I don't understand," Alex said slowly. "This device sounds pointless. All Kara would have to do is stay away from that spot until it cleared up."
Lena shook her head. "No Alex. This device… Lex wants to introduce Kryptonite into the atmosphere itself. It would be in the air you breathe. Kara wouldn't be able to get away from it. He plans to infect all of Metropolis and National City and eventually the entire world."
"It would kill every Kryptonian on the planet and if we managed to get Kara and Clark off the planet it would prevent them from ever returning," Hank finished.
Kara walked over to Lena and wrapped her arm around her. "It's okay Lena. We won't let this happen," Kara whispered in her ear.
"We may not be able to stop it," Lena said holding Kara against her. Was this Fate's cruel plan for her? Give her everything she had wanted only to cruelly rip it away from her? Was that how their love story would end? On separate planets, unable to ever see each other?
"How close is Lex to getting this to work?" Hank asked. On the outside he was completely calm, emotionless, but on the inside…he was panicked. He could potentially lose Kara, a child he swore to protect. If he lost Kara, he was certain to lose Alex as well. Not to mention the rampage Lena would go on if something happened to Kara. If they thought Lex was dangerous… it was nothing compared to a grieving Lena.
"I… I don't know," Lena said. "He never perfected the Kryptonite recipe. I had to finish it. Without Kryptonite the rest doesn't matter."
"Ms. Luthor…" Hank shook his head. "Lena," he corrected. "I know you don't work for the DEO but if you can find a way to finish this device so that we can find a way to stop it…"
"I'll do it," Len said quickly.
"Do you think that's Cadmus' ultimate goal? Kill off Kryptonians?" Alex asked, speaking for the first time.
"This can't be just about Kryptonians," Hank said shaking his head.
"Why not? Lex hates Kryptonians more than anything," Lena said bitterly.
"He hates all aliens," Kara corrected gently. "He may hate Kryptonians more but he hates all aliens."
Lena sighed. She pulled away from Kara and threw her fist into the glass window, causing it to shatter. "Lena," Kara exclaimed. She wrapped Lena into her arms and pulled her away from the broken glass.
Alex sighed and stepped toward Lena. "Let me see your hand," she requested. "Flex." Lena did as she was told. Alex was already angry, no need to make it worse. "Any pain?" She shook her head. "Lena."
"No pain," Lena promised.
Alex thoroughly checked her hand but didn't find broken bones. Other than a couple small cuts she was fine. The glass wall on the other hand, was not.
"I'll get someone to replace it," Lena said with a wave of her good hand. "Perhaps with bulletproof glass this time," she added as an afterthought.
Lena grabbed her laptop, extra hard drive and various papers. She didn't trust it to be left at L-Corp. She glanced at the safe, full of Kryptonite and her more dangerous projects. Lex hadn't managed to get inside this time but she wasn't sure she would be so lucky next time.
"Where do you want it?" Kara asked, seeing her eye the safe.
"The DEO would be the best place," Lena reluctantly said. She trusted the DEO but she didn't want her things, especially the Kryptonite so far away. On the other hand, there was no way Lex would be able to get to it. "Take it to the DEO."
Kara walked over and grabbed the safe. "I'll be back soon."
"You didn't have to do that," Alex told her once Kara left. "We know you're not going to use the Kryptonite."
"That's not why I did it." Lena met Alex's eyes. Alex was confused. "The DEO is one place Lex isn't stupid enough to attack. It's the safest place."
"Are you ready to go?" Alex asked.
"Not quite. I need to speak to Jess and Sam about locking down my lab," Lena answered. "I want to relocate my lab for the time being." She couldn't be without a lab for too long. She had too much to do.
"There are plenty of rooms in the DEO," Hank said. "We can convert one of the rooms for you. We just need to know what you need."
"I'll want to install my own security measures," Lena warned. "That means no one but me will be able to get in."
Hank coughed. "Actually, you won't be the only one." Lena raised an eyebrow at him. "I can walk through walls," Hank admitted. It showed a high level of trust that Hank was willing to disclose his powers to Lena.
Lena was surprised, both at his willingness to tell her about his powers and the powers themselves. "Can I have your word that you won't come inside without my permission? I have nothing to hide, however, I don't wish to put my experiments at risk."
"Very well," Hank said. "I will not go in without permission."
"Then I will relocate my lab to the DEO," Lena decided. "If you will excuse me I need to speak to Sam." Alex followed Lena out of the lab. "You don't have to follow me."
Alex raised an eyebrow at her. "Kara would never forgive me if I left you alone, even in your own building."
Lena sighed and muttered under her breath about overprotective aliens. She stopped at the elevator and grinned at Alex. "Are you sure you're not going so you can see Sam?"
Lena laughed as Alex's face turned red. "Damn Luthors," Alex muttered under her breath. Lena laughed harder.
They rode the elevator to the top floor where Lena's former office was. Out of curtesy to the acting CEO, Lena didn't storm into her office. Instead, she went to Jess' desk. "Is she busy?" Lena questioned.
"No, she's free for the next hour," Jess reported. Jess eyed Alex. She always seemed to be around Lena.
"Can we see her?" Lena asked.
"Ms. Arias," Jess said pushing the intercom button. "Ms. Luthor and Agent Danvers are here to see you."
"Send them in," came Sam's immediate reply.
"It's good to see you Ms. Luthor," Jess called as Lena and Alex went into Sam's office.
"Lena, Alex, what brings you guys here?" Sam questioned in surprise. She shouldn't be surprised. Of course, Lena would show up when her building was attacked.
"I had to clean out my lab," Lena informed her. "I'll be relocating until whoever broke into L-Corp is caught." She hated keeping things from Sam but it was necessary until Sam was clued into everything. She knew about Kara but not about Alex.
Sam nodded in understanding. "What do you need from me?" Sam asked.
"Security needs to be increased," Lena told her. "My lab will be empty by the end of the day. It will be locked up. No one will be able to get inside."
Sam made a note. "I'll increase security in the lobby and have them keep an eye on the elevator in case they try for your lab again."
"Thanks Sam," Lena said gratefully. "I'm sorry you got caught up in all of this."
Sam waved away the apology. "It's fine Lena. I'm sure I would have been caught up in this regardless." She glanced at Alex as she spoke and Lena wondered if she knew more than she let on. Did she already know Alex's involvement because of Kara?
"I'm going to head back to my lab to finish packing. I'm sure Supergirl will be back soon," Lena told Alex. Even though Sam knew about Kara it felt wrong to acknowledge it out in the open.
Alex frowned. She wanted to stay with Sam but she wanted to keep Lena safe. "I'll come with you," Alex decided. She could see Sam any time after all.
"No, you stay here," Lena insisted. "Supergirl should be back. Besides," she spun her wrist with the Kryptonian bracelet on it. "I have back up."
Alex didn't like it but she let Lena go to her lab alone. It turned out Alex was worried for nothing. Kara was standing in the middle of the lab talking to Hank. She was too far away to hear the conversation.
"Lena," Kara exclaimed when she saw the former CEO. Kara was at Lena's side before she stepped off the elevator. "Where's Alex?"
"She's with Sam still," Lena said. She relaxed when she felt Kara's arms around her. Kara pulled away and looked ready to march up to Sam's office. "Don't Kara. I'm fine. I told her to stay."
Kara frowned. "You shouldn't be alone right now."
"I refuse to hide away," Lena said firmly. As much as she understood Kara's desire to protect her, she wouldn't let Kara lock her up. "My life is always in danger. Please don't make me hide."
Kara sighed. She wanted to force Lena to stay in the DEO where she was safe, but she knew Lena would never go for it. "Okay." She ran her fingers over the bracelet Clark had given Lena. Lena had yet to use it and Kara hoped she never needed to. Kara kissed her cheek. "I need you safe. You have to promise me you will do everything you can to stay safe."
"I promise Kara," Lena said softly.
"What do you need moved?" Kara asked. "Hank mentioned you're moving your lab to the DEO."
"Yes, it's the safest place," Lena said. "Everything is going. I want this lab empty in case they come back."
"We have a car out front," Hank told her. "Kara can load the heavy things. The rest of us can help with everything else."
Lena spent the next two hours disconnecting her equipment so Kara could take it to the car. Two DEO agents helped take the smaller, lighter things down.
"That's it," Lena announced when Kara returned from taking the centrifuge down.
Kara flew her and Lena to the DEO while Hank waited for Alex with the other DEO agents. When they arrived most of Lena's lab was already stacked in an empty room. "Do you want to get the lab set up now?" Kara asked. "Or should we wait?"
Lena sighed. She didn't realize it until now but she was exhausted. Lex trying to kill her was nothing new. But now, now she had Kara to worry about, and that terrified her. If she lost Kara, she didn't know what she would do. The Luthor darkness was inside of her and she feared she would turn into Lex, or worse.
"I want my equipment set up now," Lena answered. "The rest can wait." She looked around the room. There were a few tables against the wall. She would need one more for her projects but for now this would do.
With careful instructions from Lena, Kara was able to get everything placed where Lena wanted it. Lena connected everything herself as she wanted to make sure it was done right. By the time everything was set up the way she wanted, Hank and Alex were back.
"What's with that face?" Kara asked when they walked into the lab.
"Nothing Kara," Alex said.
Kara crossed her arms over her chest. She turned to Hank. "Nothing happened Kara," he promised. "We were discussing what to do about the DEO agents, training wise."
"It will take some time but I will be making armor for the DEO agents," Lena interjected. "It will be similar to what Clark and Kara have. But I need to make it more lightweight."
"Do you have a timeline?" Hank asked curious. If this worked it would give the DEO agents a much needed advantage.
"Unfortunately no," Lena said. "It will take me time to design something and then it will need to be tested." She sifted through the many papers on the table. "Lex had some blueprints for a super suit. I want to see if I can successfully make a prototype."
"A super suit," Hank repeated.
"Yes, I believe it was his attempt to be equal against Kryptonians. Imagine how enraged he will be when he finds out I made it to help protect aliens," Lena said with a laugh.
"Maybe we shouldn't intentionally piss off Lex Luthor," Alex suggested.
"My very existence pisses off Lex," Lena reminded her.
"That's not helping in the slightest," Alex grumbled.
Kara pulled Lena into her arms, determined to keep her safe at all costs. It killed her that she couldn't protect Lena. With all her powers she couldn't fight an invisible enemy. They needed to figure out who was the head of Cadmus. And when they did, Kara was going to make them pay. There was nothing in this world that would stop Kara from protecting the woman she loved.
"You're thinking too hard," Lena muttered.
Lena laid her head on Kara's shoulder. "I'll be okay love," she muttered. She glanced Alex and nodded toward the door. Alex frowned but nodded. Lena carefully pulled away from Kara. "I need to speak to Alex really quick." She quickly kissed Kara. "No super hearing."
Kara pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. "Fine," she agreed, although she didn't like it.
"What's going on?" Alex asked confused. "Did Cadmus…"
"No," Lena said quickly. "It's not that. I wanted to talk to you about Kara's birthday."
"Kara's birthday," Alex repeated. "Your brother just broke out of prison and you want to talk about Kara's birthday?"
"I will not let Lex ruin her birthday," Lena said firmly.
"Okay," Alex said, knowing better than to argue. "Do you have a plan?"
Lena sighed. "With everything going on I haven't been able to plan. But I want to do a small gathering at my penthouse. You, me, your mother, Sam, Ruby and Clark and Lois. All her favorite foods, and Karaoke and games." Lena frowned. "I could always rent out that alien bar instead."
"You don't have to do all of this you know," Alex commented. "Kara would be fine with you two doing something."
Lena shook her head. "This is her first birthday with us being a couple. I want to do something she will love. Do you think she will like this?"
Alex put her hand on Lena's arm. "She will love this," she said confidently.
"Good," Lena said. "Will you tell your mother? It might be better coming from you."
Alex laughed. "Yeah, I will talk to her. Are you sure about Sam and Ruby coming?"
"They're family now," Lena said with a shrug. "I don't mind. I want Kara to enjoy her birthday and I know she likes Sam and Ruby." There was a pause. "Should I invite Clark and Lois?"
Alex rubbed the back of her neck. "I don't know. With Sam and Ruby there… I'll talk to Clark and see how he feels about them knowing. If he's okay with it, I'll invite them."
"Good," Lena said. She looked to her new lab where Kara was waiting. She was watching them, trying to figure out what was going on without using her powers to spy. "We should go back. Kara's self-control is slowly slipping."
Alex glanced at her sister and snorted. "You're right. Let's go."