"What is he doing?" The teenage Alex asked her cousin when she saw MJ harassing his mother.
"Blackmailing mom out of a better birthday present and party." The teenage Kara explained. "Well trying, he's not making much progress."
"Wait, you actually celebrate birthdays?" The teenage Alex asked.
"Well, yeah." MJ said pausing his debate with the older Alex.
"That's really a thing?" The teenage Alex pressed.
"I still can't tell with you. Are you messing with us?" The adult Alex asked her niece.
"No." The teenager said.
"You don't celebrate birthdays?" MJ asked staring at his cousin as if she had just said the most alien thing ever.
"Mom would always give me cake and presents, but no one else out there celebrated birthdays so I just assumed it was a mom thing. Especially as she never had a birthday."
"Birthdays are a huge deal." MJ said. "Especially this year as mom owes me big time. Plus now it is the first Earth birthday party you will have gone to, it has to be huge."
-00-
"You haven't celebrated your birthday for eighteen years?" Alex asked as she walked up to her sister.
"What?" Kara asked turning.
"You've not celebrated your birthday for eighteen years?" Alex repeated.
"Is that a crime? I always celebrated Alex's birthday."
"It wasn't a criticism. It was surprise. You loved birthdays."
"And I still love Alex's birthdays." Kara said.
"But not yours?"
"I didn't really have anyone to celebrate it with and it was kind of hard to keep track of. Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I'm just thinking we have lot's of lost time to make up for."
"Does this mean I am getting eighteen birthday cakes at once?"
"If that is what you want." Alex said. "And next birthday is going to be big."
"And by next birthday do you mean Earth birthday or birthday birthday?"
"Both." Alex said.
"You're the best." Kara grinned. "Why are we talking birthdays?"
"MJ's is coming up and Alex seemed surprised we celebrate it. Don't worry, MJ is using Alex as an excuse to go big."
"What exactly do fifteen years old do for birthday parties now?"
"Video games."
"How is that any different from every other day?"
"It isn't. It is win win." Alex said. "Although this year MJ wants paintballing, bowling and pizza."
"Sounds harmless enough." Kara said.
"That's what I think every year. Is Alex going to be okay bowling?"
"Should be, she was out bowling with MJ and Kara last night." Kara said.
"I thought they were at your place last night?" Alex asked.
"Ummm." Supergirl started only to be saved by Agent Harris approaching.
"Ma'am, we think we have hit." Harris said.
"A hit?" Alex asked.
"One the Lieutenants. We have detected an abnormal radiation spike, similar to what we saw come from gems. It's weak, but there."
"On it." Supergirl said flying from the DEO.
"I wish she wouldn't just fly off like that." Alex muttered as she moved to one of the workstation and grabbed a radio.
"Remember it could be a trap." Alex warned over the radio.
"I know." Supergirl said.
-00-
"There's nothing here." Supergirl said having searched the apparent source.
"Something has to be giving off that signal." Alex said.
"I can't see anything." Supergirl said walking round the abandoned warehouse.
"Alpha team is five minutes out, they will do a full scan. Until then keep the area secure."
"Secure form what? There is literally nothing here." Supergirl said taking to the sky so she could get a better look at the whole area.
"Are you sure?" Alex pressed.
"Yes. No wait, I have something. There is a rabbit. But no carrot and no snark so I don't think Bugs is up to anything."
"Something is giving off that signal." Alex said.
"There's not even power here." Kara replied.
"Ma'am, we have lost the signal." Rose said.
"What do you mean lost?"
"It's gone."
"Gone where?" Alex asked before reaching for the radio.
"Can you hear anything out of place?" She asked her sister.
"No. Like I said it is dead here."
"I want every grain of dust scanned." Alex said to Rose. "Something gave off the signal, figure out what it was."
"Yes ma'am."
-00-
"There was nothing there." Alex said as she reviewed the report.
"I did tell you that." Supergirl said.
"Something gave off that signal." Alex countered.
"Perhaps it was a sensor blip?"
"I had them recalibrate the sensors this afternoon and they are working fine."
"What if they can travel to parallel universes and we only see them when they are not hiding? Or what if it is like when Barry uses Speed Force?"
"Does Speed Force still exist?" Alex asked, not keeping up with Barry's exploits.
"Don't know. May do. Or something similar." Supergirl said.
"I guess it's not completely crazy. Do you have time to talk to Barry?" Alex asked.
"Of course. But not now. I have to get to CatCo, I am so late. I'll see him later." Supergirl said disappearing.
-00-
"Kara! Hey." Barry greeted when his friend appeared in front of him holding ice cream.
"Hi Barry. I have ice cream."
"I can see." He grinned. "How are you doing?"
"Well I can eat ice cream so I'm pretty good. Well better than last time." She said handing him a cone. "How are you?"
"I'm fine."
"Still not missing the Flash?" Kara asked.
"Still not missing the Flash." Barry confirmed. "Why do you need help?"
"Yes, but not Flash help. More Flash knowledge help."
"Okay."
"Can speed force be used to hide things?"
"Things?"
"People, gems, psychotic warlords." Kara listed.
"In theory. But to what end? I mean if they had access to Speed Force they would probably use it to travel in time."
"Time travel is bad." Kara said.
"Yes." Barry confirmed. "Besides, none of the Lieutenants were fast. I mean the gems gave them strength not speed."
"You're right. I guess I am grasping at straws."
"Want to brainstorm?"
"You have time?"
"Always. Why don't we get some dinner and you fill me in?"
-00-
"Not speed force." Kara said entering Alex's house only to see three confused teenagers staring back at her.
"Hello?" The teenage Kara asked.
"Sorry. Where's your mom?"
"Work."
"Still?"
"You came in saying speed force, that kind of implies you are still in the clock as well." MJ pointed out.
"You have a small point." The adult Kara said. "Everything okay here?"
"You think it wouldn't be?" MJ asked.
"Three teenagers, alone. There's room for suspicion." The adult Kara replied.
"What have I done?" The teenage Alex asked.
"Don't play innocent, I haven't forgotten the kale stunt." Her mother replied.
"Should we be happy that is the level of the bar?" MJ asked his sister.
"Just roll with it." The older teenager replied.
"I'm going to the DEO. I'll see you later." The adult Kara said.
-00-
"What are you still doing here?" Kara asked entering Alex's office.
"Working. Did you see Barry?"
"Not speed force."
"Did have any bright ideas?"
"Plenty." Kara said handing Alex several scraps of paper.
"Is this a napkin?" Alex asked looking at one of the scraps.
"Yeah, we were eating doughnuts when he had another idea." Kara said, the mention of food causing Alex's stomach to growl.
"I take it you've not eaten." Kara said.
"No time."
"There's always time for food." Kara countered before taking the papers off Alex.
"What are you doing?" Alex asked.
"Out there you have a team, who live in a permanent state of fear of what you might do to them, who are ready to do their jobs. So I am going to give them these ideas. Then I am taking you home so you can eat and sleep. Besides don't you need to conserve energy for MJ's birthday?"
"I thought you were going to help with that?"
"And cramp Alex's first Earth birthday party? No way. You're on your own." Kara said.
"But you have powers." Alex said.
"They're just kids." Kara replied.
"Is this revenge for teaching Alex to pout?"
"No. That revenge will be served cold. Very cold."