CH4 The Battle of Fort Rozz

"Ouch!" Barry exclaimed.

Amused, Kara landed next to him. "You Ok?"

Shaking his hand, Barry groused, "That…whaddyacallim?"

"Hellgrammite."

"Yeah, that. When I punched it – and put it down for the count, I may add – I got distracted and when I hit it on a mandible it really hurt." He looked at her while shaking his throbbing hand. A quick hypersonic vibration and he was as good as new. Flexing his hand, he told her, "It's all your fault, you know."

Kara snorted a laugh. Patting his cheek, she teased, "My poor baby."

He smirked at her, "It's not my fault at all. I was distracted and lost focus otherwise that 85% probability of punching would have been down to 0% because there would only have been one punch."

"Sure, Flash. Whatever you say. And you were distracted why?" They were interrupted by a horde of swarming black SUVs arriving. Dropping the banter, Supergirl told the Flash, "DEO."

He nodded; all playfulness apparently gone. Supergirl placed her boot on the rousing Hellgrammite. "Do us all a favor and stay down. Please?"

Barry smiled at the addition of 'please'. Right as agents began to pile out of the vehicles, he leaned over and whispered into her ear, "I was distracted because you look dead fucking sexy in your uniform."

She turned to him, her cheeks ablaze. His smirk was there-and-gone before he nodded toward the approaching black-clad personnel led by Director Henshaw. Before the others reached them, she retorted in her own whisper, "And your uniform makes me want to grab your ass. Every. Single. Time."

Now Barry was blushing as the agents attached binders to the downed insectoid mutate. "Supergirl," the Director greeted her before turning to the Flash. "And who are you?" he demanded in his usual brusque manner.

Barry frowned. Kara muttered, "He's always like this. It's not you."

Nodding his acknowledgement of her comment, the Scarlet Speedster replied, "I'm the Flash." Extending his hand, he greeted, "Good to meet you, Director. Supergirl has told me about you."

Henshaw didn't shake hands. "Oh really? She never mentioned you."

Annoyed, Barry dropped his hand. "It's a rather long and personal story."

"I vouch for him in all ways, Director," Kara interjected with a serious voice.

He regarded her for a long moment, "That's nice."

Now it was Kara's turn to be was annoyed. "What's the problem here? Three weeks ago, Flash was instrumental in capturing Livewire and Silver Banshee. Today, he and I took out the Hellgrammite with zero civilian damage or casualties. What's your problem? Isn't it obvious that he's one of the good guys?"

"I find it interesting that when he shows up," he gestured toward the now silent and stone-faced Flash, "all kinds of superhuman criminals come on the scene."

Kara crossed her arms as she rolled her eyes. Deliberately, she kicked a stone with the toe of her boot, to indicate what she thought of Henshaw's statement. Changing her mind, she decided not be subtle. She told the Director, "That's one of the more stupid things I've heard today and I've already had a full bucket of stupid from Alex."

Barry swallowed his laughter, the rounding of his eyes the only indication that he was amused. Henshaw, though, was not amused. Barry decided to interject before he was the topic of more dissent with Kara's support and teammates. It was one thing to squabble with a sister about a new boyfriend, but Henshaw had resources and was an ally in her - now their - efforts to protect National City. "Director, I understand that you have the ability to verify the truth of Supergirl's claim." After pushing the cuff release, he tugged off his glove. Extending his bare hand this time, the offer was obvious.

J'onn J'onzz reached out and took Barry's hand. Skin contact wasn't necessary for the Martian's telepathy to function, but in the Flash's case it helped. The metahuman's thoughts were too fast for him to keep track and lock on to. After a long moment, where the two stared at each other while holding hands in the facsimile of a handshake, the Martian broke eye and hand contact. "Flash, welcome to our world." He paused for a long moment before adding, "And you have my sympathies. I, too, am a sole survivor of my race."

Barry nodded stoically as he reseated his glove, the automatic sealant at the cuff lapping the suit into one coherent piece.

Noticeably relaxing, the Director told them both, "Meet me at the DEO in an hour. I still need to wrap this up," he nodded at the bound Hellgrammite loading into a cargo van. Meeting both their gazes, he added with a return to seriousness, "Non is still out there. We're moving on him before he moves on us."

.oOo.

Speeding back to their apartment, Kara and Barry scarfed their already cooked food. Not having time to finish cooking the waffles, Barry reluctantly put the bowl of batter in the refrigerator while Kara began to make a platter of sandwiches that they demolished in under five minutes. "Whew," he sighed when they finished. "That hit the spot."

He looked across the counter, as they'd eaten standing up, and saw his girlfriend beaming at him. Smiling, he asked, "What?"

"I'm just happy."

He smiled in return. His happiness was still colored by grief, but not nearly as much as it was a few short weeks ago, and it was due to the woman across from him. Slipping around the counter, he took her into his arms. She smiled impishly as her hands slipped below his belt to give him a groping squeeze. Giving her a quick kiss, he followed it with a hug. Holding her tight, he told her, "Thank you. When I got here, I was in a really bad place. You…just being you has helped me more than I can tell you."

She pulled back, a concerned expression on her face, "Barry…." He interrupted her with his smile.

"Every time I feel the grief, and sadness well up, you're there comforting me and telling me it's Ok to miss all of them. When the guilt and anger come, you reassure me that it's not my fault. When I need a hug, your arms are open. When I need to run, you let me. When I need…" he paused, collecting his thoughts. A small tear beaded in the corner of his eye before he sniffed, "I just need you."

Moved beyond words, Kara leaned into him, kissing him softly before enveloping him in her arms. He didn't need to hear it right now, but she needed him as much as he needed her. While not as broken as him due to recent events, she never really recovered from the loss of Krypton and her family. Jeremiah and Eliza tried their best, they really did, but they were never her parents; guardians, more like. Her relationship with Alex was up and down. She'd had no siblings on Krypton, so she didn't have competing emotions or loyalties when it came to Alex in her life. Nonetheless, their relationship was more dysfunctional than functional.

But Barry was everything to her. He filled an aching hole in her that she'd never been able to pinpoint. This ache was always there, but never really identified. It was the sense of community of equals; of belonging somewhere and with someone. Kal-El had abnegated his responsibilities of caring for her upon her late arrival on Earth; an act for which she'd not forgiven him. There was no community with her cousin. He was an acquaintance by blood, not much more than that. With Barry, though, she felt a sense of affinity with him despite him not being a Kryptonian. It was a bond, not only a bond as members of the fellowship of heroes, but a bond of identity. He was nearly as indestructible as she, and didn't belong in the human race any more than she did. But they did belong somewhere. With each other.

His laughter filled her ears. With an expectant smile, she looked up to him. His irrepressible smile split his face in an image of joy. Blue met green and, once again, she was home.

He deftly took her hands in his, framing a ballroom dance pose. Humming, he began to waltz her around the kitchen. Kara had never danced a waltz with a guy before. Sure, she'd seen it done in her favorite movies, but never danced it. Now, she was dancing around her kitchen with a man who was quite possibly the man of her dreams while they were both wearing their superhero uniforms. Leaning up to kiss him again, she realized that she could very well be dancing with this man for millennia. The mere thought excited her more than she could have imagined.

.oOo.

Walking through the halls of the DEO side by side, Barry asked her, "So, Non has the same powers as you and your cousin?"

She nodded, "There are approximately twenty-five unaccounted for Kryptonians that were imprisoned in Fort Rozz. Some may have died before arriving here, some may have died in the crash. Best guess is that Non has around fifteen to twenty Kryptonians in his forces."

"Holy crap," Barry muttered.

Rounding into the briefing room, they saw Director Henshaw leaning over the digital table; the communications consoles fully staffed and next to Henshaw stood a glowering Alex. "Great," muttered Kara. "Don't need this today."

Barry didn't say anything, just surreptitiously placed his hand on the small of her back, letting her know that he was there and had her back; literally and metaphorically.

"Good, you're both here," Henshaw began. "Our communications intercepts have found a scaling low level comm channel usage centering on the crash site of Fort Rozz." Gesturing with his hand to the digital map on the table, he continued, "The crash site is in this area of Nevada…"

"What is he doing here?" Alex interrupted.

"FML," Barry sighed, but didn't comment further. He was pleasantly satisfied when Henshaw took up on his behalf.

"I asked him to attend today, Agent Danvers. Is that a problem?"

"Do we really know anything about him, sir? He could be anyone," Alex countered.

"I know everything about him, Agent Danvers. Thank you for your concern."

"Sir, I must protest…"

It's like tennis. Serve, volley and return, Barry thought to himself. He glanced at his side to see that Kara was already steaming mad and just barely holding on to her temper.

"Agent Danvers, I'd appreciate it if you would ensure that all of the vehicles earmarked for transit to the mobile command post in Nevada are ready to go or already in transit." When she didn't respond or move – probably in shock at being side lined so quickly – Henshaw added, "Now, Agent."

Softly, Alex responded, "Yes sir," before she left.

There was a long moment where the remaining three stood wondering how to deal with the awkwardness just generated by the departed Alex Danvers. Barry solved it by prompting, "You were saying?" Kara took his hand in hers, steadying both of their emotions.

"Yes, we're establishing a mobile command post one hundred miles from the crash site with standoff airborne radar assets to assist in monitoring the situation. I don't want any escapees; this ends now."

Barry nodded uneasily. Looking to Kara, she too was looking at the map with a worried expression. She gave the final indication that she was worried when she began to chew on her bottom lip. "Director, will you be accompanying Supergirl and me into the field?"

"Yes. You'll need all the help you can get."

Barry nodded. He was about to broach something that could get him in hot water very quickly. "And has Superman been contacted to assist?"

At his side, Kara stiffened, but didn't comment.

Henshaw replied, "We have contacted Superman. He said he'll be here," he checked his watch, "In about fifteen minutes."

Kara spoke up, "Wonder Woman?"

"Ten minutes out."

Barry didn't know who Wonder Woman was, but assumed she was fighting in the heavyweight division. "Still, this is long odds. Anyone else?"

Henshaw sighed as he leaned back on the table behind him. There was a moment that Barry saw where the man shifted from 'Director Henshaw' to J'onn J'onzz who would fight alongside them. "I've put calls out to all the superpowered heroes that we know of here. Superman relayed the message to the Green Lantern Corps, and they're sending at least two of their own. I doubt Aquaman will come. Apparently, there is a dust-up in Atlantis. There are others who I've not been able to reach, but few who can take on a Kryptonian on their own. Most can't even engage as part of a team without it being suicidal."

"Are we meeting here?" a voice asked from behind them.

Turning, Barry saw a pair of teens, the boy a brunet and the girl blonde. Their hands in their pockets, the boy was around fourteen and the girl about sixteen or seventeen. Both wore jeans, t-shirts and sneakers. There were never two people who looked less like superheroes than these two.

A bit befuddled, Barry looked to Kara for answers. The blank expression on her face didn't help. Turning to Henshaw, or J'onn he supposed, he saw a sarcastic smile. "Didn't know you two got the word."

The girl shrugged. "We were just finishing up school when Diana called to tell me what was going on. Billy wanted to come help too."

"Good, we need all the help we can get."

Completely confused, Barry looked back and forth from the teens to Henshaw. When he saw the grins on the three, he knew he was being punked in some way. "Alright, what's the story?"

"Shazam!" the boy yelled as the girl spun in place. A flash of lightning later and there stood a really really buff guy in red with a huge lightning bolt on his chest and the girl looked much more formidable in what could only be described as red and gold battle armor. At her side, she wore a sword and, on her back, she carried a shield.

Nodding, Barry turned to Kara who was doing the same, "Ok, then."

"Who's skinny red?" the big buff guy asked with the boy's voice.

"Oh, sorry. I'm the Flash," he extended his hand to the two.

After shaking both their hands they introduced themselves, "He's Captain Marvel and I'm Wonder Girl. You can call me Cassie. He's just meathead."

"Hey!"

"I'm Barry," he replied. Turning to Kara, he tried to hide his utter ignorance while amused at the teens' antics, he half turned to Kara, "Little help?"

She was no help at all, just shrugging in turn.

Before they could go further in this funhouse, three people strode in the briefing room. The woman looked like Wonder Girl's older sister just brunette to the girl's blonde, so Barry assumed she was Wonder Woman. The hug the two exchanged upon greeting seemed to reinforce the thought. The men wore matching uniforms of green, white, and black. The stylistic lantern symbol on their chest gave away their affiliation.

Introductions were made and Barry was glad that the two Lanterns were of different ethnicities so he could keep them straight. "Jordan and Stewart, Jordan and Stewart," he mumbled to himself. Kara half smiled at him with a raised eyebrow. "I suck at names," he told her causing her to chuckle.

The last member strode into the room. Kal-El of Krypton looked around before making a direct line to Kara. With the similarity of their uniforms, there was little doubt as to their relation. Stepping aside to give them a bit of space, Barry saw his girlfriend greet her cousin.

"ɛɹ.oʃ m̩.bem, soʤɛb," Kara greeted Kal-El in what Barry would learn later was Kryptonese.

To the surprise of all present, Superman bowed his head to his cousin before replying, "ɛɹ.oʃ m̩.bem, beθ.gɹ̩"

She raised her hand, placing it on his head. Continuing in English, she told him, "The House of El goes to war, Kal-El." He nodded before bringing his right fist to his breast, tapping thrice.

The formalities over, he grinned, "It's good to see you, Kara."

She replied mildly, "You too, Kal-El." Turning to Barry she introduced them, "This is Barry Allen, who uses the name The Flash when going about our work."

"Barry," he took the big man's hand.

He leaned in while surreptitiously looking around, "Not sure if I should use your other name here."

Superman nodded. "Everyone in this room knows the name Clark Kent."

Barry nodded. "It's good to meet you, Clark. Kara has told me a lot about you."

A flicker of…something…went across the male Kryptonian's face. Deciding that he didn't have time to deal with this now, he turned to J'onn, who'd assumed his natural Martian form while Superman and Supergirl were greeting each other.

"Now that we're all assembled," the Martian began as the heroes spread out around the briefing room to each get a better view of the map. "Supergirl has been engaging the escapees of Fort Rozz for the better part of a year capturing or killing those the DEO are unable to stop." He touched the display, "This is where Fort Rozz crash landed two years ago. We believe there was internecine conflict for at least a year until the Kryptonians who were imprisoned there powered up enough to assert their dominance over the remaining prisoners."

"Population?" Wonder Woman asked.

"Our primary concern are the Kryptonians. At most twenty-five."

Captain Marvel whistled. "This won't be fun."

"No. It won't. I've forward deployed a command and control unit one hundred miles from the crash site to help coordinate us all. All of us but the Flash are air assets, but he brings a little something else to the party."

"Like what?" Lantern Jordan asked.

"I'm fast," Barry replied while shrugging.

At his side, Kara snorted and rolled her eyes. "And what's the max speed you've hit, Flash?" she asked in a leading tone.

"Around Point five C. But I had a run up to go that fast. From standing…probably point one C." Superman, the Lanterns and both Wonder Woman and Wonder Girl's eyes widened in shock.

Captain Marvel looked around to the others who were obviously impressed. "Sooo, that's good?"

"Yes, Billy, that's relativistic speed," Wonder Girl replied. "He can run half the speed of light. Imagine getting punched by someone moving around…" she did the math in her head, "Around one hundred and fifty million meters per second."

"Dude," the man/boy replied, "that is pretty cool. We'll have to party some time."

"Yeah, sure," Barry replied before turning to the group, "If you can get them on the ground, I can knock them out." Turning to J'onn, he asked, "And you have the facilities to hold them? I wouldn't think you could confine these two," He gestured to Kara and Kal-El on each side of him.

"I can hold them. If you, or any of you, subdue a Kryptonian opponent for thirty seconds, my DEO teams can wrap them up and lock them up." He gestured back to the digital map, "I'll have a series of helicopters in waiting station here, here, and here waiting to collect the trash."

Barry traded a look with Kara of I hope he's right.

"Supergirl and Flash will be first in; she will fly with Flash covering from below. Since she's been engaging first Astra and now Non, we'll try to negotiate an ending to all this." J'onn frowned, which was a truly intimidating sight. "I'm not hopeful of a peaceful resolution, but it has to be tried."

The assembled heroes all were sobered at the unfolding reality. Kara hadn't spoken in hyperbole earlier to her cousin. They were going to war. Some of their number may not return. Barry looked around the room, inspired by the courage that was nearly palpable. Blindly, he reached out for his girlfriend finding her hand searching for his own.

"If, or rather when, the negotiations fail, the five of us that remain will ingress along this canyon." He glanced at Superman, Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel and Wonder Girl, "You four are much faster than me. Don't wait. Go as fast as you can while staying with your partner. You'll be vulnerable to an attack from above, but we'll have visual cover until about a five-mile sprint to the crash site." Gesturing to the two Lanterns, he added, "I want you two to go exo-atmospheric and be our overwatch, coming down hard on the strongest opposition. Go flight level around one hundred thousand feet, dropping hard once you get overtop the red zone." Lantern Stewart nodded solemnly while Lantern Jordan studied the topography of the area.

"We'll work in pairs. Supergirl and Flash. Superman and Wonder Girl. Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel. The Lanterns. I'll be engaging solo, but shapeshifting so as to get closer to the prison. My goal will be to kill Non if I can. Otherwise, I will disrupt their communications that are being coordinated in the prison." He glared at the other eight, "Under no circumstances are you to attempt a rescue of me should the tide turn on us and I am caught inside the prison. If need be, Supergirl or the Flash will sound the retreat should they deem it necessary."

He paused to let that sink in. Lantern Jordan asked, "So the guy we don't know will call for a retreat." Turning to Barry, he offered, "No offense."

"None taken."

J'onn looked first at Flash, who nodded his approval of the unspoken question. "Lantern Jordan, the Flash has just finished waging a planetwide war. He has more experience than most in these matters."

That seemed to end the discussion on that topic. "You'll all take one of these," he gestured to a box that had earbuds in them, "for communications and for our people to track and ID you. Anyone not wearing one of these is considered the enemy. Our command center is staffed with former Air Force and Navy fighter controllers. They know how to get you on a target."

There was silence as they all reviewed the map and their parts in the attack. Visualizing their part, how best to work together.

"Questions?"

Barry spoke up quickly, "What is the objective? Kill or capture?" It was war after all.

"Capture if you can, but pull the trigger early. I won't have any of our team hurt or killed because we are hesitant to put these mad dogs down. Make no mistake," he caught the gaze of all the somber heroes, "These beings are the worst of Krypton's society. They may not pack the punch of Superman and Supergirl as they've only been exposed to our sun for a few years, but they are powerful. Do not hold back. Go for the kill first."

Barry nodded. He'd hoped that this was the answer. To be honest, he wasn't too focused on the 'capture' part. He was focused on the 'survive' part. Looking to his right, he added, 'and Kara survives'. All else was secondary.

"Mission success is when they're all accounted for?" Kara asked intensely as she, too, studied the topographical map.

"Yes, and any others they've brought into their fold."

"Oh, shit," Captain Marvel whispered. "How many total?"

"Fort Rozz held over two thousand prisoners when it crashed here. We've accounted for approximately fifteen hundred."

Five hundred possible.

"That's a big number," Wonder Girl observed quietly.

The silence in the room began to become oppressive. If he'd not been holding Kara's hand, Barry was sure that he'd begin to feel hopeless right about then. There were only nine of them. To take on possibly five hundred super powered aliens. Glancing about, the heroes didn't look as brave as they had twenty minutes before.

"We can do this,"

All of them focused on Kara. Supergirl's expression was fierce as she continued, "We are the protectors of this planet. The motto of the House of El is all of our motto today."

"El Mayarah," Superman said while nodding.

"Exactly, Kal-El. El Mayarah." The looked around before looking down at her and Flash's intertwined hands, "Stronger Together."

"Damn right," Lantern Stewart spoke up for the first time.

"I am humbled and proud to serve with all of you," Superman intoned with his deep voice. "I will treasure this moment for the rest of my life."

Courage filled them all. El Mayarah, indeed.

.oOo.

They were leaving in six hours, so the heroes all retreated to the mess hall to get a meal. Kara snickered, as Kal and Wonder Woman sat down opposite her and Barry. Captain Marvel and Wonder Girl sat next to her while the Lanterns were discussing some of the finer points of the assault with J'onn.

"What?" Barry asked as he started his fourth piece of lasagna from the mound of food on his tray. He'd slipped his cowl back. Kara loved seeing him so innocent at moments like this.

Kara just pointed at all the metahumans' trays. "There must be sixty pounds of food here," she laughed.

Superman smiled while Wonder Girl and Captain Marvel laughed. They all dug in with gusto.

.oOo.

"Come with me," Kara tugged at his hand. They headed into the med bay where, in the corner, there was an industrial solar bed. "I'm going to juice up," she told her boyfriend as she indicated to the solar bed.

"I need to meditate," he told her. At her questioning expression, he told her, "My connection with the Speed Force is as emotional and spiritual as it is physical. When I'm at peace, I can sink into it and then I barely have to think and I move. That's how I get going really fast."

There was something that she'd been feeling for a while but been putting off discussing with him for various reasons. It was too soon. She didn't want to scare him off. She wasn't sure of her feelings (which was a complete lie) and other justifications for her waffling. She needed to tell him this now, though, as there may not be a tomorrow. Taking both his hands in hers, she glided up to him, nearly touching. "This fight, well, it will be pretty tough. I'm not sure…well, it will be tough." She looked him full in the face as she whispered, "I need you to know. You're the one, Barry. The one I've been waiting for my whole life." She paused, unsure of how to convey the depth of her feelings when he spoke.

"I love you with all my soul, Kara Zor-El."

That was it.

"And I love you with all my soul, Barry Allen." She kissed him passionately. As they separated, he touched his forehead to hers. Closing her eyes, she communed with him. Just being in his proximity was both exhilarating and intoxicating at the same time.

"It may be too soon, Kara, but you're it for me."

"Oh, Rao, we really need a bed right now."

Barry burst into laughter, causing her to laugh in her turn. Kissing him joyfully, she turned to energize the solar panels.

Still laughing to himself, Barry cleared a small area next to her where he could sit undisturbed while meditating. Turning back to her, he gave her a quick kiss. "Take as long as you need. I'll be right here when you get out."

"Love you, babe," she whispered, trying out the pet name for the first time.

His eyes sparkled, "Love you, too sweetheart." She glowed brighter than the sunbed as she climbed in to top off her internal battery.

.oOo.

They were riding in a C-130 transport to the fight. "I've gone faster before I got my ring," Lantern Jordan grumped as he settled in the fore and aft troop seating. J'onn had insisted they ride the plane so as to conserve energy and arrive together. Barry was chatting with J'onn while Kara was cornered by Wonder Woman and Wonder Girl.

"So, Kara Zor-El," Diana began with a friendly grin, the joke evident in her expression, "my sister and I have a friendly wager about you…."

"And the really hot speedster," Cassie finished excitedly. "Are you two together?"

Kara blushed, "Yeah." Then she thought of something, "And he's taken. He's mine." Her scowl caused Wonder Girl to back off a step and Wonder Woman to chuckle.

"I told you, Cassie. Never try to poach a superheroine's man."

"Diana, I wasn't poaching. He's just so yummy, I had to know."

"Ok, that's the last time I really need to hear someone else call my boyfriend 'yummy'."

Both Amazons laughed. It was the beginning of a wonderful friendship.

"Enough about boring men, though," Diana continued after her joke on her sister. "I understand from your cousin that you have memories of Krypton. I have been a student of dozens of societies from an academic perspective. I would love to discuss Krypton some time with you."

"Sure, any particular aspects?"

"I'm very interested in the socio-economic influences on developing societies. Did Krypton have a capitalist economy like we know it here…?"

.oOo.

"Barry, can I have a word?"

Barry broke off from his discussion with J'onn about the effects of his supersonic punch to turn and see Kal-El standing there. "Sure, Clark. What's up?"

J'onn moved off as Superman began, "I'm not sure if you're aware, but Kara is actually the head of the House of El. House leadership on Krypton was not patronymic, but rather the first born of the immediate house. Despite the Phantom Zone impact on Kara's age, she was born before me."

Barry nodded, "Yeah, Kara told me about that. It was fascinating how she described some of the traditions and politics of her world. Pretty amazing that she grew up there, then had to switch up and learn a whole new society, language and lifestyle here." That something was there and gone from Superman's face again. Barry didn't have the interest to pursue it so let it be.

"So, you two are close?"

The Flash nodded while smiling broadly, "We're together."

"Oh. Well, good for you two," Clark replied half-heartedly as he seemed to be trying to regain his train of thought after being shocked that his cousin was dating the speedster.

"I tell you what, if you want to give me the shovel speech," he paused to check, "You do have the shovel speech here?"

Puzzled at the question, Clark just nodded.

"Good. After we survive fighting five hundred powerful aliens, you can give me the shovel speech. Until then, let's put it on the back burner for now, huh?"

"Sure…"

Pressing the point to keep the other Kryptonian on his back foot, Barry nodded toward the two Lanterns, "Have you worked with those guys before?"

Clark nodded, "Well, I've worked with Lantern Jordan before. He's a bit of a showoff, but very good to have at your side in a fight."

"Ok, what are their powers again?"

"Now may be a good time to have a chat with our resident Green Lanterns."

As they threaded through the gear and heroes spread about the cargo hold, Barry watched as both Lanterns reached into…nothing as they withdrew two stylized old-fashioned lanterns. Both settled themselves before thrusting their right hands into their respective lantern. After a moment, they intoned in a solemn, grave tone, "In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might, beware my power—Green Lantern's light!"

The subsequent green glow enveloped both men before it ebbed.

"Well, that shut everyone up," Lantern Jordan announced as he put his lantern back…nowhere.

"Got to charge up," Lantern Stewart announced as he held up his hand bearing a glowing green ring.

"Ok, then," Barry murmured. Finally, he asked, "So I know what to count on out there, what are your guys' powers?"

What followed was an alternatingly serious and showy description of the awesome powers of the Green Lantern Power Ring.

At the end of the impromptu lecture, Barry felt a hand on top of his head. Looking up, he saw Kara floating over him, listening to the Lanterns and their discussion. She'd been leaning on his head while two feet off the deck of the plane.

"Comfy?" he asked with a grin.

"Very," she replied with a saucy wink.

"Get a room, you two," Captain Marvel groaned.

"Ok," Kara told them. Tugging Barry toward the front of the plane, she told everyone, "We'll be back in a bit."

Barry did his part in the joke by smiling to everyone and waving goodbye.

Everyone, bar Captain Marvel, broke up laughing. Even Lantern Stewart had a grin.

From the front of the cargo hold, Barry chimed in loudly. "Maybe we should wait for later." More laughter.

When they made their way back to the group, smiles abounded. Kara and Barry traded a look. Mission accomplished: tension relieved. She leaned toward him, giving him a peck on the lips. "Love you, babe."

He smiled, really liking the whole pet name thing.

J'onn phased into the cargo hold from the cockpit. "We're ten minutes out."

All the laughter and grins faded.

"Showtime," Captain Marvel muttered.

.oOo.

The command post that the DEO had set up was a series of climate-controlled tractor-trailers powered by a towed generator with a mobile radar setup and a lot of cables connecting them all. As they debarked the plane, both Lanterns shot straight up into the sky, a green glow surrounding them.

Just as they were walking across the rough landing strip, another C-130 landed. Curious, Barry asked, J'onn, "More backup?"

The Martian shook his head. "Medical facility and personnel."

On that somber note, they all filed into the command center. Once again, they gathered around the digital table to review the plan. More modifications were made. Kara and Barry had some specific ideas that were folded into the overall approach. After one last run through, they settled to get ready. Kara popped her earbud into her left ear as she felt Barry's arms wrapping around her from behind. Turning in his embrace, she leaned into him whispering, "Don't hold back out there. Come back to me."

"You, too. These aren't friends or family. Not anymore. Come back to me."

After a quick kiss, they relaxed their embrace. Turning, they saw Superman standing there. He placed a large hand on each of their shoulders, "El Mayarah," he intoned.

Barry nodded as he and Kara replied, "El Mayarah."

Wonder Woman spoke up, "J'onn's plan is a good one, but once we all engage it will be a melee and things will become confused." She fingered the hilt of the sword of Athena on her hip. "It will be difficult to stay with our partners, but we must." She met Captain Marvel's gaze, "We shall have a glorious battle." She was as fierce as Kara had been as she looked about the room. "Go home bearing your shield or be borne upon it," the Amazon commanded.

"She's fucking awesome," Lantern Jordan muttered.

Deliberately, Diana unclasped her bracers, letting them fall to the ground. Kara swore she could hear the Amazon Princess begin to growl as her aggression ramped up now that she was free of the calming effect of her bracers. At her side, Cassie did the same, allowing her bracers to fall next to her sister's set. Drawing her sword, the younger Amazon murmured, "El Mayarah."

"Alright," J'onn announced to get their attention. "It's 1100. Go time. Flash, Supergirl, you're up on your insertion point. The rest of us will head to our initial point."

.oOo.

All banter was gone. Loving endearments and kisses had been put aside. The two superheroes that would inspire generations as part of a League of Superheroes that formed for this occasion stood in the van of the attack.

"Flash, comm check."

"Loud and clear, control."

"Supergirl, comm check."

"Loud and clear, control."

There was another beat before Flash said, "Control, you realize we're going to be moving faster than you can track and vector."

"Understood, Flash. It's my job to prevent you from being surprised. If you hear my voice call out a direction like, 'nine o'clock' you have hostile inbound on your left."

"Understood."

And they waited.

"All units, report status for go."

"Flash ready."

"Supergirl ready."

"Wonder Woman ready."

"Captain Marvel ready."

"Superman ready."

"Wonder Girl ready."

"Roger, break, Lantern Jordan, report if you are on station."

There was a crackle of static in his earbud as Barry heard a tinny voice say, "Lanterns on station, waiting for call for fire."

"Roger."

Barry took a deep, calming breath as he stared at the downed space prison in the distance. At his side, Kara floated a few inches off the ground.

"Anyone outside?" he asked her.

"No."

He frowned. They had to have some kind of guard.

"Wait. A door just opened."

Tensing for immediate action, for he knew how fast Kryptonians could move, Barry controlled his breathing, sinking himself deep into the Speed Force. Between his fingers, electricity arced.

"It's Non, he's looking right at us."

"Arrogance," he murmured. She nodded in agreement.

In his ear, Barry head J'onn. "Supergirl and Flash, you're up."

Without looking away from the target area, Kara and Barry moved to the plateau just outside the crash site. Barry had to dial back his speed; he didn't want to give too much away too soon. Coming to a halt beside Supergirl just as she landed, he watched and waited as Kara spoke to the man who had once been her uncle.

.oOo.

Years later, Barry and Kara would tell their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren how their memories for the rest of the day were a blur. Maybe it was even true.

"It was the first time your father proposed to me," Kara had teased when telling the story to their son.

"What did you say, Mom?"

"I told him that he could ask me again when we weren't facing a high probability of death." She finished making his lunch, handing him the plate full of sandwiches and a huge glass of milk.

"You and your high probabilities…" Barry muttered from his workstation in the other room.

.oOo.

"Non of No House," she greeted.

"Kara Zor-El," he replied in a neutral tone.

"As Head of the House of El and the spokesperson for this planet, I am asking you and your forces to depart peacefully."

"Krypton is dead, Head of the House of El. That title means nothing here."

She glared, but said nothing.

He looked about, imitating one who is admiring the local flora and fauna. "I like it here. I think we'll stay and rule." Smirking at her, he added, "Unless you and your little quick pet here think you can stop us?" He shook his head, "You are very young and very stupid. We wanted you to come here, Head of the House of El. My armies have been held in reserve for this very moment. You shall die today, Head of the House of El."

Barry swallowed his anger at the disrespect and mocking from the enemy. If Zoom had taught him anything, he'd taught him the value of psychological warfare. He wouldn't let this person's words become a weapon. For a long moment, he and Kara stared at the would-be Warlord.

"You do not know what you are starting, Non. You think you have power. You know nothing of power." She gestured to Barry, "We were not born on this world, but it is ours and we are hers. We have learned an immutable truth here. There is no arsenal or no weapon in the arsenals of the galaxy that is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. I have learned this here. I have seen and lived this truth again and again.

"It is a weapon that you do not have. We, as this planet's defenders, do have that weapon. I pledge to you, Non," she looked for a long moment to Barry who understood her intent and nodded to her. Turning back, she amended, "We pledge to you, that we will win this war. We will work, we will strive, we will sacrifice, we will endure, and do our utmost, as if the issue of the whole struggle depended on us alone." Non was beginning to look uneasy as his gaze flicked back and forth between Barry and Kara.

Barry spoke up, "We have learned this here. This is power. Know that peace is the highest aspiration of the people of this planet. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it; we will not surrender for it, now or ever. Know this now, Non. We will never surrender. This planet will never surrender. You will be destroyed should you stay and fight."

Kara's presence loomed over Non. Barry felt her swell and grow with authority, power, and dignity. He'd never loved her more. Taking a deep breath, he sank more deeply into the Speed Force. They were at the tipping point.

Non sneered in his fear and desperation. "So be it. Die then."

And Barry Moved.

.oOo.

Supergirl never saw the Flash move; there wasn't even the usual trail of lightning behind him. He'd said earlier that he could reach point one C from a standing start. The detonation that occurred as the Flash inflicted his first supersonic punch of the day was so intense that it nearly knocked her over. She had no time to consider how fast he'd been going, but it was surely faster than point one C.

As Non was blasted back and reeling from the Flash's attack, Supergirl pounced. Catching up to him, she began to beat him viciously and mercilessly while simultaneously lashing him with her heat vision and freezing breath. Smashing him into the ground, she dove at maximum speed to hit him again. He started to rise when she connected with both fists and her heat vision to his face. Driving him into dirt, Supergirl lifted him quickly; holding him by the neck away from her body.

"Now!" she cried.

And Barry Moved. This time, he had a hundred mile build up. The supersonic punch this time did knock Kara to the ground.

Blinking her eyes clear, she saw that she held Non's neck and head, but the rest of him was gone.

"Non is dead," she heard the Flash announce over the comm circuit. She tossed the bit of gore into a nearby bush as she took to the air.

"Understood," their Martian General replied. "Group two is encountering Kryptonian resistance. Supergirl and Flash, return to the red zone. Lanterns, join the fight. Let's go people."

.oOo.

Opponents were swarming the four teams as the Flash and Supergirl arrived at the designated red zone near the fallen prison spaceship.

Like ants, the enemy poured out of Fort Rozz while also emerging from burrows around the crash site. The Flash saw the problem immediately. Through sheer force of numbers, the four teams were separated and fighting alone. Rushing to a pillar of rock, he stood there for a moment vibrating at a specific frequency, before he called over the open comm channel, "Heroes! Rally to the lightning!" Unleashing a series of lightning bolts straight up into the atmosphere, he felt more than saw Supergirl engage a pair of Kryptonians behind him. A thud signaled the arrival of Captain Marvel next to him, followed shortly by Wonder Woman. The Amazon was rending her opponents with her sword, screaming her rage at their enemies.

Superman flew overhead at supersonic speed, colliding with three flying aliens. The Flash didn't think they were Kryptonian as he turned them to pulp upon impact. He gathered himself to attack one of Supergirl's opponents building up a charge in a microsecond before unleashing bolt after bolt of lightning into the Kryptonian leaving a smoking husk when he was done.

Wonder Girl was right with Superman, engaged in an aerial battle with a Kryptonian. Deflecting his attacking heat vision with her shield, she used her sword to strike with a sudden viciousness that left her opponent decapitated.

The Lanterns arrived raining destruction from on high. With the overwriting of the book of Oa in the war with the Sinestro corps, the Lanterns were able to use lethal force. Their mental constructs were not flashy. An oversized hammer and a war mace of glowing green continued to smash alien muscle co-opted to Non's cause.

"Communications destroyed," panted the Martian Manhunter. "Returning to red zone."

They had the momentum. They'd seized and carried the initiative. They were going to do it.

Then Captain Marvel slipped.

Despite possessing the Stamina of Atlas, the four Kryptonian criminals pounding him were hurting Captain Marvel quite badly. Wonder Woman spun away from her opponent, stabbing one of the four. Her sword transfixed the now still opponent.

Flash quickly established resonance frequency before reaching into the second opponent's chest, crushing his heart.

Supergirl yelled, "Superman!" as she grabbed the third by the foot. She swung him up in the air where Superman caught his hands. She went left. Superman went right. One more opponent was accounted.

Standing now, Captain Marvel spat the blood from his mouth before he unleashed all of his fury on his remaining opponent. The fight didn't last long.

"Flash, six o'clock."

The Flash turned just in time to be pummeled by a hurtling opponent.

"NO!" was Supergirl's cry as her beloved was struck down.

Before they hit the ground, both Amazons and Supergirl had attacked the Flash's Kryptonian opponent. Superman and Captain Marvel were building a wall with the dead of their enemies as they shielded the others.

"Incoming!" called Lantern Stewart. A huge green steamroller ran over the surging lines of their opponents, killing scores.

The Flash slowly stood. He had at least broken ribs, a concussion, and a badly broken shoulder. Catching Supergirl's panicked expression, he winked. "Gimme a second, sweetheart." Vibrating, he infused himself with the Speed Force and was healed of his injuries. "See? Good as new."

"You had me worried."

"Thanks for the assist," he told the Amazons and Supergirl.

"Let us finish this," Wonder Woman commanded. At her side, Wonder Girl was so amped up she was growling as she brandished her sword.

The Flash felt himself snarling. It had been a rough battle. That last bit had really hurt. "Yes. Let's."

And Barry Moved.

.oOo.

The battle was over shortly. All the Kryptonian criminals had been killed, Non at the outset of the battle. Blood trickled from Kara's eyebrow as she fought an alien that she didn't recognize. But it sure was big. Trying to distract her huge, green reptilian opponent, she used her freeze breath on its head. In a completely inappropriate moment of hilarity, the freeze breath froze the monster to the point that it had a huge block of ice on its shoulders. Cassie flew into it at speed, exploding the beast.

Turning, she saw that only her teammates were standing.

The carnage was spread wide and far. Body parts, spattered remains and mangled corpses were knee deep around the heroes, but she didn't care. Finding Barry standing on the other side of the pile, nothing else mattered; her heart rejoiced.

The bellowing war cry of the Amazons echoed across the desert. Flinging her head back, Kara shouted her victory cry as well. It was a visceral, primal feeling that hearkened back thousands of years into Krypton's warlike past.

A rush of wind and he was there. There was an eternal second where they just regarded each other before his lips were on hers. Her hands pushing back his cowl and entwining in his hair. His hands pulling her closer. They had survived.

The cheering broke them apart. Still in each other's arms, they looked up to see Kal-El and Billy embracing while Diana and Cassie cleaned their swords, bright smiles on their faces. J'onn limped toward them, a somber expression on his face.

The celebrations settled as quickly as they started. The heroes gathered around their General. When all were present and settled, he dropped to a knee and delicately placed an object in the dirt in the middle of their impromptu circle. Kara gasped. It was the ring of a Green Lantern.

"No," Barry moaned.

Kara folded into her paramour as J'onn explained, "Apparently, a Kryptonian was trying to escape after Non was killed. Rats and a sinking ship, I believe is the phrase. Lantern Stewart said that Lantern Jordan broke off to pursue." J'onn paused, gathering his emotions, "He never came back. I found his remains on the other side of the crash site. I don't know what happened to the escapee."

Unbidden, tears coursed down her face. She'd not even liked Jordan, but he'd been a comrade who fought with and for them. He deserved every honor.

At her side, Barry began to sing.

"Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side.
The summer's gone, and all the roses falling,
It's you, it's you must go and I must bide…"

She couldn't listen any longer. Barry's voice was haunting and lovely in an acapella rendition of the traditional Irish funeral song. Around her, all the heroes were weeping. Some had known him well, others like her and Barry, not at all. But he was a hero. He deserved to be mourned and remembered.

Kal-El sighed in sadness next to her as Barry finished the song. "Good-bye Hal. You were a good man and I'll miss you."

As the sun set about them, the heroes slowly walked away. The last was a man who had watched from afar. John Stewart landed to reclaim the ring of his Corps. And mourn his friend. Holding it in his hand, he felt the unwelcome shake in the ring. Tossing it high in the air, he heard what he'd not heard since the Sinestro assault on Oa.

Ring Status Report. Green Lantern 2814 Deceased

Space Sector Scan for Replacement Sentient Initiated

Remorselessly, the Green Lantern ring of Hal Jordan flew off to find a new bearer.

.oOo.

A/N

1. I own nothing.

2. Yeah, I messed with the Supergirl continuity and trashed the whole Myriad storyline. Stupid. I like the initial formation of the Justice League better. Is this Earth-1 Barry and Earth-38 Kara? No. Run with it people…

3. Kara's bit with Non was borrowed liberally from President Ronald Reagan's inaugural speech in January 1981.

4. The Green Lantern credo is totally bad-ass. Had to put it in here.

5. Now we get into chapters that are my usual size. The firs couple of chapters positioned the characters. Now they've figured themselves out and are moving out.