So this chapter is not what I expected, but hopefully y'all like it. The next few chapters will give us a bit more insight into Kara In-Ze. But we really won't dive into her story deeply until probably Part 2 - White. But expect more flashbacks and a bit of angst.
*\/ - Dialogue between those symbols indicate it's being spoken in another language. FF won't let me use the sideways carats.
Argo City, Krypton – Many Years Ago…
Giggles echoed off the halls of the house Zor-El as two little blonde girls ran down them. The taller of the two grabbed the shorter one's hand and dragged her along a thinner hall. Its entrance hid behind a statue of an ancestor and undoubtedly got considered to be an inherent design of the house. 'House' would be the wrong word for the structure that Zor-El and his family lived in. It was more of a mixture of home meets laboratory meets an intense art-deco. The walls were a clinical white with Kryptonian etched in gold on the occasional wall; quotes of the Elders of Rao.
Kara In-Ze, the shorter blonde, reached out to run her stubby little fingers against the words. Kara Zor-El stopped her when she grabbed her wrist. At 12 years old, the older Kara had stretched out and gained her pre-teen shape. Everyone knew Kara would grow to be nearly as tall as her mother. Many commented on her blonde hair, a gift from her father, and her eyes, a mixture of Zor-El's and Alura's. All-in-all, Kara Zor-El won the lottery.
Kara In-Ze did not perceive herself the same way. At 10 years old, Kara was still a small child. She overheard a conversation between her parents about how she would grow to be no taller than 5'6"; not bad for Earth stands but rather average, if not somewhat short, for Krypton's standards. Though unlike her older cousin, Kara In-Ze knew what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. She always had a deep and innate sense of curiosity that drew her towards the sciences, specifically bio-medical engineering. Kara Zor-El enjoyed them too, but had no tangible desire to pursue it for the rest of her life.
"What?" Kara In-Ze said as her hand got pulled from the wall.
"If you touch it, the Speaker will project. It's very loud. Come, I want to show you something."
Today…
Kara In-Ze glanced over at the redhead next to her. Katherine Kane had an aura, for lack of a better Earth word, to her that Kara found disconcerting yet intriguing. It was unlike the bubbly coolness of Stephanie, or the subtle displeasure of Damien, or the warm motherly warmth of Oracle. From what Kara could remember about her older cousin, she was unsure how she could be friends with this Katherine Kane. Then again, she had been in slumber for roughly 34 years. By that estimate, Kara Zor-El and she should be in their fifties. Yet here she was, still a 15-year-old girl. The thought angered her and unnerved her whenever she forgot how grateful she should act because she's alive.
Every remnant of Krypton no longer existed. Only the 'Fortress of Solitude', as Kal-El called it, contained any reflection of the deceased planet. She didn't enjoy it though, it reminded her of the Colossal Tundra where the outpost Evro was located. Kara In-Ze visited it once and knew she never wanted to visit it again. Kal-El, or Superman according to the Earth and beyond, tried to reassure her that only a portion of the Fortress was like that, which was true. Many of the deeper rooms possessed the artistic styles of a well-to-do Kryptonian family. Something that Kal-El had worked for a long time to create once he viewed the Fortress as much as home as it was a training facility.
"Your uniform isn't like hers, Kara Zor-El's." Kara glanced down at the costume. "The cape is shorter and you're wearing shorts instead of a skirt."
"Kal-El felt it would help people distinguish me from her. And from what I have been told, this was her first uniform."
Kate's eyebrows rose. "You're wearing her first uniform?"
Kara nodded. "Apparently so." Kate took a breath in to speak but stopped then exhaled sharply through her nose. She merely stared at Kara with a slight tilt to her head. "Kara does that." Kate's brow furrowed. "That head title." She cleared her throat as she uncrossed her arms and straightened her stance. "Have you always done that?"
"Uh, no."
"Hm. Looks like Kara, indeed, made quite the impression on you." A little smile tilted up the left corner of Kara In-Ze's mouth. "I wonder if you made the same on her."
Kate re-crossed her arms and took a step towards the young girl. "Kara was the kind of woman that could change you with a single smile. Her time as Supergirl left a big impression on the world and her absence a gaping hole." She looked Kara over. "Make sure you're well aware," Kate dragged out the last two words then said, "of who wore that before you." She stepped back then yelled towards the others, "If you don't need me, I'll leave now." The four other people in the room stopped their conversation.
"That's fine," said Oracle. "I just wanted you to meet our new Supergirl. I do, however, need you to see this before you go." Oracle typed a few commands on the keyboard and a large image of Superwoman popped up. "She calls herself Superwoman. So far, she's been a huge help to law enforcement in Metropolis. This image was taken in National City." The point-of-view of the photographer made a steep angle between the camera and Superwoman. She looked like a giant staring down at the miniscule humans at her feet.
"What's with the picture?"
"Probably taken by some fine arts undergraduate," said Stephanie. "It would explain the funky angle."
Kate stepped closer to the screen. "Maybe. Is she a friendly?"
"So far," replied Oracle. "The League's attempted to speak with her but she keeps disappearing. Not even cameras or local satellites can pick up on where she is. Her powers are similar to a Kryptonian's but with a few discrepancies. She's weaker in terms of physical strength and we don't think she has heat vision or super-breath. But she's fast, which makes up for it. What I'm more concerned with is her utilization of the House of El symbol."
"She has no right." Everyone turned to see Kara In-Ze staring angrily at the screen. "She has no right to wear that symbol. She has no right to compare herself to Kara. None at all." The pupils of Kara's eyes glowed red as she focused on the screen. A hand on Kara's shoulder made her blink and her eyes returned to normal. Stephanie stood next to her with a soft smile on her lips.
"Why don't you and I go out for FroYo?" A small vertical crease formed between Kara's eyebrows. "Frozen yogurt." Stephanie sighed when Kara still didn't understand what she said. "Food, let's go out for food."
"Superman doesn't want me exposing myself to the public yet." A large grin spread across Stephanie's face.
"I think I can arrange something. There's a closet with back-up civilian clothes in it. Damien can show you." The young Wayne let out a low grumble as he grabbed Kara's wrist and pulled her with him. The reddening of his ears did not go unmissed by Stephanie.
She giggled. "Poor kid."
"Where did you learn to do that?" She looked over at Oracle.
"From you. Batman once made Cass and me watch old footage of you and Supergirl working together. One was a surveillance clip. Geez, Supergirl must've been, like, nineteen or something. Anywho, she was getting mad and you put your hand on her shoulder. It seemed to calm her down. Kate, you okay?"
"Huh? Yeah, I'm fine. I'm going to go now. Let me know if you need anything from me regarding this new Super-person." As Kate left the Batcave, her mind wandered to the last time she and Supergirl worked together. They had answered to a distress call from Black Canary and ended up in a warehouse that belonged to Intergang.
"Have you tried using your x-ray vision on the building?" she asked Kara.
"This building used to be owned by Lex Luthor when he was still financially involved with Wayne Enterprises. And ever since Superman showed up, he's been having them lead-lined, so no. But that doesn't mean I can't hear her." Kara closed her eyes and relaxed her whole body. It reminded Kate of Bette. She would do the same thing before going into meditation. Suddenly, Kara's eyes snapped open and her entire body tensed.
"What is it?" Kara ignored Kate and gripped the beam her hand was resting on in a tight grip. The metal groaned and compressed under her steel-like fingers. "Kara…" Kate lifted her right-hand and gently pulled Kara's face towards her. Kara kept her eyes down at her feet and Kate could see why. The edges of her eyes were tinged with a familiar red glow.
"Kara, look at me." When she didn't move immediately, Kate lifted her chin and made Kara look her in the eyes. The red in them intensified until Kate could see nothing but it. But then slowly, and with every second she kept her gaze on Kara's, the red faded. It faded until her beautiful Caribbean-blue irises shined through. Kate smiled and pulled her hand away from Kara's chin. "There we go, that's my Kara." The Kryptonian gave a weak smile then pushed herself up to stand from her crouched position; Kate followed suit.
"They have her in the back. They're…" Kara took a heavy breath then continued. "They're hurting her. We need…we need to get to her now."
"Then let's get her." Kara stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Kate's body.
"Hold on."
Kate sighed as her shoulders rolled forward and she let her forehead rest on the steering wheel of her car. She could still remember Kara's scent. It always differed from time to time but there was usually that unique base scent that Kate only smelled when standing near her friend. Kate let out a harsh laugh then sat up to start the car. Linda had the same scent too. It was a warm one, like the air during a harsh summer day but without all the heaviness of a polluted city. As Supergirl, this scent was at its strongest but as Linda, it was subtler due to the perfume she would wear.
Kate stopped at a red stop sign and flicked on her turn signal to go right. "Wait." She revved her car then turned left and sped down the street, ignoring the honks being blared at her. She pulled her phone out and commanded it to call Bette.
"Hey, Kate. What's up?"
"I need you to meet me at Gotham Towers."
"Um, okay. Why?"
"Don't ask. Just do it."
"Okaaaay, do you need me to bring anything?"
"No, I've got all we'll need."
"For what?"
"You'll see. Just get there soon."
"Fine, fine, fine. See you soon. Gosh…" Kate let Bette ramble on for a second before hanging up on her. There were more important things to do than listen to her cousin complain.
X
The yellow lights of the warehouse hit the crate-filled shelves of the warehouse, which created long shadows. Two men were stationed in the circular clearing in the middle of the warehouse. One man, the size of an adult black bear, sat on a metal folding chair, hunched over a laptop no bigger than a tablet. He stabbed the keys at a hurried pace with his index fingers.
"\What is taking so long?/" said the second man in Hungarian as he looked at the screen filled with computer code. He was half the size of his companion but had a semi-automatic weapon cradled in his arms.
"It takes as long as it takes, Raymond." The reply was not in Hungarian but in English with a throaty Mancunian [Manchester] accent.
Raymond growled at the back of the Manc's head then mumbled. "\Move faster, Benny./"
"Don't throw a strop. I'm movin' as fast as I can." Benny's face scrunched up before he attacked the keyboard with more gusto. A third man came out from between two stacks of crates. His right hand rested on his pistol while his left swung as he walked.
"Are we in yet? Or are you two still bickering?" This man spoke with an American accent but it was flat due to a lack of discernable regional markers. "Which I don't understand how that's possible since you don't speak Hungarian, Benny-boy."
"It's a gift. And I'm workin' as fast as I can but it's dead hard hackin' into a–flamin' heck!"
"What?"
"I got thrown out again. How the heck am I supposed to do me work if I don't even know what I'm lookin' into? Tell me that, Faison." Faison glanced at Raymond then spoke to him in Hungarian. Benny looked between the two as they conversed. "I don't 'preciate gettin' left outta this."
"Sorry, Benny. Big boy talk. Keep doing what you've been doing. We'll worry about the rest."
Benny placed his hands on his knees and mirrored Faison's posture. "And what exactly is 'the rest' you've been speaking of?"
"Like I said, don't worry about it."
Benny rocked side to side for a minute, the chair creaking under his shifting weight, then nodded. "Fine. I know when I'm not wanted."
"Could have fooled me."
Benny rotated his body and glared back at Raymond who had a large grin on his face. "For your information…" He trailed off as he noticed a red blinking light behind Raymond's head. "What's that?"
The other two men stepped towards the light. Faison recognized the bat-shaped listening device first. "Batman. Get out! Now!" It was too late. Little metal balls rolled into the clearing and filled the air with smoke. The men coughed as they attempted to cover their mouths and noses. Faison stumbled over his feet but was able to slip behind some shelving and get away. Raymond and Benny were not as lucky.
Benny screamed the moment he got confronted by the Dark Knight, a black shadow amongst the grey smoke. He ran in the opposite direction and ended up smacking into a support beam. His nose let out a 'crack!' when it hit the metal and he fell to the ground. The moment his head hit the concrete floor he was knocked out cold. Raymond pointed the gun at the shadow but by then it was gone.
"\Raymond Horváth./" He spun and pointed at the voice but there was nothing there. "\You have information I desire./" The sound of something spinning in the air alerted Raymond right before his gun exploded in his hands. He hit the ground hard and moaned as his burnt hands shook from pain. The dark form of Batman appeared above Raymond. He moved closer then grabbed Raymond's collar and yanked him up to his face. "\Tell me what you know about Dr. Havens./"
Some of this series is planned out but a lot of it is written on the go without an outline, so I apologize for inconsistencies. If you find some plot holes, let me know so I can fix them. Thanks.