A/N: Hey y'all! I hope you guys liked the last chapter! It was really long, and I'm sorry for that, and I'm sorry again because this one isn't that much shorter. It's mainly transitions as people move from earth to earth with a little action, but I hope it's good nonetheless. I really enjoy reading your guys' comments, so please keep them coming! Feedback, good or bad, is much appreciated. Also, tell me what you thought of the crossover! I personally loved it! I thought it was extremely well done. Much better than last year. Enjoy!
Chapter 14
Kara smiled, looking up at the ceiling. Finally. Weeks and weeks of waiting had finally been rewarded, and she was safe. She had Barry forever, and she was back on the earth she belonged on. The prospect almost seemed too good to be true for all the pain and suffering it took to get here. The consistent nightmares and sharp pain in her body seemed to pale in comparison to the fact everything she ever wanted was finally coming true.
The door clicked open, and Kara groaned inwardly. Alex walked in carrying a bag and slipped into the seat next to the bed she was sitting in. Kara sat up, her face scrunched in anticipation.
"Hey, Alex."
Alex smiled softly, holding up the bag. "I brought pot stickers and alcohol."
Kara raised an eyebrow at her. "You know I can't get drunk, right?"
"Of course I do. But I can, and I feel like I might need to drown myself in it for each time you risk your life."
"Alex,—"
Alex shook her head, grinning at her. "Don't. I know. You're a hero, and I'm proud of you, Kara. You scared the hell out of me, but you came back and you survived. Somehow I know that whatever happens in our life, we will always come back to each other. Whether death, the Black Mercy, or dimensional barriers, nothing is going to keep us away. We both know what we really need to talk about."
"Alex, are you sure this is the right time?" Kara asked, wanting to avoid this conversation with everything in her.
Alex sighed, looking at her sister. "There's never going to be a perfect time. I have things I need to say, and for all we know, we will wait and then aliens will attack."
Kara nodded at her, grudgingly accepting that it was time and urging her to continue.
"Kara, I never meant what I said when I told you to choose between Mon-El and us. I should have never said that. Kara, you mean so much to me. You're my sister forever and there is nothing that will ever change that. I-I can't imagine what I'd do without you. You were right. I wasn't thinking clearly. I should've listened to you."
Kara's heart broke, seeing Alex so torn. Every day since she first stepped in their house, she couldn't help but feel like an intrusion. Their family was perfect before she came. A mother, a father, and a brilliant teenaged girl, and then Kara walked in and shattered every foundation their family had been built on. Their father was taken from them, the relationship between mother and daughter broken, and an alien they were all forced to protect. It was a burden they insisted wasn't her fault, but she knew better.
But seeing Alex in front of her made her reevaluate her previous feelings. She always knew Alex loved her, but the way she said it truly made her feel as if she was a Danvers.
Instantly, Kara reached forward and wrapped her arms around her sister, both of their eyes misting.
"Alex, I forgive you. Always. I'm sorry too."
Alex frowned and wiped at her eyes. "Why?"
"It's my fault we haven't been like we were before. We used to share everything. It's just ever since Mon-El…I just…I'm sorry."
"No, Kara. Tell me. You've been bottling your feelings. You haven't given yourself a chance to feel. To move on from what you had to do."
"I-I killed him, Alex. I sent him to his death. How can I move on with Barry when I know that I killed the first person I truly loved? Barry's great. He's so great, but Mon-El was my first love. He always will be, and I can't help but feel ashamed at being so human. I'm not supposed to feel this way. What if something happens to Barry? I didn't come to earth to have a job and a boyfriend. I came to take care of Kal, but I can't even do that. My purpose was to be earth's hero."
"No, no, Kara, you didn't kill him! You didn't! He's alive because of you! You saved him, and I know he's out there somewhere. He's living a better life because of what you did, and you shouldn't let it stop you from being happy. You saved them all, and Barry's, well, he's good. You two are perfect." She paused. "Kara, you deserve this. Your life has been far from normal, but this love between you and Barry is perfect. It's normal and wonderful, and there is no one else who deserves it more than you. You mother wanted you to care for Clark, but your life isn't his. It's yours to make; to have that job and that boyfriend. To not just be Supergirl but Kara as well."
Kara smiled, wanting to believe everything her sister was telling her. "I hate to admit it, but we needed this, didn't we?"
Alex nodded, biting her lip. "From Astra, to the Black Mercy, Red K, your venture into space, Mon-El, your near death, and being thrown to Earth-1, I'd say it was long overdue."
Kara groaned. "Please, let's never speak of the Red K incident ever again."
"I agree. Hands down, the worst one of them all. Well, your death was pretty terrible, but the Red K is totally up there."
Kara laughed and pulled Alex in for another hug. "Barry or no Barry, or anyone else for that matter, you're the one I will always need in my life."
Alex scoffed. "Sure. For now."
Kara shoved her to the side, glaring at her, making Alex laugh. "What? It's true!"
"Let's move on. Danvers sister nights like usual from now on. We don't miss one!"
"Yep. Until you and Barry start getting closer," Alex muttered. "Then I'm sure I'll just be relegated to supportive sister in the background."
Kara shot another glare her way, and shook her head. "Give me the pot stickers!"
Grinning, Alex handed the food over and grabbed the bottle, cracking it open and taking a deep sip. Staring at her sister devouring the bag of pot stickers, she smiled knowing that they were okay. The trials and things they were forced to endure the past few years only served to strengthen their relationship as sisters. There was nothing that could break them apart, and for the first time in months, Alex truly believed that.
Barry looked over Winn's shoulder desperately trying to see the progress he was making. Winn sat back suddenly, his head connecting with the man's jaw.
"Ow! Back up, man! Give me some space!" he yelled, rubbing his head.
"Sorry, man. Are you finished yet?" he asked eagerly.
"Yeah. Totally. I finished making a social security card, driver's license, credit card account, fake diploma, resume, plus more in less than five seconds from when you asked me before."
Barry raised his hands. "I'm sorry, Winn. I'm just kind of eager."
"Yeah I get it, but you technically died. Well, a version of yourself. The version of yourself on this earth died when he was 13 years old in a really terrible murder. Strangely enough, your name was Bartholomew Henry West, so that allows you to keep your last name on this earth without raising any suspicion. For a job, I heard you're a forensic scientist, so you could get a job at NCPD or work here at the DEO. I faked a college degree that should lead back here if anyone suspects anything."
Barry sighed in relief. "Thanks, Winn."
"Hey, no problem, dude. Nothing the dynamic duo can't do, right?" Winn said smiling.
Barry laughed. "Right, man."
He turned around, feeling someone tap on his shoulder, and looked, staring at Cisco. He grinned, the smile slowly fading as he saw the expression on his friend's face.
"You okay, Cisco?"
He shrugged his shoulders and pulled him to the side. "I have something to tell you."
"Okay, go ahead," Barry replied, his head running through every possibility that would make Cisco this stressed.
He took in a shaking breath, breathing out slowly. He clasped his hands together and turned his head to look at Barry in the eye. "I want to stay here."
Barry raised his eyes, shocked. "W-what? I-I mean, what?"
"What am I doing on Earth-1? That place is just full of bad memories. The particle accelerator explosion, Thawne, Zoom, Savitar, and my brother's death. Here there are aliens and badass vigilantes. This is the opportunity of the lifetime. There's nothing holding me back there."
Barry nodded, trying to absorb everything he was saying. "Cisco, are you sure, I mean, what about Team Flash?"
He laughed. "Didn't you hear? Jesse kicked Harry off her team, so he's staying in Central City along with Tracy. They have Wally there too. It was bound to happen eventually, Barry. There can't be two Flash's in Central City. But I'd still say you need to visit there soon and teach him everything you can, but then they're on their own. It's a fresh start for all of them."
Barry frowned at him. "What about Caitlin? How is she?"
They heard someone cough behind them, drawing their attention. Both men smiled, seeing Caitlin behind them, her white hair slowly turning back to its natural color. The seemingly effortless transformation between two people still unnerved them, but they were both glad to see her have such good control over the powers that had frightened them all last year.
"I'm great, Barry. Cisco and I have discussed it. We both want to stay here. Earth-1 has a whole team there for them. They each need to grow just like we did, especially since we have such an amazing opportunity here. One with a fresh start for each of us."
Barry shrugged and turned to Winn who nodded, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, yeah! I got it! A bunch more legal documents coming up."
Barry leaned in grabbing both of them in a hug. "I'm glad you guys are staying. It's going to be a lot better knowing you're here and have my back."
Cisco grinned. "Yeah, man. I mean, this world has aliens! Like, actual aliens!"
"You haven't even seen Kara's spaceship yet."
His eyes widened. "For real?"
Cisco grabbed Caitlin's arm dragging her from Barry and towards the pod that had rocketed Kara from Krypton.
Smiling, he sped to the room where Kara was staying, walking in just as Alex was leaving. Stopping quickly, he laid his hand on her shoulder.
"Are you two okay?"
"Yeah, we're good. I'm just leaving to get some more pot stickers. You'd think that after living with her for so many years, I'd know to buy like a hundred bags just to be able to get some myself. She just goes and inhales all of them. Does Alex get some? Nope. She doesn't." She shook her head at the man. "She's lucky she's injured or else I would throw the box at her head. See you later, Barry."
"Later, Alex."
Pushing the door open, he stepped through, glancing at the hurt look on Kara's face. She raised her eyebrow at him.
"She does know I have super hearing right?"
Barry grinned and gestured to the bed, prompting Kara to scoot over. He climbed in beside her, pulling the sheets over them both. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.
"You can't deny that you do tend to eat all of the pot stickers."
"Says the guy who eats just as much as I do."
"Hey! When did this become about me? I do have a big appetite, but at least I know when to share."
Kara smiled, unable to remain angry at him. "Fine! I do tend to eat everything and not leave much for anyone else, but can you blame me? Pot stickers are the best.."
"I'm glad you can admit it. First step, right?" he said, leaning in for a kiss.
She frowned, pressing her hand to his lips. "Bold move, Allen. Especially just after insulting me."
"Had to try."
A knock at them turned their attention to Oliver Queen walking in, his arm in a sling.
"Wow, Oliver! I don't think I have ever seen you in a sling before," Barry commented.
"Turns out Kara's mother is a doctor who doesn't take no for an answer."
Kara laughed, her hand covering her mouth. "So the great Green Arrow is defeated by a stubborn mother with a PhD. Wow if only Deathstroke knew that. He could have had you benched just by talking with her."
"I'm glad you find it humorous, Kara. I need you both, if you're up to it."
"Whatever you need, Oliver. What's up?"
"We haven't really gotten to regroup since the attack on the facility. There were some discoveries that require some talking. Bruce, J'onn, Clark, Alex, Jeremiah, Cisco, and Winn are already there."
"We'll be there in a minute," Kara responded, slowly swinging her legs off the side of the bed. "I just need to change."
"Kara, did you need some help?" Oliver asked, him and Barry already moving to make sure she didn't fall.
"It's fine. I'll be there in a minute. You guys go."
"Kara…" Barry started, his hands hovering beside her.
"Just go! I got this! I'll be there in a second."
Both men nodded and exited the room, leaving Kara by herself. Letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding in, she clutched the side of the bed for support and pushed up. The Kryptonite from the blast had been flushed from her system, but the pain in her body from her near death experience still shot through her as if reminding her she couldn't rid herself of Cadmus quite yet. Ignoring the pain, she pulled her hospital gown from over her and grabbed pants and a black DEO shirt from the side. Groaning, she pulled the shirt over her head.
"I look like Alex in this outfit," she commented, pulling at it and vowing to grab some better clothes once this meeting was over.
She shook her head and stepped out of the stuffy room that had begun to feel like a second home to her, and made her way to the DEO conference room. Winking at Barry, she grabbed a seat in between him and Oliver.
"Now that everyone's here, let's get to business. Both missions where successful, but we had some unplanned things happen. Firestorm, Clark, and I were fighting while Firestorm encountered a clone of someone most of you know," Bruce started, gesturing to the short, clean cut man who entered.
"Roy?" Oliver asked, hovering above his chair.
"Not really. Roy, care to explain?" Bruce asked.
He cleared his throat and stepped up to the group of individuals in front of him. "Cadmus had cloned someone you all know as Roy Harper and created me. Their goal was to substitute me for him in an attempt to gain access to some of your intel. Luckily, you guys freed me before they could complete their task."
"Do you know anything else that could let us get a leg up on Cadmus's other plans?" Barry asked.
"Unfortunately, no. I wasn't conscious for most of their debriefing. J'onn had entered my mind to get most of what I just told you. However, I do remember an Experiment 13 they were working on."
"Experiment 13? Is it something like you? A clone?"
He shrugged. "Maybe. I don't really know."
Bruce cleared his throat. "Thank you, Mr. Harper. Speaking of Experiment 13, Jeremiah and I had grabbed some papers that might be what he is talking about. They took two DNA samples and spliced them together to create a Kryptonian-human hybrid."
Kara gulped and locked eyes with Jeremiah who bit his lip and turned away.
"Kryptonian hybrid? Please, no."
"I'm sorry, Kara. We believe they used some of your DNA from when you were tortured and spliced it with a male."
"Who's?"
Bruce looked down, unable to look her in the eye.
"Bruce! Whose?"
He looked up. "I'm sorry, Kara. Winn ran the sample against the database and got a hit off a prison in Metropolis."
Alex and Clark paled, both seeing where this was going.
"They spliced your DNA with Lex Luthor."
The blood drained from her face as she gripped the sides of the table, the wood tearing in her hand. She let go, the broken pieces falling to the ground in a heap.
"You mean to tell me that Cadmus made a kid out of me and Lex Luthor?"
He nodded, his eyes narrowed in sympathy. "I'm sorry, Kara. This has given us a lot of information that we needed though. We now know Lex Luthor is involved. We know he's probably the one giving orders, and Winn found out that he was recently released from prison, president's orders."
Kara frowned. "President Marsdin? She would never release Lex Luthor!"
"But she did and we need to know why."
Alex looked at J'onn and Kara, considering a different possibility. "What if…what if someone knew she was an alien? They could be holding it against her. She would have to release him."
"How would they even know?"
"I don't know Kara, but we need to talk to her."
"How are we supposed to do that? She's the president. She can't exactly answer everyone's calls."
Bruce smiled and gestured to the screen. "I've been keeping up with our President and it seems she has hired a new press secretary. Our very own Cat Grant."
Kara's eyes widened as everything suddenly came into focus. Her job. Cat. Snapper. Lena. She hadn't been to work in months. "Oh my gosh! Work! I am so fired! I had an assignment and everything! What am I supposed to do?"
Alex smiled and raised her hand, stopping the flow of questions. "Calm down, Kara. James pulled rank and pushed the assignment on Lena to a different reporter. He then sent 'you' to a different country to complete a series of articles on a few cities that had faced some serious flooding. We had a DEO agent copy your style and complete all the articles you were supposedly doing. Your job is fine."
Bruce nodded. "Exactly. However, it might be time to return as Kara Danvers and take a trip to Washington to see Cat Grant. She might be able to give you an in to see the president and get some answers."
"I don't know if that'll work as Kara Danvers. If the president thinks I'm a reporter, she won't openly tell me she's being blackmailed by Lex Luthor."
"Then go as Supergirl, talk to Cat, do something. Either way, we need to find out. Afterwards it might be beneficial to meet with Lena and see if she has any information on where her mother or her brother is."
"Got it."
"Oliver?" Bruce asked.
"I'm working with my earth to come up with a League of Justice as Felicity and Thea keep calling it. We have a facility, and we can have it done as soon as possible."
Cisco scoffed. "This is why I come up with the names. It should just be the Justice League."
Bruce coughed, trying to bring the conversation back. "Justice League it is then. Cisco we will need you to breach people to our earth. I've been told you and Caitlin are staying?"
"Yeah, we are."
"Good. You can make sure to coordinate those efforts. Winn?"
"I know, I know. I'm making all the legal documents for them both along with another Roy Harper who will be staying on this earth. Got it. Lots of work for me," Winn grumbled.
"Thank you, Winn," Bruce responded turning back to Kara. "I can have a Wayne Enterprises jet take you to Washington."
"Hey," Alex called, halting them before they got too carried away. "I'm going with her. The president trusts me."
"Yeah and so am I," Barry added.
"Alright fine. The jet leaves in an hour."
The table dispersed, Alex, Barry, and Kara leaving to go back to her apartment. The door closed and the trio dropped on to the couch, rubbing their faces. Kara turned to Barry, grabbing his hand.
"I guess you're going to need your own place." She paused. "And a job."
He smiled at her. "I already have a job. I talked to J'onn and he gave me a job there."
Alex nodded. "Ah yes! About that." She pulled a badge from her pocket and gave it to him, along with three cards. "Winn finished all of your documents. A DEO badge that will turn into an FBI one, driver's license, credit card and social. J'onn gave you some money to start you off on the card. As for living space, you can live at the DEO until you are able to get your own place."
"Wow, that's so cool, Alex, thank you! This has been easier than I thought."
Kara touched his shoulder. "What about Joe and Iris? Will you miss them?"
Barry smiled. "Of course, but I can visit them whenever I want. Cisco is already working on a bigger Interdimensional extrapolator. Then we should be able to travel between earths without Cisco's help."
"That's great!"
Alex nodded. "Yeah." She glanced at her watch and groaned. "The plane leaves in five minutes!"
A blur wrapped around Kara as she sped through the room and dressed, pushing her glasses further up on her nose. She straightened her shirt as she looked in the mirror and smiled at Alex.
"Well, you get to choose, Alex. With Barry or with me?"
Alex shook her head, standing up and backing away. "Hell no. I'd rather take the next flight there. Please, of course if I had to choose I'd go with Kara—"
"That's offensive!" Barry called out.
"—but I'd rather not be flown or ran there anyways. Alright? Right, Kara? You won't really—"
She felt herself being picked up and wind rushed by them, her face being pushed backwards. Her feet hit the ground two seconds later, and she sped to the nearest trashcan, depositing all the pot stickers she had eaten just an hour and a half ago. Finishing, and wiping her face, she stalked over to Barry and smacked him on the back of the head. She cursed and walked onto the plane, muttering to herself. Kara landed beside him a second later and fist bumped with him, the two of them entering on the plane after Alex.
Lena stood in front of her mother, glaring at her. Her mother wouldn't look her in the eye, and despite everything that had happened between them, she felt like something was wrong. Her mother should be glowing, gloating. She should be trying to recruit her to her crazy cause or at least…something. Something other than the seemingly guilty countenance that she was sporting right now. Lena shook the thought out of her head. No matter what was happening, she had to play it off as if she was helping them. No matter what she had to make sure Supergirl wasn't harmed. Project Superboy wasn't going to make it through the procedure. They had failed twelves times so far. How unbelievable would it be that they had failed just once more? Just once more until Supergirl could find her and rescue her.
She cursed her stupidity. The only reason Supergirl would come looking for her was if Kara told her to, and Kara was currently M.I.A., despite what James Olsen told her. She was on her own, but she promised to herself that as soon as she got herself out of this mess, she would find Kara and apologize. She was her best friend, and Lena knew that she needed Kara in her life. Kara was the only one who trusted her, who believed in her. A friend like her was rare, and as a businesswoman, Lena understood the value in having good friends.
She nodded to her mother. "The key is in the pituitary gland. It controls the growth hormones, and so far you have only been concerned about inserting the correct amount of growth hormones and failed miserably. You have an infant that you are overloading with growth hormones without the use of a pituitary gland. The fetus grows too quickly for the rest of its organs and functions to keep up."
"What are saying, Lena?"
"We create a pituitary gland that can regulate the perfect amount of growth hormones for Experiment 13. You're creating an artificial being, you need to be creating a real human. You even have the DNA available to grow a real person."
"And how exactly would you speed up the growing? Or should we just wait 18 years?" she asked.
"We do what you had previously done. We insert a controlled amount of growth hormones to kick start the growth. The pituitary gland should be able to handle it in small doses."
An undefinable emotion flickered across Lillian's face, and Lena couldn't help but think it was disappointment? No, it almost looked like sorrow. She laughed. Her mother could never feel sorrow. She was only full of anger and manipulation.
Just like Lena.
She was going to lie and smile. She was going to say yes and no and do whatever Lillian asked her to, but she would never let this scientific atrocity harm National City's hero. She wouldn't let it get to Kara. Lena couldn't. Millions of people expected a Luthor in her. They expected the monster that both her mother and brother were, but she would prove them all wrong. She was going to be the person Kara knew she was. Her mother was smart. Smarter than she cared to admit and sabotaging the experiment would be too obvious. She would have to be subtle.
Experiment 13 was a man, a boy really. His looks were almost identical to that of Supergirl with short, light blonde hair that was wet with sweat. His eyes were empty, lacking any emotion. It looked…dead. They had instructed her to make it almost like a robot, no feelings or ability to rebel. They wanted a weapon, not a boy who could think. His brain activity was almost non-existent, but that was the key. If Lena could somehow turn this clone into a real, intelligent being that could be reasoned with, she could somehow install a failsafe. A series of words that make 'wake' this clone from its lifeless state. Words that could save Supergirl and make sure she didn't get herself killed.
"Good job, Lena. I knew I could count on you," Lillian praised, smiling at her daughter. She turned to the experiment. "Finish constructing the clone's body. I want a direct computer port to his brain that can only be controlled by us. No artificial intelligence. Complete the project and you will be free to go, Lena."
Lena's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? You're just going to let me go?"
"Of course. You have completed your task. While of course I wish you would join the cause, I am not naïve enough to believe you actually would. You've already been corrupted by the Kryptonian."
Lena raised an eyebrow, doubting every word that was coming out of her mouth. There was no way in hell Lillian would let her just leave. She already knew too much. She could go to Supergirl and tell her their plans. She could ruin their experiments. No. There was no way she was going to make it out alive whether it was her mother who killed her or the person in charge.
"Hurry up, Supergirl. Please," Lena muttered, returning to the project meant to kill one of the only two people who believed in her.
The plane landed, easing Alex's already fragile stomach. Between super speeding to the plane and then taking off in a vehicle that felt like it was going to drop out of the sky at any minute, Alex couldn't wait to get both feet back on the ground where they belonged. She glared at Kara who shrugged at her.
"You love flying with me," Kara accused, recognizing the sick, hazy look on her sister's face.
"Yeah. With you because I trust you. I'd like to see our pilot's license to fly because I felt like I was in that damn pod when I saved you from space. Trapped and being thrown around all over the place…not fun."
Kara nodded, conceding the point. "Yeah, you're right. I was feeling a little sick myself."
Barry smiled at the two of them. "That's alright, Alex. You can just run with me when we come back."
Alex laughed, walking towards the car that was waiting for them. "Like hell I am, Allen. I'd rather get back on that death trap than be carried at Mach 5 across the U.S."
The three stepped into the car, Kara peering around the area to make sure no one was going to jump out and attack them.
"All clear, guys. How long is it going to take to get there?"
"Not long," Alex replied, looking down at her phone. "We should be there relatively soon. Did you call Cat?"
Kara nodded. "Yeah. Ms. Grant said I should be ushered in immediately. Unfortunately, the president isn't there, but hopefully Ms. Grant will have some information."
"Good." She turned to Barry. "Are you sure you should be coming?"
"Me? Of course. Why wouldn't I?"
Alex sighed. "Because you're new. Does Cat know who you are?"
Kara sucked in a breath. "Actually…when you and J'onn where on the run, Barry came to the office and met her. She even knows he's the Flash."
"What?" Barry exclaimed, turning to stare at her. "Did you tell her?"
"No!" Kara responded, lifting her hands. "Of course not! She just…I don't know. She just knew somehow."
Alex shook her head, wondering how these two managed to keep a secret identity and highly believing that pretty much everyone already knew who they were.
"Well, I guess that clears that up." The car pulled up to the White House, Barry and Kara staring at the building in awe.
The driver opened the doors for them and the trio stepped out, admiring the whole place. A guard near the front of the building approached them, gesturing them to follow him inside.
"Are you Kara Danvers?" he asked pointing to Kara.
"Yeah," she responded, slightly unnerved.
"Do you have identification? And who are these two people?"
"Yeah," she said, showing him her driver's license. "This is Alex Danvers and Barry Allen. They are both FBI agents."
He raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't told to allow FBI agents in to see the secretary as well."
Kara bit her lip, trying to stay calm and figure out a solution to this bump in the road. They were standing in the middle of the lobby of the west wing and people were beginning to stare. Opening her mouth to try to come up with some ridiculous lie, they heard a commanding voice behind them, immediately allowing Kara to let out a breath.
"Why aren't they in my office yet?" Cat Grant boomed, staring down the man beside them.
"Uh, I'm sorry Madam Secretary, but I'm wasn't told to let an FBI ag—" he started.
"Anyone with Kara Danvers is allowed. Thank you, that's all."
"Ma'am—"
"Thank you," she called, grabbing Kara's arm and nearly dragging her to her new office.
Shutting the door behind them, Cat walked behind her desk and sat, nodding for the others to sit as well. She took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes.
"Ms. Grant?" Kara asked.
"The security around here is so incompetent that I want to claw my eyes out. I have to deal with idiots who question the president's ability to do her job as well as every decision she makes. No matter, I am glad for the distraction, Kira, now what it is you need?'
"Uh, well, um…"
"Uh, um, well? I'm sure you did not call me to just stumble along in your sentences. What is it?" Cat prodded.
"I'm doing an article for CatCo, and we were recently told that the president is—"
"—is being blackmailed," Alex finished.
Cat whipped around to Alex, her eyebrows narrowing at the new face. "And you are?"
"Alex Danvers. I'm Kara's sister as well as an FBI agent."
"Oh yes, I remember now. You were the agent that helped get rid of the Daxamites, and if I recall correctly you were part of an organization called the DEA or DEO or something, so why don't we all be honest with each other. It was your agency that uncovered this information about a blackmailing?"
"Yes. It was. Is it true?"
Cat Grant sighed and rubbed the sides of her head. "Yes. It is true. After the shocking revelation that the leader of our nation was in fact E.T., somehow the information was leaked despite our best efforts to contain it."
"Leaked? Leaked how?" Barry asked.
She narrowed her eyes at the young man and turned to look at Kara. "The Blur. Bart Allen, was it?"
"Uh, no, it's Barry."
"Oh, well. Yes, it was leaked. They held the information over Olivia's head and said they wouldn't release it to the public if Lex Luthor was released from prison."
"And you have no idea who it was," Alex asked.
"Well, dear, if we did, I highly doubt we would be having this conversation right now. No, we don't have any idea who sent it." She sighed. "Now, I am not fond of being blackmailed, so I suggest you and your clandestine government agency get in touch with Supergirl and return Lex Luthor to prison as well as anyone behind this."
Kara nodded. "Of course, Ms. Grant. Did President Marsdin consult with you before releasing him?"
Cat shook her head. "No, of course she didn't. She would have known that I would have to come clean with the whole ordeal."
"Why haven't you?" Barry questioned.
"Because when I found out, she begged me to at least allow her to figure out who was behind it before holding a press conference to tell the world she was an alien."
"Ms. Gant, I will try and get in contact with Supergirl and convince her to try and help. We will find out who is behind this, I promise."
Cat nodded at the determined reporter in front of her, reminded of why she had wagered so much on the awkward blonde. She had a good heart and a loyal character that Cat couldn't help but admire.
"Good. Now chop chop, I have other things I have to attend to," she said motioning with her hand for them to leave. "Dealing with incompetent idiots," she muttered.
They nodded and Kara and Barry left the room, leaving Alex. Cat looked up confused on why the brunette was still in her office.
"You know, don't you?" Alex accused.
Cat raised her eyebrows at her. "Know what exactly?"
"You know about Kara," Alex repeated.
Cat sucked in a deep breath, releasing it slowly. "Of course I do. If she thought that I was going to be appeased by seeing them both in the same room, she was wrong. Especially when a couple weeks later we saw a little green alien that could shapeshift into any form fighting Supergirl amidst the better part of National City. That coupled with the double shift in personality in both Kira and Supergirl was bound to tip me off." She clicked her teeth together. "Kira is many things but subtle is not one of them."
Alex couldn't help but smile. Cat was smart, she'd give her that. She wasn't ignorant, not by any means, and with Kara's laughable attempts at lying, she was surprised she hadn't found out earlier.
"Why don't you tell Kara?"
Cat rolled her eyes. "Oh please, Agent Danvers. As if our confrontation went so well the first time. No, I would have had better luck convincing my mother that she really is the devil incarnate. What Kira needs is someone who doesn't know she is Supergirl. She needs to remember to be Kira Danvers, not just National City's bustling hero that saves the world from psycho fascists and delusional, mind controlling tyrants."
"Ms. Grant, I have never really understood Kara's…loyalty to someone who doesn't even care enough to call her by her own name but…thank you. For being there for Kara."
Cat's face turned into a small smile, abandoning the fake indifferent pretense she had always worn on her face. She held out her hand to the woman in front of her, Alex leaning in and shaking it.
Alex exited the room giving one last nod to the woman in front of her and left to join Kara and Barry.
"What were you guys talking about?" Kara asked.
"You weren't listening?"
"Of course not. I don't listen in all the time," Kara told her.
"Oh yes you do! Don't lie to yourself!" Alex accused.
"Fine! I listen sometimes, but I made sure not to listen now, so you're welcome," Kara laughed, slinging her arm around both her sister and Barry. "At least we know our theory was correct. Madam President is being blackmailed into releasing Lex. Everything that has happened so far has been because of him."
"I think you need to pay a visit to Lena then, just as Bruce suggested," Alex added, observing the pained look that crossed her face.
"I know. Lex and Lillian are all in on this, but Lena never would. She would never sanction someone torturing me, let alone agree to clone…well…me," Kara argued.
"I know, Kara. I know. But we still need to talk to her."
Kara nodded, as they walked out of the White House and into the car waiting for them. The doors clicked and locked, immediately alerting the three passengers. Alex nodded to Barry who attempted to vibrate his hand. Barry shook his head, his hand remaining still. Taking the cue, Kara flexed her muscles and punched the door, her face scrunching in pain as she cradled her already bruising hand.
"Ah that was a bad idea," she squeaked, her hand turning various shades of black, blue, and purple.
Despite the situation, Alex held in a laugh, staring at her sister shaking out her hand while Barry grabbed it to inspect. "Kara, you dork. Couldn't you have just pushed on it?"
Kara glared at her. "Thanks for telling me, Alex. I'm sure that was a better idea." She sighed. "Well they must have some form of metahuman dampener and red sunlight. It doesn't feel like there's any Kryptonite around."
"That's just great. I swear we can never catch a break. Alex, don't you have a gun or something?" Barry asked.
"Yes, Barry, I do. But I don't really want to gamble that this car is fully bulletproof and have it ricochet into one of us. Especially since Kara is no longer bullet proof and manages to punch solid doors."
"Awesome. Why can't we just have a day of peace?"
"Suck it up, Allen, and let's find a way out of this damn car."
Their voices fizzled out as an intercom clicked and buzzed, gaining their attention. "Please remain seated. We will arrive shortly."
Alex scoffed. "Like hell I'm remaining seated. I changed my mind. We're going to gamble," she said, pulling the gun out of its holster. Aiming at the door, she almost squeezed the trigger, but the car lurched to the side, her head smacking hard against the door.
"Please remain still. We will arrive shortly."
Alex rubbed the side of her head, a headache quickly forming. "Damn it," she said grabbing her gun from the floor of the car.
The vehicle stopped and the three of them tensed, waiting for the door to open. They sat for a minute the silence nearly driving them insane. Alex held the gun in front of her, pointed directly at the door to her side. A loud bang and a bright light seemed to rise from the ground, and the group clutched their ears in pain. The doors opened, and, ignoring the pain, Alex's hands dropped from her ears and she fired. The shots connected with someone, a grunt of pain slipping from the mouth of their attackers. Two shots whistled through the air and struck Barry and Alex, their bodies immediately going limp.
Kara struggled against the hands that pulled her from the inside of the car. Her fist smacked against the man's face, but more hands grabbed at her to restrain the furious alien. Someone gripped her wrists and tied them with a metal cuff, the iron rubbing against her skin. Her legs were kicked, and she crumpled to her knees.
Staring up, she gasped at the person in front of her. The man held up his hands in surrender and smiled.
"I am sorry for the intrusive way I had to bring you in, but it was the only way to get you moderately alone."
"Where are they? I swear if you hurt them," she growled at him, stumbling to her feet.
"Relax. There are not harmed. In fact, I have my driver taking them back to National City. The tranquilizer dart they were shot with should wear off as soon as they get there. You should be thankful. That pilot was flying very dangerously. I might have just saved their lives."
Relief flooded through her body as she struggled against the bonds.
"The cuffs emit low red solar radiation to negate your powers," he responded, gesturing to the cuffs around her raw skin. "Do not try to escape them. You will end up ripping your wrists off. I apologize again, but please hear me out."
"I have nothing to say to you."
"Really? I imagined you would want to talk about your torture or how we managed to separate your teams."
"You're a sick psycho who wanted to hurt someone. There's nothing to say."
"Well, perhaps. I can see your point, but you just aren't getting it yet. I thought you at least might want to discuss our child."
Kara nearly convulsed at the thought. "Tell me where he is, Lex."
"All in due time. The real reason I wanted to meet was to offer a truce."
Kara nearly laughed at the prospect. "Sure, a truce with the man who tortured me, attacked my cousin, and has killed countless other civilians."
"All true, but there is more to this game than you realize. The key to winning is recognizing when you have lost, and you, my dear, have lost. You've fought a species similar to my employer before and won. Very impressive. However, despite your previous experience, you will not be able to beat what is coming for you. Switch sides."
"Never. Your little advice is just telling me that you're scared. You know we are going to beat you, so you're just trying to get me out of the way."
"Perhaps, but you did not let me finish. I would be a fool to think you would just flip on your friends and your family, and if anything is clear, it is the fact that I am hardly a fool."
"What are you saying, Lex?" Kara asked, her brain racing through ways to escape.
"Go home."
"Home? Your offer is National City?"
"No, Kara. My offer is Krypton."
Lena looked towards her mother and the scientists around her. Occupied. Not looking. Now was her chance. She slid behind the computer regulating the clone's neural activity and began to type. Her fingers flew across the keyboard as she wrote hidden algorithms to activate his mind. The project was almost done. A few hours at most, and the weapon of a boy would be active to attack Supergirl. It was her fault. Their lagging science team of supposed geniuses would be at least a month behind if it wasn't for her. She catapulted their research ahead by weeks, and she was paying for it right now. Looking over her shoulder, she breathed out a breath of relief that no one had seen her. Clicking the last button, she slid to the side and turned just as Lillian approached her.
"Thank you, Lena for your contributions to our project. Those fools finally managed to do something useful and follow your notes. They constructed a healthy pituitary gland to regulate the growth hormones for a Kryptonian."
"How? I only had notes for a regular human?"
"Yes. You did. We had a team covertly slip a device onto Supergirl's neck that essentially analyses the whole molecular makeup of her body down to the smallest cell. From there we were able to hook the device up to a replicator that is working as we speak."
"That's impossible! The technology to do that doesn't even exist! It's beyond anything on this—"
"—world? Precisely. Thank you, Lena, you are free to go."
"I'm free to go?"
"Yes, Lena. You did your job."
"No, you wouldn't. There's no way."
"Yes, Lena, you can leave," Lillian told her.
A man stepped from behind her mother, pointing a gun at Lena's head. She tensed, waiting for the gunshot that was sure to end her life. It was a pity she had spent so much time installing a failsafe when the secret was about to die with her.
"What are you doing, Lord?" Lillian asked, whipping around to face the smirking man.
"Just following orders."
Lillian covered her surprise, but her eyes showed the fear. Fear that their planet jumping boss had ordered Lord to kill her daughter, or worse yet, her power driven son.
"How strange. I never took you for someone's lackey. Running around. Doing other people's dirty work."
Max shrugged. "I had a change of heart." He smiled. "Or a change of mind."
He lowered the gun and offered it to Lillian. The woman shook her head, beads of sweat running down her face. Her hand slowly inched its way to the handle despite her attempts to make it stop. She could feel the pressure in her mind as she fought against whatever was making her take the gun. Her knuckles turned white as she clutched the cold metal and swung it towards her daughter.
"Lord, stop it! Now!" she demanded through clenched teeth.
He laughed, and the pressure inside Lillian's head released as she squeezed the trigger. The bullet seemed to travel in slow motion as it struck. Lillian yelled, immediately dropping the gun.
Lena closed her eyes, anticipating the searing pain that would soon flood her body. Her hands reached for the spot where the bullet entered.
Where it would have entered.
The bullet lodged itself an inch from her head in the wall beside her. Lillian rushed over to her side and pushed her behind her.
"Damn you, Max! You bastard!"
He raised his hands at her. "She's not going to be killed. She's going to be our bait. I just thought I should show you who's really in charge around here."
He stumbled to the side, blood rushing from his nose. His hand wiped away the thick, crimson liquid with the top of his hand, surprised. Grabbing the handkerchief from his coat, his wiped the rest off and continued to stare at the two Luthor women.
"That was…unexpected." He smiled at them. "Don't worry, Lena. You aren't going to die…yet."
Lillian glared at him. "How the hell did you make me grab the gun?"
"A little gift from Lex weeks ago. He thought it would help me complete my tasks." He clasped his hands together, slowly walking towards the two women. "Now that Project Superboy is finished, and I am quite insulted that you didn't think to consult me first, we are ready to proceed right now. Supergirl and their merry band of heroes don't stand a chance."