Hello, lovely readers. It's literally been years since I've written anything that wasn't academic, so consider this my "Welcome Back" to Fanfiction. I hope you enjoy this little story and let me know what you think. This might be a single chapter or maybe I'll continue if there's enough interest. Leave me a comment and tell me what you think. Make sure you're staying safe in these trying times.
When the first reports of a virus began to spread over the airwaves, Lena Luthor began planning. Her first move was to locate property at least 150 miles from any major city. Lucky for her, there was an abandoned prison 50 miles short of a small beachside down named Midvale. The prison pre-dated the 1950s, before the government moved towards mass privatization and incarceration, with lackluster lead pipes and electrical wiring that needed work. Within a week, she was able to hire a company to quietly replace the pipes and update the power sources leading into the fortress like structure. Next to be replaced was the rusted fence surrounding the property. Having purchased a large portion of the land around the main building, she extended the radius of the fencing and had watchtowers installed in each corner with high power security lights and alarms. Just inside the fence, there were already brick walls creating a secondary layer of protection that only needed minor repairs and adjustments. There would be only one main entrance with steels gates and hidden spike strips and another safety precaution she would keep to herself until necessary.
For the next three weeks, there were delivery trucks coming and going from the property, carrying anything from dried goods to agricultural equipment to housing supplies, and even crates that only a select few knew the contents of. Reporters and enemies alike were growing suspicious of the immense preparation taking place, even though their concerns would be swept under the rug in favor of the mounting fear surrounding the virus said to have originated in the Wuhan Providence in China. It was near impossible to distinguish between fact and conspiracy when it came to the information the United States government was providing citizens, but Lena Luthor believed it was better to be over prepared than to be scrambling when shit hit the fan.
From the outside, it seemed like the youngest Luthor was getting into the business of private prisons, the newest hobby for the wealthiest and vilest of capitalists in their great nation. Anyone who knew Lena would know better though. While wealthy by birth, the black sheep of the Luthor Family was an entirely different breed than her mother and brother who would do anything for money and power. She simply wanted to use her influence to help people; since taking over the family business and rebranding to L Corp, she's spent more time building shelters, funding hospitals, and providing schools with new materials than any of her predecessors. Sure, there was the benefit of improving the public perception of her company after her late brother managed to climb his way to the top of the FBI's Most Wanted list, but she really just wanted to help. The promises of other industry heads like Maxwell Lord, who believed he would produce a viable vaccine within months, only made Lena's efforts look more suspicious. She wasn't clambering for the government contracts being thrown at research firms and laboratories; if and when she was able to develop a cure, she was ready spend her own funds to make sure those who were unable to afford the free market prices her competitors were sure to offer could still have access to the lifesaving medication.
Thus far, the survival rate of infected persons left the world feeling optimistic and people were ready to return to their normal lives after months in quarantine, as if thousands of people hadn't already lose their lives. Lena sympathized with their feelings, but the scientist knew better than to expect normalcy before there was more research done about this mysterious virus. While the survival rate was high, there were almost no studies being done about the lasting effects of the sickness and the work Lena was doing in her own facilities wasn't promising a smooth return to normal life. When Maxwell Lord surprised the world and claimed to have a cure to the virus a few days shy of five months in quarantine, Lena was appropriately skeptical, both as a scientist and someone who knew Lord personally. While a genius, the man was a snake and a crook at the very core of his being. Still, the government was willing to rush testing and certification if it meant businesses and schools could reopen come September. The summer vacation season was nearly at an end and there was just too much uncertainty about the school system's ability to coordinate online schooling for every single child. So, people lined up in droves for Lord's vaccine. Across the country, millions of people, symptomatic and asymptomatic, were basically being used as guinea pigs, though many other nations were willing to show more patience when it came to get their countries back to track.
Unbeknownst to her, the end of the world was at their doorstep just as Lena was walking towards her office for an interview with the budding journalist from Catco. According to her assistant, Kara Danvers was legendary among their profession, the only assistant to withstand working for the infamous Cat Grant for more than two weeks. Assistants spoke of the blonde woman like she was a god for surviving three years under Grant before the eccentric woman left for a sudden sabbatical. Rumors claimed that she was hiding out in a yurt somewhere, trying to find herself. She wouldn't exactly have called them friends, but their circles were bound to overlap in such a small tax bracket; Lena had great admiration for Cat Grant and always thought they would make excellent friends as two of the most powerful women in National City and quite possibly the world. That's why her curiosity was peaked when she learned that Catco was in the market for new ownership.
Such philanthropy was exactly the reason Kara Danvers was waiting in her office on a sunny Tuesday morning. This would be the fourth time she accepted an interview request from the young woman in just as many months. Snapper Carr would be sending her under the guise of writing a piece on the new laboratory equipment being donated to the entire National City magnet school program, but Lena knew the young reporter was likely to grill her about the facility she was developing up north this time around. She was able to accomplish quite a lot before the whispering began, so she chose to not gripe about the invasion of her privacy. Her sources told her that Miss Danvers was from the very beachside town near the prison she was rebuilding as a bugout shelter. Their meetings thus far were very professional and Lena found herself taken by the thoughtful reporter. Even with the numerous skeletons in her closet, Kara Danvers still managed to be fair and just in her writing of the youngest Luthor.
The blonde was proving to be a very interesting addition to Lena's life, especially during this pandemic. When the CEO took over her family's company, she made a point to reject nearly every interview request, but she found herself looking forward to meeting with Catco's newest addition. Her kindness was a breath of fresh air in the face of the anger and discontent brewing among just about everyone these days. Everyone was scared about the future and the growing civil unrest was shining a blinding light on the disparities woven deep into the nation. While many writers were quick to discredit protestors and their intentions, Kara's willingness to listen and make the voices of the unheard be known made her stand out among the sea of angry people who didn't understand that the status quo needed to change. And, being drop dead gorgeous didn't hurt her cause either.
Adjusting the collar of her blouse, Lena took a deep breath before blazing into the office with an intensity that left the young reporter speechless for just a moment. Unfortunately for Kara, the information she gathered on Lena Luthor before their initial meeting left her woefully unprepared for the absolutely stunning presence of the CEO once she entered a room. You would think the fourth time interviewing someone would break the illusion, but there was an ineffable quality to the woman and the youngest Danvers child found herself powerless to resist. She allowed herself a moment to take in the dark haired woman fully, standing in expertly tailor black slacks and an emerald green blouse that highlighted the warm color of her eyes. The blonde must have underestimated how long the moment would last because the youngest Luthor cleared her throat, smirking behind the face masks that were becoming commonplace in the world. Kara quickly stood and held out her hand, before the weight of the mask on her own face reminded her of the precautions being taken to prevent the spread of the virus that has been the center of the news cycle for almost three months.
"I'm so sorry, still not quite used to the times yet," she exclaimed before pulling her hand back and hoped the mask covered the light blush she felt spreading across her cheeks. Lena noticed the flush, but chose not to comment. "It's very nice to see you again, Miss Luthor. I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me. I'm know the pandemic has L Corp busier than usual." The CEO took a seat behind her desk responding to the frazzled woman with stunning blue eyes.
"How many more meetings will we need to have before you start to call me 'Lena', Kara? I thought we were past the pleasantries by now?" She jovially flirted.
She leaned back in her chair before gesturing to her assistant behind partially frosted glass, who entered carrying two steaming cups of coffee. The third woman was waved away before she could ask if they needed anything else after the cups were placed on the desk. Once the door was shut again, they both removed their masks stylized with their respective company's logos. Kara took a seat in front of her own drink and hoped the pink on her cheeks would dissipate quickly. She reached for the drink like a life line but the light in Lena's eye said this interview would likely only make matters worse. Like a dutiful journalist, she ran through the list of prepared questions she had in record time. Despite a very calm interview, Lena knew the young reporter was holding back on the questions she really wanted to ask.
"Kara, why don't you ask the question you really want to? We both know this interview about the new science equipment is just a smoke screen for you to ask about the new project I'm working on." The younger woman straightened her back, as if to challenge the almost friendly tone the CEO was taking on about the invasion of her privacy.
"Well, I wasn't sure you'd be so forthcoming about this new project."
"Oh, you're most certainly right, but I think we'll be able to come to an agreement about the information I'm willing to share with you." Taking a chance, Lena stood from her seat, keeping her green eyes trained on the nervous blonde as she walked to the front of her desk. She moved the empty coffee mug aside in favor of taking a seat on the edge of the desk, just a foot away from Kara. Her smirk was wide and proud as the pink re-emerged across the younger woman's suntanned skin. "I'm only willing to speak off the record but I feel I can trust you to keep this information to yourself until the time is right."
Kara shifted uncomfortably in her seat as her body positively responded to the proximity of the beautiful woman in front of her. She wanted to lick her lips, but her mouth suddenly felt dry as sand as Lena angled her upper body into Kara's personal space. Obviously, this interview was taking a sharp gay turn, and while the young reporter wanted the scoop on the new project, there was an opportunity being presented here and Alex would smack her for not taking full advantage, especially after listening to her baby sister obsess for weeks over the dark haired heiress. Internally, she was giving herself a stern prep talk in Cat Grant's voice, her former mentor telling her to grow a pair and dive.
"How about a trade? I wouldn't want you to divulge vital information without offering something in return."
"And, what do you have to offer me, Miss Danvers?" The younger woman contemplated her response for a moment and wondered how her sister would handle this situation; Alex was much better at being charming and forward than her little sister.
Speaking of her sister, Kara jumped and broke the moment when her cell phone began to vibrate in her bag. She regrettably looked away for a moment to fish the offensive item from her bag, cringing when she saw her sister's name on the screen.
"I'm so sorry, my sister knows better than to call me during an interview." She silenced the call before throwing her phone back in the bag; she could call Alex back later. Returning her attention back to the CEO, Kara took a leap of faith and stood from her seat so that the two women were barely inches apart. They'd spent weeks building to this moment, dancing around a mutual attraction that simmered below the surface of an amicable professional relationship. "As I was about to say, I believe there is something I can offer. Would you consider a date an acceptable form of quid pro quo, Miss Luthor?"
Before Lena even had the chance to answer, her assistant, Jesse, came busting through the doors in a panic, causing the two women to spring apart. Jesse didn't even bat an eye at them.
"Miss Luthor, turn on the TV!" Clearly, there was something important they needed to see on the screen. Reaching around the desk, Lena grabbed the universal remote that controlled all the electronic in her office. A 30 inch screen appeared behind a hidden slot in the wall, already running the local Catco news station.
"This is Heather Davies with Catco Media. We are reporting from downtown in National City where an explosion has just taken place inside of Maxwell Lord's research facility. Mr. Lord has been leading the world in vaccine development for the virus that has crippled the world. Sources say the testing taking place at this facility was becoming volatile and dangerous, but pressure from the federal government to produce results superseded safety concerns. Police and other emergency services have been on the scene for the last twenty minutes but we haven't been given any other information."
The backdrop behind the reporter was chaotic, with Fire and Rescue preparing to enter the facility, smoke bellowing from the roof. Just as the first unit lined up outside the entrance, Kara's phone began to vibrate in her bag again. Rather than send her sister to voicemail again, she answered the call on speaker.
"Kara, where the hell are you?" Alex screamed through the phone. The backgrounded sounded like absolute chaos and her sister was breathing heavy like she'd been running. She could hear the Alex's motorcycle roaring to life behind the noise of car horns and screaming.
"Alex, what's going on? I'm still at Lena's office. We're watching the news right now."
"Lord's facility isn't the only explosion. The compounds in his vaccine are highly unstable and at least five other facilities across the country have reported disasters, probably more by now." Kara looked up at Lena with wide eyes.
"What about the people who have already taken the vaccine? What's happening to them?" Lena questioned, already running through the worst case scenarios in her mind. Before Alex could respond, another explosion tore through Lord's facility in real time, the front doors burst open with a cloud of smoke. Everyone held their breaths, the camera trained on the shadowy figures emerging from the building. Officers on the scene had their weapons at the ready, but there were a few too slow as the rush of bodies overwhelmed them, attacking everyone in sight. Bullets flew through the air as creatures with sickly green skin and deformed faces rushed the crowd. The cameraman lost control of his device in the madness, leaving the machine to broadcast cries of terror and the ominous image of dozens of feet running away. In the distance, one woman lost her balance as people shoved each other to escape. Before there was an opportunity to help her, the monsters pounced and began devouring her flesh. Alex could hear the screams of bystanders through the phone, their shrieks just as loud as the chaos around her as she raced through the city on her motorcycle.
"The vaccine is mutating people. Streets are absolute chaos. We need to get out of the city and find mom as soon as possible. There's no telling how quickly this thing will spread, but we know that hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions, of people have already been given the vaccine. Right now, they're just ticking time bombs. I'm on my way to you." Kara turned to find the CEO, but the other woman was already behind her desk with Jesse, typing away at her computer while barking orders into the phone. An alarm began to sound in the building, drowning out the sound of utter insanity just outside the glass walls protecting them.
"Jesse, please execute Plan Alpha. Get to the garage. We'll be down shortly." The third woman nodded before running from the office, barking orders to anyone still in the building. It seemed the outside world had bled into the building during Kara's short call with her sister. Just a few hours ago, she was simply preparing for an interview and now the world was falling apart around her. And, somehow, Lena was incredibly calm and collected, even as the pandemonium outside grew closer and louder. For a brief moment, Kara allowed herself to peer outside the window, onto the ground floor, where cars lay abandoned and people were running from the horror just out of her line of sight.
"Alex, don't worry about me. You're more likely to get caught in the chaos trying to get to L Corp. Get to mom. I'm pretty sure Lena has a plan here." Kara told her, looking across the room at the CEO who was typing a bunch of stuff into her computer.
"Are you sure, Kara?"
"I'm sure, Alex. Now, go find mom. I'll meet you in Midvale. Please, be safe. I love you."
"Love you too, sis. Be safe. See you soon." She paused briefly before her tone became even more serious. "Luthor, you better keep my sister safe."
"Your sister is safe with me, Alex. We will meet you in Midvale." When the call ended, Kara walked behind Lena's desk to see what she was typing. The older woman looked over her shoulder briefly before turning away from her companion. She could see the situation taking a toll on the blonde, her chest beginning to rise and fall rapidly, despite the assurances she'd just given her sister. Rather than focus on Kara, she tried to upload the last of the files from L Corp's server onto an external hard drive. She wouldn't be able to help anyone if they didn't have the data on the latest vaccine testing.
"Lena? Lena, talk to me!" Panic blossomed in her chest and her throat began to close, her words coming out sharp and hurried. Unable to calm her rising fear, the blonde woman collapsed into the chair behind Lena, her arms reaching out for the other woman, who stopped abruptly when she saw her companion in a state of distress.
"Kara, you need to take deep breaths for me. In, out. In, out. Everything is going to be alright." She placed her hands on the young woman's cheeks and forced her to make eye contact as they slowly counted their breaths together. "I won't let anything happen to you."
"You knew this would happen." Kara accused, pulling away from the other woman and putting distance between them, her back pressed against the far wall. Unfortunately, Lena followed her across the room, stopping just inches from the younger woman. She reached behind Kara, sliding open a hidden panel in the wall to reveal a duel fingerprint and retinal scanner system. Kara held her breath as Lena leaned over her shoulder to scan her iris, palm pressed into the wall just above her waist. Once the scans were complete, the entire wall behind Kara gave way, revealing a huge panel of high tech weaponry and gear.
"I didn't know this exact scenario would happen, but I like to be prepared." The answer, while reasonable and logical, didn't satisfy Kara's concern. She stepped away from the wall and watched as Lena began pulling items from the wall, filling three backpacks with ammo, water, food rations, and other survival gear.
"Could you have prevented this? Could you have saved all those people?" Deep down, she knew Lena wasn't to blame for the situation at hand; she was just terrified by what hell would greet them once they left the building. There was no zombie/apocalyptic/end of the world movie that could ever ready someone for the position they were in now. Sure, Alex the badass FBI agent made sure her little sister could fight and shoot a gun, but knowing and putting those skills into practice was an entirely different story. They would very likely have to kill people to escape the city, people who'd woken up this morning, thinking they would see tomorrow.
"If I developed a viable vaccine before Maxwell Lord, maybe. Despite the work I've done to turn L Corp around, I've been shut out from government contracts and research grants. Regardless, everything happening now is Lord's fault for being a capitalist before a scientist."
"That's what the facility near Midvale is about. It's a bugout shelter, isn't it?"
"Something like that, yes. I had a bad feeling about this entire situation and I've been working to prepare for the worst case scenario. If there's anything Lex taught me that's valuable, it's that being paranoid is better than being unprepared." They didn't have time for modesty, so when Kara's mouth dropped open as Lena began to disrobe, the older woman only allowed herself a moment to smirk before she pulled on black cargo pants and a turtleneck sweater. Lena thought it was best not to comment about the shameless sharing the blonde indulged in while her chest was exposed. There would be time for that when they reached the prison. She handed Kara a second set of clothing, hoping they would fit the more muscular woman. Without missing a beat, she threw her clothes off, giving Lena a full view of the six pack that she kept hidden under simple shirts and rainbow cardigans. Once they were dressed, trading their heels for sneakers and socks, each woman slung a backpack over their shoulders and clipped a machete to their thighs. Lena paused as she reached for the assault rifle hanging on the wall.
"From what I understand about your sister, it's safe to assume you know how to handle one of these, right?" Despite the misfortune befalling the world, they shared a knowing smile as Kara grabbed the rifle, removing and replacing the magazine expertly. The final items they grabbed were matching hand guns and new masks, ones designed to filter their air and were equipped with communication devices, as well as the third backpack of gear and weaponry for Jess. Before they exited the office, the alarm still screaming around them, Lena stopped them and turned Kara's body towards her. "I know this situation is terrifying, but I hope that you can trust me to get us through the city safely and to Midvale. We've only known each other a few weeks, but-"
Seeing a rant coming on, Kara dropped her hands to the other woman's shoulder to stop her.
"Lena, stop, I trust you. We will make it through this. The only other person I would trust more in this scenario is Alex and you gave her your word that you'd get me to Midvale. So, that's what we're gonna do, no matter what is on the other side of that door. Understand?"
"Crystal clear, Miss Danvers. Now, are you ready?" They both paused and in this brief respite, Kara leaned down and pressed her lips to Lena's, surprising the other woman, but they melted into each other's' bodies almost instantly. There wasn't enough time to take in every feeling and every smell. Too soon, they were pulling away, the sound of their rifles clicking together pulled them back to the reality at hand. The women smiled wide at each other, the madness around them falling away, if only for a few seconds.
"I am now."
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