Few things were more calming to Lena than dusk at "the cove." This rocky peninsula, located on the lower western hemisphere of Nodeisi, was deemed uninhabitable by the land-fairing Sao. No wanderers were going to stumble upon the halfbreed haven. There was something clandestine about the place: crashing waves and constant overcast chill in the air, a haze that never truly dissipated. Its appearance betrayed the true sense of safety it provided. Lena always considered it cinematic, perfect for the likes of her father and his contemporaries. Every week there was a halfbreed gathering at the cove. Led by Lionel, these sessions were meant to spread word of anticipated Sao raids and play host to a fair share of impassioned speeches.
Even though he was usually involved in the meetings, Lex would always take out time for Lena. It began as water games, Lex teaching Lena how to manipulate the waves, but chess soon took over. Lex would walk Lena through a new strategy each match, then throw a curveball once Lena got the hang of it, defeating her in the final moves. A debrief and critique of Lena's choices followed. The attention was both exciting and overwhelming.
"You're betraying too much with your face," Lex said. "Makes you look weak."
"Don't be such a jerk." Lena retorted.
"Insults are pedestrian," her older brother scolded, "you're better than that."
Lena shrank back in her seat.
"What's wrong with looking sad when I'm sad? Or happy? You do it! So does Mom!"
"Old habits die hard." Lex noted under his breath. Lena fixed him with a confused look, causing him to soften his tone.
"It's just safer, Lena." He explained, reaching across the chessboard to squeeze his sister's shoulder. "Have you ever thought about what Dad looks like when he's mad? Or excited? Or scared?"
"But Dad doesn't get scared."
"Or maybe he does sometimes," Lex noted, causing his sister to ponder his point. "But we wouldn't know. And it's better that way. If we don't see it, then maybe those barbaric Sao can't tell either. He's protecting us, and I don't mean just this family."
Lena glanced around the space. Her mother was at the water's edge, testing out a camouflage device she'd been developing with a group of adults. Children were playing and racing each other in the water, using their fins freely. Adolescents congregated in cliques, some idling self consciously while others engaged in mock combat both in and out of the water. There was a sense of community, a cathartic reprieve from hiding in plain sight. Even at a young age, Lena could see her family played a vital role in this equation.
"Let's clear the board, shall we?" Lex suggested, prompting his younger sister to gather up the pieces with him. He opened his palm in front of Lena, displaying a queen and rook.
"Everyone on Nodeisi is one of these," Lex explained, "they need a firm hand to be guided and led. Someone is meant to be that hand. Halfbreeds, Sao. Doesn't matter. They all need someone to take the rightful place as their saviors."
"One person?" Lena asked.
"If they're equipped for it, then yes." Lex responded, crouching down to meet Lena at eye level.
"But that person must be exceptional. They can't show you what they're thinking."
Black lines gave way to cerulean tile in Lena's vision as she flipturned in the pool. Launching herself into her final lap, the Nodei replayed her recent dream for the ump-teenth time that morning, hoping it would shed some light on the current mystery. The Commander referred to by the other Nodeis: was he an apprentice to Lionel who survived the war? Who else would possibly lead this sinister campaign on earth? No matter how much she wracked her brain, Lena couldn't recall anyone outside her family with that level of authority or motivation. Or did this plan come about in the last two decades? And why? What was the point of targeting a planet that had come so far in interspecies relations?
It was growing painful for Lena, revisiting her last memories of Nodeisi. Of her family. But it was necessary if she hoped to stop whatever guerilla forces were at play. The CEO exited her office pool, slowly burying her face into a towel. After a few deep breaths, she glanced over at her phone, which was lit up with a recent message.
Radar's picking up activity. Suspected gathering 1.25 miles below inner harbor. Kara's en route, Alex and I are stationed due west at the container terminal.
"You know you can reach me with the earpiece I made, right? And that I wear it all day now?" Lena reminded J'onn as she darted out the door.
"That was fast," the Martian remarked. "Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised that you already hacked our radio system."
"And it's waterproof, obviously. So when she's doing her thousandth lap of the morning, she can still hear messages." Kara's voice chimed in.
"Quick turnaround, Luthor. Color me not surprised," Winn's voice added. "Supergirl, what's your status?"
"Closing in on submersion point in 30 seconds," she replied. "Scanning the area for any land threats before diving."
"Clear in our vicinity," Alex reported as Lena reached the water's edge one block from L-Corp. Seeing no bystanders, she silently dove into the water, arriving at the scene just moments before Kara flew in.
"Are you ready?" The Nodei asked gently upon emerging at the surface. There had been a newfound confidence about the Kryptonian ever since their training the week before. With enhanced underwater speed and a few escape tactics in her repertoire, Kara seemed determined not to be a liability.
"Let's do this," Kara nodded with a small smile. She activated Winn's latest breathing apparatus, this time a simple mouthpiece.
The device could withstand only slightly deeper depths than the previous prototype. Unlike its predecessor, however, it was designed to be removed at high pressure and would hover in place while the user dove deeper. Upon ascending, the swimmer just needed to retrieve the mouthpiece in order to resume oxygen intake.
And with that, the two submerged. Lena led the path, plunging farther and farther into the depths. The Kryptonian focused on her breathing as she trailed the Nodei'. The surface light grew dimmer and dimmer. The profound quiet settled in; Lena wondered briefly if it still unnerved Kara. Eventually Lena came to a halt, fins corkscrewing effortlessly as she turned to her girlfriend. The mouthpiece began blinking, indicating the limits of its pressure threshold. The blonde took a deep breath before removing the device.
"I can hear them congregating, not more than 20 feet beyond that boulder," Lena whispered clearly through the water. Kara nodded, ready to follow.
The Luthor prioritized stealth as the pair made their way towards the target. Her fins sliced through the water with precision, arms outstretched in a diver's pose to create minimal friction or reverberations throughout the area. It was evident that the Kryptonian was mimicking her form, sacrificing a bit of speed to remain undetected. Lena glanced over at Supergirl to ensure she was still OK. She received a grateful smirk and thumbs up in response.
Reaching the massive boulder, the two peered over the edge and were met with the sight of 100 Nodeis with their rapt attention on one speaker. Roars of agreement were erupting at some statement, made by a bald individual, perhaps in his forties. Lena's view of the man was partially obscured by the crowd surrounding him, but she saw Kara tilt her head in recognition. Perhaps they had an earlier run in throughout the rover process. As the cheers died down, the man's voice resumed its impassioned speech.
"...another planet infected by ignorance, bound by provincial barriers," the voice boomed across the space, the face coming into view. Lena's heart stopped. She hadn't heard that timbre in two decades, yet it was as if no time had passed. The voice continued.
"How long before it becomes another Nodeisi? Before it meets the fate of obliteration, cowards at the helm?"
"Lex." Lena gasped.