A week later

Kara was bouncing excitedly in her black suit. She had fitted gear which allowed for maximum movement while also providing ample protection. Though she didn't need it, of course.

It was basically just there to appease Alex.

This was going to be Kara's first raid as an agent. The headquarters to a dangerous alien gang had been found, and J'onn had ordered for immediate shutdown. They had apparently accumulated dangerous supplies, and one of the aliens was giving off nuclear energy readings.

If they didn't contain the threat quickly and precisely, the entirety of National City would blow.

Perhaps such a high pressure and high profile mission was not the best for a first timer, like Kara. But she was up for the challenge.

She had been waiting for the others for ten minutes, while they geared up. She didn't take as long to dress, and also didn't need to holster firearms or gather ammo, so naturally Kara was growing antsy.

Finally, the rest of the team turned the corner and Kara sighed in relief. If they didn't leave soon, there could be potentially catastrophic consequences. And Kara did not want to be responsible for allowing it to happen, if there was something she could do about it.

Alex sidled up to Kara and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "You ready, little sis? It's your big day."

Kara nodded and laughed. "I think I'm pretty ready. But don't call me little sis over the comms. It's Supergirl in the field."

Alex smirked. "Yeah, maybe to the rest of them. But to me, you'll always be little sis. Even if it's embarrassing to be called that in an elite clandestine government organization."

Kara smiled and exaggerated a sigh. "I suppose. If you must."

They both laughed. Being with her big sister automatically put Kara's nerves at ease. The helicopter ride over to the location was surprisingly more relaxing than she had anticipated it would be.

When they were prepared to touch down, J'onn went over the plan one more time.

"We get in there and dispatch all the aliens. Cuff and load 'em onto the oncoming transport vehicle. Remember, we only have five minutes until he unknowingly blows. We must be quick. If we get him to the van, it'll be fine. We have a nuclear power dampener set up in there. He isn't aware he's going to blow, so it is of the utmost importance that we dispatch him quickly."

All the agents nodded solemnly, aware of the seriousness of the situation. J'onn wanted to make sure they understood before he continued.

"When everyone else is gone, we will work as one group to contain the nuclear threat. We'll hit him with the tranquilizers first, but if that doesn't work, we'll have to knock him out. Supergirl, that's where you'll come in. But only if it gets to that point. You are powered, so you stand a better chance. Everyone else... do not engage in combat. Instead, shoot from afar. Let Supergirl handle the close range."

Alex looked over to Kara worried, but Kara gave her the best reassuring smile she could muster. She also reached over and gave Alex's hand a comforting squeeze.

They nodded heads to each other, and then they were off. As they walked close to the entrance, Kara scanned the building with her x-ray vision.

"Enemies inside. Looks to be a warehouse kind of building, with a side door on the right. Ten on the left, five in the middle, and target alien on the right."

The agents nodded, knowing where they needed to go. Kara flew in first to distract the big alien, dubbed as a Toli, but was careful not to engage until the other agents finished off the enemies.

Alex was worried about Kara but refocused her attention to the fifteen aliens in front of her. Her team immediately started shooting them down with the tranqs and cuffing them as they went. A few proved hard to hit, and they wasted two precious minutes.

Now they were left with three minutes and a perfectly healthy Toli still rampaging about.

Three minutes until National City got blown to pieces.

The agents found cover behind boxes and random appliances, before loading up their tranqs. As the first volley was released, the dust kicked up and they couldn't see what was happening. When it finally settled down, they were shocked to see that not a single one had landed.

The Toli smiled unsettlingly and grumbled,"Didn't know I was fast, did you?"

The agents spent the rest of that minute trying to land a shot, but he was too fast. Supergirl would be able to hold him still for a half second at best, and it just simply wasn't working.

J'onn was getting worried. "Two minutes left. We gotta contain him, now."

Kara suggested into her comm, whilst fending off an attack. "Why don't I take a tranq dart and hit him with it? I am fast enough to get close."

J'onn affirmed and agreed it was a good idea. Kara grabbed a dart from the nearest agent and made her way toward the Toli.

Minute and a half left to go.

Kara circled, looking for the closest and most efficient way in. She found an opening and sped in. Kara stabbed the dart into his neck with all her might, and it worked.

For a second.

He quickly turned around and smashed his fist into Kara, sending her flying into the opposite wall.

Alex cried out,"Ka- Supergirl, are you okay?! Talk to me."

Kara stood up and dusted herself off. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just pissed it didn't work. Got any ideas?"

Alex and J'onn looked to each other and simply shook their heads solemnly. Agent Danvers spoke into the comm,"We don't have enough time to get him in the van. The tranq didn't work and we can't cuff him. I don't know what to do."

Kara checked her watch.

Thirty seconds.

She gritted her teeth in determination, knowing she was the only one with the means to stop him.

The Toli began to glow yellow, and the color intensified as the precious seconds ticked by. The agents looked around at each other hopelessly, praying for someone to miraculously come up with an answer. Or a plan. Anything.

No one did.

Ten seconds.

Kara steeled herself, and super sped as fast as she could into the Toli. They smashed through the wall that was connected to the side door she had noticed earlier.

With five seconds left, she looked back. All she could see were the worried faces of Alex and J'onn.

I have to protect them.

With that last thought, she covered the Toli as much as she could, draping her entire body over him on the floor.

Alex and J'onn watched as Kara covered the alien.

Then all they saw, all they heard... was an explosion.