Cover – Supergirl is crouched down, almost as if she's about to take off in a race, and facing the audience. In the upper-left corner of the background is the faded out face of Batman. The upper-right corner has the faded face of Lt. Rodgers.

INFINITE SUPERGIRL

By KryptoKin

Nice Girls Finish Last

Daily Planet

Metropolis, California

A Daily Planet newspaper was held to the front page. 'SUPERGIRL SAYS HELLO' was printed across the top in bold black letters. Underneath the title on the left, the subtitle 'Supergirl Saves Suicide Attempter' with 'by Jimmy Olsen' under it was typed. Also under the main title was a picture of Supergirl with her arms crossed and floating proudly.

Jimmy Olsen looked down at the paper with pride. First Superman. Now Supergirl. Wow.

"Nice work Jimmy." "Good job Jimbo." "Nice writing kiddo." These were a few of the compliments Jimmy received as he walked past cubicles and fellow reporters.

"James Olsen!" Jimmy flinched as Perry White yelled out his name from behind him. He stood scowling with arms crossed in the doorway of his office. A pencil was tucked behind his left ear and reading glasses were hanging from his disheveled collar. Perry moved from his position and stopped in front of Jimmy to scowl up at the slightly lanky boy. "Just because you've gotten the scoop with Superman and Supergirl doesn't mean you're a big shot. Remember that."

Jimmy stood wide-eyed and nodded violently. "Y-Yes chief."

"Don't call me chief."

"Yes, chief." Perry scowled at Jimmy before walking away.

"Nice writing Jimmy."

Carolyn Lake stood with her arms crossed and a copy of the Planet under her armpit. She had straight, shoulder-length bleach blonde hair, perfectly waxed eyebrows, and brown eyes. She was wearing a white blouse, a powder-pink pencil skirt with a black design at the hem, and black heels.

"Thanks Carolyn."

"How did you manage to get that interview?"

Jimmy shrugged. "Right place at the right time." Carolyn narrowed her eyes and walked away. There's something off about her, thought Jimmy. He looked down at the paper and smiled, then sat at his desk. He rested his cheek on his right hand and stared dreamily ahead. I wonder what she's up to now.

Rickshaw High School

Kansas City, Missouri

Kara's cheek rested against her right hand as she stared straight ahead with a bored expression on her face. Derrick Albright sat next to her with a similar expression.

On a white board was a series of chemical equations being explained by Mr. Dickson; a short man with white hair and rather large glasses. "This equation depicts the chemical reaction of fire and the accelerant of pure alcohol."

Kara looked outside and watched a bird fly by the window. School's almost over Kara. One more week and you graduate.
RIIIIIIIING!

Kara and Derrick held hands as they walked down the hall. "We're graduating soon. Any ideas what you want to do after high school?"

"Not sure. Lana wants me to go to college nearby but Karen thinks it's a good idea for me to be near my cousin."

"Metropolis is a long way away."

The two walked out the back of the school where kids were getting picked up by cars. "I know, but when you're me does it really matter?"

"I guess not." Derrick kissed Kara then released her hand as he went down the steps. "See you tomorrow," he said with a smile.

"See ya."

Kara watched Derrick walk away until her attention was pulled away by a honking vehicle. Lana waved to Kara from her car. As she walked to it, a brunet man wearing sunglasses watched her from a silver Mercedes-Benz. The man pulled out a cellphone and spoke. "She just left the school What's next?...That's it?...As you wish."

Metropolis General, Psychiatric Ward

Metropolis, California, One Month Ago

Michael Tank, a tall man who lived up to his name through his physical size, snuck a tentative glance at the figure to his right. Batman scowled as he stared through the small square window of a dull silver door. On the other side of the door inside a white padded room was Winslow Schott. He wore a white t-shirt, jeans sans a belt, and no shoes. His black hair was unkempt and his glasses were missing. He was curled into a ball and staring into space in the far corner of the room.

"How long has he been like this?" Batman asked. Tank jumped at the voice then answered.

"Three days. Doctor Padresh thinks he was abused in prison."

"And that brought about his breakdown."

Tank turned to Batman and shrugged. "Possibly. You would have to ask the doctor when he gets back in two weeks."

"That's too long." Batman turned from Tank and walked away.

"Where are you going?" he called out to the back of Batman's head.

"To get answers."

Secret Laboratory

Undisclosed Location

Three dress dummies stood in a row in front of a concrete wall. A fireball hit the middle dummy in the head. Two men in hazmat suits used large fire extinguishers to put the fire out.

Dr. Smith rubbed the top of his balding head as he examined the dummy through his safety glasses. "You've definitely improved with accuracy and intensity." The dummy's plastic head had melted completely. The only thing left was the smoldering neck with liquid plastic dripped down it.

"Do I get a gold star?"

Dr. Smith looked at Volcana. "Always with the jokes."

"It's how I express myself." He adjusted his glasses and looked past Volcana. Percussion, dressed in a grey body suit similar to Volcana's, had entered the room. "Well look who decided to show," she said with a smile.

Percussion didn't return the smile and turned to Smith. "I was told to come here for training." Volcana frowned when Percussion stood next to her without acknowledging her presence. He planted his feet and pulled his arms back. Smith and the two lab technicians stood behind him. Volcana did the same.

He closed his eyes then opened them as he shoved his arms forward. Rings of vibrations emanated from his arms. They hit all three dummies and caused the wall behind them to crack and bust in several places. When he loosened his fists and let his arms fall to his sides, the vibrations stopped.

Volcana smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Nice job."

Percussion frowned. "I was trying to knock down the outer dummies only."

Her smile dropped. "Oh."

Merino Industries

One Month Ago

"Who are you again?" asked a woman in a red business suit with crossed arms.

A blond man in a brown suit sifting through a stack of papers answered without looking up. "Terrence Mackie. I work for Doctor Padresh."

"The doctor treating that Schott guy?"

"Yes."

The woman eyed him suspiciously. "Why do you need to look through Schott's junk?"

Mackie put the papers down and walked up to the woman. She stepped back from him slightly until he gently took her left hand in both of his. "We feel his work might give us some insight into his psyche."

The woman pulled her hand out of his and narrowed her eyes at him. "Just remember everything here is property of Merino Industries."

"I'll keep that in mind," he said with a wink.

The woman rolled her eyes and left the room. Mackie made a face and played with the end of his hair. It's got to be the wig, he thought. He continued going through the papers when he found a thick manila packet. He opened it and pulled a document slightly out of its folder. This is interesting.

He pulled out a cellphone and dialed. "Alfred, what do we know about green meteor rocks?"

Lana Lang's House

Half-an-hour outside Kansas City, Now

A conversation via text lay out on a smartphone's screen. On top of the screen it said Kara. The conversation read:

J: How's it going?

K: Fine

J: That's it? Fine?

K: Yeah.

J: Nothing exciting 2 report?

K: It's Missouri. Wut do u expect?

J: More than fine.

Kara smiled at the screen and texted back. Lana looked at the blonde teen with her feet on the dashboard, with a raised eyebrow. She pulled up to the house. They got out but Kara remained focused on the phone, even when they entered the house.

"Kara?" Kara dropped her book bag on the floor and plopped on the couch. "Kara Lang, are you even listening to me?" The teen smiled and continued to ignore Lana. She crossed her arms and frowned at her. "I killed your goldfish this morning." No reaction from Kara. "I told the Daily Planet you're an alien." Still no reaction. "I rearranged your library and hid your book ends."

Kara looked up with worry. "What!?"

Lana walked away. "Never mind."

"Wait, Lana!" Kara followed Lana into the kitchen. "I'm sorry. I'm listening now. What were you saying?"

The redhead sat at the kitchen table with a spoon and a yogurt in her hands. "Nothing. Who are you texting?"

Kara sat across from her. "Jimmy Olsen."

Lana took a bite of her yogurt. "The reporter."

"Yeah, we exchanged numbers and have been texting for almost a month now."

"Does Derrick know?"

Kara's rested her chin on her right hand. "No. I'm not sure how to tell him."

"Kara, I'm sure he would understand you have guy friends."

"That's it. I've never had a guy friend. Derrick was for a short time but now we're dating."

"What about on Krypton?" Kara opened her mouth but stopped and snapped her head towards the front door. Lana watched the teen then smiled. "What is it girl? What is it Kara?" she said, smacking the side of her leg, as if speaking to a dog.

Kara gave Lana a look then went to the front door. When she opened it, she saw a silver Mercedes-Benz drive away. Lana reached past her and grabbed an envelope taped to the door.

The card inside read: You have been cordially invited to the WAYNE GALA on May 18th. Underneath that line, it had the time of the gala and the address of the hotel.

"I didn't know you knew Bruce Wayne," said Kara.

Lana's eyebrows rose. "I don't."

Metropolis, Suicide Slums

One Month Ago

A pair of black, gloved hands combed through a set of papers on a vinyl-covered kitchen table. Most of them were overdue bills with 'FINAL NOTICE' stamped on them. The hands pulled out a slightly crumpled paper from amongst the junk mail. It was a schematic of a choker with illegible notes scrawled on them. Batman scowled down at the paper and continued digging.

Soon, seven papers lay out in front of him. All of them were schematics of a choker and bracelet set, with the exception of one paper covered in chemical compound formulas. Batman picked up the paper with the choker schematic and frowned. Who were you working for Schott?

Hilton Hotel

Kansas City, Missouri

The ballroom in the second highest floor of the hotel buzzed with conversation between the rich and not-so-rich. Men were dressed in tuxedos or nice suits and women were wearing floor length gowns of various designs and colors. Kara, dressed in a powder-blue strapless dress, stood at the bar talking to Jimmy, who was tugging at his orange bowtie.

"I still can't believe I ran into you," she said.

"Neither can I, but when I was told to get to Kansas City to cover a benefit, a small part of me hoped I'd see you."

Kara smiled and took a flute of white, sparkling cider from a male waiter who offered some. Jimmy did the same. "Here's to running into each other."

"I second that." The two clinked drinks and took a sip from their respective glasses.

Kara frowned and set the glass on the bar. "I wonder where Lana is. I'd like you to meet her."

Out on a balcony stood Lana in a purple gown, similar in design to Kara's, with a flute of champagne in her hand. She stared at the city lights while rubbing her finger around the rim of the glass.

"Dull night, isn't it?" Lana turned to see Lieutenant Rodgers approaching her with a scotch glass in his right hand. Like most of the men at the gala, he wore a black tuxedo. "Leave it to Bruce Wayne to host a party and be here for only fifteen minutes of it."

"I wouldn't know."

Rodgers leaned sideways against the railing and held his hand out to Lana. "Emery Rodgers. Nice to meet you."

Lana placed her hand in his. "Lana Lang. Likewise."

"Oh, I know who you are Lana."

"You do?"

Rodgers reached in his jacket and pulled out a white, rectangular box; the length being 8 inches, the width 1 inch, and the height 0.5 inches. "This is for Kara."

Lana stepped back. "How do you know Kara?"

"I just do, and this is a gift."

"I don't want your gift."

"It's not for you. It's for Kara, when the time is right."

"When's that?"

"Soon, but not tonight." Rodgers set the box on the stone ledge then glanced at his watch. "I'm sorry Lana, I must go." He set his glass on the ledge. "On behalf of The Authority, I look forward to meeting you again." He walked past a group of people when he disappeared through the balcony the doors. Lana remained in her spot with the city skyline at her back and her left hand resting on the box.

Secret Laboratory

The soft thud of fist meeting punching bag echoed through the empty gym. Percussion, dressed in a grey t-shirt, blue basket-ball shorts, and black sneakers with shin-high white socks, jabbed straight at it.

"What are you doing here?" Percussion paused briefly before going back to his work-out. Volcana approached him and asked again. "It's late. What are you doing here?"

"I could ask the same." He stopped hitting and made a face when he looked at Volcana.

"What?" She was dressed in workout clothes and her long red hair was pulled back in a ponytail.

"I'm not used to seeing you with your hair up. It's weird."

"Whatever. If you're tired of hitting a bag, I wouldn't mind a little one-on-one session." Maybe you'll actually talk to me then, she thought as she walked onto the mat.

As soon as Percussion stepped on the mat, the two meta-humans began their dance. It started with circling each other near the middle of the mat. Percussion made the first move with a right hook to Volcana's head. She ducked and did a right hook into his ribs. Then her arm slid up his body and grabbed behind his neck to pull him to her right and make him trip over her right leg.

Percussion fell to the ground. He recovered and slid across the floor to do a forward leg sweep. Volcana jumped. He stood up and did a right cross. She grabbed his arm and twisted around. Percussion hit the mat with a thud after she flipped him over her body.

"Stay down pretty boy," Volcana said with her hands on fire.

"Powers, that's cheating."

"In life or death, there is no cheating."

Volcana reached out an extinguished hand towards Percussion. He grabbed it then pulled her down. He hovered over her briefly until she continued their roll and hovered over him instead. When she looked down at him, a big smile formed on her face and she laughed.

"What's so funny?" Percussion asked with a look of confusion. What he didn't know was Volcana's ponytail had landed on his head to where it looked like he was wearing a red toupee.

"Nothing," she said when she brushed her ponytail away.

"Am I interrupting something?" Volcano and Percussion looked to the doorway to see Lieutenant Rodgers standing with his arms crossed and dressed in his usual black uniform. The two of them stood up.

"No," answered Percussion.

"Good," Rodgers threw two white towels at them, "now get ready."

"For what?" Volcana asked as she rubbed the towel across the back of her neck.

"For the most important mission of your lives. Congratulations, Operation Bluebird starts now."

Lana Lang's House

The front door opened and Lana stepped into the house with Kara in tow. She dropped her keys in a bowl by the door and headed upstairs. "I'm going to bed. You staying up?"

"Yeah. I'm going to grab something to eat. The food at the party wasn't that great."

"I hear you." Lana gripped her purse and headed upstairs. She's hiding something, thought Kara. I wonder what.

Kara walked through the dark living room into the kitchen. When she opened the fridge door and the yellowish glow from its light hit her face, the purse in her right hand started ringing. She closed the fridge and answered her cellphone.

"Hey Jimmy."

"Hey Kara. What are you up to?"

"Um, I just got home." Kara walked outside to the back porch.

"Cool. I was thinking, since I'll be in the city for one more day we could have lunch tomorrow."

"I can't James."

"Why not? It's Saturday, so no school."

"Look, I like you and all, but I have a boyfriend. And it's not appropriate."

"It's not appropriate for two friends to have lunch? Or it's not appropriate because you like me more than a friend?"

Kara takes her glasses off and rubs her temples then she picks up on the sound of a distress signal. "Base we are going down! I repeat! Hotel-Juliet-niner-niner is going down!" In the distance, a black helicopter spun out of control. A large hole had been blown in the back right of it and almost half of the tail was gone.

"James, I'm going to call you back."

"Wait, why-" Kara closed the phone then set it and her glasses on a table. The glasses rocked as a strong gust of wind blew them against the phone.

The panicked face of the pilot was seen clearly as he braced his hands against the steering wheel. Kara gripped the end of the tail but it ripped off easily. The helicopter jerked and slammed the pilot's head against the window. Kara sped towards the fiery chunk of machine and wrapped her arms around the rest of the tail boom. She guided it through the trees to the ground. Once they touched down, she used her super-breath to put the fires out.

In the woods a long distance from the explosion…

Marx adjusted his camera as Kara ripped open the helicopter's cabin door. She reached in and pulled the pilot out then gently laid him on the ground. The red and blue of emergency vehicles flashed in the distance. After Kara shot into the sky, he turned the camera off and scribbled into a notebook. Suddenly, the top of his car dented downward and a black arm reached in and pulled him out. Marx came face-to-face with a scowling Batman. He opened his mouth to scream but Batman put a gloved hand over it.

"Don't talk. Just listen. You're going to stay away from Kara Lang. You're not going to use that choker and bracelet Winslow Schott made for you. You're going to let her live her quiet life." Batman took his hand off Marx's mouth and stood at full height. "If I ever find out you disobeyed me and went after her again, I'll make your life a nightmare." He threw Marx to the ground. Marx landed on his stomach and got a face full of dirt. When he grabbed his broken glasses and turned onto his back, Batman was gone and his car was on fire.

Author's Note: This issue was supposed to be published in May. That's why Kara is talking about graduation. Sorry if there was any confusion pertaining to it. It's my fault that this wasn't put out when it was supposed to. I let life get in the way. Sorry.

This issue is also dedicated to my friend T.D.P, who died on January 11th, 2012. She was dearly loved and is dearly missed.

Look for the next issue of Supergirl, part one of a two-part finale titled "Tick…Tick…Tick…"