"Wow, you look terrible. Did I miss a party here?" The teenage Kara asked when she came home the next morning.
"Morning to you too." Alex said. "What are you doing here? I thought you were staying with Diz?"
"I did, but today I am hanging with MJ."
"What about Alex?"
"She's joining us after lunch. She and aunt Kara are doing something this morning. So where is MJ?"
"Shower."
"Is he okay?"
"Honestly, I don't know." Alex sighed.
"In that case can I break him out of here?"
"At this stage I think his grounding is self imposed." Alex said.
"I thought he was grounded until college?" Her daughter said.
"While I may have said that, right now I think it's better for him if he isn't grounded."
"So I can break him out?" Kara clarified.
"Yes."
"And can I borrow the car?"
"Sure." Alex said too tired to ask why.
"So what's wrong with you?" Her daughter asked.
"What do you mean?"
"You look like you had no sleep and now you aren't even questioning why I need the car."
"I didn't get much sleep." Alex said. "But I'm fine and I trust you."
"Mom, thanks for what you did yesterday with Diz's mom."
"Tell me if she ever makes contact." Alex replied.
"I will." Her daughter said as MJ entered the kitchen.
"Thought you were staying with Diz?" MJ yawned.
"I did. But now it is daytime so get your stuff."
00
"You know today is Sunday, part of the weekend, a day not for work?" Kara asked when she entered her sister's house that afternoon and saw her beavering on a laptop.
"I know, but until we have figured this out I can't rest."
"Yet every time I have tried working through weekends you have stopped me. So what's happened?"
"MJ opened up a little last night, he didn't give me anything to go on. But he did explain how he felt, and I can't believe I missed it."
"At least he is talking." Kara said.
"How are things with Alex?" Her sister asked.
"No nighttime use of powers. But she keeps looking at me like I am about to collapse."
"Well you scared her." The older Alex reminded her. "And for someone who is almost invincible you get hurt an awful lot."
"Yet you are the one with a limp." Kara countered.
"That's a low blow." Alex said tossing a cushion at her sister.
"So how are you doing really?" Kara asked sitting next to her sister.
"I feel like a failure."
"Why?"
"I didn't notice MJ was basically possessed. If I had been around more I would have done. And then when I'm at work I can't even do my job. I mean Tycho got you and I had no idea. Lobo took Alex. And then there is the fact that someone made a chemical that can kill you and every other alien. We don't know who wrote that journal. We do know the chemical was made. We found a batch of it, but not all of it. So someone else could have it. Or maybe Tycho reversed engineered it. Either way it is out there."
"But you have a cure? I mean you used it on me."
"Kind of, but not really. It was last ditch and didn't do that much, most of it was you. We are working on it, but we are a long way short of where I want to be." Alex said.
"Sounds like you need Pizza"
"Yes."
"That was very enthusiastic." Kara commented.
"Well MJ cooked last night so I am starving."
"His cooking can't be that bad?"
"Apparently that belief comes from his previous attempts, which had Kara helping in the background. Without Kara's help it's almost as bad as yours. But he went to so much effort I couldn't exactly order more food after."
"I could have snuck some over." Kara said.
"You probably would have eaten it on the way." Alex shrugged.
"Probably." Kara agreed. "But how come you didn't get lunch?"
"I worked through." Alex confessed.
"Well I ordered pizza before I came round, so it should be here soon."
"So what's wrong with you?" Alex asked.
"Me? Nothing. Why?"
"Crinkle."
"Damn it." Kara said rubbing the feature.
"So what's wrong?"
"Malaise."
"He attacked you?" Alex asked sitting up straighter.
"No. But he's out there and I can't forget what it did to Alex and Kara and MJ. What if he goes after them again?"
"I don't know what to say." Alex sighed as there was a knock at the door.
"Pizza." Kara said jumping up and going to the front door. Only as she opened it she saw Diz. "Hi."
"Hey." Diz smiled, but seeing Kara's slightly disappointed look he guessed. "You thought I was the pizza guy?"
"No. Well yes, but it's fine. Come in."
"Is Kar back yet?"
"No. Not yet." Kara said leading him to the lounge. As she walked in she said to Alex. "Not the pizza guy."
"You've been dating Kara for how long and still don't know to bring food when her slightly whacky aunt may be around?" Alex asked the teen.
"My bad." Diz said. "You want me to run out and get something?"
"It's fine, pizza will be here soon." Kara said. "Although if the kids are coming back I should have ordered more."
"We can order more when they get back." Alex countered.
"Fine." Kara said sitting back down next to her sister.
For a moment Diz stood slightly awkwardly before saying to Alex.
"Thanks for what you did with my mom."
"I just talked to her." Alex said. "Why didn't you tell us she was hassling you?"
"You were dealing with all the important stuff."
"This was important." Kara said.
"Next time tell us." Alex added.
"I will." Diz said. "Thanks."
"So how is college going?" Kara asked him.
"Hard. But okay."
"What about the DEO training?"
"That doesn't really start until after graduation." Alex pointed out.
"But I thought you had training every month?" Kara asked Diz.
"I do, but that's just the basics. The real stuff is later." Diz said.
"Is Alex running it?"
"No."
"Well if that changes and you need a rescue, you know how to contact me." Kara smiled. "I know how brutal her torture sessions are."
"I'm right here you know?" Alex pointed out.
"Anytime. Day or night." Kara said to Diz, ignoring her sister.
Diz was saved from responding by the front door opening and the three teens returning.
"Hey, everything okay?" The teenage Kara asked approaching Diz.
"Yes, we were just discussing exit strategies." Her aunt said.
"From what?" The teenage Kara asked.
"Your mom's training regime." Her aunt explained before asking. "You guys have plans for tonight?"
"Not yet." Her daughter said.
"How about games night then?"
00
"You four need to improve." The older Alex said a couple of hours later. "You were woeful."
"Pretty sure you cheated." The teenage Alex countered.
"Against you guys we wouldn't need to." Her aunt assured her.
"Don't you think you are gloating a little too much?" The older Kara asked her sister.
"Need to prevent over confidence." Alex shrugged.
"Maybe next time we should pick the game?" Her daughter said.
"Bring it on." The older Alex countered.
"This is your future." The older Kara said to Diz. "And again, anytime you need a rescue, call."
"It is only you who dislikes training." The older Alex said. "Perhaps you should act more like your daughter."
"And eat green stuff?" Kara asked.
"I meant embrace training." Alex countered.
"I may be an alien, but I'm not that alien." Kara responded.
"So you are saying I'm a freak?" Her daughter asked, sounding a little upset.
"Nooooooo." Kara said buying some time. "I'm saying you have strange tastes, that have been corrupted by your aunt." She said before looking at her wrist and adding. "Oh is that the time, we should go."
"You aren't actually wearing a watch." Her sister pointed out.
"Yet I know it is late. Call it an alien power." Kara said standing.
"Can't we stay and watch a movie?" Her daughter asked.
"No it's late." Kara said. "And you have school tomorrow. But you can stay here until I get back from dropping your cousin off."
00
"Thank you." The teenage Kara said when they landed.
"Anytime." The older Kara smiled.
"I talked to Alex."
"And?"
"She claims to be fine. And she isn't being bullied or anything like that. But she is still really stressed about you getting hurt and her not being able to stop Lobo." The teenager said.
"How is she meant to stop Lobo? I can't stop Lobo." The older Kara said.
"Diz pointed that out, but I'm not sure she listened." The teen said. "When I'm back next weekend I'll talk to her again."
"Thank you." Her aunt said. "But don't forget it is your vacation and you are meant to be having fun."
"I will, besides it will be more fun if Alex and MJ are back to normal."
"Yes it will." The older Kara said. "I'll see you next Friday."