"You could make a run for it. I'll stay here and buy you time." MJ offered.
"It's okay." Alex sighed. "I'll go."
"But you said he's a jerk."
"He's is. But I have experience in handling them." She said to her cousin before apologising. "Sorry."
"It's okay. I deserve it." He shrugged before offering. "Want me to come with you?"
"It's fine. Stay here." Alex said walking to the door. When she saw MJ follow her she asked. "What are you doing?"
"Going with you. As a former jerk I may have some skills that are useful." He said.
"Thanks." Alex said as they walked down the long hallway towards the lounge.
"Anything I should know apart from him being a jerk?" MJ asked.
"That pretty much covers it." Alex said when they reached the door. "Last chance to back out." She said.
"I'm good." MJ said entering the room with Alex. Once they stepped inside he saw three male teens who stood and looked at the pair.
"Who are you?" The tallest male asked.
"MJ." The teen said. "And I'm guessing you are Schiff."
Confused the Dakran male looked at Alex and said. "It's not appropriate to associate with other males."
"What?" Alex asked.
"You are already an outsider, a half breed, if I am to take you into my family you can't have any more problems."
"What?" Alex asked.
"If we are to continue with the contract, then you must become acceptable." He said.
"What contract?" Alex asked.
"I believe you people call it marriage."
"When did you get engaged?" MJ whispered to his cousin.
"Beats me." Alex said.
"Your relationship is to end." Schiff said looking between Alex and MJ.
"Relationship?" Alex asked. "Wait you think we're… gross… he's my cousin."
"Thanks." MJ said dryly.
"Regardless, you should learn to ask permission from me from now on."
"I don't think so." Alex said trying not to lose her temper.
"You know nothing. You will always be a nothing here. Regardless of what you want you need me." Schiff said smugly.
"Only we are leaving this planet soon." MJ said taking the wind out of Schiff's sails. "But even if we weren't do you really think we would let some like you marry into our family? I mean we have taste. Oh and standards."
"What did you say?"
"I said you're not good enough." MJ said moments before one of the males next to Schiff punched MJ, just as Frax entered the room. As MJ crashed to the floor landing hard on his already broken ribs Frax marched towards the group and demanded.
"What is going on?"
"The outsider insulted me." Schiff said.
"So you punched him?" Frax asked.
"No. Kasliz did."
"You are here as a guest." Frax pointed out. "Whereas MJ is here as family."
"Not real family. Just like this half breed." Schiff said.
"Well you will never be part of this family. Your mother failed a Nardo ago and you will fail now. Leave." Frax ordered causing the three teens to walk off muttering.
"Looks like your engagement is off." MJ said nursing his jaw as Alex helped him sit up.
"Engagement?" Frax asked confused.
"Schiff wanted to train Alex to be a good bride." MJ said.
"That is why my mother had you meet him?" He asked.
"I don't think she knew that was his plan. And she did warn me." She said as she helped her cousin to his feet, the movement causing him pain.
"What's wrong?" Alex asked.
"Ribs still aren't fixed." He said wincing. "I'll be okay."
"You sure?"
"I'm fine." He said before looking at Frax and pointing out. "Seeing we find trouble regardless of planet you may as well take Alex home."
"Nice try, but while Lobo is out there the trouble here is no where near as bad." Frax argued.
00
"You should sleep." Alex said glancing over to her sister.
"I can't."
"You still in pain?"
"It's not that. Every time I close my eyes I see Alex screaming in pain."
"I'm sorry you had to see that." Alex said. "It was the only way we could think of to find you."
"You sure J'onn is okay?"
"He is. Although he is following medical advice so probably isn't as okay as he claims."
"Is Tycho really dead?"
"They found his body." Alex confirmed.
"He was so angry at me. He said I was a hypocrite and I am. He was right, people have got hurt because of me."
"And plenty more have been saved." Alex said. "Kara he was insane."
"Doesn't make him wrong."
"If you are such a bad person and bring such bad things why was the world so happy when you returned?" Alex asked.
"Short memories?"
00
"How are the ribs?" The teenage Alex asked her cousin.
"They're okay." MJ shrugged, although his expression implied he was in a lot of pain.
"Do you want me to find you some pain killers?"
"I'm fine." MJ lied.
"You don't have to punish yourself." Alex said.
"Not what I'm doing, although I feel I should."
"It wasn't all you."
"Enough of it was." MJ said wincing as he moved.
"Thanks for what you did in there." Alex said.
"No problem." MJ said just as Alex heard a familiar voice call her name. Turning she saw her mother and aunt in the distance and she immediately ran to her her mother and hugged her.
"Did Lobo hurt you?" Kara immediately asked.
"No, I'm fine." The teen said holding her tightly.
"You sure?" Kara asked.
"Yes. I missed you. I wanted to get back, but I couldn't."
"You're safe, that's all that matters." Kara said holding her as Alex approached MJ.
"Are you okay?" Alex asked hugging her son.
"Yes." He said trying not to wince as his ribs were squeezed.
"I'm proud of you, but you are grounded until college."
"I know." MJ said knowing there was no point in arguing. As he pulled away he looked over to his aunt and cousin and asked his mother.
"Is Aunt Kara okay?"
Before Alex could answer Alex's grandparents entered the room.
"You have made it." The grandmother greeted. "I am glad you are well."
"Where's Lobo now?" Kara asked still holding onto Alex.
"We don't know. He took his payment and left." The grandmother explained. "I know you do not approve of what we did. But we wanted Alex to be safe." The grandmother said. "We know Lobo is dangerous and can never be controlled. But it is better to have him as an ally than an enemy and we do not regret our actions. Especially as Alex is safe." She explained as Kara started to lose focus. "And we have kept Alex safe." She went on as Alex felt her mother resting more weight on her.
"Mom?" She asked just as Kara passed out.
"Kara?" The older Alex called rushing to her side.
"What's wrong with her?" The teenager asked.
"Your mom got hurt. As soon as she woke up she insisted on finding you, but that meant we left Earth before she was fully healed." The older Alex explained.
"Frax bring her." Alex's grandmother said. Seeing no one was moving she added. "Now."
Confused Frax scooped Kara up and followed his mother down the corridor to a small room where he was directed to put her on a bed. The grandmother then turned to the teenage Alex and said.
"After we learned of your mother's heritage, we built this room, just in case." She said before turning to the older Alex and saying. "You can check the designs, but I believe we have replicated the yellow sun."
00
"Mom?" Alex asked when she saw her mother open her eyes.
"Hey. You okay?" Kara asked wearily before focusing more and asking. "Where am I?"
"Dakran. Infirmary. You collapsed." The teen listed.
"They have solar lamps here?" Kara asked sitting up confused.
"They're prepared." The teen shrugged as Kara pulled her into a hug.
"I missed you so much. I was so worried about you."
"I wasn't the one who collapsed." The teen replied. "Are you okay?"
"I am now." Kara said holding her tightly. "Sorry I scared you." In response her daughter silently clung to her. But after a while Kara pulled away so she could look at her. As she did so she asked.
"You sure you are okay?"
"I'm fine." The teen said. "Especially now you are here."
"What happened with Lobo?"
"He grabbed me, locked me in a room on his ship and then threw me here and left." Alex summarised.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you." Kara said hugging her again. "I was so scared when I heard he had you."
"I wanted to get back, but they wouldn't let me."
"Your grandparents?" Kara guessed.
"Yes."
"Well they were right. You were safer here." Kara said.
"I was worried about you."
"I know but I am okay and no matter how long it takes I will always come for you."
"I know that, but I missed you."
"I missed you too." Kara said. "But I'm here now."
"And you're okay?"
"I am."
"Are you?"
"I'm fine. I feel much better." Kara promised her.
"Do you want me to get Alex?" The teen asked.
"No, I'm okay." Kara smiled. "Why don't you tell me what you have been up to?"
"Asking Frax to take me home. I may have annoyed him."
"I'm sure he understands." Kara said before commenting. "You look tired."
"Well I've not got much sleep."
"Why don't you get some rest, then after that you can show me round?" Kara suggested.
"What about you?"
"I think your aunt would prefer I stay under the lamps."
"But will you?"
"Quit worrying. I'll get some rest too." Kara promised. "But one more hug before you go." She added.