Better late than never, the DEO finally arrive on the scene in the park to find the battle over. Police and paramedics secure the scene once they receive confirmation that parasite has been destroyed. News reporters wait by the barricade as police take statements and identify the victims of the random attack, their cameras snapping as many pictures as they can.
Amongst them is Jimmy Olsen, dressed in his civilian clothes carrying his father's camera. He heard about the attack from his editor's desk at Cacto and stepped out to rush over here. Partly to get the scoop for the media outlet and mainly to check on his two best reporters and close friends. He flashed his press ID when he approached the barricade, diverting only to check on the victim's families as their loved ones were wheeled into ambulances. There was five casualties in total, plus two dogs. It all seemed so senseless.
He was stopped by the police officer on duty until Captain Maggie Sawyer called out "let him through." The officer nodded and raised the tape, and Jimmy gave him a nod in thanks before walking over to join the Captain alongside Alex Danvers. "For the record, I'd appreciate if you'd keep the gory details until after we officially give a statement" she said to the man when he approached them.
"I'm sure we can accommodate that" he replied, shaking her hand out of curtesy. This wasn't the first time he'd negotiated a "behind the barricade" deal with the police for a news story. Press can work to their favour and well as against it. He'd forged a good relationship with the police since he became editor. It helped he was friends with the director of the DEO who routinely liaised with her. "Anything you can say on the record?" he asked politely, taking a photo of the Park keeping the victims faces obscured.
"That the perpetrators has been taken care off and that the city can sleep safer at night" she answered. But then she released a breath and added "can also confirm it to be an alien insurgent."
"Not going to do well for human and alien relations when this hits the news" Alex grumbled.
"It's already spreading I'm afraid" Jimmy noted, bringing out his phone to show the social media threads leaking the attack. "All the more reason to get as much information to them as possible."
Alex and Maggie shared a look, nodding in unison before Alex explained "the alien beings was a parasite, capable of draining the life force of those in contact. It held no political or hostile intent other than to feed on any living thing it could, including both human and alien. Though I don't know how much good that'll do to sway public opinion on whether alien refugees are a threat."
"All I can do is present the facts" Olsen said. "We know from our recent struggles with the agent of liberty things like this are never entirely in our control. We'll just have to get the story out there and hope the public understand this was an isolated incident."
"Maybe" Maggie huffed. "I'd still like to know where this thing came from."
"So would I captain" Alex sighed, walking over to where her sister was sitting by a pair of DEO Paramedics checking her over. Brainy was with them analysing her carefully. Nia was in the back on an ambulance with IV tubes attached to her arm as a medic gave her the once over. Alex walked over to Kara and waited for her to stand up and approach her, resisting the urge to hug her while they were in their professional roles. "How are you feeling Supergirl?" she asked.
Supergirl nodded, looking down at her body which had returned to normal thanks to the yellow sun soaking into her skin. "I'm okay" she replied, keeping the same professional demeanour though she really wanted to throw her arms around her big sister in relief. "Are the rest of the civilians alright?"
"Those who were injured are getting medical treatment" she reported optimistically. She didn't tell her how many were killed, but Kara's expression told her she already knew. "I'm glad you made it. When we lost contact…there was concern" she said, swallow the fear she'd been holding onto for the last twenty minutes. Kara nodded, their eyes meeting telling her she was okay. It was their sisterly bond that convinced the agent everything was okay. She wiped her face afraid she would start crying, clearing her throat asking "how did you stop Parasite?"
Kara opened her mouth to say she didn't when a large man in battle armour lumbered over to declare "I'm afraid it was me who destroyed the creature. Director Danvers, correct?" Maxwell Davies asked, offering his metal hand. Alex turned to look up at the towering figure, taking a step back slightly intimidated by the bulky frame she was used to seeing on Lex Luthor. Maxwell noticed her trepidation and triggered a chain reaction that opened his mech up so he could step out onto the grassy park and greet her properly. The silver haired man dressed in a skin-tight insulation suit approached the young woman telling her "forgive the interruption. I've been looking forward to making your acquaintance."
Alex shot Kara a glance before taking Maxwell's hand shaking it. "Of course. The Department of Defence has told us about you. Thank you for stepping in when you did. That particular alien creature was known to us."
"I'm sorry I couldn't detain it more…humanely" he said apologetically.
"On the contrary, you're response was most appropriate" Brainy acknowledged, stepping up to join them and speak to Maxwell, his image inducer hiding his green skin from the human. "Parasite is a dangerous lifeform that, unfortunately, had already been deemed too dangerous to be left alive. We're grateful you were able to dispatch it so efficiently."
"It was no problem. The DOD and TITAN Industries have been sharing intel for weeks now so we got lucky in finding the right file in time" he told them. "I'm just glad no one else got hurt. A shame I couldn't get here sooner" he said, looking across the park to where all the bodies had been scattered.
Kara followed his gaze, memorising the same thing feeling the same sense of guilt. "You got here as soon as you could" she told him sympathetically. "That's all anyone can expect."
He nodded, turning back to address her. "Well, I'm glad I was able to help Supergirl" he said, holding out his hand with a charming smile. Kara looked down at it, then at the suit waiting patiently next to them remembering how it was the first thing she saw when she woke back up from the attack. Without his solar lamp she might still be unconscious. Without him Nia might've died. So she shook his hand, thanking him sincerely. He smiled, thanking her for all she'd done for the city. "Without you, I would never had been inspired to do this in the first place" he told her.
The meaningful and heart-warming handshake was captured by Jimmy, who naturally saw the significance and impact of the photo when he snapped it. Kara heard the click of his camera and looked over to see him, nervously removing her hand blushing a little. She never was a fan of having her picture taken in costume.
Moving aside to approach the ambulance, Maxwell came to check on Dreamer who was still recovering from Parasite's attack. She saw him approach as the paramedic stepped aside, looking up at him silently. "I hope you recover soon too my dear" he said comfortingly. "And if I may say, you truly are an inspiration. I'm honoured to have been able to assist you." The man was charming, kind, and gentle as he offered her his hand. Yet when he stepped closer Dreamer tensed, her body seemed to recoil from his when he reached out. She didn't say anything as she stared at his hand, her eyes fixed as she looked through him. Her friends noticed the stiffness and approached cautiously while Maxwell pulled his hand away slowly. His expression remained in place, though he looked at her seeing the change as she stared back at him. He brushed it off with a laugh. "Forgive me" he said, backing away slowly. "I should let you rest. We'll talk again." He turned to Alex, flashing her a big smile. "I do hope we speak again. I think we'll have much to talk about."
"Sure, maybe" Alex replied, immune to his charm as he kept his smile all the way to the reporters waiting for his statement. She caught Maggie's eye, who silently rolled them as she followed the man to make sure he didn't accidentally start a panic.
Once he was gone, everyone turned back to Nia who was still quiet in the back of the ambulance. She looked stronger than when they arrived, her flesh regaining some of its shape now she had the right medication drip fed into her system. But she hadn't spoken much since she woke up in Kara's arms to find the battle suit hovering over her. Alex quietly spoke with the paramedics, who told her she would be fine after a few days of rest. "You doing okay?" she asked her.
Nia just nodded, staring after Maxwell looking very pale. A few of her friends followed her gaze. Something about him shook her, they could tell. Kara was the most comforting, coming over to tell her "Everything's fine. I'm just glad you're okay."
But when she reached out to put a hand on her shoulder Nia physically wince, pulling her shoulder away from her. She backed away in surprise, concern in her expression as Nia let out a shaky breath. "I…I just want to go home" she said, her voice like a whisper as she curled into her seat.
Everyone just quietly nodded. It must be the shock they assumed. They'd all been through something like that, it was understandable. And Nia was the newest superhero out of all of them. A few days rest and she'll be alright. "Would you like me to take you?" Brainy asked her, offering his hand to her. She took the smallest of glances at it before nodding, taking his arm letting him help her out of the ambulance. Everyone stepped aside as Brainy lead the shaken young woman to the car so he could take her home.
Jimmy walked over to Kara and put his hand on her shoulder while the others returned to their duties, telling her to try and not take it personally. "I thought she was going to…" she muttered, finally exhaling a thought she'd been burying for half an hour. She sighed in relief, covering her mouth thinking off the rest of the people she failed to save in this park today. Jimmy put his arm around her, making sure they were out of sight of the news reporters before hugging her. He knew Alex was waiting for this hug to, but she'll have to wait until after he finished consoling her.
The vision once more echoed around her, the chilling sight of the city burning on the horizon as the dead bodies of nameless faces littered the ground. A blanket of death. She stood there in the vision, the scent of decomposing flesh filling her nostrils, the smoke from the fires burning her lungs. She saw Supergirl again, weeping in tears covered in blood. She wanted to turn away but her eyes were compelled to look. Then the shadow fell over her and she began running, running after the silhouette of the man with horns, running over the dead bodies blanketing the field. She knew what came next, her chest tightening with fear as she grabbed hold of the dark shape. Seconds later his face came into view. Maxwell Davies, the man who just saved her life. Just as the stranger in red saved Supergirl from Cyborg Superman. Maxwell Davies and the Red Devil, one in the same. His laughter filled her ears as she sank into the darkness, the nightmare swallowing her again. She screamed, her voice filling the void, fear collapsing the world. Then Jon was there, in her dream, in her memory, his fatherly face coming out of the darkness to catch her. "I'm here" he told her, his voice calm and soft inside her head, his thoughts soothing hers waking her from the trance they put her under. She followed his guide back to the waking world and took a deep slow breath, her mind lifting back from her nightmare.
When she opened her eyes she was back in his office sitting on the comfortable sofa dressed in her costume without her mask on, the warm light shining through the frosted windows bathing the room in a summer glow. She relaxed, feeling the waking world against her palms and feet as her head slumped against the back of the sofa, the sensors attached to her temples dragging the wires with her as Jon sat in an office chair before her. He waited patiently for her to relax and sit back up, her body shaking as she shuffled forward. "Take your time" he said softly, his friendly expression warming her as the fear subsided.
She exhaled slowly, reaching up nursing her head around where the sensors were attached. She looked up at the two men who were watching over her asking "did you see?"
Brainy removed the headpiece connected to the device he was using, which was connected to the sensors monitoring Nia's mindscape enabling him to see her visions with her. Jon had linked himself telepathically to her mind to help her relive her vision, following with her so all three of them could examine it for themselves. Brainy placed the metal crown, gold with three circles in a triangle at the front, onto the table humming in thought. "Interesting. And this is the first time you've confronted the figure you called the red devil directly?" he asked her.
She nodded, removing the sensors from her skull. "And the first time it showed me who it was" she added.
He nodded. "I thought I detected some weirdness when he approached you" he said, walking around to stand next to Jon stoically. "I suppose it also explains your reaction to Kara's touch also?" he queried.
Nia hid her face out of shame. She knew it was irrational but her visions were starting to confuse her about everything. When she woke up and found Maxwell standing over her she almost had a panic attack. Then when Kara tried to comfort her, all she could think about was how she looked in the vision, weeping covered in blood surrounded by the dead. For a while since Cyborg Superman had been stopped she was able to push it from her mind, pretend everything was normal. But the moment she had another nightmare it all came flooding back. Now she could barely look Kara in the face again, almost begged Brainy to get her away from the park. Fortunately the man waited until they were leaving before asking again if she wanted to return home like she said. Instead she asked him to bring him the Jon so they could talk about her vision.
Jon and Brainy were the only people she confided in about her dreams. She knew they were the best people to help her decipher what they meant. Jon already helped her when she dreamt about Cyborg Superman's attack on Argo City. Now that Brainy was included things were becoming more scientific and clinical. She didn't care. She was happy to have her boyfriend on her side. It helped that he didn't harbour any ill feelings about being out of the loop for a time. Once he heard her explain what was going on he understood perfectly the position she was in and more than willing to help. Kara's constant inclusion in her vision was cause for concern and they were all determined to figure out how.
Jon sat in his chair pondering on the images he'd seen, the memory of the vision Nia had given him access to. It was indeed the first time the Red Devil had been identified in her visions. "What do we know about Maxwell Davies?" he asked, rising out of his seat to circling the room.
"Aka the Samaritan" Nia muttered. She was just starting to like the idea of having another superhero around too.
Brainy spun on is heel and began pacing, engaging his mind into recall mode. "Maxwell Davies: CEO of TITAN Industries. Born in the UK. Rose up the corporate ladder over fifteen years. Credited as the company's top negotiator. Considered amongst tabloids as a prominent public figure and ladies man." He paused to comment "Personally, I don't see the appeal" which got a snigger from Nia. "Education from oxford with a masters in robotics. Made a series of ground-breaking advancements at TITAN for his work in prosthetics and exoskeletons."
"He's done a lot of good in his charity work too" Nia interjected, recalling the piece she did as background for Cacto when he debuted the Samaritan armour. "TITAN donated a lot to fix the damage from Cyborg Superman's attack. They even donated to the restoration of the Memorial Hospital."
"And now has debuted as the Samaritan, National City's new public saviour" Brainy finished, echoing the most recent news headline covering his efforts. "Developing a battle armour designed to protect the city from extra-terrestrial threats."
"I can certainly see why that might be considered dangerous" Jon noted.
"And why Lena Luthor is lobbying so hard to stop him" Nia agreed.
Jon listened and nodded, tapping his chin in contemplation. "So why would a man who's done nothing but good for National City also moonlight as a criminal?" he thought.
"And why does he have a vendetta against Supergirl?" Nia wondered.
Brainy suddenly posed a question to the discussion. "What evidence do we have that he is after Supergirl?"
The two of them looked at him. Nia showed the most objection. "He's in my visions and he attacked her more than once!"
"No, actually, he has a point" Jon said cautiously. "Yes they fought, but he didn't kill her. All we know is this red devil was working with Hank Henshaw in orchestrating the Metallo army."
"And then assisted in Henshaw's capture" Brainy nodded. "The evidence doesn't suggest that the red devil has any ill will towards Kara Zor'El."
"Then why was he in my vision?" Nia asked.
"Unknown" he admitted.
"Can we be sure Maxwell is the man in the red costume?" Jon asked. "After all, dreams are interpretive."
"It felt pretty certain to me" she scowled.
"While that is a valid point we must consider, we can all agree that the man is indeed connected to this vision in some manner" Brainy hypothesised. He did some quick thinking in his head before theorising "considering the sequence of events, Cyborg Superman's attack brought a unique and beneficial opportunity for Maxwell's Samaritan project to be unveiled to the public. As did the clean-up operations following."
Jon crossed his arms. "You think Maxwell orchestrated the attack to use it as a publicity stunt?"
Nia considered it, nodding along saying "That would explain why he would also operate as the red devil. Especially since we haven't seen anything about it since he began operating as the Samaritan."
"The chronology of events do seem to support that theory. But what would be the end goal?" he posed.
Nia thought back to her vision, recalling how she became surrounded by copies of him. "What if he wants to make an army?" she asked.
"Mass producing those weapons for the military and police force has been his most vocal goal" Jon concurred. "And if any of them got into the wrong hands…"
"A disastrous possibility" Brainy nodded. "Unfortunately, all of this is speculative. We have no evidence to proceed with DEO resources."
"There's got to be something we can do" Nia said, leaping to her feet before becoming lightheaded. Jon caught her lowering her back to her seat. "I know he's the red devil. We just need to prove it."
"Easier said than done" Brainy replied cautiously. "For one, he's a public figure right now. Any official investigations will be met with great scrutiny."
"We'll have to keep it on the down low then" Jon said, looking to Nia. "Maybe it should be the job of a less public investigation."
Nia nodded, sensing what he was thinking. "Like a reporter doing a follow up on a news article" she agreed. Fortunately she already had an idea of where to start. With the woman intent on standing in his way.