A/N

Welcome back to this series, and before I start, please check out Nick Striker's book as it will have a crossover down the line. His OC is excellent.

Reviews

Elvisfonz23: Cheers. Karen is an actual DC character, and is in fact a prominant one as well.

Nick Striker: Thanks. Good luck with your next chapter!

Chapter 14: Death is Eternal

"Being rough is what you need when dealing with people who have no morality. Or did they tell you different in the scouts?" I turn around to face the new emergence. Short blonde hair, blue eyes, and an average height- standard. What's most surprising is the white costume- containing a bosom hole-with a red cape and blue gloves. Yet, she has a certain familiarity around her stature. With her hands placed on her hips, and head titled slightly, she almost looks like...

"Karen! Is that you?" my voice goes higher at the realisation, through shock. "Why are you wearing, that thing? My god, you look..."I couldn't help but ask about the revealing nature of her clothes.

"What's wrong with it!?" she gasps. "And yes, it's me. Thanks for shouting my secret identity to everyone. A little bit of secrecy would be appreciated." she adds on, looking around the office.

"So, if it is you, why are you dressed up like that?" I ask, genuinely confused.

She shakes her head. "I'm a superhero, duh. Call me Powergirl, or Kara, if you like. Although you should really call me Karen on work days."

Major brainfreeze, I rub my temples in an attempt to rid myself of the drama that has just erupted. Considering that the whole hero business is supposed to be straightforward- fight crime and smile for the camera- I feel like this is an episode of Vampire Diaries. It's starting to seem unreal, too. Powergirl is supposed to be a Kryptonian from another Earth, right? Does that mean she's more like the moral Superman , or the short-fused Supergirl. Either way, she's not my cup of tea.

"Okay... if you are Powergirl, then why didn't you help me out before? After all, I did risk my life to save your building from getting annihilated by a Viking maniac." I ask, mildly annoyed at the fact she could have helped me out earlier.

"Because," she answers, sitting on top of a desk. "I knew you could handle it, and I could have gotten in your way. Besides, it's all in the past and we have a villain to confront. Together."

"Together? I need to do this by myself. This person wants me to come and find him, so I will." I confidently dismiss her 'offer' of support on this confrontation. This mysterious being will get a taste of my wrath after this. It knows that I work here, so I have to take whoever it is down.

"Never go into a situation like that when you know it's a trap. Especially when you have a superpowered ally just begging for some action. Do you think that running a business is fun? Then there was that whole debacle with the overzealous client..." she pauses and stares at the desk, seemingly deep in thought. "The point is: I see that you have potential, and I... let me put this in a good way... be under my wing?"

"Be a sidekick, you mean?" I snort in amusement.

"No. More of a student." she responds, standing up and strolling right up to my face. "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity, Alex. You should take it." she whispers.

I gently push her away from me. "Let me think about it."

"Take your time. You are expected elsewhere." she winks and goes back to the desk, leaving me to my thoughts.

Apprentice? Not the best of titles that can be bestowed, but... she could be my ticket into the Justice League. That's all that matters, right? I consider, pacing up and down the aisles in thought. However, Powergirl is known for being more independent than a team player, so perhaps the league wouldn't acknowledge her recommendations. After all, they are all about the good of the team. That would include me. The struggle for a decisive answer hits me hard. That all-important conclusion eludes me like trying to grasp smoke. Think, Alex! She is a big deal in the wider world, and has fought against a variety of dangerous foes. I could learn things from her.

With that, I finally reach the decision that could put me on a journey to the top. And I won't stop until I make it there- make changes from the inside-out. For the sake of the entire human race. Nevertheless, I need friends and fellow heroes to share my goal. This is my first chance at that.

Breaking my pacing trance, I stride to Powergirl and let the words unfold from my mouth. "I'm in, but on one condition: no more flirting as it's severely distracting and would ruin our potential partnership. And... please don't ever call me 'sweetheart' or otherwise. We are heroes, not teenage lovers."

At the abrupt end to my rampage, Karen approvingly raises her eyebrows. "Good. Now that's settled, I say we get this figure before nightfall. We wouldn't want to wake up DCPD, would we?" Next, she slides off the desk and gives me a peck on the cheek before I could react. Unnerving, in terms of my enhanced reflexes. "That's for being honest and a gentleman." she states and leads me off by the hand.

"Have you ever flown before?" she asks as we approach the window. Something tells me that my reply won't have much affect on the outcome of this trip.

Thus, time to be blunt. "Plane- yes; by person-no. I'd rather take a walk."

"Don't be silly." she pushes me out of the window.

Later on...

Sneaking around the rear of the massive building that lies in the center of the docking yard, it almost resembles the time I battled Firewall here. Out of all the people this puzzle could be, he is the absolute last that I would want it to be. Actually, I would rather have him than some of the terrible villains out there- Black Adam, Deathstroke, and even the Joker. Why would they bother with a small-town hero like me? I dismiss the idea.

Rounding the corner, a group of heavily-gunned goons await. They are positioned directly at the front of the warehouse, apparently guard whatever is inside.

Remembering the precise instructions of my newfound mentor, I hold back and observe the upcoming show. According to Powergirl, it will be a wonderful distraction so that I can slip into the building without raising an alarm.

True to her word, a car lands to the immediate right of the group, making them jump at the loud crash it made. She sure knows how to make entrance, I give credit where it is due.

Seizing the ploy, I attach to the wall and shimmy all the way to the open entrance. It is looking awfully comparable to a trap. Still, I need to interrogate a certain somebody that I don't know, and that takes courage in it's own right.

Delving in headfirst, I extend to a standing position and warily enter, my careful eyes seeking out any hidden explosives or nasty surprises. Finding none, perhaps this person wants to actually meet. Or... worse things could be waiting for me. Personally, I would prefer to face the danger now and get it over with; fortune favours the bold.

Lights flicking on, this is starting to send chills down my spine. The illuminating light only shaping the seemingly endless trudge into a living nightmare, which I can't escape or fathom. Ominisity surrounds every aspect of the objects arround me. Everything is neatly arranged and separated by the color of the container, as though in rank of contents. It doesn't help the nerves creeping up as the walk unwinds.

Eventually reaching the end of the tunnel of shelves, I come across an open space, apart from the cloaked figure in the middle. A tingle down my spine acknowledges the depth of the predicament. This is the person that has plagued me from the start- the only rational explanation to this. And I don't want to find out who.

"Spooky man got your tongue?" the cloaked mystery asks, humour riddled in his tone.

The way the obvious man spoke, it reminds me of someone else. But, it can't be. It can't.

The man turns around.

"You." I whisper.

A/N

Once again, I'm sorry for the short chapter, but I got everything I wanted in there.

Who is it?

Clues have been scattered throughout the book.

Find out in the next one.