Disclaimer: I do not own Supergirl, Superman, or Valor

Story Title: The Traveler

Chapter 18

Central Park – National City

The DEO had been very careful with the body of Valor, doing their best to make sure that no one had access to it.

Three days since the death Valor, the city was still in mourning. Kara Danvers had not left her apartment for two of those days; her excuse was that she needed time for her powers to return, but her sister and everyone close to her knew that she was in mourning. She was in a deep sorrow over the man that she loved; the man that she never told how she felt. Once three days had elapsed, her powers had returned and Supergirl was out, saving the innocent and even traveling outside of National City to fight crime. However, as much as she wanted to keep busy and not think of the funeral, she couldn't keep away, today was the day. She hovered over the park, looking down at the thousands of people that were in the cordoned off area surrounding the quickly put together memorial.

The memorial was a large granite mausoleum with a red letter V over the top. The City had commissioned a statue, but it wouldn't be ready for several months. She looked around the mausoleum, spotting her sister, J'onn, her mother, Winn, and a few other DEO agents that had been friends of Valor. Off to the side standing in their own tight group were the superheroes, the few members of the Justice League that had worked with Valor. There was Green Lantern Hal Jordan, standing beside another Green Lantern; she remembered that his name was John Stewart. Next to them was Superman and Wonder Woman; they were holding hands, which made Kara smile, at least for a moment. She landed in front of Clark; the crowd cheering when they saw her. She waved at them before she turned to look at her cousin.

"I didn't think you'd come," Clark said.

Kara sighed. "I didn't want to, but I need to be here."

Clark placed his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure he would be grateful that you made it."

Kara nodded, trying her best to keep the stinging at bay from the back of her eyes. She wasn't going to cry today. "So, when does the ceremony start?"

Just a second after she asked the sound of the motorcade could be heard from down the street. The President and the Mayor road in the first vehicle followed by the vehicle that held the shiny black coffin emblazoned with a red V on the top.

Kara stared forward. She watched as they brought the coffin forward, placing it within the granite mausoleum. She didn't really listen to the speeches or even when Clark spoke about his brother. She was focused on the black coffin. She thought about the last time she saw him alive, his voice echoed within her mind, with the words, "I love you." She fought back her tears before she couldn't take it anymore. She flew off into the air, even though the ceremony wasn't over.

Alex looked up as her sister flew away; she was surprised she lasted this long. She turned toward J'onn who was watching the end of the ceremony. "I think I'll take my leave."

J'onn looked at her before staring up, barely seeing the last fleeting image of Supergirl before she disappeared over the horizon. "Yes, she needs you."

Alex smiled. "Yeah, but it won't stop her from denying it."

J'onn chuckled as he remembered times when his two daughters would fight and act as if they didn't need each other. It was a good memory, but bittersweet since they were both dead and buried. "Well, the older sister knows best."

Alex chuckled before she gave him a curt nod. She walked away before disappearing into the crowd of spectators.

The Green Lanterns took their leave soon after, flying away as the spectators looked on in awe of the cosmic police officers.

The rest of the DEO and other dignitaries left, except for J'onn, Eliza, Clark, and Diana. J'onn wrapped his arm around Eliza just as Clark and Diana approached them.

"Oh Clark," Eliza said before she gave him a hug. Clark hugged her back. They pulled apart; both had tears in their eyes. "If you need anything, I'm here."

Clark forced a smile. "Thank you, Eliza… but, I think Kara needs you more than me."

Eliza nodded. "Yes… I worry for her… I don't want her to close herself off."

J'onn frowned. "We want let her do that, Eliza. We will get through to her."

Clark smiled at the way J'onn consoled the older woman. "J'onn, I never got to thank you… for being there for Kara… for all of them."

"I'm sorry that we never go along. I have always been a law officer and I will do what needs to be done, even if that seems harsh," J'onn asked.

"I understand J'onn. I may not always agree with what you and the DEO do, but I will try to understand from your perspective."

J'onn nodded before he and Eliza said their goodbyes and walked away.

Clark walked over to the open mausoleum; the black coffin was visible. Clark stood beside it before he traced the outline of the letter V with his hand.

"Your brother was a true warrior, a true hero for this world," Diana said as she joined him.

Clark turned his head to look at her. He had fresh tears in his eyes. "I just found him and now he's gone." Diana turned him around and hugged him tightly. They pulled apart; she wiped his tears away. "Thank you, thank you for being here."

Diana smiled. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else than with you."

Clark took her hand, bringing it to his lips, kissing her knuckles. "I would never have found the courage to call you that night without my brother."

Diana was a little taken aback by his confession. She looked down at the coffin, rubbing her hand over the smooth surface, sending a prayer to her gods and a silent thank you to Valor. She looked up at Clark, his eyes shining with love, for her. "Then we shouldn't disappoint him."

Clark smiled. It slipped away as he looked back at the coffin. "Mon-El, I never got to introduce you, but this is my girlfriend, Diana."

Diana smiled. "Hello, Mon-El, it is an honor to meet you."

Clark let go of her hand before he wrapped his arm around her. "Come on; let's go back to the Watchtower."

Diana smiled before the two walked out of the mausoleum. The doors closed and locked behind them. They took a final look at the closed doors with the red V emblazoned on them. Clark looked down at the words below the V.

Here Lies the Hero Valor

His Courage Never Wavered

His Spirit Shall Never Die

His Legacy Lives On

In Our Hearts and Minds

He smiled. He looked at the crowd still gathered around the memorial. He waved to them before he and Diana flew away, into the clear blue sky.

The police allowed the crowds to enter the memorial. People walked around touching the granite mausoleum and reading the words on the doors. They would touch the red V and think of the hero. Clark and Diana hovered in the air their super vision allowing them to see the crowd.

"They honor him," Diana said.

Clark nodded. "He gave them hope."

Diana smiled. "Just like the symbol on your chest. Just like you do, every day."

Clark blushed at her words. "I may have been a hero longer in this time, but Valor deserves every bit of their devotion, of their goodwill. He never had much of either in his life."

"Then we must honor his legacy. We must carry on his good work."

Clark nodded before he signaled the Watchtower, disappearing in a white light.

Diana looked down at the park and the crowd within it. "I will take care of your brother, Valor. I promise you that." She signaled the tower, before she too disappeared in a white light.

Deep Underground in an Unknown Location

An older woman with graying brown hair stood before a medical bed in a dark room; the only light was the glow from the medical monitors. A body lay on the bed, covered by a sheet. The woman walked to the bed, placing her hand on the body.

"Our agents have found the needed DNA. We have what we need to bring you back better than ever." As she spoke the computer monitor near the bed beeped, as if the monitor reacted to her words. "You will be reborn a new, and then we shall make our enemies pay."

Central Park – National City

Alarms sounded from around the memorial to Valor. Three NCPD officers rushed to the mausoleum. One of the officers opened a panel that was secretly embedded in the stone; he punched in the code that only a few people knew about. The doors to the mausoleum opened, revealing an empty inner chamber.

"What the…" the officer said. His two fellow officers joined him. They were all stunned. The black coffin was gone.

"What could have…" the officer stopped talking as he was saved from falling into a massive hole that was located at the back of the chamber. "Thanks man."

They all looked down into the tunnel. "What could have made this?" the third officer asked. They all shook their heads.

The next morning, J'onn stood inside of the empty mausoleum. Maggie and Alex were both at his side. Winn knelt over the hole in the back of the mausoleum, a sensor device in his hand.

"Any idea how that was created?" J'onn asked.

Winn shook his head. "It was created from the outside in. The whole wasn't drilled or cut, it was burned away."

J'onn's eyes widened. "Superman's heat vision couldn't even do that to this degree."

Alex and Maggie knelt beside Winn. "Do you think this was Cadmus?" Alex asked.

"Why would they take his body?" Maggie asked.

J'onn looked at the area where the coffin used to sit. "They would only take his body to cause trouble." J'onn rubbed his eyes. "Winn, send a probe into the tunnel, find out where it leads."

Winn nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Maggie, I want your investigative team to sweep for clues within here. Also, check out any surveillance footage from the memorial and that evening, look for anything out of the ordinary."

"Yes, sir," Maggie said; she gave Alex's hand a squeeze before she left.

Alex stood up. "What about me?"

J'onn sighed. "You get to tell Clark and Kara."

Alex took a deep breath. "Alright, this will not be fun." She steeled her nerves. "You owe me one for this, Director." She walked away, leaving J'onn to think.

J'onn stepped out of the mausoleum. The press and a crowd was looking at everything they did. "Yeah, like dealing with the press is going to be easy," he whispered as he walked to a press stand that was setup near the crowd.

Arctic – Deep Below the Fortress of Solitude

Kelex Two entered the chamber. A body in a black uniform sat on a chair, solar lamps covering the body in light. "Master, the energy transfer is complete."

"I feel the power," a familiar voice said. The ceiling opened as a black visor extended down from the ceiling covering the eyes of the man. The man sat up, extending his legs over the chair until they touched the floor. He stood up carefully. He wore a tight, black uniform with a silver shield on his chest with a large, red V on it. He had short black hair and his skin was pale. The black visor covered his eyes and parts of his nose and cheekbones. "Thank you, Kelex Two."

"It is my honor, Master."

"Any news on the trial to come?"

"Yes, the enemy approaches."

The man nodded. "Then, it is time to depart; the world must be ready."

"Should I notify Kal-El or Kara Zor-El?"

"Do not worry about them. I will see to it that they are informed."

"Yes, my Master."

"It is time for the return of Valor." He walked out of the room, followed by Kelex Two.

AN: Do not worry more twists to come. Stay locked on target to learn more.