Chapter 6

Leo walked into the lab and stood just outside the force field his eyes resting on Malefic, he had power dampening cuffs on the Green Martian. "Approaching me while I'm still conscious how thoughtful of you." Malefic sat up and turned to face Leo.

Leo had his hands resting in the pockets of his pants. "It seems we've gotten off on the wrong foot. So I have a proposition, you have the ability to incept thoughts into people's minds. I want to study your brain so I can develop a technology that can do the same thing."

Malefic snorted, "Forgive my skepticism but the last time someone showed interest in my brain the High Council sent me to the Phantom Zone."

"You'd be back in the Phantom Zone if it wasn't for me!" Leo snapped. He needed Malefic's cooperation, what was his motive though? He already tried to study his brain without Malefic's permission and that backfired. He had incepted Hope.

"And yet now we are at an impasse. What's in it for me?"

"We both want the same thing, we were each betrayed by the people closest to us, work with me and I believe you have the ability to do great things." Betrayal was a strong motivator, he should know. He'd been betrayed more times than he'd like.

Malefic shook his head and hissed, "I don't want to do great things, I want revenge. So I have a proposal for you. Martian biology prevents a brother from harming his brother that's why I've been attacking the people closest to J'onn J'onzz. If you remove the barrier in my brain so I can kill my brother I will give you access to my mind."

Of course revenge and the desire to kill was the only thing on this Martian's mind. "It's my mission to stop people from hurting each other. I will not kill." Yes, Kara had lied to him but he refused to hurt her. Refused to have her killed or injured, he wouldn't have someone killed.

Malefic raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps, but you've gone to extreme measures to bring me here and now you are at the precipice. Studying my mind is the key. I know of desperation human. I know the depths you feel."

Leo gave a nod. "I would have to develop the technology first. Your terms are acceptable, let's begin." He'd just have to use Malefic to meet his own ends. His standards of doing no harm wouldn't be violated.

Leo was waiting in the elevator at CatCo, he had just got back from Metropolis and was looking forward to seeing one very special reporter. As private elevator doors opened he saw Kara and James talking by James' office.

"You're incredible, you know that? Everything you're going through right now, the DA possibly inditing you for being Guardian, and here you are, worrying about cub reporters." Kara's eyes soon rested upon Leo as he neared her and she smiled. "You're back! I've missed you! How was Metropolis?"

Leo hugged Kara tightly and she returned the hug and before Leo parted with her he gave her a kiss. He kept his arm around her waist and smiled. "I've missed you so much, Kara." He glanced at James. "Hi, James. Sorry for interrupting."

James shook his head. "No, problem."

Leo kissed Kara again before he said, "I am very happy to report that Sam is doing amazing at L-Corp Northeast. She has made two acquisitions that are already turning a profit. She's coaching Ruby's soccer team."

"Really? Oh that's nice to hear."

"Apparently, they're playing a 4-3-3 with the Gegenpress, and Ruby's playing as a sweeper keeper." Leo explained.

Kara shrugged and looked confused at what Leo just explained. The terminology flew right over her head. "I have no idea what that means."

Leo laughed, "It means they're living happily ever after."

"I really hate to do this but…there's an article about an alien summit I have to write."

Leo sighed, "Kara, do you have to."

Kara nodded, "I really do I'm sorry I know you just got back. Don't worry I promise we will spend time later today."

Leo nodded. "I'll hold you to that promise." He kissed her before she left Leo with James and Leo headed into the office with James. "So how are you doing with the DA?"

"Well, I have a good lawyer and I'm handling it. As best as I can." James explained.

"Well, if you need anything I'm here." Leo offered.

"I appreciate it. I'm actually a little surprised at the offer." James and Leo were co-workers that was their relationship.

"You and Kara are close friends. What concerns her concerns me. Besides she's says you're a good man, so I got your back if you need it. Well I also don't want to have to hire anyone else to replace you." Leo explained. Kara believed in him which was enough for Leo. James just seemed like a good man who wanted to help people and the DA going after him was unfair. Seemed like a waste of time as well.

Hope began to place the transmitter devices on the side of Malefic's head. "Careful now, that's my brain you're about to play with." The Martian replied.

Leo had a tablet in his hand and began to explain the procedure to Malefic. "The occipital lobe is where the Q-waves are generated. Q-waves are projected like sonar from a dolphin but your waves are a very special frequency that allows you this unique ability to control the thoughts and emotions of others. This is the frequency we want to isolate."

"That unique ability has been my cross to bear my whole life to think, it comes down to something as simple as a… frequency."

Leo motioned to three cages in front of Malefic. "All you have to do is incept these three test subjects, alright there's a Daxamite scorpion, a Terran Oceanic Devil, and a Maladorian Dendroasp. As you project your waves at them I will measure the frequency fine tuning as we go till we hit the magic number. So are we ready?"

Malefic smirked, "As long as killing J'onn J'onzz is the final result we can't wait."

Of course he would say that. Leo gave a nod to Hope as she was nearby the computer ready to measure the frequency. Leo opened the first cage showing the Daxamite scorpion. Malefic's eyes glowed as he looked at the creature and soon he incepted the creature. Next the Terran Oceanic Devil Leo opened the cage and Malefic did the same as well. It was impressive, it seemed his ability had almost no limits.

"And now our final test subject the Maladorian Dendroasp, it is a hundred times more aggressive than anything on Earth I want you to do to it what you did to them." Leo pointed toward the other two animals Malefic had successfully incepted. Malefic gave a nod and Leo opened the cage however the Maladorian Dendroasp escaped from the cage and began to run around the room of Leo's lab, snarling and hissing.

Leo took a step back avoiding Maladorian Dendroasp but soon the creature stopped in its tracks, Malefic had incepted it. "Satisfied?"

Leo knelt down to the creature and picked it up in his hands. It was as loving as a cat. He placed it back in the cage and then looked at the computer monitors. The data from each of the test subjects eventually found the correct frequency. "It worked." He grinned.

Alex, Kara and J'onn were walking on top of the rooftop. It was a beautiful garden and a lovely day. Kara had wanted to have a party and enjoy the day with friends. "You know the last time I was on this rooftop, it was like an aerial junkyard. Shards of glass, rusty bikes, abandoned appliances." Alex explained as she had a mojito in her hand.

Kara smiled, "Apparently that was the last time anyone was up here, until yesterday."

J'onn looked impressed, "You mean, you planted this garden by yourself in one day?"

Kara smirked, "Well, super speed helps."

Leo got himself a mojito and as he saw Kara she looked absolutely beautiful. She almost seemed to be glowing. She was wearing a sunflower summer dress and anyone could tell she was happy. Leo was wearing some tan shorts and a tropical printed shirt. He was going to go back to see Kara but his eyes noticed James out of the corner of his eyes. Out of everyone here he was the only one with a sour look on his face and reading his phone. He walked over toward James, "James, we're on a rooftop drinking mojitos and you look miserable."

James sighed, "Yeah, I'm just reading the internet. There's so many people tweeting hate at the same time praising Guardian."

Leo gave a nod. "Well, the internet is a cesspool. You shouldn't read it."

James set his phone back in his pocket. "You know, I should make a public statement and disavow any connection to these people."

Leo wasn't sure that would help, this whole alien aggression was getting out of hand. "Well, it's your choice but any statement will validate the trolls. Besides, all press is good press."

James shook his head. "I don't see how hate groups praising Guardian could be good press."

"These are people that never would've read CatCo. And now because of Guardian, they do. You've unwittingly crossed the divide and that is the way to affect change." Leo took a drink from his mojito.

James considered Leo's words, perhaps he was right. CatCo was a positive influence considering views toward aliens. Perhaps they could help change the reader's minds. "Maybe you're right."

Brainy walked up toward Leo and James. "Leo's always right. Mmm-humm. He's very sagacious. Little boxes." He raised his mojito glass up toward the both of them. Leo smiled at Brainy and wondered if the man was drunk, he was slurring his words.

James must have wondered the same and asked. "Brainy, how many of those have you had to drink?"

"The ginger juice?"

James nodded, "Uh-huh."

"Twelve, you see James," Brainy firmly gave James a pat on the shoulder. "the ginger root kicks the booty of the immune system. It also strangely makes the roof spin." He chuckled and then raised his glass, "Long live the Legion." Before he passed out, and James and Leo quickly went to help Brainy.

"Well seems he's out of it." Leo said as they both picked up a passed out Brainy on his feet. They set him down under a tree keeping him propped up against it. "I'll go find Kara and let her know how he's doing."

Alex smiled at her sister. "Well, it's nice to see you so happy, Kara. Seems, you and Leo are doing rather well too."

Kara was beaming, "Well things with Leo are perfect. And the sun is shining, the… look," She pointed toward the Dar-Essa flower, "the Dar-Essa flower is even blooming. What is there to be upset about?"

"Um, Haley starts working full time at the D.E.O tomorrow." Alex frowned.

Kara frowned then, "Got it. That's… that's a good reason."

Alex sighed, "She's explicitly here to curtail my authority. I mean, she's going to make my life a nightmare."

Leo interrupted Kara and Alex, "Speaking of nightmares, guys. So… Brainy's drunk."

Kara's eyes widened. "Oh!"

"He thought the mojitos were a vegetable juice."

It was then that Nia walked up. "Did someone say mojitos at brunch? Sounds like my kind of party." She smiled at the group.

Kara grinned, "Nia! I'm so glad you made it. Uh, everyone this is Nia. These are my people." She introduced everyone, "This is J'onn. This is my boyfriend, Leo. That's my sister, Alex."

"Well, CatCo's newest addition. It's very nice to finally meet you." Alex said before handing Nia a mojito.

J'onn nodded, "We've heard a lot about you."

Nia blushed lightly, "All good things, I hope."

"Kara, has nothing but high praise for you. And James said your passion for making the world a better place is matched only by the elegance of your prose, so…" Leo said before standing next to Kara and gently wrapping his arm around her waist.

"I wish I could say I paid him, but I could not have made that up. They are too kind." Nia smiled.

"I guess you should just take the compliment then, huh?" James said as he joined the group.

Leo didn't see Brainy with James. "Where's Brainy?"

James motioned back behind him, "Uhhh he actually is still passed out under an azalea tree."

Alex gave a nod, "Okay, I'll go find him."

James then took a mojito and made sure everyone had a drink in hand. "And as long as I'm dishing out compliments, I wanna commend Kara for landing an interview with Amadei Derros, who has not given one in over 20 years."

Leo gave a nod, "I second that. It's very impressive Kara, you should be proud."

Kara smiled sheepishly she didn't deserve the praise and waved her hand motioning toward J'onn. "Thank you but I think J'onn should get the credit on that one."

J'onn shook his head. "Amadei is a friend, but it was hearing why you wanted to talk that convinced him to do the interview."

"Who is this Amadei?" Nia asked.

"An alien healer. He's devoted his entire life to helping aliens, spiritually and physically." James explained.

The fact that Kara got the interview with him and he hadn't done an interview in 20 years was ground breaking. Leo had been proud of Kara, she was brilliant. Kara looked at Nia, "The interview is tomorrow, but I could use someone's help to get the perspective of his acolytes."

Nia smiled, "I would love to."

Alex soon walked up with Brainy behind her. "Well, I woke him and apparently he's fine."

Nia was taking a drink from her mojito and as she saw Brainy she stopped suddenly and fixed a few strands of her hair. "One of my superior capabilities is recovering from alcohol libation with remarkable speed. Are there any more scones left?" Brainy asked and as his eyes rested on Nia he was very surprised to see her there. "Nia Nal!"

Kara looked between the two of them. "You two know each other?"

Nia nodded, "Well, we met once at a pizza place." She smiled, "You know, you never found me."

Brainy stated as a matter of fact. "But, of course, I did. Your address is 775 Gladiola Drive, second floor corner apartment. Your phone number is 555-8010. You stop at Bob's Diner every morning and order an extra super large coffee, milk. No sugar." He took one of the scones and took a bite out of it.

Everyone out of the group had to hold back their surprise and any laughter. The amount of information Brainy had found out about Nia could come across as creepy. Of course Brainy was innocent, he just had a difficult time with social interactions. "Okay. Yes, that… he's not nearly as stalkery as that just came out as." Alex was the first to come to his defense.

Nia laughed softly, "Well, why didn't you call?"

Brainy replied with a mouth full of scone, "You told me to find you, not call you."

Everyone chuckled and Kara then raised her glass, "I'd like to make a toast." Everyone raised their glasses out toward Kara's. "Here, uh, a toast to good friends, new and old. To health and happiness and basking in the sunshine." She smiled warmly.

"Health and happiness." Everyone said and clinked their glasses together.

Malefic was sitting with his legs crossed calmly in the lab, his eyes closed. He suddenly opened them and grinned, "It is finished."

Leo was sitting in a nearby chair in the lab, his eyes focused on the tablet in front of him, "What is?"

"I have clarity on how to dispose of my brother now that you've removed my mental block." Malefic seemed very pleased. Like a cat that had gotten the canary.

What a fool for having trusted him. Leo almost hated bursting his bubble, "But I didn't remove it." At that response Malefic's head snapped to look at Leo. Leo stood up walking toward the Green Martian still sitting on the lab bed. He stopped right in front of him. "I could never let you hurt another person."

"We had a deal." Malefic snarled.

"If you intuited anything about my research you'd know that, I would never compromise." Leo pressed. He only killed someone once and that moment was forever seared into his mind. Malefic went to stand up, growling in frustration. He would kill this pathetic human for his deceit. Leo raised his hand toward his own eyes activating the lenses and immediately incepting Malefic. Bright green eyes looking straight into the Green Martian's. "You like it here don't you."

Malefic's vicious demeanor vanished and he began to reply in a monotone voice. "Yes… I like it here. I like it very much."