Sevvvvvvven LONG, fun?..undecided, to get RE-decided? Newly decided settlement to a new gig, days in. In? In, to CONGRATULATIONS! Oh that? That and THEN some.

Two unfolded, set up and lined to a length tables meant for quite the organized manner, had Kara Zor-El Danvers, contemplating which story to return to the chosen pitcher, to take out and report on. Well, to start the weekly round up. She stood, in business-style pants, a nice blouse of a lighter azure blue and a pair of black boots, nice but ready to rumble in if need be, that her oh so, sneakily attempted dearest sister had tried three times to latch fingers around and relocate to a whole new housing unit. Failure at a mission didn't sit well with Sentinel. Ohhhhh shucks.

"Hmmm. Richard's, would cover.." One finger tapping her chin in repetition, kept with her contemplations, until paused at footsteps approaching her redesigned and rather spacious office, filled with an incredible amount of the sky to her view, all night and day, unless she engaged the shades installed by the new DEO. Centering her attention to whom had entered, well…sort of. Kara turned and let the smile slip over her lips, when Nia Nal got clever with her announcement to a classy entertainment for her, sliding in with arms up and a big grin for the head honcho.

"Boss? Chief? ….CAP…eeeeee…TAAAAAIN!" The hero somewhat squealed with glee, then got her bearings in gear, lowering her arms to edge on a state of enough seriousness for that professional accord and brought the topic aboard the Kryptonian's smooth running ship. "Have you taken a gander at the crews' latest?" The Naltorian commented, strolling over and noticing the nicely lined up ideas, not surprised to which one happened to be held by her boss, friend, sister and greatest hero. "Rich's seems to be the right pick too. He is seasoned enough to maybe take a newbie with him to show them the right ropes. Maybe two if you think it isn't too much." A nod had them on the same page, which Nia appreciated more than she could express. It had been like that for a while, but more and more she kept thanking Mrs. Grant sometimes verbally or with an expression. Granted, Cat was rarely there, knowing 'Keer-ah' wouldn't disappoint. Oh not in the slightest. They all could vouch for that entirely.

"He's due in.." Kara glanced up at the awesome office warming gift J'onn had brought to her, even mounted, before the congrats party to her new position of employment. "..twelve. I take it you'll wanna give him the news." There went that grin of deviousness, which had the Kryptonian chuckling, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. She looked up again, smiling as she delighted in the detail of the work of art, that looked like something straight out of a Steampunk piece. The vectors, gears, the cogs, hell everything about the ancient style clock, added with the stargazing telescope design that was her father's from his lab on Krypton, had her in nearly an hour long tear jerking session. When her 'Space Dad' informed her that he and her real dad, Zor El, had made it, THAT was it. She was…done for.

Thinking of that moment, Kara felt a hand on her shoulder, to which her head turned just a little. Nia's smile and nod said all that needed to be expressed. She reached up and wiped the escaping two tears, nodding back. "Sorry." She chuckled, getting a little squeeze where the hand still was. Once removed, she got back to business.

"I'd be like that too, you know." The unsuited Dreamer mentioned. "I'll get Richie set on the mission, just explain to him he'll have a 'loot' chest to confiscate once he's got a hundred percent completion on the books." They both laughed a little louder at that, only to have a head pop in, of a middle aged dark auburn wavy haired reporter narrowing eyes of crisp blues, only for it to turn around as his smile grew.

"Did I hear something about loot?" Oh, those cobalt orbs twinkled at his discovery of them discussing his new daily list to accomplish. "Hiiiii ohhhhhh cap-eeeeee-tahn!" Kara's eyes narrowed this time, but Nia had already ran for the door, grabbing the back of Richard's button down grayish-darker blue shirt, tugging. "OHOY! Byyyyyyyye caaaaaaaa….pppppp…"

"Away you nut jobs." Kara laughed, then turned back to the rest of the stories up for next in line to work with. A sudden, not surprising as to what, ringtone, came over the space of hers, sighing when 'We're OFF to see the Wizard' played, bringing amusement back to the table, or more appropriately location titled, desk of hers, having her flop in her nice X-Chair perch, sweeping up her phone and sliding her thumb along the green button on the screen. "Helllllo…Miss Wizardness!"

"Really? I guess I'll just have to give your order, make that four, to your sister, oh OH! HEY!" A few taps, thunks, clicks and a three worded profanity response brought back rolled eyes.

"CAUGHT my rearranging of your tunes for each of us I see! Oh shush Witchy. You LIKE to be the destination she ventures to on the yellow-brick road. Do NOT give Brainy anymore ideas with that." Her ceruleans were covered with happiness, confusion and pondermant as to what they meant, or what Alex meant. "Ne..vermind. Hey Sis! Hey, what's on your schedule today?"

"Kelly, you close? If you are, by chance, there, what did she do?" Four words were flung her way, only for a new voice to pop into her ear.

"Now THAT is no way to respond to your sister's request Miss BIG Boss." Kara's gasp made the voice owner's chuckle come knocking. "Hi you." Her eyes were still large, then she shook that shock from her face, smiling like a kid in a new toy store.

"Lucy! Oh my Rao. Oh my…are you? Wai…are…wha. Where? Wha…when. Wha?" The snickering from more than one broke into a full fit of laughter, bringing a glare at the device in her hand. She switched it over to her ear piece, dedicated to the super conversational channel.

"Kar, Cat knows what is goin on. Hit the 'Tower' floor and the 'Emerald' queen here will order the fixings. EXPECT for MORE company and prep yourself. Nia knows, which means Rich is gonna prolong your two's story pitch and teach for tomorrow. This is…it's important. Brainy is going to be out on patrol, for any assistance either the DEO or local authorities need. If, of DIRE necessity, J'onn will get the first ring. He's going to be coming over too. Esme is with Grandma Eliza. She's…gonna take her to this 'Candyland' kids fair thing. Mom knows NOT to let her have too much sugar or, well, get the amount that YOU would get, when we went to that one fair. I KNOW you are glaring there. Esme has made it her mission to make sure Auntie Kara gets PLENTY too. You two can be wired together. You're on her clock tomorrow. Anyway, take ten, maybe twenty. Get anything you need to do out of the way. We will be there in thirty. Love ya Sis."

"Wha." Kara was baffled, happy, but worried. Rather worried." Two knocks brought her eyes sliding to the office entry, seeing Nia and Richard right there. She was about to relay the message, when Rich just waved his hand then made motions with both, for her to get her ass out of the chair he wanted to get bandits to acquire and deliver to his desk, but knew there was a fat chance of that one happening.

"Go on, get out kids. Get your power on, tower teens." Rich smirked, practically shoving Kara out of her own office. She turned to face him and smiled in appreciation. "Nia told me and thank you. This story is important to me. I'd be honored to take two team teen titans with me. You've got a good program going for them. There are a couple that when they finish their two last courses, would be ones I'd say add to the roster. Until then, I'll teach em all I know. Besides, my husband is their favorite instructor and he's teaching both those courses." Richard settled and cooed in happiness when the massage settings were turned on in the chair. "Mmmmmmm. Yep. Ta ta Boss." Both rolled their eyes, smiled at him and took their leave to go up, up and away from that floor and take to the skies…OF..the top floor dedicated to their family fortress discussions.

Kara would reeeeally have to thank Cat for giving her a private uprise platform that appeared to be just a locked closet away, but was actually an elevator in disguise. Then, there were the nifty tricks of Brainy, that made the cube-like space shift to a circular rotating unit, which then gave a complete 360 degree view of the city, that they could see but no other outside the space was able to. Not able to see them of course. The reinforcement for the whole thing, would make any legionnaire weep in jealousy.

"Hey Cap?" Nia observed the tall standing, yet tense posture, written all over tightened shoulders, not to mention hands closed, fists slightly clenched. "Kara?" Worry had set in before, but it was ringing the bell to a greater concern now. "Kara?" She raised the volume of her voice, two dials cranked over a smidge with a bit of push, to make her call a little stronger along the reasoning behind it. One more time, a little higher and her own tension rising too, got the blonde's head moving and their eyes meeting. "What is.." Nia barely had a moment to gasp, when she was snatched up swiftly, the four buttons pressed on Super speed dial with a code, and the two of them disappearing from the elevator only to land inside the vast waiting room style space.

"WELL, hi th..OOOPH! Th..there.." The blonde didn't approve nor appreciate the shove a little rough against the wall, but then again, Supergirl was that for a reason. She also didn't expect a pair of angry glowing orbs piercing her with their heat, without even being released on her. "Kara, it's.."

"Kara?! KARA!" Nia grabbed one of the Kryptonian's arms and squeezed a little, forcing those orbs to face her wide eyes. "It's..it IS Sara!" The burning spheres subsided, as did the pressure that held the Captain against a reinforced wall, like the whole vicinity was for good measure, given the powerful in-house skill sets of quite a few of the heroes. Blue returned to another kinda blue and the lighter blonde was set back down.

"You're.."

"Saaaaara." The shit eating grin wasn't amusing at the moment, to the Super.

"But, you…you're.."

"Not that huuuuuman anymore." The light suited, and tight suited Canary, shuffled and took to one of the spacious and plush cream colored seats, leaning back and crossing her legs with her arms relaxed on big rests.

"Aaaand.." Lance clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth, tapping her hand as if playing the piano with said fingers, which showed a rather familiar style band. A wedding band. "..aaaaa….and.."

"..maaaaarried." Sara gave the sweetest of smiles and a nod to confirm. The Kryptonian decided, she REALLY needed to plop her butt before she fell on it, into one of the other chairs. Lance gave her a break, patting just below her pack o' six abs, which obviously didn't show any bump yet but the cerulean weren't on her icy orbs anymore, but her belly. They flicked back up with a jaw mildly dropped when the information began to register completely. "Ye-P-." She popped the letter a little more than she usually would. "Apparently, mine and Ava's daughter wanted to try to steal ALL of my extraterrestrial gifts, but she is sharing again. Well, for now."

"Ha…how?" Nia got her gears turning a little late to the party, but took up a seat at the big kids table, then threw more questions out, probably a little too quick for Sara to answer them at record speed, but she did pretty well in the long run. When those floating symbols of Q & A dissipated a bit, the Captain of the Waverider explained that she wasn't alone upon arrival.

"Yes. Danvers knows. Yes aaaaand yes. Ryan is with them, talking to Agent..Vasquez?" Kara nodded, to which Sara continued. "About the training end of things. As for the other that probably rattled you off kilter the moment you heard her voice, well.."

Two dings, beeps and four other beeps afterwards and a pair of heavy boot steps were growing louder upon their closing proximity. Kara barely had the chance to turn around, before Lucy Diana Lane had thrown herself at the outworldly hero of hope. Without hesitation, The Editor and Chief enveloped her long lost and very very missed friend, picking her up which had the shaking woman wrapping her legs around her torso and face buried into a shoulder.

"Lu..cy?" The former Director, Co-Director, Major, AND prisoner, shook harder as the sobs started. Kara's beyondly worried eyes met her sister's mouthing 'what happened?' "I'm here. I've got you. I've got you." She softly spoke, walking away from the rest of those that had entered the room, to put all her focus on the shivering, tear raked soul in her rather protective arms.

"'xcuse me guys." Dreamer chimed in, nodding to the leader who winked to answer her. Quietly, she stepped away. As for the suitless Gotham…'knightress?'

"Jusssssst..whoa! Damn! Whoa! Is she…floating?" Almost black orbs, but the darkest of brown hues of Ryan Wilder, watched the blonde do just that, holding onto this Lucy whom she hadn't had as long of a discussion with yet, as she would have liked. Her long beautiful ringlet hair of three shades of warm browns blended and soft by the stream of sunlight hitting it, pulled back partially, gave a better view of her facial structure not to mention brought out the smile that really lit up Sophie's own, when things were calmer between the couple. She took up another of the chairs, continuing her convo she had been having with Alex Danvers, who she discovered was a hero ALL her own. Sentinel was something, but the badass she had been introduced to, topped the cake on people with mad skills. She found herself relaxing in the four colors of the buttoned up flannel she was wearing under her black biker jacket.

"That. She. Is." Alex said, not even phased but enjoying the looks of shock, awe AND ohhhh shit!' Ryan was throwing her sister's way. The smiles died down though, then her thoughts shifted back to…'agent' mode. "I thought.." A whistle caught a few of their heads to turn, with a wave given only for a middle finger to fly her way, which she returned and they both laughed while Susan disappeared and two beeps ended that visit. "Vasquez teach you anything useful?" A rub of the behind and groan got the assassin and Sentinel falling back in their seats to let out a united bit of a hilarious response and clap at that.

"How's your butt." They spoke up at the same time too, only for Ryan to flip them both off as they started laughing again fist bumping. Alex didn't need to check on Nia, to understand her escape when her beloved called for no doubt a chat about the nature of things there. After all, even she knew that it was gonna be a long, long..day.

"Kara. Lucy." Lena whispered as she stood close by, but couldn't help but keep her enchanted emeralds on the two out on the balcony. One blonde haired hero looked up to glance her way, motioning with her head for her to join, leading her to where she figured she'd end up. Once outside, with a snatch up of a tissue box and three cold waters, she made her way over to them. The DEO training tank and cargo wearing figure was gripping as tight as possible to the Kryptonian holding her while running a hand up and down Lucy's back rather gently but comfortingly.

As for Kara, well she didn't care the position as to which the former Major was sitting on her lap, only concerned with why her friend was sobbing so heavily and what had caused some of the injuries she saw with normal vision and then bruising that only could be viewed with certain scanners, machines and her extra sight. She watched the three bottles placed on the small table, with the kleenex box handed to her, which she set next to them. When several minutes passed, the sobs lessened more and more, along with the strength of the grip of her, Kara knew that Lucy was on her way to that state of full unconsciousness. She mouthed 'inside' to her best friend, when another ten went by, adjusting her hold on the sleeping woman, cradling her in a bridal hold, to stand up and return indoors, luckily a minute before Lena, who had gone in first to notify the gang of the slumbering beauty carried in by the Paragon of Hope.

"She..?" Alex whispered, a bob of the head up and down indicating for the group to move to another room, or what Danvers would call their 'classy' war strategy room. She pointed to the one seater sofa, which she and Nia lifted up and brought down the hall to the conference domain. Set down by a spot filled with mild sunlight at one of the windows, she held up her hand just in time, for her to catch what Sara had tossed her way.

"Damn Danvers." Lance spoke softly, grinning at Sentinel, who had gently covered part of Lucy with the lightweight throw blanket. Another smile slipped into a whole other measure, when Alex took up one of the head chairs, just as Kelly entered, to greet her wife sweetly, only to then take up her place next to her at the table. "Double damn Danvers." Sara winked at Kelly who blew her a kiss as did Alex. White Canary grinned at that.

"How? How, HOW, do youuu..with all the eye can.." Ryan tried to get out, getting a snicker from the Captain. She chose a seat, as did Nia and Lena. Kara was last to sit down, not wanting to take her eyes off her sleeping friend. A snap of the finger had Ryan jumping up and running out of the room for the back pack she'd brought in, only to return with a small beautiful ruby colored glass antique Moroccan bronze lantern, placing it on the table in front of the Kryptonian. She sat back down, smiling at Sara who did so back.

"This is….beautiful." Kara muttered, slowly turning the lantern, admiring every single detail, of the artistic masterpiece's intricate definition to the engraved and majestically painted designs, along with the frosted and stencil style scripted crystalized red glass. The tips of her fingers brushed the crevices within the glass, which her enhanced vision took in as well.

"It's..it is what is inside.." Ryan's words drifted off, just as Kara unlatched the hook to the lantern's little door. She dared not remove what was inside, instead putting her arm out snapping her fingers then pointing to her phone. She flicked cerulean to the warm chestnut browns of her sister's.

"Light." She spoke softly, to which Alex turned on the closest cell phone's flashlight, handing it to her. Kara turned the lantern, to bring as much sunlight as she could, then noticed the slight blossom of the wondrous rose. She turned it from the sunlight, inside shining the flashlight upon it. For a moment, she couldn't grasp the meaning, until she sat up straight, put the phone down, after flicking off the light, looking into Ryan Wilder's hues, locking theirs as Kara waited, for an explanation as to why this was given to her.

"Okay. Ways back, like it feels like a decade ago, I was shot while wearing the suit, not realizing not every bullet couldn't penetrate the batsuit. Freaky enough, it was by a guy Tommy Elliot, who, gross as it was, had the face of Bruce Wayne." Kara quirks up a brow, as does Lena. "Alice." It clicked, almost immediately, as to whom Wilder was talking about. The conversation, well, multiple conversations, with her other part of their 'World's Finest' brought two halves pieced right together.

"Beth." The Kryptonian whispered, though almost everyone could hear her. Ryan bobbed her head to display the correct answer to her guess. She didn't half to know, Kara already knew it ahead of time.

"SO…yeah. Got shot. Bulletproof gear? No-P-e. ONE kinda ammo can pierce the suit. Oddly. Kate barely filled me in, but it seems like one hero, so did another have the same.." The gasp and accidental grip of the table crunching under Kara's hand, caused confused stares directed her way.

"Fren..amies. Kate. Bruce. Me. …..Kal." Ryan had a feeling this champion of Earth had connected the pieces. "The suit. Super. Oh..Rao. Kryptonite."

"I was poisoned. With a bullet, with it." She told not only Kara, but the rest. "That. It's called the Desert Rose." Supergirl leaned back, almost slumping in her chair, not just the shock from the realization before her, but the hope of a cure. FINALLY. Tears escaped only to run down her face in a cascading manner.

Alex's eyes widened, she stared from Ryan, to her sister, to the lantern then back up to her greatest hero. Tears trailed down just the same. The biggest smile, of pure relief, covered her lips.

"Ryan. My..god. Ry…kryptonite cure. Th..the..the an..antidote..?"


Wilder smiled back, nodding to the words, the huge question that brought about the BIGGEST of mysteries solved. The same thought, the completed picture, hit the rest of them, rolling emotions down their faces too. Kara was up and out of her seat rushing around, nearly unseating those that had to grip the table when she shot passed them at a speed not of sound, but the whoosh was certainly heard. Ryan just barely breathed in, when she was barreled into by the happiest, most grateful, crying and hugging Kryptonian that was doing her best to control her strength and not crush Batwoman. She barely knew this kind soul, but after learning what she had, having a mild convo, with an open mind, by Kate before she left Gotham, but in the arms of this hero there was…peace. Hope. Light. Kane had been right and Wilder DEFINITELY wanted to get to know this Paragon.

"Guys?" Lena had gotten her tears just about under control, overwhelmed by this revelation, when her phone buzzed, with a text message. It wasn't just hers, but the rest of the 'Supercrew' too. "It's.."

"James." Alex, Kelly, Kara and Nia spoke at the same moment, uncertain as to what was going on, but then, they read..

J. Olsen: 'i nd 2 seEe yu guyys . . ..plz. Whre'

Concern raked their expressions, along with a questionable thought process, easily seen as well. James Olsen NEVER messaged like that. Then another phone went off, with Lucy's body upright, now alert, but also thankful they'd let her have a little time to rest. It wasn't much, however just a few minutes of shut eye did wonders for someone that had been in the service previously. Well, not previously. Not. At..all.

"It's.." She started, finished by the gang.

"James." She nodded, slowly standing up, finding herself a little wobbly. Before she could even, remotely, nearly fall from the lack of balance, she'd been scooped up and put in the chair her friend had once occupied, tenderly in nature. Her earthy greens met those outworldly blue ones, smiling, which was returned. Another whoosh had Alex gripping tighter to the table, when her sister flopped into a chair next to her.

"Stop breaking the speed limit Sis." The blonde gave a salute.

"Yes, officer." The grin of mischief grew, which had narrowed eyes aimed in her direction. "You can't melt my face off. Ohhhhhh shucks." Kara cackled. An eyebrow shot up within the group, belonging to Ryan, until someone mouthed 'heat vision'.

"Um. Uh. Umm." The once upon a time, Co-Director of the former DEO, did all she could, to gather some sense of verbalized normalcy. "He. The..they.." Her head lowered, now leaned forward until her elbows met the surface of the conference sized table. She placed her face on upward aimed palms, exposed by fingers uncurled, some. Her head slid down, with only her forehead resting on slightly shaky hands. It wasn't just the hands. From wrist, up the arms, rolled onto shoulders, rippling down the rest of her body, raked in lost and broken trembles. Moisture built and before Lucy could stop the inevitable, she was crying once more. A hand had barely touched her shoulder, before she shot upward and leaned back, letting her head drop onto the back of the seat she had been given.

She knew, all eyes were on her, aware that multiple thoughts, feelings and contemplations came with them. To escape that attention, Lucy gathered every ounce of courage, military training and muster to explain what would most definitely change EVERYTHING. .

FLASHBACK: Devil's Carnival of Torment

One MINUTE, she'd been heading out, for a little dessert rumble, on quads with a few pals, packing the sacks on the sides and the duffle bag on the back. Ready. Tooo..roll. The next..? Whistle, turn and…..'lights out.'

Coming to, all her nasal senses could take in, was dust, concrete, a horrid odor of no doubt urine or something akin to it, and what smelled like bleach. It was enough to wake up the rest of the five. Immediately, she tried to move her hands, finding something rudely wrapped around her fingers and thumbs. Worse than that? She had her fingers curled, then covered with what seemed like sleeves, making it impossible to straighten them. Ohhhhh no. On top of her elbows bent behind her, secured in place towards her shoulders, were her opposite hands, bound to opposite biceps by a ring and cuff tightly strapped. It brought quite the monstrous pain, everytime she tried to move her arms. However, not one bit of her legs was bound. Though, they were cold, uncovered, up until mid thigh, which indicated to her that she was still wearing her short shorts. Her vest was gone, that she had kept all her gear in, including her phone. Though, her tank was still on, but felt a bit tighter than it should be.

Boots were gone, along with socks, and there was a stinging sensation on the sides and soles of her bare feet. That usually indicated open skin. 'Fucking..joyous.' Her thoughts announced with a growl, barely released and a dry mouth, parched far too much. Ohh YAY! ANOTHER issue. Dammit. One bite down brought with it teeth hitting metal, wrapped in what tasted like leather. Bridled? Woo hoo, bloody twice! 'Fuck my life.' She blinked, but she'd already recognized the methods here. Curb the standard ideals to dissociate and disorient a captive. 'Double UP Danvers, dammit for once, twice, AGAIN! FUCK. My. Life.' The thoughts continued, until footsteps and the sickening snickers of twisted masculine amusement filled her ears while in this wretched space. Then, the steps..stopped.

"Leave us. Now." That REPULSIVE voice belonged to one and ONLY one hideous snake of a bastard. His chuckles made her wanna gag even with the bridle bar. "You know, our glorious one time in your hometown, which you showed me such an animal natured disrespect to me. Untrained. What do you expect from a livicious Lane. Yes, when you decided to nick my cheek with that swiss army knife you favored, all scratched up from your weak attempt at carving your initials on it, gave me the courage to give a slap to a rabid play doll that insulted me. What I should have done, is string you up, teach you what a privilege it would have been, to be 'My' puppet. After all, I couldn't get a moment to get your sister to acknowledge my incredible potential. You were oh so adorably wild, wicked and tempting. Young but fun, until dear ole daddy hooked you into soldier life. Did you knowwww..how delightful it was to steal a vermin's powers? I'd done it before. Before when my righteous royalty brought me to a book, that gave me SO many 'WICKEDLY' and 'WONDERFUL' options. How deeeeeaaar traitorous bone fetching mutt loving sis, who SHOT ME! Well..killed me actually, for alien scum. For a while though, she was in my manipulative clutches. For a bit, the foolish, tamed, so tantalizing filly and favorable marionette DANCED for me! ME! For, this magnificent puppet master. For me, which was rewarded obedience to me. A little girl, orphan Annalena. Or..something. Nameless. Fruitless..motherless. Father brought me something live and lost, to teach and for Mother? For Mother, to tame. To train. To show the proper way my incredible intelligence could manipulate her into absoLUTE..servitude. I did, once, find a bit of humanity, something kindred in her. Mother quickly opened my eyes, when the little brat began to blind me with lies."

She hissed, wishing she could cover her ears, when what sounded like an industrial grade deafening horn went off. Instead, she did her best to try to curl into herself. She would not whimper, show any weakness, and if she did? If she did, then DAMN her. Damn HIM! She did however, hiss again gripping the bar with her teeth a little more painful than she intended to when there was a slam of a door then screeching of something scraped across the floor. There was a crash of said door, only for the newly brought-in chair to be slammed down on the ground right by her head. The growl erupted and with the last fierceness she could muster, she twisted and rolled to lunge and swing her body upright until she was on her knees, ignoring that excruciating agony her arms, her back, shoulders, all of it, increased when her back met the wall, and not by her own accord. The bottom of the snake's foot had forced the impact and now kept itself in place, making it impossible for her to get away. "Awww did that hurt? Shame."

There were heavier steps, sounding like two sets, but she wasn't sure. The foot however, pushed harder and it was pushing the limits of the extent as to which her arms could bend, or for that matter her shoulders could take. Whispers and then snickering, to erupted laughter, caused something in her gut to twist and constrict with just as much pain. "EXCELLENT. Proceed. Inform Dr. Ozwell to begin the process. Are the two roaches dealt with? Wonderful! That's a couple less insects I have to exterminate from humanity. Well, MY humanity. Tell Ozzy to make certain, BOTH chips are implanted."

The foot went away, but not before it let up some with her falling forward slightly until she was shoved brutally back into the wall. Then, the foot went bye bye. She slid sideways until on her side, unable to keep up the tough act. The whimpers escaped, but the nightmarish rat labeled 'Scar, or a title made to be a set of profanity that would no doubt make Danvers proud, wasn't done with her nauseating torture. Three slaps, five clicks and several beeps, brought about a shivering realization. She was LOCKED in the room, with Lex the 'LEECH' Luthor. "Now, that we are FINALLY to our lonesome, I can delight in a tale I'm CERTAIN you will vomit from but meeee? Oh it makes me sing! Makes me DANCE! Makes me want to…TERRORIZE the varmits I intend to have pest control cart off and place in my ACIDIC game of RICHES for Roundhouse Roaches! The games my newfound followers with heavy pocket books will take to, shall bring my name to the greatest of GODLIKE conquerings! For I am. I always have been. That is my true destiny, didn't you know? But, enough about me."

She cringed, gasping and releasing a new set of agonizing whimpers, when his deafening throne had been drug away from her and instead, her hair grabbed, gripped and yanked downard, when she was forced upright by him until her head was back as far as it could go, and her nose picked up the gagging stench of whatever cologne or odor he bathed in, unless it was just what the natural scent of him was. He was now chuckling, breathing heavily in one of her ears. The idea of vomiting on the bar between her teeth was front and center again. "That book rewrote the world to be what it was MEANT to be. I had to…improvise where it needed to be perfected for my plans. You had to be one of those….changes. I am uncertain how you sustained part of the former Earth's memory bank, but that was a problem. But like any challenge, the genius I have ALWAYS been, it could be eradicated. That meant, youuuuu had to be removed from the game board. So you see, my foolish sister gave me JUST what I needed and I found a willing…test subject. A replacement. For. You. Then it was just a matter of cards lain down in just the right order and my well played hands of intellectual pleasure, along with a few futuristic travels and studies, to gain all of the pieces I needed to create the first of many soooon to be constructed as MY empire's toy soldiers."

A gasp had been driven from her parched, no doubt cracked lips by the sudden shift to her position, now ruthlessly slammed onto her back and the hair still gripped, twisted around the monster's hand, keeping her in place while she shoved every single sound to go entirely mute, the moment his other hand met her chest and gripped so tight that tears began to moisten the covering over her sight. A tongue, 'UGH he's…' She tried to picture herself anywhere but there, but as he continued to belch out his deeds, she had started to contemplate how death would be her ONLY freedom left, when the words left his lips.

"All your Sister. Your Father..ALL of them, know of you? All you are now…? YOU. Are. The. REASON…Lois lost her Mother. You see, she doesn't say it's YOUR Mother too. I had sooooo much FUN destroying your timeline. Want to know? I guess you do. You aren't complaining." She was doing everything possible, to dream a little dream, and wish on every star, begging for Supergirl to find her, WILLING for Kara to hear her heartbeat. To recognize it. To…listen now. To hear her, when she DESPERATELY needed her, to most. The final straw…

His touch, the violations he was performing on her, when she struggled with all she had, pinned down by a pair of brutes while tears of the last of her coverings were cut away, was what took away all of the strong Lucy Diana Lane that might have been left. "A cult! Oh! Yes! Ohhh yes. A cult and Ally had this Lucy WRAPPED tightly around her manipulative claws. THIS, oh. OH!" His grunts, their chuckles and the vulgar words had her throwing up even as a giant hand covered her bridled mouth and pulled her head back, forcing her to swallow down what came up. "..she swallowed pills, begging in that cowardly way..uh! Uh! That's it! Fuck. Damn! So good! Where was I? I made a mess. Wear it as a token of your lucky strike from your Emperor. "See, Sissy found THIS Lucy, before she drowned. She got all of what she needed while at the disgusting Kent Farm. Daddy took her home. She doped him and took his access card, freed Ally and off they went! See, Deedra was like YOU but failed at the service. Cadmus found her. I…'perfected' her. SHE became..YOU. All your memories were copied. PASTED into her feeble brain. She, Allison and two more loyal subjects, took their places when my plans were…interrupted."

She was picked up, thrown across the room and left there when the door opened, only to be informed of the LAST of what Lex did. "Supermutt, the two pups, your sister and ALL of Smallville or anyone that tries any little bitty smidgen of an attempt to inform them of National City, Midvale, Supergirl, Kara Danvers OR Kara Zor-El, Argo, Any of it? Well, they can't SEE it. They can't HEAR it or learn any single thing about it at all. I've made Superman's cousin VOID from his caveman brain, all of their pea sized minds. That Fortress of Solitude that belongs to Clark, the scum of dead Krypton? GONE from his thoughts. He has his own! Didn't you know? I haven't found it yet. Ohhh give me time. I've been to one, I'll find the keys to next. Shall I be killed, removed from this timeline, universe or ANY plane of existence..? Every trace, EVERY trace of anything that he knew that was in his old cave? All of it would happily, oh my happiness of course, would disappear from there. It's permanent you see! See? SEE?!"

Scraping of the deafening chair lessened in volume as one final breath from him hit her hearing. "Kara, the FORGOTTEN Zor-El, gets to lose it ALL! Her alien world, BLOWN away! Isn't it wonderful? All to her lonesome purgatory, isolated, with everything gone. Again. Well, it's been fun. I have an imp to chat with. DO enjoy this prison on a distant moon. Oxygen won't be an issue here. I've made certain the dome would let you breathe. If you're a GOOD and obedient prisoner, they MIGHT let you clean yourself up. Might. So long, little Lucy." ..

*** ** EOF

Just when Alex did her damnedest to find the ability to speak, let alone breathe, her gaze wasn't the ONLY one, directed her sister's direction. The tremors were evident, without even needing to look down at the Kryptonian's hands, fingers straightened and palms lain flat on the table's surface. Rivers of unbridled emotional torment along with the brutality of psychological affliction, released from the corners of water filled cerulean eyes, pouring down and taking every ounce of hope fueled belief with it. Oh Sentinel didn't even get a second before her sister had shot out of the room no doubt close to faster than the speed of sound. Not a single one of them could brace for impact, when they were all thrown backward and the table practically exploded with the hero's desperate exit.

"NO!" Lucy's vocals rose, screaming out, for Kara to come back. Her voice was echoed by another voice, a male one that appeared to come from below, all too familiar to a portion of the gathered group. That recognizable one, shouted out just a few words, to bring all of what made Kara Supergirl, a Paragon of Hope, a light and a champion of Earth shattering to its core.

"KARA, YOU CAN'T! IF..if..you go..IF YOU GO, THE BOYS, OR HER, OR ALL! They..THEY WILL DIE!" James shouted with all he had, stumbling some, but knowing his voice, his message, reached..

All of life, movement, conversations and more froze at the same time, bringing with it a united ache for the hero, as a gut wrenching scream of blood curling agony ripped through the air, until all motion returned, and eyes looked to the heavens upon the rocket in red and blue soaring up higher and higher far past the only clouds visible to disappear from there. Another scream crashed over everything, when a second figure flying at a speed close to sound as she could no doubt easily surpass compared to every other hero.

"KARA!" Alex, Nia and the rest of them ran toward the balcony screaming her name. She was TERRIFIED knowing at the rate her sister was dropping, she guessed by solar flare, the collision with even the ground or water could possibly..KILL her!

J'onn was off-world on Mars, with M'gann and their newest born just recently and Brainy's Legion ring had, for some reason, quit all abilities it gave him. Just as the howl of unimaginable pain tore at all of her mind, body, heart and soul, the thought of..'some..'one..' "HELP HER! PLEEEEASE!" Rao HAD heard her..

"INAH!" Before Kara Zor-El Danvers body could meet what quite definitely, inevitably might end her life, did the most protective, loving and dedicated arms catch his daughter. The blonde angel, her soul and every bit of her entire being torn to pieces internally, hung limp but not lifeless, with wept continuous tears, lost to unconsciousness for now. A crowd had gathered, but kept back in a respectful and honorable distance from this man in colors similar to Kara's own. His gaze left his child's, rising and looking upon these faces of sadness of concern and love. He looked back down, just staring at the pain filled face and his own tears came from the ducts of his hazel eyes, escaping out to run down his own pained face. He let Krypton's language escape his lips, whispering a prayer to Rao in hopes that their culture's god would shed some of the suffering from his daughter, if necessary for him to take, to carry. Zor-El didn't concern himself, if he appeared weak or something similar to it, on this planet. He merely held his beautiful child closer, cradling her while he kept her tucked into his body, as her head rested now against his chest.

"Kara..!" Alex, Nia, Lena, Kelly, Lucy, James, Ryan and Sara, ran across the grass of the vast park closer than they expected, yet entered quite swiftly, due to Lena's transmat portal watch. The crowd grew larger by the minute, parted for those making their way over. "Ka.." Sentinel, in her suit, though hood long since knocked back, slid to a stop, before the male Kryptonian. "Thank..Rao. Zor..El."

"Thank Dreamer. Naltor. Emerald Isles." Nia and Lena bobbed their heads ever so slightly, a hand finding the others' in a show of strength, together with the other heroes too. Visions to pave such a way, then magic to grant him passage, allowed Zor El to travel with haste, to when and where his daughter needed his presence most. Though he wasn't the only one to do so. Another landed as gently as she could, stepping forward to reach up with one shaking hand, to stroke the side of their Inah's face.

"Alura?" Alex tried to steady her voice, but her eyes returned to gaze upon her sister, letting tears slow, but continue running down the sides of her face, which held some of the pain her hero was enduring. She felt a hand touch her shoulder, squeeze it, looking to the side meeting Krypton's adjudicator's stare. They nodded, once more finding purpose which was getting Kara to a quieter, safer and familiar environment. No one, not one of the ones in the crowd surrounding their group, caused any trouble nor made any noise, except when asking if Supergirl would be okay and to take care of their Hope. "We will." Sentinel assured them. She glanced one more time to her sister's Kryptonian parents and explained in Kryptonese as to where they could go. They slowly hovered off the ground to rocket off, while Alex let out a command to their crew and between the gust of wind from three of Argo, to the crackling and humming associated with the portal, did the heroes disappear..from sight..

..CATCO article next day:

'National City's Hero of Hope, Bellows Before All. What has HAPPENED to Supergirl's Own?'


.. .. … …***Long time for a post. A math course after 20 years is destructive to my mind. Back on track folks. As for this? It has driven so MANY of us nuts, how Kara or hell any of the Supercrew, hasn't been mentioned on Superman & Lois. Not to mention what they did to Lucy's character. So here is my twist to THAT great mystery. Hope you like kids.