Eleven Across
Deanlu
Supergirl is the property of DC comics and the CW. I am borrowing the characters for a little fun and storytelling. I have not written a lot lately as I have been over tired and wiped out from the last year. Forgive me. I am working on becoming a little more creative. While the show has ended, my love for Supergirl and Supercorp continues. Enjoy
Hell Week
'Four Days.' Four days of torture was all Elizabeth Wells could think of as she rested her back against the wall. DEO hell week had pushed her out of her comfort zone and into a new realm of fear. They had fought underwater, inside urban centers, isolated from each other, and carrying full gear the entire time. She glanced nearby as Elis White had tears pouring down his cheeks after a horrible encounter by a Psionic alien. The latest attack by aliens with Psionic powers had many of them absolutely wiped. Most of them had been able to get their inhibitors on before it got too bad. But many did not. None of them were in good shape, but Elizabeth had gained control of her fear and was able to fight back. Gerald Shawn had never had a headache like he did now. The group had been up for 12 hours straight in the middle of nowhere. They had left the desert four hours ago and were now climbing upward in the deep forest. They had faced several different aliens with psychic powers, camouflage abilities, and super strength. But they were all worried about what was yet to come.
"Alright, everyone up. Let's go, Let's go, Let's go!" Vasquez shouted as the candidates groaned and rose from the ground. Talia Noraz, an alien candidate, who had been pretty conceited and blusterous was now very quiet and sedate. "Everyone form up." All the candidates which now numbered around fifty circled up. There were three squad leaders - Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Theta squad leaders. They broke the candidates off into groups of fifteen to seventeen candidates. They had already lost twenty candidates who couldn't take it. Each squad leader explained where they were heading into the woods and their mission.
"Our mission is to head here. Point epsilon." Gamma leader, Brent Osborn, explained to his team. "Once here you will initiate a sweep of each building. Should you find any alien present your job is to neutralize them for retrieval. Your starting point will be this building first. Beta team will come in from the West. Alpha team will come in from the south." There was a low murmur among the assembled troops. A hand went up. "Question Special Agent Wells?"
"Sir, what aliens are we facing?" The Gamma leader smiled and nodded. This one was good. She had overall performed above average of the rest of the recruits.
"White Martians, Martian Man, Worm, and Supergirl." Gamma leader responded as the murmur of voices rose in excitement and fear. Many knew of the powers of Martian Man, Supergirl, and the White Martians having seen them all in action during the Daxamite war.
"Worm?" Jeffrey Olson sarcastically responded laughing. "What could a worm do?" The Gamma leader looked at the recruit.
"You were briefed on all the aliens taking part in the activity today. If you don't remember, that could get you killed. You must remember species, their powers, and their cultural ramifications. The more you know the better your survival and Earth's survival." The Gamma leader stated seriously. The Gamma leader shook his head. Jeffrey Olson was not going to make it at the rate he was going. He was under performing as a recruit. He may have made it to this round, but he was not doing well overall in response and understanding the goals of the missions. Gamma's leader had a healthy respect for Martian Man, the White Martians, and Supergirl; but he truly feared Worm. The Worm's secretions could cause you to lose control and be controlled by the Worm. The Worm had even tried to control Supergirl at one point, but the Kryptonian had been able to overcome its mind control secretions. "Alright, let's set out." The recruits set out toward the mission point.
Meanwhile…
"Hundred dollars says Supergirl takes down Gamma team first." One of the agents watching what was occurring on the monitors bet another agent.
"You're on. But I bet it's the White Martians that take out Gamma team." Another agent bet.
Jack Edwards, the scientist who held a grudge against Supergirl, chuckled softly as he watched the new recruits approach the mission point on the monitors. None of the recruits knew their Kryptonite darts carried a special little zinger for the Kryptonian. Not even the DEO knew. He had made sure to create a special toxin and bind it with the Kryptonite without anyone knowing. Then it was just a matter of substituting the darts with the mild Kryptonite with his special elixir. He would be lauded as a hero. Then he would replace Megan as lead scientist.
Edwards hated Supergirl. Her kind had caused such devastation on earth, fooling people that they were helping them. If he could eliminate Supergirl then in no time he could eliminate Superman and the rest of the aliens on earth. Then with time humans could alter their bodies so aliens would no longer be a threat. Each of the Kryptonite darts had been replaced with a special poison version. It had taken him months to find the right poison. The files on Supergirl had been so encrypted with security that it had taken a special hacker friend to finally break through for him. It had cost him. But it was worth it. Very soon, Supergirl would find out what it was like to be the weaker being.
"Edwards, did you finish the tests on the Aurelian?" Megan asked as she came in to watch the recruits.
"Yes, he is suffering from Red Tropis fever. Thomas has started treatment and quarantined him to Med bay 7. He should be doing better in a few days." Edwards responded even as he heard Megan gasp at the action on the screen. Two White Martians had taken out half of Beta team and then retreated back into the forest. Megan shook her head as she watched the remaining men and women on Beta team form up and treat their teammates while watching for another attack.
At Point Epsilon…
"I see your twenty and I raise you twenty more." J'onn stated as he threw another twenty on the table. M'Gann studied her cards and shook her head.
"I'm out." She threw her cards down. One of the White Martians shook his head and threw his cards down. J'onn looked at Supergirl. Supergirls crossword puzzle book set nearby. Eleven across filled in…FIDELITY…faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support. Twelve across…a feeling or thought that something is possible, likely, or true…SUSPICION.
"Watch her, J'onn. She has x-ray vision." Alex reminded him over the comms. Lena and Alex were watching and evaluating with Lex, Hamilton, Theta leader, and Commander Lucy Lane.
"No using your x-ray vision." J'onn reminded her.
"What? Now I'm not trustworthy?" Kara questioned him and threw in twenty more. J'onn looked at her for a very long time. "You need to hurry. They are entering the town." Kara informed him. Everyone watched the two aliens. Lena had a hundred on Supergirl for the win. Alex had put a hundred on J'onn. Now they all listened and watched the poker game even as the new recruits entered the fake town.
"Call. Three kings and a pair of twos." J'onn said as he reached for the money. Supergirl waved her finger at J'onn while smiling.
"Ah, ah, ah. Three aces and two fives." Kara laughed and swept up the pot of money in the center. Kara had won about three hundred dollars. Lena held her hand out to Alex for the hundred.
"Show time ladies and gentlemen. Our recruits have arrived." Lex ordered through the comms. No severe injuries please. We have quite a few good recruits this time.
"Yes, sir." They all responded even as they all moved fanning out within the town.
"Supergirl, no thunder clap." Alex stated as Kara moved into position.
"Ahh, you're no fun Agent Danvers." Kara pouted softly. Lena and Alex shook her head while the rest laughed. Lex just growled nearby.
"Vasquez is with Beta team. Watch out for her. She has something special planned." Alex reported to Supergirl.
"Are we sure that the Kryptonite in the darts is a mild form?" Lena asked as she looked toward Lex and Hamilton.
"Yes, I made sure that the mild form is in the darts. The worst Supergirl will get is a possible rash, and some slight discomfort." Hamilton and Lena had not liked that Kara would be exposed to Kryptonite. But tests before hell week had proved the weak form of kryptonite wouldn't hurt her too badly. They were still waiting on one test that had come back with an anomaly from one of the darts, but it was so far put down with the metal the darts were being contained in. The argument that had broken out had come to an end when Supergirl had whistled loudly. She told all those assembled at the meeting she accepted the risk and had already spoken with Lex. When others had gone to argue she had cut them off explaining that they all would carry these darts, so the recruits needed to get used to using them. She added she needed to get used to dodging them. No one was happy when the meeting ended.
"Engage." Alex called over the comms. What happened next was thirty minutes of chaos over the comms until a true voice could be heard through the comms. Elizabeth Wells could be heard shouting orders out to her team. All seemed to be following except recruit Jeffrey Olson. He walked right into the trap with the White Martians and Worm. Before anyone knew what was happening he turned his weapon on his team. The Gamma team agents dove for cover.
"White, Shawn. Take Olson down." Wells ordered even as she used one of the expansion traps on a White Martian. Shawn was able to dart Olson, even as White threw one of the electrical nets over the Worm. "Gloves and masks on now." Wells called out. Two covered them even as the others put on their gloves and special face masks. The others then went forward toward the Worm as the other two face masked and gloved themselves. The Martian and Worm were tagged for pickup. Alpha team was doing a little better and had bagged and tagged the Martian Manhunter and a White Martian. Supergirl and two White Martians were still in play.
"Beta and Gamma teams. Omicron attack." wells ordered as the three teams swept through the fake town that had been built for these training sessions. The sound of gunfire and a couple of explosions resounded through the town. The Gamma team agents had taken down one of the White Martians and tagged for retrieval. The Beta team agents were engaged with Supergirl. Kara was doing well picking them off one at a time. The darts were not hitting her at all due to them being too slow. Another fifteen minutes and Alpha team no longer existed. "La'mar, the last White Martian, worked in tandem with Supergirl until a lucky shot dropped him. Vasquez, Wells, Shawn and White were all that were left of the teams. Vasquez began using hand signals with the other three, but before she could finish Supergirl had picked off White. Comms were now joined so the team members left could be heard over the speakers.
"Zehdh." Supergirl's whisper came over the speakers.
"Home." Alex spoke out loud interpreting the Kryptonese for the others.
"Zrhythrevium." Supergirl whispered as she took out Shawn. Dropping him at the DEO's backdoor just like she had White.
"Family." Alex spoke out loud once more.
"Ukiem." Whispered as she tried to grab Wells only to veer off course when a high pitch sound struck her hearing. Lex and Lena smiled. Wells was a fast learner.
"Love." Alex spoke out loud once more even as Supergirl rose and took out Vasquez with a well placed harsh blow of wind. Then she advanced toward Well's who started firing kryptonite darts at her. Kara snapped her cape, stiffening it and causing the darts to shatter against it. Right before she grabbed Wells there was a sharp pain in her side. She turned to find Vasquez releasing the handle of a small set of kryptonite brass knuckles. The end of the knuckles had thorny points of kryptonite. Nothing that would kill the Super, but would give enough of an advantage that Vasquez and the other team members might be able to win.
"Sorry Sups. All's fair in Love and War." Kara dropped to her knees. She would not be taken down without finishing the game. She looked up at Vasquez.
"You're right. All's fair." Kara used the last of her strength to cause a small concussion clap. Wells and Vasquez were blown back and landed unconscious. "Sorry Alex. Couldn't follow through with your wishes." No one moved except Supergirl. They watched as Supergirl reached down and pulled the kryptonite brass knuckles out of her side and threw it away.
"You should have died." Edwards said as he appeared from the side of the building even as Supergirl's head whipped up to focus on him. In his hand was a dart gun. On his wrist a portal watch. This was not part of the games. "You should have died. Why didn't you die?" The command center started yelling orders to send in Delta group to neutralize the scientist.
"I'm a little harder to kill than most believe. Dying would rob my family and home of my love. Something I refuse to let happen." Kara said as her left hand grabbed her cape. Edwards shook his head. She had smelled the poison mixed with the kryptonite when the darts started flying left and right. She knew she needed to avoid getting hit. "Why do you hate me so much?"
"Your kind are destroying our world. You're like a plague of locust raping and pillaging our planet until humans are eradicated and you are all that is left. Your kind need to be destroyed." Edward yelled as his hand shook with the dart gun. "You are a disease in this world. You take and take. This world is meant for humans. HUMANS!" Edwards fired even as Supergirl swept the cape up blocking the darts. He fired until the dart gun was empty. Kara lowered the cape. "No, she has to die. You have to die." He ran at Kara swinging the dart gun. Supergirl ducked below the swing and delivered a quick hit rendering him unconscious. She looked down at the young scientist and stumbled backwards. "Lex, please send help." Kara dropped to her knees as she leaned back against the building. "Alex, the darts…mixed with poison…" Kara looked down to find one small dart piercing her suit right above her heart. "Oh shoot. Alex, I think I've been darted." The sound of running feet and then boots landing next to her.
"Supergirl." Lena's voice echoed down to her. Kara looked up even as Edwards rose from the ground. He began laughing. He was reaching for Vasquez's dart gun.
"You're dead Supergirl. Dead. You've been darted." Edwards was dropped by Agent Danvers. Lena sniffed the dart thinking fast.
"Vibrate Supergirl. Now! As fast as you can. Supergirl Now!" Supergirl closed her eyes and began vibrating, picking up speed faster and faster. She felt the poison running through her system, but not gaining hold. "Faster Supergirl. Faster." Supergirl vibrated so fast that you could barely see her. Suddenly she stopped. "Lena?!" Supergirl dropped to the ground. Alex and Lena flipped her over quickly and checked her pulse.
"She's alive. Let's transport." Lena shouted as the recruits watched from nearby. Delta team securing all the darts from off the recruits. J'onn secured Edwards and took him back to the DEO. "Alright, the rest of you back to the barracks. Well done." The Delta leader called out.
Later that night…
"The poison was a fast acting one. Amazingly, Lena having Supergirl vibrate as fast as possible didn't allow the poison to take hold completely. She was able to burn off enough of the poison for us to render medical aid when she arrived back at the DEO. Megan had the results of the final test and had already been close to completing an antidote. Supergirl suffered minor hemorrhaging from nose and mouth, cold sweats, and heart palpitations from the poison. She should be fine by tomorrow evening." Dr. Hamilton explained to those gathered. Lex nodded, making some notes on the copy of his report. Lena and Alex had been monitoring Kara's recovery from Megan's antidote one step at a time. Two complaints against Edwards filed with HR several weeks prior had slipped past one of the case workers. Pam had filed a grievance on the caseworker that afternoon letting them know that one more slip up and they would be gone from the DEO. Megan was feeling horrible about everything, but had been reassured she had done exactly what she should have. There was no blame there. Still, a bouquet of Chrysanthemums had appeared on the side table in Supergirl's room.
"What about the kryptonite?" Lex asked Dr. Hamilton as the others listened.
"Minor weakness. Otherwise, no real issues." Doctor Hamilton added as she looked toward Alex and Lena. Lex scrunched his face in puzzlement, but said nothing. "The time in the sunbed should bring her back to health with no problem. We will monitor."
"How did Edwards get through the psychological screening?" Lex asked Pam from HR and Lucy Lane.
"It would seem he had help. The doctor that was to psychological evaluate him had a beef against Supergirl. He passed Edwards on his evaluation. The doctor in question has been arrested and jailed at site X while we look over his records. We will have to investigate and go over all recruits he had interaction with since his time here at the DEO. He was hired two years ago so that should give us a limited number of personnel to reevaluate. Luckily, the current recruits had not been evaluated by him as he was on vacation at the time." Lex nodded and looked toward everyone gathered around the table.
"Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Theta team leaders, your tems have been debriefed and secured. Your recruits may stand down for the next forty-eight hours. That was one of the best performances we have had in a long time. You did your trainees proud and this organization proud. Well done!" Lex declared proudly. There was applause all around the room. "Delta Leader, your quick response allowed a situation that could have gone south quickly to be dealt with efficiently and without loss of life. Well done!" More applause. "We will let you all know of our selections, but I can say that this has been an amazing group of recruits. You have much to be proud of today. All right everyone, let's get some rest."
Kara Zor-El, wrapped in a blanket from her cold clammy skin, watched as Edwards paced back and forth in his cell. She knew she shouldn't be there. The young Kryptonian was to be in the sunbed recouping and healing. But she was trying to understand why he was so angry at her. At Aliens. Agent Lopez stood watch in the hallway as Supergirl watched through a two way mirror. Lopez moved down the hall and stood next to Supergirl.
"You okay Supes?" The agent knew the Girl of Steel wasn't okay. Kara shook her head.
"No, I'm not sure I am." Supergirl responded to the agent with a despondent look. "I don't think I have been or will be for a while."
"What's wrong?" Lopex asked, making a cursory glance around the hallway.
"What is the nature of hate? Why is it so insidious? Why does it grip men so hard?" Supergirl woefully questioned not truly expecting an answer. Lopez was quiet as they watched Edwards pacing every once in a while he would stop shae a fist at the air and shout something unheard by them.
"I could tell you that 'hate' is the envy or want of what another person has. I could tell you that it is learned from parents, friends, community, or society as a whole. I could tell you it is contempt for another person or feeling someone is inferior. I can even tell you it comes from people who have been mistreated or humiliated. I could tell you its components and what to look of these would really explain it, so I can tell you what my papa told me one time after being on the receiving end of it." Supergirl looked at Lopez with new eyes and curiosity. Lopez looked at the Girl of Steel and simply said, "It is the absence of Love." Supergirl looked back where Edwards was imprisoned, not seeing her sister and Lena down the hall listening. She thought of Edwards, Lex, the children of Liberty, Maxwell Lord, General Lane, and all the others she had encountered in this life on Earth.
"If the answer is so simple, why isn't the solution just as simple." Supergirl asked the Agent, casting her gaze upon her once more.
"May I say something and you won't take it out on me?" Agent Lopez asked, noticing the trembling in the Super's body. She was so weak, yet stood here looking for answers. Supergirl nodded once more even as sweat began to cover her brow.
"Lena Luthor." Agent Lopez remarked quietly. Those two little words signifying a name and so much more caused the Super to almost fall to her knees except Lopez was there to steady her. Down the hall Lena reached for the wall to steady herself even as Alex grabbed her arm. The agents had seen the cooling off toward the Super from the Luthors. They had seen the pain suffered by Supergirl as she sought to rebuild the relationship. The unmitigated destructive steps, the harsh criticism, the angry accusations, and sarcastic remarks. The great loneliness. Then the tentative first steps back to friendship, cautious words, gentle reminders and encouragement, and soon courageous new inroads.
"Lena" A whisper from Kara's lips. She thought of Superman and Lex's story and how her and Lena's could have been so similar except for one thing. One small four letter word. One major emotion. Love. One small word with over thirty sx definitions. Would an incalculable number of words used to describe it. An unending number of actions to show it.
"Here's the deal though. You have to choose it. That's the difference. Love. Freely chosen. Freely given. No expectations." Agent Lopez announced firmly even as her hands receded and Lena embraced the Super. Kara looked into Lena's eyes even as Lopez returned to her station. That was the difference between her and Lena and Lex and Superman. She and Lena had chosen love in the end. While Lex had turned his back on love and Superman had not been able to encompass how to love Lex.
"Come need the sunbed and rest." Lena encouraged as she wrapped her arms around Kara and began walking down the hall side by side together. Alex joined them as they headed out of the prison cells. She stopped when she came even with Agent Lopez.
"Thank you." Supergirl stated to the agent. Lopez nodded even as Lena pulled her toward the medical wing. Agent Danvers grabbed Lopez's shoulder and squeezed firmly, nodding her thank you.
Four Days Later in a ceremony inside the DEO…
Lena Luthor stepped to the podium before the graduating class of the DEO. She looked over the forty-two candidates that passed all their tests to become new agents. They stood at attention, excitement in their eyes, and a little bit of fear too for what was to come. "You may stand at ease." The recruits relaxed a bit, but not totally.
"It's a privilege to be an Agent of the Department of Extra-Normal Operations. It is a privilege to be able to protect our planet, citizens, and aliens that live here and call Earth home. The profession you have chosen is one of honor, trust, and loyalty.
Director Luthor and Special Agent Danvers have spent months preparing you to serve as protectors and liaisons for the planet Earth. They along with your team leaders have done an admirable job preparing you with the knowledge and skills for the job ahead of you.
This is not a right. There is no law that says you have to serve. You have asked for the privilege to protect and mediate for Earth with alien species of every kind and the citizens of earth.
You have asked for the privilege of being the front line defense for not only the United States, but Earth's citizenry. When the worst events happen, when there is nowhere to turn, when the present and future seem bleak, you have asked to be their path to safety and provide security. I am an Agent of the Department of Extra-Normal Operations. I am the best!
The privilege that you are asking for comes with the responsibility of Trust! When you leave here tonight you will leave with the trust of the community, the country, and the world. A trust that has been earned and hard fought for every day by those that came before you.
Remember to be loyal to one another, to your teams, and to the department. The test of your loyalty may come in good times or bad times. It will come when you least expect it and by those who you would never suspect it of. Remember to stand strong next to each other and say we will not be defeated.
Honor those that have come before you. Those who have made inroads, discovered new knowledge to better equip us, and those that have sacrificed the greatest thing they could give so we can all still be free citizens of Earth.
Good Luck and welcome to the greatest profession on Earth!" Lena stepped back and took her place in line to shake the recruits hands.
Director Lex Luthor then took the stage along with Special Agent Alex Danvers in the line next to Lena as the Martian ManHunter stepped forward to call out names. The graduates each crossed the stage receiving their badge and identification along with a diploma. Once this was done Supergirl took the stage next to Lex who stepped up to the podium.
"In every group there is one candidate that stands out for their leadership, skill, and knowledge. It is with the consensus of the Team Leaders and the Evaluating committee of the DEO that Agent Elizabeth Wells has distinguished herself above the rest of her class. When faced with overwhelming odds and chaos around her in the Suburban Town test, Agent Wells assumed command and brought her group through until faced with only Supergirl. Her ingenuity and creative response throughout her training prove she is a leader among the graduating DEO class of 2021. Agent Wells present yourself." Agent Elizabeth Wells stepped out and walked to the podium area. A medal was placed around her neck. She shook hands with Director Luthor and Supergirl.
"Well done Agent." Lex stated with confidence.
"Thank you Sir." Agent Wells responded and moved to Supergirl.
"Well done Agent." Supergirl said softly.
"Thank you mam!"
"I present to you the graduating DEO class of 2021. Congratulations." Director Luthor stated even as applause resounded in the hanger.
LOVE…A Four Letter Word…defined…an intense feeling or affection…unconditional and without end.