It took several minutes to fly to the Arctic zone where the Fortress was hidden. Kara's heart threatened to burst from her chest the entire time, terrified that the entity was following them, but she couldn't see any sign of that.

When they arrived at the entrance, she floated down to the surface, letting go of Cat so she could pick up the key and place it in the lock.

"Where...are...we?" Cat shivered, eyes practically blinded by the beating snow.

Kara grabbed her gently by the arm and led her inside.

Cat looked up in awe at the frozen palace, stunning as it glistened blue and white, stalactites forming caverns and ridges all around them, more impressive than the most ornate European architecture she'd ever seen.

"What is this place?" she continued shivering, her exposed skin covered in goosebumps from head to toe.

"Superman's Fortress of Solitude," Kara offered hesitantly, not knowing what parts of this would make it into the media, hoping Cat would understand the need for discretion. "I mean, I guess our Fortress of Solitude. It's a secret place of solace and meditation for the House of El."

"It's...breathtaking…literally…and..."

She began to lose her balance again, unable to stand still as she shook from the cold and dizzy from the flight.

Kara swallowed, hesitantly stepping closer as she removed her cape and draped it over Cat's shoulders. Cat looked at her curiously as Supergirl took her hands and made her hold the cape in place under her chin before gently blowing warm air into the opening at the top, providing additional heat. Cat closed her eyes, taking in the much needed comfort. Kara released her grip and stepped back.

"Thank you, Supergirl," Cat breathed, slowly opening her eyes, frozen tears sparkling against her eyelashes.

"Ms. Grant…I don't know what to say about Max...I can't believe I was so…stupid…"

"Stop," Cat shook her head, taking a deep breath before reaching out and taking hold of Kara's arm. "I have seen you move giant, flying space prisons through the air like they're nothing, fight off aliens six times your size, and stop all sorts of mayhem from destroying civilization again and again," she sighed. "What happened to Max...is difficult to think about, frankly. But it happened so quickly, and we were both under whatever sick spell that creature had on us, so you cannot, must not blame yourself. You would have stopped it if you could."

"Still, I…"

"Not another word," Cat hushed her. "Please. Let's just figure out what we do now."

Kara nodded slowly, knowing she needed to file this away, but it was difficult. Even though she couldn't stand Max, she never wanted him to die. Her reflexes had been slowed by the entity, but even so, it moved with such speed and force and gravity that she had no time to react, wanting to move, wanting to save him and Ms. Grant, but also threatened by it herself. She'd have to deal with the feeling of failure eventually, but not now.

"Right," she breathed. "Okay. Kal-X?"

The tiny floating robot appeared from behind an ice column. Cat jumped a little again, standing behind Kara.

"How may I assist you?"

She was thankful the android hadn't said her name as she thought about how to frame her question.

"We were attacked tonight by some sort of monster, not an alien, but it did seem to know who I was. And it was definitely after Ms. Grant. Can you tell me if it was somehow connected to Livewire? Or Red Tornado?"

"I have no data on Livewire or Red Tornado."

"Uh, right. Okay, well whatever this thing was, it was...really big, and it smelled like...like…"

"Death," Cat offered. "Disease. Rotting flesh."

"Yeah," Kara continued. "And chemicals. And it sounded like the screams and terror of millions, all wrapped up in this ominous cloud."

"Good description," Cat commended.

Kara threw a glare over her shoulder, though she couldn't help but appreciate the compliment.

"I am not authorized to discuss this threat with you."

"Again? Seriously, Kal-X, I need your help!"

Kal-X flitted away, replaced seconds later by the hologram of Alura.

"Mom. Thank god."

"That's your mother?" Cat whispered. "A computer program?"

Kara waved her off, stepping closer to the hologram.

"Hello…" Alura began before realizing they were not alone. "You've brought an unidentified human with you. Does this human know your…"

"No," Kara stopped her. "Just, um, can you call me Supergirl while we're here today? I know that's weird, but...Thanks."

Kara looked back at Cat again, whose eyes were narrowed in her direction.

"Alright, Supergirl," Alura smiled. "How can I...Oh. I see. Kal-X has alerted me to your situation."

"Do you know what it is?"

"Supergirl, what you encountered tonight was indeed not an alien. Its origins are strictly of the very Earth you now inhabit."

"Okay, so…a man-made entity? A demon?"

"Not exactly. What attacked you has no precise name, though it has been given many names throughout the ages. Plague. Atrocity. Annihilation. But it is far more than that, and it has only grown more powerful in recent decades. This force is the accumulation of pain and suffering inflicted on this planet by and among her inhabitants. It is the embodiment of all destruction, violence, war, pollution, every evil known to humanity and its environment. It is the end of all that is."

"It's everything Non and Astra fought to stop," Kara noted, closing her eyes, wishing her aunt were still alive.

"Yes. But they could not be sure it would take this form. They believed the Earth would likely self-destruct, as our own planet did. And that is what would have happened, had something not triggered this emanation sooner."

"What triggered it?"

Alura smiled at her softly, sadly.

"My precious daughter. There is much I wish I could have taught you before we sent you away, but there wasn't time. Within the universe, there is always give and take, light and dark, good and evil, one force opposing the other. It is the law of nature. However, as one aspect begins to strengthen, such as the path toward destruction set forth on planet Earth, it cannot be corrected unless there is an equal force of the other, an even more powerful manifestation of love and healing and peace ready to prevent the imbalance from creating total darkness. Many good people have likely woken up to this across this planet, but they need help. They need a leader, or leaders, to show them what is possible."

"I don't understand…" Kara shook her head. "Are you saying…"

"Yes, my sweet one. Your presence has, in a way, triggered these events."

"It is my fault then," Kara began to crumble. "Once again, I'm…"

"Supergirl, this would have happened regardless of your presence here," Alura assured. "Eventually, the Earth would have ended, and perhaps without the chance to resurrect itself with your assistance. You may have lured this being into its current form, but you are not alone. There are others who have also called, unknowingly, for this battle to unfold before it's too late, before together, you're able to restore the balance of creation."

"So...who are these others? And what do I have to do?"

"I'm afraid I cannot provide all the answers for you. They will be revealed to you in time."

"There is no time!" Kara growled.

"I'm sorry, Supergirl," Alura smiled, folding her hands in front of her. "If Astra had survived, she too would have said you were right. There always was another way. The power is within you. It is within all of you."

"Mom, I don't…"

"Goodbye, Supergirl."

And with that, she disappeared back into nothingness, leaving the soft echo of her voice behind in the frozen cavern.

Kara stood motionless for a moment, looking down at herself, at the S on her shirt, wishing she weren't responsible. Why did it always have to come down to this? She thought. Then again, she did believe everything had a purpose, that everything was connected. If this is what was meant to be, she would have to find a way to make it right. But so much had already been lost.

"Well, that was interesting," Cat said, breaking Kara from her thoughts. She spun around to face the smaller woman.

"Interesting? Max is dead, and I'm the one that caused it! I'm the one that killed him! How can I live with…"

"Oh, Supergirl, get a grip," Cat bit back. "You didn't kill Max. He was always flinging himself into harm's way, he was bound to get killed one way or another. I feel terrible too...believe me, I do...but in a way, he died fighting against the very forces he claimed to have dedicated his life towards stopping."

"How can you be so…"

"Realistic? Rational? Max had a good heart underneath that egomaniacal exterior, but he's gone...and it's not your fault. Life is hard. Loss is inevitable. It's how you deal with those losses and bounce back from them that matters. It's the only way to honor those who don't make it along the way."

Kara sighed deeply. She looked down at the icy floor, filled with confusion and regret and not the slightest bit more in the know about how to defeat this enemy. Just as her eyes began to well up, she felt a hand lifting her chin slowly.

"You're our only hope," Cat assured her. "Don't give up on us now."

Kara's face turned red again. She worried Cat might notice she had the same tendency to blush as her employee, but for now, she seemed to not let on that she had made the connection.

"Thanks, Ms. Grant," she breathed. "I will...try."

"I know you will," Cat smiled softly, slowly pulling her fingers away from Kara's face. "And you can stop calling me Ms. Grant. I know you don't work for me...technically."

Kara smirked, sniffing her tears back into her eyes, shaking her head a little.

"That's...very nice of you, but...I don't work for you at all."

"True," Cat nodded. "But we do have a certain symbiosis, you and I. You keep saving the world, and I make sure the world keeps falling in love with you."

Kara couldn't help but blush even harder, red splotches painting her neck. She had always been pleasantly affected by the compliments Cat tossed her way, though as they increased, she felt herself trying to fight against the warmth it created in the pit of her stomach.

"I'm...that's…"

"I just mean people need to thank you properly," Cat clarified. "Recognize you for everything you do. It's important for women not to underplay their achievements. Even women superheroes."

"I appreciate that, Ms. Gr-...er, Cat."

"That's better," Cat smiled. "Speaking of recognition, I hope Kiera isn't beating herself up somewhere over what happened. She did an outstanding job."

Kara stepped a bit closer to Cat on impulse, feeling herself loosen up around her, for better or worse. Something about bringing her to the Fortress seemed to lessen the divide she placed between them when she was wearing the uniform. Looking at her boss wrapped up in her cape, golden locks settling against the soft red fabric, she knew they'd reached a new level of closeness, whatever that might mean. Certainly, they'd have to work together to fight this threat.

"I'm sure Kara knows she did a good job," Supergirl sighed. "It's not like she had anything to do with some demonic harbinger of the apocalypse showing up and crashing the party."

Cat pursed her lips a little, pulling the cape more tightly around her, rocking back and forth on her heels as she bore into Supergirl with those eyes that always seemed to see right through her.

"Or...maybe she did! Who knows. I don't know. I don't know anything about her, really."

Cat shook her head as she laughed, taking another step forward, inching closer to the younger woman, only a snowflake's reach between between them.

"So, Supergirl," she breathed. "That was your mother."

"Yeah…" Kara answered hesitantly. "She died, along with everyone else on Krypton, but she left this program behind to help me."

"I sometimes wish my mother was a hologram," Cat quipped. "Sorry. That's insensitive."

"It's alright," Kara smiled, knowing just how difficult Katherine Grant could be.

"She's beautiful, your mother," Cat nodded. "It's easy to see where you get it from."

"Thanks," Kara's breath caught a little at the remark. She bit her lip again, shaking her head to free a few snowflakes from their entanglements, long, blonde curls cascading down her shoulders. Cat was almost on top of her now. She could feel her breath on her nose, concerned at the lack of warmth she felt from it.

"You're freezing," she noted, bringing her hands to Cat's biceps and giving her a rub. She couldn't help but notice Cat's cheeks tinge pink at the touch. "We can't stay here."

"Agreed," Cat sighed. "The creature didn't follow us. Maybe it's regenerating somewhere."

"I don't know," Kara shook her head. "But I can't let you go home. It could still come after you."

"Well I'm not staying out all night," Cat insisted. "Carter's sitter has to leave eventually. I have to at least contact his father to take him until all of this is over."

"Right. Well...in that case, let me give you this."

She removed the invisible earpiece from her own ear, tweaking a small button to make it appear in her hand before adjusting another node to change the frequency.

"You can use this to call me," Kara instructed. "Day or night, doesn't matter. If you even sense something's not right, I'll be there."

"Thank you," Cat said, taking the small device in her hand. Kara's warm fingers brushed against her own, sending an even deeper chill through her spine. She shuddered, looking back up into Supergirl's crystal blue eyes, feeling especially connected. I guess a near death experience will do that, she thought. Then again, there had been too many of them, and she'd never felt quite like this.

"I think we should get you back before you get sick," Kara smiled sweetly. "That's the last thing we need."

"Don't worry, I drink enough raw juice every day to prevent even the most pedestrian of colds from infecting me," Cat proclaimed. "I'll be fine."

"Alright," Kara breathed, not wanting to pull herself away. "I'm...gonna need my cape back if we…"

"Oh, right," Ms. Grant remembered, shrugging the garment from her shoulders, revealing the tight, muscular stretch of exposed skin again. Kara took it in as she fastened her cape back onto her shirt and they made their way outside, eyes trailing up the expanse of Cat's neck, noting her pulse beating quickly beneath smooth, tan flesh, up to her delicate ear, the dimples in her cheeks.

Get a fucking grip, she told herself, trying not to read into why she was suddenly so fascinated with every move her boss made.

"Okay," she sighed, reaching out her hand. "You ready?"

The older woman swallowed as she took it. Kara lifted her up into her arms, muscular legs folded across her body. It would take them a little longer to get home this way, but truthfully, she didn't mind. She took one last look at the Fortress, summoning all her strength, before lifting off the ground and flying them home.