Chapter 24

Secret VRA Facility…

"Almost done, Mr. Queen," Lt Trotter, aide to General Slade Wilson, the head of the VRA division of the Department of Domestic Security, says to the blond billionaire who is undergoing a series of physical tests.

Once done, Oliver quips, in his usual humour, "What's with the secret workout room here, huh? Is this a, uh, a secret try-out for the NFL?"

General Slade Wilson, an older, balding man, has entered the room by now. "You're strong and extremely agile with coordination that's off the charts."

"I'm human," Oliver feels a need to say.

"Well, I commend your performance," General Wilson says, sounding impressed. "We'd love to have someone with your gifts serve our country. Help us bring in your less cooperative cohorts."

"Look... I'll be your poster boy. I'll say your words, and I'll be your face, but it ends with me, you understand? Now, there are people out there who want to believe in you. They want to believe in this country. Give them a chance to prove that, to be the heroes we all need," Oliver lays out his conditions and his point of view back.

"You got nerve. I like that but if your next argument is that we let Ms Danvers go I'm afraid I'll have to refuse. After all she came to us of her own volition…and unlike you she is most decidedly not human."

Oliver can hear the prejudice in the General's tone. He frowns as the General beckons him to follow…which Oliver does until they reach a control room through what Oliver assumes is a two-way mirror he can see another training room. Though this one is clearly laid out for combat training and within he can see Mia easily swatting away a half-dozen opponents. Oliver had never really seen her fight before. She was really quite good. He wonders who taught her.

"Now tell me Mr Queen what does one do with someone who possess the strength and speed to defeat half a dozen trained soldiers without breaking sweat?" General Wilson inquires.

"Well when they are as cute as her my first instinct would be to buy them dinner," the archer jokes.

"Amusing," General Wilson dead-pans. "Come with me, Mr Queen," he orders and the two men enter the training room just as Mia is taking down the last soldier. "Impressive Ms Danvers," the balding man says in a flat tone that is clearly not him giving her a compliment.

"Well, you know, had a good teacher," Mia passes if off lightly.

"I would like to meet him."

"Her," Mia corrects. "And I'm not sure you would find the meeting to your satisfaction. She's quite fierce. You could say she's a bit of an Amazon…"

The Future…

It had been a few weeks since Mia's debut in Metropolis. The League had decided to let her join on a 'probationary period' according to Batman. Right now she is sitting in the commissary up on the Watchtower, smiling as she listens to the Flash tell her how he met her father. She must confess to liking Flash quite a bit, if you ignore the 'flirting'. He was also one of the few who seemed to just accept her. It hadn't escape her notice that other members of the Justice League seemed to give her queer looks or whisper behind her back as if she doesn't possess superhearing. Mostly those whispers seem to be about comparing her to her father…and not in a flattering way.

Anyway, Mia doesn't want to think about all that so back to Flash's story telling. "So there your father was, confronting me in my, I admit, slightly misbegotten youth and I tell him that it doesn't matter because I can be a thousand miles away before you can blink and he retorts 'I can blink pretty fast' or something like that and then whoosh! I'm away with him hot on my heels. I'll confess that was a shock. Never had anyone who could get close to me before but luckily for me Little 'Big Blue' hadn't figured out how to run on water yet so I hit the lake and I'm gone."

"And Papá? What happened?"

"Guess," Flash says with a smirk.

It takes a moment before Mia gets it. "No?"

"Sí."

Mia clamps her hand over her mouth as she tries to suppress the laughter threatening to bubble out of her.

"It is to my eternal regret I never got a picture of it," Flash laments.

Mia snorts with laughter.

Of course that is not what happened. Clark stopped himself short of the water but Bart has always told a slightly, how shall we phrase it, embellished version of the story that ends up with Clark soaked to the skin. And if it allows him to make Clark's daughter laugh it's worth a little truth bending. Before he can continue though he spots Conner walk in, frowning hard. "S'up, Conner?" Flash greets him.

Conner plants himself down in the chair with a loud sigh.

"Bad day?" Flash gets that sort of vibe off of him.

"You could say that. I went to see Lois to get her to lay off Mia here in her articles."

Flash winces. Lois had been pretty brutal in her attacks on Mia or Supergirl as others in the press had come to call her and that name was part of Lois' problem. She didn't feel like Mia had any right to claim any part of Clark's legacy. Even he had gone to see her once. That was a mistake. Afterwards he felt like he had been flattened worse than a run in with Grodd.

"You didn't need to do that Conner," Mia says, though she is not sure she means it. It…stings to be told she's only a shadow of her father. Especially when she is trying her best to honour his legacy.

"Yes, I did. I don't care how much grief she is in, taking it out on you is not the healthy way to deal with it."

"You didn't tell her that, did you?" Flash asks.

"Not in those exact words but the gist of it, yeah."

"Oof. I wouldn't expect a Christmas card this year if I were you."

"I'll live."

Mia rests her chin on her hand and frowns. Why does it feel like her presence is only causing trouble?

"Supergirl?" a new voice tries to draw her attention.

Flash prods Mia. "That's you," he points out.

"Oh! Sorry. Sorry," she babbles an apology as she turns her head to actually look at who has arrived. "Wonder Woman!" she squeaks as she jumps to her feet, accidentally kicking her chair over. Should be thankful she didn't smash it to pieces.

Her reaction makes Flash and Conner chuckle.

"Smooth," Flash whispers to the Human-Kryptonian hybrid.

"Definitely Clark's," Conner whispers back making Flash nod in agreement.

Wonder Woman glares at the two males which shuts them up instantly before her expression softens as she returns to Kal's daughter. "Diana. You can call me Diana," she permits.

Mia rubs the back of her neck. "Um, ok," she says in return, a little shy and uncomfortable. "H-how can I help you?"

"It is I that wants to help you."

"Huh?" Mia asks, baffled.

"With your training," Diana clarifies.

"I thought she was doing good," Flash mentions.

"She is but I think she can do better and I know a better environment for Supergirl to learn in."

"Again I'm going to have to go with the 'huh?'," Mia says, still baffled.

"I'm inviting you to Themyscria."

"As in your home?"

"Of course."

"Why now?" Mia asks the question.

"That's a good question," Conner remarks, looking at Diana suspiciously. "If she had screwed up in a fight…"

"Hey!" Mia protests.

"I said 'if'," her brother emphasises. "If she had screwed up I could see why you'd want her to intensify her training but while, sure, she's rough round the edges, she's doing fine so really, Diana, what is going on?"

"I'm being truthful."

Conner scoffs. "Clark was right. You are a horrible liar."

Diana narrows her eyes at Kal's sorta offspring. "Hera, give me strength," she mutters under her breath as she tries to keep her infamously short temper in check. "It was my Mother's idea," she confesses.

"Hippolyta? Why?"

"Because Kal was one of the few men she has ever respected."

"Well there goes my dignity and pride," Flash gripes theatrically.

Diana ignores him. "And after I mentioned Cir on my last visit home my Mother decided she wanted to meet Kal's daughter."

Mia looks at the statuesque Amazon Princess and just blinks as her mind tries to absorb all of this. "Your mother wants to meet me?" she queries, puzzled.

"Yes."

Mia opens her mouth and then closes it. She's got nothing.

Themyscira…

A few days later Mia finds herself standing on the mystical island home of the Amazons. Why one may ask?

Because you don't' say 'no' to Wonder Woman. Or at least Mia finds she couldn't.

However, now she feels completely out of place. Not to mentioned overwhelmed.

It's a familiar feeling actually. Revealing herself as Superman's daughter had led to a certain expectation she felt from the general public. They wanted her to be just like him and she's trying to be. God is she trying but she's beginning to feel no matter how hard she tries it won't ever be good enough.

"Follow me," Wonder Woman instructs her as they walk through the palace courtyard into the beautiful marble palace. Ornately decorated.

Mia does as instructed and soon finds herself and Wonder Woman being announced as they enter the throne room. Sitting at the far end is Queen Hippolyta herself. Her hair blond which is a contrast to Wonder Woman's dark hair.

"Diana," Hippolyta says warmly, smiling brightly at the sight of her precious daughter.

"Mother," Diana returns the greeting and the two share a brief embrace. She then turns back to Mia. "Mother, may I introduce you to Superman's daughter; Cir-El."

Hippolyta strides forward so as to evaluate the young woman close up. "Yes. I can see your father strongly in you."

"I've…uh…heard that before," Mia says before quickly tagging on, "Your Majesty."

"I am sure you have."

Mia stands there awkwardly, under the Queen's penetrating gaze. By no measurement is Mia small. She's 5'10 but she is finding herself have to look up at the Amazon Queen and she must admit to feeling kinda intimidated. Not to mention she's uncertain what she's meant to say. She bets her father would know and it just adds to this growing internal monologue that she's not living up to him.

And still the Queen seems to be scrutinizing her. Why, oh why?

"Mother," Diana says with a hint of amusement in her tone at her mother's antics.

"Hmm, yes my Daughter?"

"Shall I escort Cir to her quarters?"

"That would be very generous of you."

"Which I am certain I inherited from you."

"No doubt. And Cir-El, I look forward to seeing you at dinner. We have a lot to discuss."

"We do?" Mia asks, utterly lost.

"Of course. Beyond discussing your training during your stay I want to get to know you."

Mia rubs the back of her neck. "Sure," she says, her voice too squeaky.

Diana almost rolls her eyes. "Cir, if you'll follow me I'll show you where you'll be staying," she says to the half-Kryptonian as she departs

"Right," Mia says too quickly as she almost blurs after Wonder Woman. As she leaves she's certain she can hear a laugh of amusement from the Amazon Queen.

One month later…

Mia must admit to being someone who has not travelled all that widely. Her Aunt Penny and her were just poor working class schmucks for the most part. In fact her trip down to Mexico to meet her extended family after Graduation had been her first time outside the United States.

So the words 'Culture Shock' may not come close to her time spent in the Amazon Homeland.

Anyway, the half-Kryptonian probably doesn't have the time right now to contemplate that as she is currently being assessed about how her fighting skills have improved. And in the Amazon way that involves her having to fight three of the immortal female warriors at the same time.

One jabs at her with a spear which she dodges with small bursts of superspeed before she tires of it, shifts to the side and grabs the spear as it passes her. She then lifts it and consequently the Amazon holding it into the air and swings them both round over her head before the Amazon woman crashes into the ground hard enough that she's not getting back up for at least a few minutes.

"Her reactions have improved," Hippolyta comments to her daughter as the two watch from the royal enclosure.

"Yes, Diana agrees before adding, "and it only took training her with magically tempered weapons to achieve it," she quips.

Hippolyta laughs slightly at the memory of the indignation on Cir-El's face the first time they did that. Used weapons actually capable of hurting the Kryptonian-Human hybrid. Turns out she is no more immune to magic than her father was. Though it did have the desired effect of, how do people in Man's World put it, 'light a fire under her rear' to motivate the young woman to do better.

Anyway, back to the contest in the arena as Mia now confronts the two remaining warriors, one red-haired, the other black-haired wearing a helm which hides her face, now armed with the spear she took from her first opponent. She uses it to block their strikes, the redhead armed with a trident, the other a sword.

Mia's two foes work together to force her back on the defensive. Sure, she might be faster and stronger but they have way more experience than her. You know what with them being immortal and all. Plus she was banned from flying…which, channelling her inner child, is just so not fair!

She catches the trident, her staff slipping in-between the points. She then leverages the trident out of her opponent's hands before attempting to butt her foe in the head with the blunt end of her spear but the Amazon warrior is quick and almost seems to read her probing shots before she makes them. It means Mia can't disable her in the few seconds she has before the other Amazon moves to aid her comrade.

Sensing the attack coming Mia ducks under the swinging sword before backing up a few steps to try and regain her poise and stance. The red-haired warrior, sensing a possible opportunity, presses forward an attack but for all her skill and experience, strength and most importantly here, speed, compared to a half-Kryptonian she can't match Mia's reactions.

Also now disarmed the redhead has to try and get in close to disable Mia with her bare hands but the Latino woman blocks and dodges the attempts, only to suddenly find herself grabbed from behind by the brunette whom she had lost track of and held in place.

To Mia's shock she finds she can't easily break free despite what she assumed was her superior strength. She has only moments to think of something before the redhead moves in to finish her off(metaphorically speaking).

If she can't break free then…wait. What was it the Flash did that last time they were on a mission and he was jumped by multiple people? That's it!

So Mia does what Flash did. She spins on the spot at superspeed. It means the brunette's own legs become Mia's weapon as the red-had gets clocked hard before the brunette Amazon loses her grip and tumbles across the arena.

Mia comes to a stop and wobbles. "God, how doesn't Flash get dizzy when he does this?" she mutters to herself in Spanish before she reorientates herself. The redhead looks down and out for the count but the brunette is getting back to her feet and readying herself to continue the fight.

"Well played, Supergirl," the brunette compliments her before saying, "but how about we take the gloves off, hmm?" she proposes.

"What? You were sandbagging me?"

"Come and find out," the Amazon goads the Kryptonian Hybrid, gesturing with her hands for her to come get her.

Know what, Mia has tried really, really hard to be a good guest. To be respectful. To pay attention and absorb what the Amazons have been trying to teach her but she's also a young woman who has deep scars which range from never knowing her father to seeing her mother murdered in front of her so forgive her if once in a while she just snaps and sees red. She blurs forward, draws her fist back only for her opponent to move with what seems like equal speed, grab Mia's wrist and throws her down with all the ease of disabling a sleeping kitten.

An audible 'oof!' escapes the Latino woman's lips and she spends entirely too long lying there, stunned by what happened. It means she doesn't react in time to prevent her limbs being stretched into unnatural positions as she is placed into a painful hold.

"Do you concede?" her opponent questions.

Mia's face contorts with pain, annoyance and effort as she tries and fails to break the hold. More pressure is applied until yes, it actually hurts.

"Concede," her opponent taunts her. "Concede or I break something," she then goes on to warn.

The pressure is increased until it feels like something will break and Mia sees no alternative. "Alright!" she yells. "I concede."

"Now was that so hard?" her opponent asks in an irritatingly cheerful, light tone as she releases her hold.

Mia gets to her feet rubbing her poor aching joints while her opponent removes her helm to reveal a woman who looks remarkably like Wonder Woman.

"Congratulations, Daughter," Queen Hippolyta announces as she and Diana approach the two remaining combatants.

"Daughter?" Mia asks.

Diana moves next to her almost doppelgänger and says. "Yes. This is my sister, Donna," she introduces the other woman.

Mia frowns. "You really were sandbagging me," she grumbles as she starts to realise she's been had, played, deceived and whatever other synonyms you can come up with.

"In battle one cannot judge an opponent solely on appearance," Hippolyta tries to impart some wisdom. "Your father was a prime example. Every day he walked amongst the populace and none ever realised he was anything but one of them…and yourself are no different; are you?"

"No," is all she can say.

"Then you have learned a lesson here today."

The present…

Clark returns to the Aquarium in Miami since so far his searches of the varying facilities has been a bust. None of them even look completely finished. He and AC seriously need to compare notes.

It is then Clark stops stock still in shock when his hearing picks up the voice of a certain ex-girlfriend; one Lois Lane. What is she doing here?!

He finds the two women but remains out of sight as they talk.

"Look who skipped right out of the forest. Doe-eyed Bambi searching... You're Lois Lane," Mera says.

"Wow! Brazen much?" Lois retorts in her usual snarky manner.

"I am Mera, wife of Orin, future king of the seven seas. The one you call Arthur Curry."

Clark face-palms himself. Has Mera never heard of the concept of secret identities.

"AC got married," Lois says with genuine surprise in her tone. "Aren't you just full of reveals?"

"Orin is finally embracing his destiny and leading his people."

"Hang on. "His people." Like, down under and not Australia?" Lois queries, sounding like she is putting the pieces together.

Well, she is smart. Clark had never doubted that. Well, at least not in the last few years anyway.

"Anyway, I need to find Clark," Lois states.

Clark frowns. She's looking for him? How on Earth did she track him down here?

"Certainly you are not a partner in his endeavours?"

"Wow, some people get a ring on their finger, and everyone else's relationship just doesn't cut it," Lois says sharply.

"Spoken like one who can never be satisfied by a man of her own kind. You desire those who are extraordinary ... first Orin, then Oliver, now Clark."

"Oh dear God," Clark mutters under his breath. Mera is just giving away all the secrets. He really should intervene but ends up rooted to the spot for some reason.

"You've got to be kidding me, Little Mermaid? Your prince and I dated for like a day," Lois retorts.

"It's understandable that you would seek a superior companion. I'm just surprised that powerful men would choose someone of lesser ability," Mera practically insults Lois.

"Listen, squid lips... You don't know anything about me or Clark," Lois says, her voice tight with tension and pent-up emotion.

"I know you came here looking for Clark. You're in the dark... Protected but not included. Do you really want the harsh light of truth?"

"I don't have time for this!" Lois declares. "Where is Clark? This is important, alright. I don't have time to beat around the bush. I know he's here. I know about his abilities. I know he's the Blur."

That is when Clark finally steps in. "Since when?!" he demands to know in a stern tone.

"Clark!" Lois actually jumps a little before she takes a few moments to take in his appearance.

"Since when have you know, Lois? How long?" he continues to demand to know.

"Awhile," Lois gives a vague answer.

"That's not an answer," Clark says sternly.

"Don't get all touchy with me, Smallville," Lois tells him off. "Considering how long you lied to me!" she snaps, her hurt breaking through.

"And you lied to me!" he snaps back. "You could have just come out and told me," he points out.

"Ditto."

Clark tries real hard not to lose his temper. "It's not as simple as you think, Lois. My abilities…that's just the tip of the iceberg."

"Clark, I've trusted you with things about me I have never told anyone else. You'd think I could get the same courtesy in return."

"Are you kidding me?" he asks, unable to believe her. "I was willing to trust you with the biggest secret I have and your reaction was to run off to Africa! Without telling me!" he comes close to shouting out.

"Well, it was a lot to take in, Clark, finding out you had some illegitimate…"

"Choose your next word carefully, Lois," Clark cuts her off, his tone dangerous.

"Daughter with some other woman," Lois says, sounding a little bitter and if Mera is judging it correctly, jealous.

"So you did the grown-up thing and ran away," Clark mocks her.

"How many times have you run away, Clark?" Lois retorts. "You don't get to lecture me."

"Well, at least I'll admit those times I ran off were a mistake. I was also a teenager. What's your excuse?"

"Don't get smart with me farmboy," Lois warns him.

"Right now I'm not sure I want to be doing anything with you…ever," Clark says bluntly, his hurt bleeding through.

That remark actually seems to sting if Lois' expression is anything to go by.

Mera decides she's let this go on long enough. "What is it, that is important enough to reveal your knowledge of Clark, to bring you here Lois?"

Lois stares at Clark for a few moments with a hurt expression before putting her mask back on. "Well, since some people have apparently forsaken modern communication technology, I'm hand-delivering an S.O.S."

"About Oliver. We know."

"What? How ... how do you know that already?" Lois asks, actually surprised.

"Because I'm not some dumb-hick farmer."

"I never called you that."

Mera can feel a migraine building. These two have some serious issues. Luckily she is saved by Tess appearing on the monitor.

"Clark, I ran some tests on the alloy that you found and... Lois. Hi," the redhead says, somewhat befuddled.

"Oh it's ok. She knows about me apparently," Clark explains in a tone that shows that it is far from ok. "It just slipped her mind to mention it when we were actually together," he jabs at her.

"And it what? Slipped your mind to tell me for the last 5 years," she jabs back.

"It's not something you just tell anybody, Lois. There are people I care for that need protected," Clark defends himself.

"Yeah and just how many people do know who you are? People ahead of me? Does your baby Mama know?"

"I am not getting into that discussion," Clark tries and avoids the trap.

"Yes, talking honestly is not one of your strong suits," Lois continues to poke the bear.

Tess clears her throat loudly. "Sorry to interrupt this reboot of the Jerry Springer Show but there's something you need to know about this alloy that we tested. Clark, it can change properties. It's like some sort of multifunctional weaponry. The government is preparing for anything that comes its way."

"Including Orin. He should have been back by now," Mera interjects.

That gets Clark to refocus. "He could be at any one of the four facilities he was checking out."

"If he ended up in one of Slade's nets, I might know how to find him," Lois states as she pulls something out of her bag.

"It's the design blueprint for the prisons," Clark can see, puzzled. "How did you get these?"

"I'm guessing when she interviewed General Wilson earlier. Am I right?" Tess supposes.

"Interview?" Clark asks looking at Tess and then at Lois. "So what? You done hiding in Africa and just decided to come back and not say anything?" he inquires at a new source of hurt from her.

"You don't get a say in my life, Clark. Not anymore," Lois states clearly.

"Can you two sort this out later," Mera tells them off. "My husband may be in trouble," she points out, practically shaming the bickering couple.

The two manage to adopt a workman-like attitude. "According to what I could find there is only one facility that is operational. It's in Alaska," Lois informs them.

"That must be where Orin is," Mera determines.

"And Oliver," Tess tags on "And there may be one other," she mentions.

"What other?" Clark asks.

Tess brings up an image. "I managed to snag a satellite image of the airfield Oliver was flown out of. Just before the plane left he was joined by someone else," she relays as she zooms in and enhances the image to reveal a young woman with short dark hair. "Look familiar?"

"Oh no," Clark says as he recognises who it is. Deep worry sets in quickly. If what Tess has been saying is right then the government might have the means to hold even her captive.

"What?" Lois asks. "Who is it?"

"It's Supergirl isn't it?" Tess aims the question at Clark.

"Yes," he has to confirm.

"What? Why is she there?" Lois asks the relevant questions.

"I might be able to partially answer that," Tess says. "Supergirl has been using the Watchtower's facilities quite extensively when she thinks no-one is around. It took me awhile to piece together what she was up to. She's quite good at covering her tracks," the redhead has to give begrudging credit.

Clark takes a breath. "What did you find?"

"She's been searching for one particular person."

"Who?"

"Rose Wilson."

"Like Slade Wilson?" Lois offers.

"His daughter."

"She thinks she can get to Rose through her father," Clark surmises.

"Why?" Lois asks.

"Well that would depend on who she really is," Tess informs them. "So Clark," she turns to him, "Care to share?"

"Not particularly," he procrastinates.

All 3 women just give him a searing look.

Clark sighs and realises that under the circumstances he can't avoid answering it this time. "She's my daughter."

"Huh?" all 3 women says.

"From the future," he adds on. "She's my daughter from the future…and I knew she was here for a reason. I just hadn't figured it out yet."

"Why is she looking for this Rose Wilson?" Mera queries.

"I don't know," Clark replies, rubbing his face and then he starts to frown when he notices that the others have gone stock still. As if frozen.

"Perhaps I can answer that question for you, Kal-El."

"And the hits just keep on coming today," Clark laments, looking to the heavens before zeroing on the source of that voice. "Brainiac."

Author's Note: Lois does have an important role to play in this episode in stealing the blueprints. Plus I couldn't keep putting off her and Clark meeting up again forever. Also Brainiac adding fun to the mix. With him discovering the changes to the future you had to know that he would return. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews.