Chapter 20: Love or Hate Supergirl
Char City
Tyrus
Unknown Destination
A mild manner man in a full business suit stepped off the elevator. The pretty young woman from a short booth leading him stepped aside and indicated that he should continue down the hall and through the ornate double doors guarded by a pair beefy-looking thug in suits with handguns behind their hoisters.
Stepping through the doors, he entered a large, sumptuously furnished room with leather couches and chairs scattered throughout. A large, roaring fireplace occupied one wall, while various paintings and sculptures lined the others. At the center stood a wide bar. In that room were a dozen businessmen and women from the private sectors of the COG and industrial districts. CEOs or directors of weaponry manufacturing plants, imulsion corporations, the defence industry, and a rare few advanced warfare research companies had all gathered from across Tyrus. There were over thirty of them in that room. All of them shared a common enemy: Supergirl.
Since Supergirl was on her crusade to end the Pendulum Wars and succeed in doing that. The next thing was Supergirl's influence was going put the private sector out of business. Even the entire criminal underworld of Tyrus was terrified of Supergirl . The crime rate in all cities across the COG was beginning to reduce to 50 % right in the midst of Supergirl's presence.
But many powerful people in the Defense Industry in the COG weren't going to let that stand. When Supergirl announced on tv that she vows to shut down Imulsion plants and defence departments. The people in charge did not take very kindly to that statement but against a god was beyond impossible. No hitman would be this fucking insane to go take a shot at a living god. No one dares to go against Supergirl. The government then ends up thinking twice about Supergirl. The COG government is weak.
Their attention was turned to a pair of waiters placing a TV on the bar countertop before turning it on.
"The hell is this?" demanded one of the disgruntled businessmen.
The tv screen flickers on revealing a person in the dark background; their anonymous benefactor. "Thank you for coming. Apologize for these precautions taken to have this arrangement" Said the figure. "This has to be discreet gentlemen. I had to be secured"
"Discreet? What are you?" asked an imulsion CEO lending forward from his chair as the rest of the room glazed at the television with suspensions stares.
"You know why we all share a common enemy in this room. Otherwise, we will not be having this convention " reveal the disguised voice. "Supergirl."
The term "Supergirl" spend a tense chill across the room as the men gulped.
"The problem is that the COG is planning to cut costs in their investments with our companies with thin next month." Said one of the CEO. "Since Supergirl end the war, her influence is becoming bad for business."
"Yeah, who is stupid enough like Supergirl to want to shut down our business." Added another CEO.
"Half correct but the problem is this. You see Supergirl has revealed all of Tyrus's true colours and rest assured that your businesses of interest will be next on Supergirl's agenda."
"What is stopping us from trusting you? Trying to make us sell your dirty work. Bad for business." sneered another Imulsion CEO capturing the rest of the room's attention. Aaron Griffin of Griffin Imulsion Corporation lending against the bar railing with a whisky glass in his hand
"This is all about Supergirl or Superbitch, isn't it. I wasn't going to let some red and blue-coated righteous bitch tell me to shut my business down. Like you?" Griffin voiced his suspicions and distrust toward the mysterious Agent.
"Correct Mr. Griffin. But no, don't compare me to Supergirl; trust is not a thing here but your cooperation against Supergirl. I know why every one of you is all afraid of going to work day and night because of Supergirl." responded the figure on the screen
"Afraid? You must be joking." Scoffed one of the businessmen as a murmur broke out.
"Supergirl has no interest in money, land or our people. I was about to propose 'we kill Supergirl' before she gets to us. Neither us or her."
"Oh I am listening." Griffin raised an eyebrow."How do we take out Supergirl."
Ephyra
House of Sovereigns
"Mr Chairman, the intelligence committee is posting another meeting for you." Told the secretary to Chairman Dalyell. "Also, there is another press conference in the morning."
"Thank you, my secretary, for all the news." As the two enter into the office, as the doors open they found Supergirl lending against the Chairman's desk with her hands crossed. Her eyes narrowed angrily at the Chairman.
"Chairman Dalyell." Addressed Supergirl raising her height in full. "We need to talk."she said in a hard tone.
"Supergirl." Readdressed Chairman then to his secretary "Leave us." With both the Chairman Dalyell and Supergirl in the office alone.
"Chairman Dalyell, do you have any idea what happened at Onyx Point I was there."
"About that incident at Onyx Point. Hoffman called me already and Loomis is in custody." Said the Chairman taking a stand as he returned to his seat with his hands raised in protest. "I have nothing to do with Loomis's involvement. If you think I was involved, it is not how it would happen."
"Do you?! Yes, that it is obvious that Colonel Loomis from the Onyx Guard tried to take me down with a kryptonite round but your left-hand man Colonel Hoffman stop him." Said Supergirl. "I think you have something to do with this."
"You accused me of conspiring with Colonel Loomis of murder?"
"You have Kryptonite." Supergirl narrowed her eyes.
"Kryptonite?" answered Dalyell as confusion plastered on his face. "I am sorry did you say Green Stone? Or Kryptonite."
Supergirl tightens her scowl. "You are telling me this now?! Changing the story? Too late to say sorry now."
"Supergirl, hear me out, first before you accuse me of conspiring to murder you." Protested Chairman Dalyell as he took a seat on a chair. "I was concerned of you at first then I recognized Colonel Loomis's preconception towards you and your impact in the war. I saw that you are a willing Ally of the COG. I realized that Loomis's course of action with you would lead to the direst consequences beyond imagination. You are too powerful that the world has ever seen."
The chairman placed his hand on his head. "That would be the last order I would give is the Coalition to take up arms against you. Is this what I want for the people of the Coalition in the price of peace? I cannot afford to go to war against you. If word will get out to the public that you are dead, it will be an unimaginable outcry towards the COG. Citizens will be turned to our authority. There will be bloodshed."
Supergirl crossed her arms tighter. "Your authority? I don't believe you. I want this so call Onyx Guard to be disbanded." Only Daylell frowned "That is not your decision to make Supergirl." The Chairman protested.
"Oh yes, it is because you have your man Loomis and the Onyx Guard want me dead so time to make the Onyx Guard to be held accountable."
"Don't be naïve to say that. What Loomis did was on his own will and do not blame the expanse on the entire Onyx Guard base on over one man." Countered the Chairman. "I said it before I did not want to take arms against you."
"I admit I was…with Loomis's proposal of starting a campaign against you. Supergirl you have become the Coalition's ally, the Coalition never seen. A very admirable ally and I would like to keep it that way." Said Dayllel looking up at Supergirl. "There are other men and women guiltier like Loomis who despite you. I would like to apologize on behalf of the Coalition and I apologized and I will ensure that Colonel's Loomis action towards you will be held accountable."
"That is not good enough." Countered Supergirl.
"Coalition would offer you compensation." insist Daylell
Annoyed, Supergirl shook her head with arms spread out in protest. "This isn't about money for me. I don't want your money as an apology." Scoffed Supergirl. "That Kryptonite that you are hiding is enough to kill me. I want it gone. Now I am glad that you know."
"If I knew what Green stone is capable of. I would be informed but I can't speak for the science committee. But I only heard little of this Kryptonite, our research was limited, and this mineral will generate discoveries. I was once assured kryptonite would be the answer to all of our energy consummation problems than imulsion. I never knew it will hurt you."
Kara narrowed her eyes deeper as she can sense that he may be lying.
"So you think kryptonite would solve Sera's super energy problem? No doesn't work that way with me." Objected Kara. "Like you said the last thing I seriously want Sera to backstab me with Kryptonite."
Supergirl still doubted the Chairman at first. "I may be old but I am still Chairman of the COG, I will guarantee that no harm with such these kinds of thing with you." Said the Dayllel
"The difference between you and me. We may be many things, Mankind isn't meant to be perfect. Humanity is meant to be flawed in many ways but unity brings humanity together. It is the truth Supergirl. But innovations in science and technology know no bounds. Humanity's thirst for ambition and guidance for new knowledge is a never-ending quest." Countered the Chairman."I will get rid of Greenstone. Hear me out."
"That can grow their potential." Said Supergirl quietly removing herself from the chairman's desk. "Sometimes potential can be dangerous for many other reasons."
As the Chairman walks behind his desk and stared at the windows as he switch to another subject. "You may be the ally of the COG however there are many other questions I cannot answer. You are truly willing to defend the good of Sera but you can underestimate the worst of humanity. You did not know the worse side of humanity."
"What did I underestimate?" questioned Kara.
"There are four kinds of society in this world. Men and women who seek to do what is righteous and noble for this world, Optimists and opportunists seeking fame or wealth to greatness, Others who are lost and the delusional prefer their way of seeking crime." Turning to look Kara right in the eye. "But last of all the worst of humanity; evil, corruption, depravity. Supergirl. There some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money and power. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn."
Some men want to watch the world burn. What?
Supergirl stared at Chairman as she was disarrayed of what just Daylell told her. Thinking of the many other enemies, criminals and aliens she encountered would be compared to these worse people of Sera would be laughable. People in Sera unlike Lex Luthor were capable of creating chaos and destruction would be this willing enough to sacrifice everything just to burn the entire world.
"That is unbelievable. Why would they choose to do that?"
Supergirl had nothing to say as she felt the words from the chairman sink into her mind. She believes the good of people at first. However, this remind her of Hoffman's comparison about his view on the worse kind of people she will underestimate.
"It is human nature to be cruel in mysterious ways. That is an overall question Supergirl." Continued on Dayllel "I also can give advice; friend to friend. Don't underestimate making good deeds that will go unpunished. It would be for the best if you stay away from politics. Politics is an uncertain place for you and not a place you want to be. Politics is a complicated profession and includes underestimating human nature."
Last thing Dayllel warned her "War corrupts, believe me, Supergirl. Men and Women are capable of doing terrible things."
Supergirl didn't have anything to say about that. His last statement left Kara disturbed.
Colonel Ezra Loomis stood solemnly in his cell, his gaze fixed upon the dreary wall before him. His once-ornate uniform now lay unbuttoned and stripped of all rank and armor. With his hands clasped behind his back, he patiently awaited his upcoming court hearing, following the unfortunate episode at Onyx Point.
"You have a visitor." A guard announced at the bars of the cell. Loomis frowned in silence barely turning around as footsteps echoed closer.
Loomis saw Supergirl, his arch-rival, standing before him and felt his spirits drop. She was a famous Heroine known as the Bane of Sera and War Angel by the COG.
"Hello, Colonel Loomis." Supergirl responds in a neutral tone.
"Supergirl?! What are you doing here?." Snarled Loomis "You have no idea of what god name you have just unleashed."
Kara didn't say anything but crossed her arms. "Just leave things unsaid."
"Oh, this is how this end, did the Chairman ask you to be my executor?" mocked Loomis. "Oh, I know how this ends."
"No, I am not." said Kara honestly "I have a policy of not taking a life."
Loomis chose to remain silent for a moment, but the tone of his voice was filled with darkness as he proceeded to question, "Do you genuinely believe that you are the one who can save COG, Tyrans, and Sera? Your false sense of hope has caused significant harm to our people, and it has also resulted in me losing my position in the Onyx Guard. The Chairman has stripped me of my rank and honor due to the actions that you have taken."
"I didn't do those things. I didn't poison all the people because of this war I want it to end. " Retorted Supergirl "You did to yourself and what you did try to do to me is wrong. I want to stop you but it is a shame that Colonel Hoffman beat me to it."
"You know what else about you Supergirl." mocked Loomis and came close to the bars "One day, we will be your cattle for slaughter and our world be ripe for the plunge. Once at the moment you and whatever kind come from the stars and drown our world in blood. Because you can do it."
A disgusted Supergirl glazed at Loomis in utter disdain. "I am not that person and I never will. Goodbye, Colonel Loomis."
All Kara could say. As Supergirl turned away and walked towards the exit without looking back.
"Is that all you have to say?" Loomis yelled, hurling insults at Supergirl. "You're just a coward and a naive woman. Your poisonous ways will destroy us all one day!" Despite Loomis's disgusting behavior, Supergirl remained calm and composed, holding back her emotions as she continued to walk. She clenched her fists tightly as she moved forward.
"You burn us all!"
A billboard installed on a city street was introduced to a crowd standing there with the image of Supergirl flying in the air with the title Supergirl! Our Savior and Hope for the future.
The majority of the onlookers on the street erupted in cheers and applause at the spectacle, however, a small group of disgruntled young men stood in the corner of the alleyway, glaring at the billboard with disgust.
As Supergirl flew past the COG streets but a particular sight catches her attention. She hovered to see the billboard of her image spattered with graffiti with the words crossed out the title of her name with the words: Whore over the crossed words of Supergirl.
Go back to where you came from!
An offended Supergirl now twists with disgust.
COG AIR BASE
A group of Gears soldiers off duty glazed hatefully at the banner of Supergirl on the hanger bay. "I can't believe they would post that crap." Said one of the soldiers.
"Yeah, what is Supergirl going to take our jobs." Sneered another COG soldier.
"Supergirl do whatever she wants and bitch whatever she wants."
Then Marcus and Dom along with Tai appeared to see the banner.
"Hey Fenix, you think Supergirl is here to take our jobs, make us soft or make us do her shit." called out another Gear.
"Or she wants to suck our cocks." Added a Gear too.
But Marcus squared up right at the Gear in murderous rage pointing a finger. "Listen dipshit, Supergirl saved a lot of our guys, in my own fucking eyes and almost save my brother. You forget one thing Supergirl is going to be here and around 24/7. So, get used to it she going to be around a lot."
"I am getting used to her around 24/7." Admitted Marcus "Supergirl is here every day. Now get used to it."
Earth 38
Banished Lair
"Listen up you maggots." Snarled a Theron Guard inspecting the conscripts as they stood in ranks. Conscripts shifted uncomfortable with looks of dread in their faces.
"You are soldiers of the Banished, you will kill all those who are not your kind. No mercy. No remorse." Pointing a finger at the six captured bloodied Cadmus operatives bounded against steel poles.
"These humans are vermin; always consume with their hatred and power." Continued the Theron Guard placing around the recruits
Each of the conscripts was given a hammerbrust rifle. Guards were at every corner armed to the teeth. Now the locust was training their conscripts. There is no escape for them.
"Our operation is high but there is room for aggressive expansions but many of you maggots can join our army." Said Korg chucking evilly "The humans call it try outs. Any of you maggots can kill a ground walker."
The Conscripts felt their stomachs turn to ice. The Cadmus Operatives started to scream curses and trash against them.
"All maggots will learn how to kill." Snarled Korg. "Kill them!" point a finger at their "target"
The conscripts blinked as their stomachs turned to ice of what their saviors wanted them to do.
One of locusts dragged one of the conscripts forward forcing the conscript to hold a hammerburst and point at the target.
"The Conscripts seem to be uneased about their role." Said Vrykhan as he studied the recruits with his arms crossed to one of his captains as they stand across a platform.
"These maggots aren't worth as soldiers." Said a locust captain Urk in an onyx black Theron armor.
"Have your troops find the source of any kryptonite against Superman. I am not willing to take any chance against this man without preparations." Turning to Urk.
"My men are progressing. We had set up outposts and strongholds in this new Earth and the other Earth as well. We still need to explore a new universe of Earths" Reported Urk. "We need new weapons."
A locust forced a conscript to aim at one of the targets. The conscript heisted but the Theron barked an order. The terrified captives struggled against the grip of their guns as the Banished Drone leveled his rifles at the heads of the conscripts to step forward and raise their weapons at the captives or die. An order was barked again, this time a bark of gunfire echoed in a volley and in a moment the captives were shot dead.
"The Aliens we recruited are not ready but I expect to find someone that can convince them for our cause." Vyrkhan turned and glazed up at the exposed skies to see a buzzing drone hover in mid-air. Vyrkhan drawled his bollock pistol and fired a shot. Silencing the drone into pieces.
The Feed from the drone was cut off, Lilliam snarled in rage as she slammed the laptop cover flat before getting up barely containing her anger and disgust. She pushed her chair away from her desk. She witnessed Cadmus agents being killed off by those things.
"I seem to underestimate this new foe." Lilliam said to herself "For now. Cadmus would find very interesting subjects. Resilience they are I see."
Back at the underground Government facility as their main headquarters, the banished leader gathers his loyalists as they plan their next mission.
"Today marks the beginning of the Banished!" announced Vrykhan stood in front of his legion of the Banished standing on the assembly floor. "We will not follow blindly by the guidance of a false queen and her ambitions. Her ambitions will lead us to a costly war that will cost us our race. But never!"
Vrykhan continued on his speech "We are the Banished! We choose our path and our free will that will save our race. Now that time has passed and no longer follow the queen's will. We will begin a new society of our free will!"
"It is time for the Banished to begin anew." A red banner unfold as it flopped down revealing the new locust symbol of Banished. A pair of long slash marks cross the ironic locust trinity with a sword in the middle.
"Never again we follow the guidance of our queen."
"The Locust will follow our own path to greatest and we will overcome anything in our path."
"We will never bow to those who tried to stand in our way and nothing stands with us."
"The Banished, our race! We the Locust. Will never bow to the Queen!"
"We will never bow to humanity! Their false nations and their slaves!"
"We will never bow to any and all self-righteous heroes and their enemies!"
"The Banished will never bow to Superman! Never to the Girl of Steel; so-called Supergirl."
"We will never bow to them!"
"Death to the false gods and all false heroes of the universe."
A fist rose in the air. "All hail the Banished! For Horde! For the Banished!"
"Supergirl, you shall be mine to claim," Vrykhan whispered to himself with a sadistic simile on his face.
Eyphra
Stroud Apartment
Kara felt the streams of hot water splashing against her face, savoring the pure hot waters than she finally turned off the shower. Wiping off her body with her towel as she steps out of the bathroom with a white towel around her chest
Anya had expressed her gratitude towards Kara for giving her the chance to host her, especially considering the fact that Kara had saved her mother's life. Kara, on the other hand, felt a deep sense of satisfaction as she gazed at herself in the mirror, gently running a comb through her tresses. While her powers as Supergirl had certainly played a role in bringing an end to the conflict in Sera, this accomplishment held a particularly significant place in her heart. With a contented sigh, she proceeded to change out of her signature super suit and into her casual attire.
Almost the entire world of Sera stares in awe at the world's first superhero right in the flesh, Kara became the inspiration of hope for a change. With Supergirl around, she changes things for the better then she can find a way back to Earth.
She and Anya meet in a Café near the House of Sovereigns. Helena Stroud would be joining them for lunch. Kara heard that Marcus and Dom are given a trio week of leave too.
Anya was given a month of leave since the war ended and Anya been catching up with spending time with her mother.
"Hi there, Anya!" Kara said with a warm smile as she noticed her friend patiently waiting on the patio.
"Kara!" greeted Anya before wrapping her arms around her new friend. "Good to see you again."
"Is your mother coming?" asked Kara as they sat in the table as the coffee and lunch came to their table.
"Mom would be here." Said Anya.
"Until Now." Said Helena appearing at the table in civilian clothes.
"So how are you two doing so far?" asked Kara to her two newfound friends.
"Been better, I have been making sure the new recruits at the base know to take cover twice before you Supergirl yank them off their feet." Chucked Helena to Kara.
"Me, just settling down making sure that people are adjusting to peace and letting the so call Pendulum wars die down," said Kara.
Anya expressed her gratitude, "I'm grateful for saving my mother, and it's been wonderful spending quality time with her." She then asked a question, "I'm curious, though, how do you manage to travel around the world nonstop?"
Kara replied to Anya's inquiry with genuine excitement, "That's an excellent question, Anya. The more I delve into Sera and its customs, the deeper my fondness for this world becomes."
Helena let out a small laugh and commented, "It's quite fascinating how, after enduring a 74-year-long war, we are now actively promoting tourism in our country." She went on to say, "As a devoted pacifist, my Supergirl is thrilled to explore all the breathtaking destinations in Tyrus. I managed to use my connections and acquire a COG passport and identity papers for you." With that, Helena handed over the documents to Kara, with a sense of satisfaction in having helped her hero fulfill her travel aspirations.
"Thanks, I could use that." Said Kara.
"Oh, Kara." Scooted Anya directing Kara to look in the other direction of the street was Marcus and Dom on the street talking.
"Marcus ?" Kara whispered. Anya glazed at Marcus too and look at Kara.
Bellow their table where the three women sat together, there was a crack forming in the pavement on the ground. Underneath the surface were Locusts digging tunnels, weapons, and munitions stockpile in masses as the Locust army began preparations for the assault on Sera.
XXXXX
Myrrah along with Raam and Skorge stood in a chamber in the unknown part of the Nexus, in the center was a mysterious console in an alien metallic-like form. "You have been wondering why you are kept in the dark Raam?" said Myrrah pulling out a red crystal from the palm of her hand.
"What is that my Queen?" demanded Raam and Skorge curious about this new development of what he will be seeing.
Myrrah smiled "Something that will change our race and will impact our coming war on the surface. Prepare yourself my children as all will be revealed." The crystal was inserted into the console and a crimson light glowed on all lines of the console.
Raam let out a growl with his blade drawn out slowly and Skorge calmly gripped the chainsaw staff tight of what comes next as the console activated, then crystals growing from the bottom with glowing crimson red.
A hologram of a hooded elder woman in black robes stood in front of Myrrah. "Hello, Myrrah-Ul, daughter of Dru-Zod. we have been expecting you for a long time."
Raam and Skorge breathe with awe and confusion at the revelations. "Perhaps I should tell you who I am?" said Myrrah turning away from the hologram and looking at the two locust Generals staring at her with determined looks on their faces to seek the answers from their Queen. "If you are willing to die for me?"
The Monitor Mar Novu stood in his realm. He felt a disturbance in his visions of the foreseeable future.
"A new evil has risen from the corners of the universe, a crisis against this rising power of evil. A crisis that will see the Multiverse burn. I see …. universes burned in inferno never seen." Said the Monitor to himself as a vision of a Vrykhan leading the locust horde with a serrated sword glowing with chronic energy and marching through a city burning in flames.
"But one Earth stood as the bastion against evil. Earth 38. Heroes from walks of life joined forces as they found each other, united in their common goal to stand against the darkness threatening to consume the universe."
In another vision was another Earth engulfed with war across the world. Cities became war zones across the globe. The Locust Horde emerged from sinkholes over the countries attacking in masses.
The visions faded to see a large group of heroes and soldiers fighting against the locust horde : Drones, Boomers, Brumaks , Berserkers and Revears. Explosions and tracers fire in all direction
Marcus Fenix in COG armor fires his lancer upon charging Locust soldiers along with other Gears soldiers: Augustus Cole, Damon Baird, Dominic Santiago, and Anya Stroud in COG armor with Assault lancers firing at will to anything that is a locust.
Wonder Woman with her sword, shield, and lasso to strike down the Locust drones. Superman blasting Locust waves with his heat vision. Batman throws out batraangs and slashes locusts left and right with his fists.
Team Arrow, Flash, and the Legends battle the locust alongside the heroes against all odds of the Locust horde
Oliver aka Green Arrow shooting arrow after arrow, Barry Allen speed through ranks and ranks of locust knocking them down. Sara Lance swing her batons left and right round kicking the Locust.
Supergirl in a combination of COG armor down to the feet blasting masses of charging Locust with heat vision and unleashing shockwaves upon the locust horde.
The Heroes and the Gears fought together against the endless tides of horror and Locust swarming towards their position left and right.
"The crisis is coming; the end of time is upon the universe as therefore marks the beginning of a new horror. Begining of the end. Heroes until the end." Mar Novu narrated. "Only a War Angel could be the sword to stand against this greater evil."
