Cover – A little girl with a tear-streaked soot-covered face is crying in a corner. The orange and yellow glow of fire lights up the page.

*Translated from Kryptonian

INFINTE SUPERGIRL

By KryptoKin

Where there's Smoke…

St. Mary's Hospital, 28 weeks and 4 days ago

Room 403

The sky outside the hospital was an array of colors from watery-blue to deep purple. The clouds were fluffy, each with a gold-lining caused by the setting sun. Inside, Airman Kate Kane, dressed in her military blues, was pacing the room and ranting about insolent teenagers and how she never caused problems when she was younger. Kara Zor-El watched her with a quiet amusement while her right hand rubbed the gold translator around her neck. "You sound like my mother." Kate stopped pacing and narrowed her eyes at the blonde sitting on the hospital bed.

"I am many things but I'm no one's mother," she said while crossing her arms.

"I'll keep that in mind." Kate's frown deepened and Kara smiled as she adjusted the pair of black, thick-rimmed glasses on her face. "Look, I'm sorry I disappeared on you but this hospital tends to get loud." Kate raised an eyebrow and opened her mouth but a knock on the door interrupted them.

"Come in." An enlisted officer in blues walked in and handed Kate a manila envelope. "Thank you." Kara sat up straight as Kate opened the folder and pulled out a single sheet of paper. The red-head walked away from the bed and kept her back to the teenager as she read the paper. Raising her right hand, Kara slipped her glasses down her nose and focused on Kate's back. Respectively, Kara x-rayed through the uniform, noted the tattoo on Kate's shoulder, and through her body to read what was on the paper.

In explicit detail, the paper was an order for Airman First Class Katherine R. Kane to report to the air base and be briefed on a mission concerning the recent violation of security of the airbase. This included an addendum that informed the airman she would be briefed on a new tailing detail. I wish I could understand it, she thought, this translator only helps with spoken words.

"Anything important?" she asked. Kate put the paper back in the folder and turned to Kara with a forced smile on her face.

"Nothing concerning you."

Half-an-hour outside of Kansas City, Missouri, Now

Lana Lang's House

"…though the extent of damage is unknown the number of lives lost in the fire is, with five factory workers and one shift manager dead. Currently, their names are being withheld for the sake of the families," said Cat Grant reporting for Global Broadcasting News (GBN). Kara frowned from her perch on the back of the couch as she took a bite of Cocoa Puffs while staring at the television. "The origin of the fire is said to be the office of shift manager Daniel McCrea who was hospitalized two nights prior due to anotherfire that happened while he was in his car. Thankfully, a stranger pulled him out but not before fifty-percent of his body was covered with third-degree burns. According to arson investigations, the cause of this fire and the one in McCrea's car is unknown."

"You really need to start watching normal shows, like cartoons or MTV." Kara turned to Lana Lang who had walked into the living room with her own bowl of cereal.

"You said I couldn't watch MTV. That is was a poor excuse of a channel and only low-browed morons and emotionally unstable people watched it."

"I said all that?" said Lana as she sat on the couch opposite from Kara. The blonde nodded her head before taking another mouthful of artificially flavored cereal. "Well I'll be…Anyway, even though I stand by that, I'd rather you watch something a little less depressing."

"Watching the news is part of my transition into humanity."

"Who told you that?"

"Karen."

"Speaking of the blonde billionaire, have you heard from her lately?" said Lana trying to grab the remote from Kara who simply swatted the ginger's hand away.

"No. I haven't heard from her in over two months. What do you think she's doing?"

"Not watching the news?" Kara rolled her eyes as Lana gave her a sly smile. The blonde got up from her spot and set her bowl down on the coffee table as she grabbed her glasses and walked away.

"Where are you going?"

"We have a visitor." Kara walked into the foyer and silently counted down from three before opening the door. Standing in civilian clothes with her right hand in mid-knock was Kate Kane.

"Um…hi. Can we talk?"

Smallville, Kansas, 27 weeks and two days ago

Karen Starr's Underground Lab

Kara was dressed in black shorts and an exercise bra as she ran barefooted on a treadmill. Karen Starr was in a red pantsuit sans the jacket and reading over a file while standing next to her. *"I don't see why I have to do this. It's not like I'll get tired or sweat."

Karen smile as she flipped through the file. "True, but it gives you something to do while I go over paperwork." She kept reading as she walked over to a large computer. "I spoke with Lana yesterday, she agreed to homeschool you for the first six months of your stay."

"You make it sound like my living here is temporary."

"Yes and No. Your stay on Earth is permanent, your stay with Lana could be temporary depending on our ability to keep the Department of Defense out of our business."

"You're talking about Colonel Jacob Kane and his daughter Katherine."

"Not to mention General Lane and his people. Kal-El, Lana, and I are keeping you away from him for a reason. We want you to live a life separate from your Supergirl duties. Besides, the last thing anyone needs is two super-powered Kryptonians working for the federal government." Karen began to enter information into the computer. The screen displayed a full medical bio on Kara, which included charts and written information.

"Three if we count you. Do you have a file on Kal too?" Karen nodded.

"The federal government's information isn't as safe as they think. Three of my best hackers copied and downloaded a majority of top-secret files during the confusion at the base last week."

"Isn't that stealing?" Karen paused from typing on the computer to look over her right shoulder at Kara. The younger blonde stared back with visible innocence as she ran at the treadmill's highest speed and elevation with ease.

"Yes."

"Then what you did was illegal." The billionaire gave Kara one last look before going back to her work.

"Yes." Kara didn't comment further but continued to run. Note to self, thought Karen, keep information about illegal activities away from Kara.

Half-an-hour outside of Kansas City, Now

Lana Lang's House

Lana stood with arms crossed in front of Kate. The airman was sitting in the middle of the couch and staring back with the same intensity. Kara was standing slightly behind Lana's left with her hands in her pockets and staring into space.

"You still haven't answered my question. Why are you here?"

"I told you, I'm here to see Kara."

"What's the real reason?"

"That is the real reason."

"Bull-"

"Lana!" Lana jumped when Kara placed a hand on her shoulder. "I think it's only fair you explain to Miss Kane your position."

My position? Thought Lana, what the he-oh…myposition. Lana turned her attention back to Kate but kept a stern look on her face. "Look, Kara has been through a lot. My job is to protect her and if you don't tell me what you're really doing here then I can't do it."

"So protecting Kara is more of a job for you?" Lana's face went as red as her hair and her hands rolled into fists. Just as she took a step forward, Kara tightened her grip on Lana's shoulder and held her in place. Lana winced but that didn't stop her from pointing her finger and Kate and saying, "Don't you dare question my loyalty to my cousin! She's the only family I have left and I will do anything to protect her."

Kate kept her eyes locked with Lana's but eventually her face softened into an unreadable expression before looking down at her feet then standing up. "I think this is where I leave. Goodbye Miss Lang, Kara." Kate ran a hand through her short-cropped hair and turned away from the two women. The two stood in silence with matching shocked expressions until they heard the sound of an opening and closing door.

"What was that about?" asked Lana.

"I think you broke her."

"What am I supposed to do about it?" Kara stepped away from Lana and smiled.

"I think this looks like a job for Supergirl."

Kate was leaning against her car with her back to the house and talking on the phone. "It's me…I couldn't get much, Miss Lang brings a certain level of complication to the situation." In the background, Kara could be seen leaving the house. "I'll come back t-"

"Kate!" She turned around to see Kara walking towards her while pulling a knit cap over her ears. "Do you want to go to a street fair with me?"

Kate blinked a few times before answering the teenager. "Based upon what happened in there, I think Lana wants me to leave."

"Wouldn't going to the fair be considered you leaving?" Kate raised an eyebrow and smiled before closing the phone and crossing her arms.

"Does she know you're out here or did you make something up?" Kara frowned and leaned against the car with Kate while adjusting her glasses.

"I would never lie to Lana. She knows I'm out here and I'm going to the fair with you." That and me leaving will give her the chance to contact Karen while the others are focused on me, she thought. The two stood in silence and stared at each other, a smile on Kara's face and a stoic look on Kate's, before the older woman opened the door to the driver's seat.

"I guess we're going to a street fair."

St. Mary's Hospital

Adam Harper was dressed in black boots, blue-jeans, and a leather jacket. His motorcycle helmet was tucked under his left arm as he kissed his sister Alyssa on the top of the head at the entrance of the hospital. "Be good sis."

"I should be tellin' you that, baby bro."

"Maybe, but I'm still taller than you." Alyssa socked her brother in the left arm and made him drop the helmet. She laughed and stepped back from him as he picked it up, which caused the automatic doors of the hospital to open. A gust of wind blew around her and she wrapped her arms around herself and gripped the sleeves of her nurse's uniform.

"Just be careful. The roads are icy and that motorcycle of yours is not equipped for 'em."

"I promise."

"You better." Adam waved goodbye to his sister and walked to his Harley Davidson. He pushed back the bangs of his shaggy auburn hair before putting his helmet on and driving away. He left the parking lot of the hospital, drove down a few streets then turned off onto the highway where only a few cars were driving. Waldo's Gas Station was coming up on his right. He pulled in to see J.T. Simmons sitting in his rocking chair wrapped in a blanket with his pipe in his mouth.

"Afternoon, back for more gas?" Adam nodded and got off the motorcycle but kept his helmet on.

In the distance, a red sport's car was speeding down the highway. The driver was a man yelling into his Bluetooth device and slamming his hands on the steering wheel. "I don't give a flying #%$ who's in charge. I want to speak to him right now…Oh, don't give me that $h!%. I want to speak to him-" Suddenly his front, left tire blew causing his car to fly left and slam into the front of the semi-truck next to him. The driver veered to the edge of the road and tried to brake but his wheels hit patches of ice mixed with dirt on the side of the highway and began sliding to the left.

"What the heck?!" yelled Simmons. Adam turned to the direction the old man was looking to see the sports car locked with the semi sliding in their direction. The old man stood up and ran away; leaving his blanket and pipe in his wake. Instead of running, Adam moved towards the impending disaster and took a stance 50 feet from the station. Simmons noticed he was alone and stopped running to look back at the boy. "Are you out of your mind!? Get out of there!"

The truck was no more than 300 yards away when Adam balled his hands, pulled his arms back then pushed them forward. Immediately, large vibrations pulsed from his hands and slammed into the vehicles. Their lights shattered and the windows of both vehicles cracked on impact. Pieces of metal were flying off them as well but the threat was showing no signs of slowing down. Adam dug his feet deeper into the ground and stretched out his arms more. The protective shield over Adam's helmet cracked as the vibrations more than tripled.

The truck let out groaning noises then shook violently as the front tires blew; crushing the left side of the car's hood in the process. Sparks flew as they skidded across the asphalt and came to a screeching halt no more than six feet in front of Adam. Lining the highway were chunks of tires, large pieces of metal, broken glass, and large cracks in the pavement from the vibrations. The two men got out of their damaged vehicles and surveyed the area; clearly shaken and amazed but alright physically.

Adam had one knee on the ground and both of his hands were balled into fists and pushing against the ground for support. His arms and legs were shaking, his breath was labored, and sweat was falling from his face through his busted facemask. Simmons laid a hand on the boy's shoulder and looked at the damage in front of him.

"I dunno who ya are kid, but you're amazin'." Adam smiled and whispered out a thank you before passing out.

One hour outside of Kansas City

Street Fair

Derrick Albright and Mary-Lou Jones sat at a picnic table under a large tent eating hotdogs when Derrick spotted Kara pass by the tent with Kate Kane. "Kara's here," he said before pushing his sunglasses up his nose and taking a large bite of his hotdog. Mary turned around and frowned slightly as the two women went out of view.

"I thought she was staying home with Lana?"

"I guessh she changed her mind," said Derrick with a mouthful of food. Mary grimaced in disgust before grabbing a napkin and handing it to him.

"She's been doing that a lot lately, hasn't she?"

"What? Changing her mind?"

"No, showing up when you least expect it."

Derrick took a sip from his fountain drink and said with the straw still in his mouth and a smile, "I guess it's a part of her charm."

A baseball slammed into a stack of metal milk bottles and knocked all three down. "You know, I haven't been to a fair since I was fifteen," said Kate before popping a piece of pink cotton candy in her mouth. "I was with my best-friend Amelia. She was moving to Metropolis and it was her last night in Gotham." A man in a black polo handed Kara a panda bear the size of a soccer ball. She tucked it under her left arm and walked away from the booth with Kate following.

"The first fair I ever went to was in Smallville. Lana and I lived there until she felt I was ready to move back with her to Kansas City."

"Why did she move you to Smallville?"

"It's her home town. I guess she wanted me to see where she grew up."

"You know what I don't get?" Kara looked at Kate briefly as she reached over and plucked a piece of cotton candy from Kate's hands. "You and Lana are cousins but you two look nothing alike. She's what…five-foot-three, five-foot-four? And you're closer to five-seven." Kara shrugged and grabbed another piece of cotton candy but Kate pulled it away. "Nuh-uh. Answer then candy." Kara pouted but answered anyway.

"Cousins don't have to look alike. My cousin on my father's side looks nothing like me. He's much taller and has black hair."

"You have another cousin?" Kate's shock distracted her, which allowed Kara to reach over her and get what she wanted. "Why aren't you with him?"

"His life is," Kara took a small bite of the cotton candy, "rather complicated. Staying with Lana is the best option." Kara kept walking and looking around at the different attractions of the fair but Kate didn't move. She has another cousin, she thought, how did we miss this?

Suddenly a boy ran into Kate and knocked her to the ground. "Sorry, sorry," he said briefly before running off. What an $$&*!#, she thought.

"Are you okay?" Kate nodded and took Kara's hand. The blonde easily pulled her to her feet. "What was that about?"

"I have no idea." Kara suddenly stood a little straighter and turned away from Kate. "He just came out of nowhere," she said while dusting the dirt off her butt, not realizing Kara handed her the panda and was walking away from her. "But if I see him again I'll make sure he…" Kate finally noticed Kara was gone. "So much for military training."

A crowd of people stood watch as the firefighters worked at putting out the fire that was consuming a two-story house. Kara was cutting through the crowd when a hand reached out to her. "Kara, what are you doing here?" asked Derrick. Mary was standing next to him with her arms crossed and leaning on her left leg.

"Some kid knocked down Airman Kane. I wanted to know where he came from." Derrick looked around then turned back to Kara.

"Where is Airman Kane?" Kara gave him a sheepish smile before pushing her glasses up her nose.

"I guess I left her be-" The second floor's windows blew out, sending glass and burning debris towards the crowd. A woman near the front of the crowd screamed as glass rained down on her. Police began to push the crowd back farther and firemen yelled out for more water as the flames began to consume the house. Derrick turned to his left to speak but stopped when he noticed Kara was gone. He smiled and looked up at the sky. Go get 'em girl.

Kate Kane, still holding the panda and cotton candy, approached the spectacle just as a streak of red and blue shot through the sky and into the house. This caused more debris to fly from the house, which made the police push the people back even farther. Kate noticed Derrick and pushed through the crowd. She grabbed his shoulder and forced him to turn around.

"Where's Kara?"

Hidden in a closet, dirty and crying was a little brunette girl. She was hugging her knees to her chest and crammed in the corner with boxes and coats. Smoke was filling the small space and the girl was coughing while she rocked. The little girl's eyes started closing and she slumped over against a stack of boxes. Then the door of the closet opened and a set of arms in blue picked up the little girl and wrapped her in red.

Outside, the crowd watched as the firefighters hosed down the house. Kate was standing at the front of the crowd, but while the rest of them were watching the fire, she was staring at the dark doorway that led to the house. She stood up straighter as a form began to walk through the smoke. The form turned into Supergirl, carrying something that was wrapped her cape. Two medics approached the tall blonde and took the bundle from her. Immediately the medics take the cape off the girl and hooked her to an oxygen machine. Kate pushed past the officers standing guard and ran towards Supergirl.

"Supergirl!" The hero turned towards Kate and frowned slightly. "Airman Kate Kane of the-"

"I know who you are Airman Kane and I do not wish to speak with you right now."

"I have questions for you."

"I'm afraid I don't have your an-"

"AAAAAAAAAH!"

Everyone looked up at the second floor of the building and a woman from the crowd yelled that someone was still in there. Supergirl turned to Kate and gave her a slight nod before fastening her cape to the rest of her uniform. "If you don't mind, I have a job to do." Supergirl stepped back from Kate and super-sped into the building.

Once inside, Supergirl used her x-ray vision and scanned the building. She spotted the skeleton of someone in another room curled up in the corner with his/her hands holding her head. Supergirl moved quickly, moving a fallen wall out of her way and entered the room through the burning door. She made a beeline for the corner of the room and pulled the blanket off the body…to find a fake skeleton.

Without warning, a flame shot out at Supergirl and wrapped around her neck. It yanked her back through a burning wall and slammed her on the ground. Supergirl tried to get out but the flame tightened its hold. "Hello Supergirl." The blonde hero looked over to find a woman standing over her; her entire body covered in flames. "I'm so glad I met you. We're going to have a lot of fun."