I finished writing Chapter 19, so I felt inspired to post Chapter 1 before the weekend

Part One - Empathy - Chapter 1

As Nia and Kara sat in the conference room at CatCo, they were presented with a unique opportunity. A local organization that helped homeless youth was in desperate need of funding to expand their programs and services. Without this funding, many of these kids would be left without shelter, education, or job training opportunities.

Nia, being the intrepid reporter that she is, suggested they cover the organization's plight in an upcoming issue of CatCo Magazine. The article would shed light on the issue of youth homelessness and hopefully raise awareness and support for the organization's cause.

Kara agreed but also suggested that they use their alter egos to help the organization directly. They could use their powers to help build new facilities and provide resources for the homeless youth.

Over the next few weeks, Nia interviewed the kids and staff at the organization in order to write a powerful and emotional piece for CatCo Magazine. And with CatCo shut while it went under a long overdue HVAC maintenance, they decided to edit at Kara's apartment.

As they sat at her kitchen table, sipping coffee and going over their notes. Kara couldn't help but feel a sense of pride at the progress Nia had made in her journalism career.

"Great work, Nia," Kara said, looking up from the screen. "These edits are really going to make this story shine."

Nia grinned, clearly pleased with the praise. "Thanks, Kara. I couldn't have done it without your help."

Kara sent a smile her way as the phone beeped with a notification. "Excuse me for a moment, Nia," Kara said as she reached for her phone. "Hey Brainy."

Just then, Nia heard a knock on the door followed by a "Nia do you mind answering?" from Kara's bedroom.

Nia got up from the table and opened the door to see a delivery person holding a small box in their hands. "Delivery for Kara Danvers," they called out.

Nia took the box from them, throwing a smile in their direction before signing their clipboard.

Kara leaned over her shoulder, peering at the box. "What is it?" Nia shrugged and handed her the box.

As Kara tilted the box around, a small note fluttered to the ground. Kara picked it up and read it out loud:

"To my beloved Kara,

As the constellations shift and the universe continues to unravel, my love for you persists like an unquenchable flame. Even as reality itself twists and contorts, know that my heart beats only for you, unchanging and undying. Until the very end of existence and into the great unknown that lies beyond, I remain yours always.

Your Secret Admirer"

Kara furrowed her eyebrows in confusion at the note. She examined the trinket nested inside the box, trying to decipher its meaning. Her mind raced as she considered the possible sender. Could it be Lance? But that didn't seem plausible - after all he had ghosted her. It simply didn't add up.

"Kara?" Nia asked, a little worried, her instincts telling her that something was wrong here.

"Um…I don't know who this could be from…" Kara hesitated before reaching for the object inside the box.

Nia was looking at the box with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. "Be careful, Kara—"

But it was too late. As Kara reached inside the box, a blinding light filled the room, followed by an ear-splitting explosion.

Nia screamed as the object detonated, shattering windows and sending debris flying in all directions.

Kara felt herself being thrown backwards, the force of the blast sending her crashing into a nearby wall.

Nia was screaming in pain, blood pouring from a gash on her forehead.

As the smoke cleared, Kara felt a sharp pain in her side. She looked down to see a large piece of shrapnel glowing in neon green embedded in her stomach.

Then suddenly everything went black.

Kara and Nia laid motionless on the medbay beds, hooked up to various machines monitoring their vital signs. Brainy paced back and forth in front of them, his brow furrowed in concern.

"What happened to them, Brainy?" Alex demanded, rushing into the medbay with a team of DEO agents behind her.

"I cannot be certain," Brainy stated, his voice strained with concern. "When I arrived at Kara's apartment, I found them both in a state of unconsciousness. The common area was in a state of disarray, with shrapnel strewn about in a haphazard manner. Their pulses were barely registering, prompting me to quickly summon J'onn for assistance."

Alex's heart sank as she approached Kara's bed. Her sister looked so pale and still, her breathing shallow and labored.

"We need to stabilize them before we can figure out what's going on." Alex revealed.

Alex and Brainy begin to insert tubes into Kara and Nia's throats to help them breathe while the sun lamps are turned on. While Nia's vital signs began to improve almost immediately, Kara's continued to decline.

"What's happening to her?" Alex demanded, her voice rising with panic.

Brainy's face was grim. "I am at a loss," he stated. "According to the readings, the sun lamps are functioning normally. However, her physiology seems to be unresponsive to their effects."

Alex's mind was racing. This was not something she was prepared for. She yelled for reinforcements, and soon, J'onn and DEO agents flooded into the medbay.

Kara's condition was rapidly deteriorating, forcing the team into overdrive. Her heart rate plummeted, and the medics had to perform chest compressions to keep her alive while Alex grabbed the defibrillator.

"Clear!" she yelled, as she pressed the button.

Kara's body jolted with the shock, but her heart rate remained dangerously low.

"Again!" Alex yelled, as she charged the paddles once more.

This time, Kara's heart responded, beating weakly but steadily.

"We have a pulse," one of the medics said, relief evident in his voice. But Alex should have realized even Kara's organs would be as stubborn as her as they had to reset her heart several times.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Kara's pulse began to stabilize. The team let out a collective sigh of relief, but Alex was still on edge as her eyes locked on Kara's unconscious form prepared to administer another shock.

Suddenly, J'onn's phone rang, scaring Alex. "My apologies," He said and stepped out of the room to take the call. Alex was too focused on Kara to pay attention to the conversation, but she could tell from J'onn's expression that this wasn't good news.

When J'onn returned to the room, he looked at Alex with a small smile. "Eliza's on her way," he said. "She'll be here soon."

Alex nodded, feeling a glimmer of hope. If anyone could save Kara, it was their mother. But as she looked at Kara's pale face, she knew that time was running out. They needed to act fast, or it might be too late.

"Come on, Kara," Alex whispered, tears streaming down her face. "Don't leave me. Not like this." She looked over at Nia, who was now sitting up and looking around groggily.

"Nia, what happened?" Alex asked, her voice gentle. She watches Brainy rush to her side and take her hand.

Nia looked up at her and then at Brainy with a look of confusion. "I don't remember," she said. "Just that I was with Kara, and then everything went black."

Alex nodded, trying to keep her panic under control. But just as she was about to ask Nia more questions, the DEO alarm suddenly blared, making everyone jump.

"Unidentified spacecraft has landed on the landing pad," a robotic voice announced over the intercom. "All DEO agents to defensive positions."

Alex held a hand up to Nia and Brainy, telling them to stand down as she and J'onn immediately sprang into action, leading a team of DEO agents towards the source of the alarm.

As they raced towards the pad, Alex's mind was racing. What could be causing the alarm to go off now? And why did it have to happen at the worst possible time?-

"Wait!" Alex held her hand up, and took a step forward.

"Mon-El?"