"This map has the hotspots for where we know the drug is being consumed." Rose said pointing at the screen. "We are watching twenty of them, but we still haven't figured out how the drugs are getting to them." Rose said as twenty patches started to flash. "This map represents all the hits that Kara's Cam search yielded." Rose said pulling up another map. "There is no correlation with our drug hotspots."
"Which makes sense as they are likely to use Cam to create it not use it. And they won't want to risk Cam." Alex said.
"The other hits, as in the ones Cory said were worth investigating, we don't have the man power for. But there is one hit we think is interesting." Rose went on. Pointing to a dot way out of the city.
"Why that one?" Kara asked.
"It is at a gas station on a road that leads here." Rose said pointing at another part of the map.
"What's there?" Kara asked.
"It's somewhere where they may, I stress may, be trying to recreate Cyberwalk." Alex said. "But it makes no sense. Why have Cam at the same location, it increases risk."
"Unless they want to transfer to Cam?" Kara suggested.
"Cyberwalk is dangerous, Cam doesn't heal like you do, so it would be a big risk." Alex said. "And it seems too easy."
"You think trap?" Vasquez said.
"Yes." Alex confirmed.
"So what do we do?" Kara asked.
"You stay far, far way from that part of the map." Alex said to her sister. "We are sending in autonomous bots, we'll see what they yield."
"Ma'am." Keane called over. "We have a problem."
"What?" Alex asked.
"Lobo has returned."
"Of course he has." Kara said. "Where is he?"
"He's coming this way, at speed."
"What do you mean this way?" Alex asked.
"Literally heading right for us." Keane said before there was a loud roar outside the window, causing the windows to shake, before Lobo rode off.
"Did he just Buzz us?" Kara asked.
"Looked that way." Alex confirmed. "Where is he heading?"
"They. There were two people on the bike." Keane said. "And to the desert we think."
"I'll-" Kara started.
"Don't even finish that statement. You aren't going alone." Alex warned.
"Bu-"
"I'm coming with you." Alex said. "It isn't negotiable."
00
As the sisters landed they saw Lobo drinking from a flask while Frax stood nearby.
"Frax?" Kara asked confused.
"Kara, I am glad that you have recovered." He smiled.
"What's going on?" Kara asked confused.
"Lobo's reputation is everything and he would hate to be in breach of contract, especially as he prides himself on always fulfilling a contract. And where he might excel physically, he is no match for our lawyers." Frax said, the statement not bringing clarity, but he went on. "He is employed to keep Alex safe and ensure no harm comes to her. His actions against you clearly brought harm to Alex. While he has argued no physical harm came to Alex, out lawyers proved emotional harm is still harm, thus he breached. For that there must be consequences. Lobo had a choice. To do as we say, and protect his reputation, or for us to make the breach public, thus destroying his reputation." Frax explained. "He chose the former."
"Which means?" Kara asked.
"My mother believed that you would be too soft on Lobo. Therefore she has taken matters into her own hands and Lobo, as per the agreement would like to say something." Frax said turning to Lobo, who just stood staring at him with murderous intent.
"If you would like me to report another breach I will. Happily." Frax warned.
"Fine. But first I need a drink." Lobo said pulling out another hip flask.
"We're waiting." Frax said, clearly enjoying himself.
"I'm sorry." Lobo said.
"I'm sorry, I don't think Kara heard or felt it." Frax said as Kara and Alex looked at each other, clearly confused.
"I'm sorry." Lobo said looking like he was choking on his words.
"For what?" Frax asked. "And address Kara."
"Trying to kill yer."
"Have we jumped to a parallel world?" Kara asked her sister.
"I have no idea." Alex replied as Frax stepped towards them saying.
"It has been agreed that Lobo will only come near you if there is a threat to Alex. While Alex remains the focus of the contract, if Lobo can save you without endangering Alex, he will."
"Really?" Kara asked looking from Lobo to Frax.
"Really." Frax smiled. "And as well as all the other conditions my mother added, you have three requests, with no time limits. You can task Lobo three times, he will have to fulfil the same conditions he has on the Alex contract, so there will be no killing or maiming."
"I don-" Kara started to say only for her sister to jump in.
"What about Hals-Sa?"
"What?" Kara asked.
"Hals-Sa. We need to find him and it would get Lobo off planet."
"That's true." Kara said. "But can we trust him?"
"He will be monitored." Frax added.
"Okay, I want you to find Hals-Sa." Kara said.
"Sounds boring."
"Sounds like you don't have choice." Frax smiled.
"Should have never signed the mini-supes contract." Lobo muttered storming off to his bike before riding off.
"You enjoyed that?" Kara said to Frax.
"Of course. I am no match for him physically, but I am happy to hang on to my mother's coat tails and beat him with lawyers." Frax said. "What he did to you was unacceptable. He deserves to pay."
"Well thank you." Kara said.
"How is Alex?"
"She will love to see you, but she did go through one of those hormone bursts."
"Is she okay?" Frax asked frowning.
"She's getting there."
00
"Look who I found." Kara said as she entered the house.
"Frax!" Alex smiled before hugging her uncle.
"Hello Alex." He said.
"Why don't you two catch up tonight?" Kara suggested.
"You sure?" The teen asked her mother.
"Of course." Kara smiled.
"See you later." The teen said hugging her mother goodbye before leading Frax out of the house.
"MJ is working at Lena's so it is just us." Alex said to her sister and mother.
"Good." Eliza said looking at Kara.
"I don't like the looks both of you are giving me." Kara said looking between the pair.
"We're worried about you." Alex said.
"Me? What about you?"
"You have both pushed yourselves too hard." Eliza said. "You have both taken on too much responsibility." She said before looking back at Kara. "But you died and you are acting like it was nothing." She then turned to Alex. "As for you, Kara didn't even want to go spend a few days alone with Diz because she is so worried about you. You more than anyone should know what that pressure could do to her." She then took a breath and said. "I'm going to cook dinner. When you are ready to talk I will be in the kitchen." She said turning.
"Is Eliza mad at me?" Kara asked her sister once Eliza had gone.
"Yes."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"You sure we're not dreaming? I mean Eliza is never mad at me." Kara went on.
"Maybe that is why you get into trouble so much." Alex countered.
"Are you mad at me?"
"Honestly?"
"Yes."
"Right now I am too tired to be mad at anyone." Alex said. "But if I wasn't I would be mad."
"Sorry." The older Kara said.
"Do you even know what you are apologising for?"
"Nearly dying?"
"According to you, you did die. I can't lose you again." Alex said. "Neither than mom."
"I know." Kara said as he walked to the kitchen.
"Where are you going?"
"To talk to Eliza?"
"She may need more time." Alex warned following her sister. Kara, however, ignored the warning and entered the kitchen where Eliza was chopping carrots. She then approached Eliza and took the knife off her and carefully put it down before saying.
"The whole dying thing wasn't that bad for me. I mean I don't remember much, just a feeling of coldness and dread. But after I came to I was in so much pain and I didn't have my powers back. I had to lie in the dark, unable to do anything. Then I heard Alex's alarm. I knew she was in trouble and I couldn't do anything. I had to just lie there thinking about all the things Lobo might be doing to her and then I remembered what happened with Tycho and I …" She trailed off as she started to cry.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Alex asked as she and Eliza hugged her.
"When have I had time?" Kara asked.
"That's the problem." Eliza said. "You have to make time."
"How?" Kara asked, with a hint of desperation. "I mean there is so much happening and Tycho is out there somewhere, so is Malaise, and they know who Alex is. And they have got to her before. If I don't find them she isn't safe."
"I know." Eliza said. "But if something happens to you, she won't be safe either." Eliza then pulled away from Kara and reminded her. "You may be the girl of steel, but your heart is just as fragile, if not more fragile, as everyone else's. For Alex's sake you have to admit you are not okay and accept the help everyone is trying to give you."
"I'm trying. But I don't want to think about what happened, about how helpless I was. I can't change what happened. All I can do is stop it happening again. That means not dwelling on it."
"Running away from it isn't going to help."
"I'm not running away from it. I'm just … ignoring it."
"Which isn't healthy." Eliza said. "I know you look up to your sister, but following her example here is not good." She added causing the older Alex to open her mouth in protest, but on seeing her mother's warning look she decided better of it and remained silent. "You need to heal. And we want to help you. So let us. Tell us what you need."
"I don't know." Kara said before said. "I just need Alex to be okay and to make it up to her."
"What happened wasn't your fault." Alex reminded.
"That doesn't matter. When Alex's powers spiralled out of control and I was in the cell with her, she was projecting her memories and feelings. She was so distraught. And I did that."
"Lobo did that." Alex reminded her before asking. "Why didn't you tell me Alex shared all of that."
"It didn't seem important."
"Kara, it made you live through it. It took its toll on you. Of course it is important." Eliza said. "This is what I am talking about. You have to recover. So what can we do to help?"
For a moment Kara said nothing before finally saying, her tone almost questioning. "A hug?"