Kara literally flies up the stairwell to get to her office, the perfect office, she has to admit. Cat was really thinking ahead when she put her in this office at the end of the hall. And it was Winn who decided to program the hallway camera with a time stamp glitch, so it's always displaying the wrong time. But then Kara bent the housing unit so the camera couldn't be turned to catch anyone coming or going from her office. Setting her things down, Kara pauses to look into the mirror to make sure that she's put back together after flying up the stairs. The mirror was a recent gift from Cat, the hand written note still tucked into the corner.
It's not how others see you that is important. It's how you see yourself... that is everything. CG
Looking into the mirror, Kara allows herself one brief moment to reflect on her morning with Carter and Cat before grabbing her laptop and heading to the meeting.
Out at the DEO, Lucy sits in her office, also ruminating over her morning. Alex initiating sex this morning was a definite red flag. She knows her too well to think for a moment that the agent is going to sit back and wait for Lucy to file motions to stop Lord. In fact, she's probably already talked Vasquez into helping her tonight and Lucy can't trust that Kara will tip her off again. Glancing up at the bank of monitors, Lucy spots Alex in the lab. She takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. Before picking up the phone.
"We need to talk," she says bruskly into the phone.
"After your little stunt last night with Agent Danvers, I'm not too inclined to meet with you again," General Lane says gruffly to his daughter.
"General Lane, I am the acting director of the DEO and we need to discuss what happened to the remains of The Detonator. You stated last night that you had them recovered and delivered to a private lab, which makes no sense since Alex Danvers is the foremost authority on alien and meta-human biology. I want those remains transferred to this lab as soon as possible," she demands loudly. Her experience with men like her father is that they only respect people who demand respect.
"I appreciate your concern Director Lane, but you have no authority here. Those remains were recovered by the US Military in open waters," he points out.
"You wouldn't even have those remains if it weren't for Supergirl and the DEO," she argues, then remembering not to make it personal she adds, "Protocol requires that the remains should be delivered to the nearest government facility, prior to contracting an outside facility."
"The DEO is not an active military base and it's debatable that it's a government facility," he counters. But then adds, "Major, you can have the body after the Prometheus Lab has completed it's testing."
"The Prometheus Lab? How can you trust Maxwell Lord with the DNA of a meta-human? Dad, he couldn't even be trusted with Supergirl's DNA. He created clones out of comatose brain dead girls and now you're letting him have access to the highly volatile DNA of a meta-human!" Lucy exclaims angrily, pacing her office now in full rant. "You're leaving me few choices here General Lane, I suggest that you rethink this plan immediately," she adds before hanging up on him.
Then reaching for her phone she punches one button, "Get the plane ready, I'm going to DC within the hour," she says quickly before ending the call. Then turning to her laptop, she pulls up a short contact list that Hank gave her and begins calling everyone on it. A half hour later, she is packing her laptop and files into her go bag. On her way out of her office, she grabs her uniform, she'll change on the plane.
"She knows," Martine states jealously. She's had a crush on Lord since college and when she came to work for him and when he made her his personal assistant, she thought the attraction was mutual. But he has yet to act anything other than professional with her.
"Probably guessed is more like it; hoping to confirm her suspicions," Lord replies nonchalantly.
"And you don't intend to confirm anything, so why go?" Martine questions.
"Counter measures. It's an opportunity for me to get to know her and find out what makes her tick. I'll ask a series of innocuous questions, which she'll be forced to answer in order to maintain her cover of wanting to know me better," he says smugly.
After her lunch meeting with Alex, Kara has been holed up in her office pouring over everything that she could find about Prometheus Labs. The soft knock on the door startles her. She glances up surprised to see Cat entering her office.
"Did I miss a meeting?" Kara asks confused.
"No. But I am curious about what you are working on. I tried to log in to research on the main frame and but it wouldn't let me on. Kara, why are you using my id instead of your own?" Cat questions as she makes her way around Kara's desk.
"I needed to protect this search," Kara answers nervously as she watches Cat looking at everything on her desk.
"Prometheus Labs? Kara why are you researching Maxwell Lord?" Cat asks a bit alarmed, she was trying not to pry, but certain words jumped out at her.
"Cat, please trust me. I used your log in, because your research history is more secure than mine. No one can know that I am researching him," she explains. "And if it turns into a story, you'll have everything you need already flagged in the system," she adds.
"Did Alex put you up to this? You've mentioned that she doesn't trust Max Lord," Cat questions.
"No, actually she doesn't know what I'm doing," Kara replies glancing down at her desk.
"I applaud your initiative, but in the future, you will notify me prior," Cat cautions. "Though we all know that forgiveness is often easier to obtain than permission," she says resting a hand on Kara's shoulder.
Kara smiles. No big blow up from Cat can only mean one thing... she does trust her.
"This has something to do with your fight with Alex yesterday?" Cat questions trying not to linger on any of documents spread across Kara's desk, but the temptation is too great. So instead she turns her back to the desk and rests lightly on the corner of it facing Kara instead.
"Yes, Alex is fixated on finding out more about one of Lord's projects. One that she shouldn't even know about. I think that it's too dangerous, but she doesn't agree," Kara replies trying to explain it as vaguely as possible.
"She needs to be careful, Max will take full advantage of her interest in his project and exploit it," Cat remarks.
"I know and Alex is obsessed with this. You should see the dress she's planning to wear tonight," Kara blurts out.
"Dress? Her plan is to seduce Maxwell Lord?" Cat questions. "I don't care how smart she is or how well trained she is in hand to hand combat, she's no where close to being equipped for that mission. His tactics are legendary, I've fallen for them myself," she admits reluctantly.
"Cat?" Alex answers her phone cautiously. Why would Cat Grant be calling her?
"I've spoken with your sister and without providing me much context, she mentioned that you're meeting with Maxwell Lord tonight. I suggest that you come by here first and let me advise you. Unfortunately, I know him quite well and I can help you get what you want from him," Cat says confidently.
"This is completely inappropriate, I couldn't possibly involve you in this operation," Alex replies.
"I'm not involved in anything other than providing dating advice to my... to Kara's sister," Cat answers. "I'll expect you at 6 pm."
Alex looks at her phone. She's going to kill Kara. First she tells Lucy, now she tells her girlfriend. Is there anyone she won't tell this plan to... Jesus.
"Agent Danvers, Director Lane is on the phone," Vasquez says over the intercom.
"Okay, thanks," Alex says taking a breath.
"I have an injunction signed by the Joint Chiefs, they are notifying General Lane right now and he's to recover the body and all research and deliver to the DEO by tomorrow at noon," Lucy blurts out excitedly.
"How did you do that?" Alex asks shocked.
"I was able to use your research and testing on Bizzaro as evidence against Prometheus Labs. I was able to show a distinct pattern of disregard for common accepted medical practice and testing. Let's face it, no one on that panel wanted to endorse a scientist who kidnapped brain dead women and injected them with alien DNA. The Bizarro case alone was enough to set a precedent against Prometheus and get the lab removed from the approved list of private contractors. Maxwell Lord is no longer allowed to do research for the government," Lucy explains.
"Wow, I'm sorry that I doubted you. Lucy that's amazing," Alex exclaims. But also wondering how long it will take for Max to find out about this. "Lucy, do you think that General Lane will notify Lord in advance, or just show up in the morning to collect everything?" She asks.
"The protocol for contract termination prohibits advance notification. I know that you don't think much of General Lane, but he's a top ranking Military commander, he will not break protocol," Lucy replies confidently.
"I hope that you're right, but Lucy, he broke protocol when he recovered the body and gave it to Prometheus," Alex points out.
"He didn't break protocol, he just bent it. He knew that he would get more information from Prometheus than he would from the DEO," she counters. "Wait, Alex are you still planning to meet with Lord tonight?" Lucy asks realizing the other reason she would ask that question.
"I'll be careful and Kara's going to be my back up," Alex replies.
"I thought if I took care of this, you wouldn't do that," Lucy exclaims in frustration.
"I'm sorry. I have to do this. I have to know what he knows and after tomorrow, he'll never talk to me again," Alex points out.
"Jesus Alex, I'm six hours away. I can't do anything to help you," Lucy blurts out.
"Don't worry. It will be over when you get here, just meet me at my place and we can debrief," Alex says confidently.
"Alex, I know that you are brilliant and tactical, but men like Maxwell Lord, they're almost a different species than what you're used to dealing with," Lucy replies her voice heavy with concern.
"I know. That's why I'm consulting with an expert before I meet with him," Alex replies.
"An expert?" Lucy questions.
"Dior, two seasons ago, classic little black dress," Cat says looking up as Alex enters her office. "Louboutins? I'm impressed that you could afford those on a government salary," she adds admiring the shoes.
"I didn't come here for you to approve my outfit," Alex remarks, a trace of irritation in her voice.
"Well, I was prepared to have to raid my own closet to help you with this mission, so I'm just a bit relieved to see that you've done your homework," Cat replies. "There's more here to work with than I thought, given your penchant for polo shirts and cargo pants," she adds walking around Alex.
"Thank you, I think," Alex says sarcastically.
"Let's go outside away from prying eyes," Cat says crossing the room to open the balcony door.
"Kara knows that we're meeting," Alex points out as she sits down across from Cat.
"Yes, but she also thinks that you're running late," Cat explains. "And I just sent her to the basement to retrieve some archived files. There are a few things that you need to know about Maxwell Lord, that I'd rather her not know just yet."
"Okay, but she has super hearing, unless your archived files are secured in a lead-lined room, she's going to hear," Alex points out.
"Well, it just so happens that the archives are in a fire resistant room that is lined in lead," Cat counters.