A/N: Thanks for the reviews.
Baratta jennifer -Thank you
"Morning." Kara said coming into her sister's kitchen where her daughter and MJ were having breakfast.
"You still have your powers?" The teenage Alex asked.
"Yes."
"So you're okay?"
"I'm fine. Although I feel this conversation is the wrong way round." Kara said. "You okay?"
"I'm fine. Except school has been cancelled."
"Then why are you two up so early?"
"The message only just came out." MJ said before looking at his cousin and asking. "A better question is why do you sound so disappointed about it?"
"We were meant to have double math today." The teenage Alex pointed out.
"I repeat my question." MJ said.
"Math is fun."
"Comments like that give away you are an alien." MJ pointed out.
"Where's your mom and grandmother?" Kara cut in.
"Still asleep. I guess." MJ shrugged. "I mean mom only got back a four hours ago."
"Are you working today?" Alex asked her mother.
"Yes."
"Can I hang out with Martin then?"
"Sure." Kara smiled she then looked at her nephew and asked. "How are you doing?"
"Fine." He said before adding. "Thanks for checking on Carlton."
"Of course." Kara smiled. "Okay, I better go. If you see your mom can you tell her I'm around if she needs me?"
"Sure." MJ said.
00
"What are you doing here?" Alex asked her sister when she finally made it to the DEO.
"Helping with the Earthquake investigation."
"You are meant to be taking it easy." Alex reminded her.
"I am. How are you feeling?"
"Better. The lie in helped." Alex said as Vasquez approached them.
"We have an emergency over at waterfront."
"What is it?"
"Major gas leak and a fuel container just blew."
"On it." Supergirl said flying off as Alex followed Vasquez to the control as they arrived Kara came over the radio.
"We have another problem."
"What?" Alex asked, impatiently waiting for the video feeds in the control room.
"It is like a gas tanker convention here. And there is a huge cargo ship heading in, and it doesn't looking like it is stopping."
"They can't shut off the gas, the valve is broken." Vasquez reported as Supergirl put out the first fire. Once she was done she looked around. "I'm going to start by flying the gas tankers to safety." Supergirl said as there was another explosion.
"What was that?" Alex asked.
"Another container went." Supergirl said putting out the fire. "But how? The flames are spreading underground." She guessed before flying through a drain cover and using her freeze breath to stop the fire as it ran the length of the underground passage. With the flames under control she reported over the radio. "Alex, it smells like gasoline down here."
"You think there is a leak?"
"I don't know. It is from all over the walls, like they have been coated." She said.
"We'll figure it out, but you need to get above ground. Things are going south." Alex said.
"On it." Supergirl said flying up to the ground. As she reached the ground she said. "That shipping container is getting really close."
"Can you stop it?" Alex asked.
"I guess." Kara said. "But what about the gas."
"Can you distribute it?"
"I can try." Kara said blowing out hard. As she did so she heard screaming from the side and saw the shipping container had almost reached the harbour. She was about to take off towards it when she saw a blur in front of it moments before it came to a stop. As it did she saw a caped figure in front of it.
"Who is that?" She asked as the caped figure flew towards where she was and started to move the gas trucks.
Just as Alex reported over the radio the gas had been cut off the figure landed in front of Supergirl.
"You're welcome." He smiled.
"Um, who are you?" Supergirl asked.
"I'm the future." The man said flashing bright white teeth,
"Future of what?" Supergirl asked.
"This nation, this world. Take your pick. Or to put simply, I'm the new you."
"The new me?"
"Yeah, the younger, more powerful model. Or the upgrade."
"What?"
"You can retire."
"Retire?" Supergirl asked lost.
"Catch you later." He said flying off.
00
"Who was that?" Supergirl asked flying back into the DEO. "Apart from a jerk."
"We have no idea." Alex said. "He has not been on any of our watch lists."
"He can't just come from no where."
"Don't worry, we are looking." Alex said. "But it could be he has taken the drug, if so that is why we have no record of him. If that is the case we have bigger problems than an inflated ego." She added before asking. "Any chance you picked up some of his DNA?"
"No. He kept a respectful distance, while being a complete jerk."
"Don't let him get to you." Alex said.
"Easier said than done." Kara said. "But it wasn't just that he was a jerk, there was something about him, it gave me an uneasy feeling. We need to figure out who he is."
"We don't have long to wait. He is giving interviews on primetime." Vasquez said approaching them as Kara's phone rang. Reading the message Kara said.
"I have to get to CatCo."
"We'll let you know if we find anything." Alex said.
00
"Go straight in." Cat's latest assistant said as Kara approached the desk.
"Thanks." Kara said entering Cat's office as Cat greeted with the word.
"Door."
Obediently Kara shut the door and waited for Cat to speak.
"Well?" Cat asked looking up.
"Well what?"
"Who was he?"
"We don't know." Kara said.
"But you don't like him?" Cat guessed.
"No."
"Because he showed you up?"
"No, because he is a jerk and something about him I don't trust."
"Well whoever he is, he is making a play. In the last thirty minutes he has gone viral, and not just the scene where he showed you up. Since then he has been a rescue machine."
"I thought he was arranging a primetime interview." Kara said.
"Apparently PR and rescues go hand in hand. I'd guess he's about to do something very eye catching before flying to the interview. This has been very well orchestrated." Cat said wondering who was behind it. She then turned her chair and pulled up the news channel that was going to show the interview. Without turning back to Kara she said. "My guess is whatever is about to be said will in part try to provoke you. Don't react." She warned before turning up the volume.
"Good evening, I'm Poppy Hunter, live from National City, where we have an exclusive interview with a new hero who burst onto the scene less than two hours ago. But since then he has been all round the city helping the citizens. He vibrant energy is definitely infectious and has so far been warmly welcomed. I hear he is just preventing the State bridge from collapsing, from damage sustained in the Earthquake. So while we wait, let's play his highlight reel." She said as the image cut to action scenes.
"A highlight reel. He has only been around two hours." Kara mumbled.
"What did I say about reacting?" Cat asked. "The question is how did they edit it so quickly." She added as the image cut back to the reporter.
"Quite a man, or maybe alien. At the moment we don't know. But we will any minute as he is flying here as we speak." She said enthusiastically moments before he appeared in the chair opposite her. "Hello?" She said slightly surprised.
"Hello Ms Hunter." The man smiled.
"Please call me Poppy." She smiled back.
"Hello Poppy." He corrected.
"Thank you for coming down here." She replied.
"It's a pleasure. I want full transparency, so please ask whatever you want."
"Let's start with your name."
"Indomitable." He grinned, flashing bright white teeth. "At least that is my work name, well the name I use now. But unlike some I don't feel the need to hide my identity. I am proud of who I was, who I am and what I am." He said. "So if you want my birth name it is Tyler Dunkley. I am born and raised in National City and American through and through."
"I think the big question is why now. You clearly have amazing powers, but why use them now? "
"Supergirl has done great things for this city, this country, but we all saw in the tunnel collapse, and how she disappeared after, she is no longer at the top of her game. It's time for younger, fresher heroes to step up. I would like to be that hero, or at least one of them."
"So there are more of you?"
"Yes, there are hundreds in America and this is an invitation to them, join me. Together we can keep this country safe and you can get the recognition we deserve. Together we can do what is right for the country, not what the government tells us. We won't serve political or corporate agendas." He said before pausing. "I'm sorry, there is a fire down town. I need to go, but if your network is okay with it, I am happy to do an interview everyday this week." He said before flying off.
"Did he just call me a political and corporate puppet?" Kara asked.
"Yes." Cat said turning off the TVs and turning round. "It was short, punchy and he got his key messages across. PR is either another power or he has been coached. Coaching is more likely, but it takes time, longer than the time between the tunnel collapse and now. Like I said this has been well planned."
"So he wants to replace me?" Supergirl asked.
"Well people have tried to discredit you before and you came through. A straight replacement is an interesting tactic." Cat said before asking. "Are you worried about being replaced?"
"No. Well maybe a small part, but overall no. I mean I work with other heroes all the time."
"With not for." Cat said. "You heard him, he is a leader. He has no interest in working with you."
"What do I do?"
"Kara he owns this wave. Whatever you do will reflect badly on you."
"So what do I do?"
"Nothing. Use the time to focus on Alex. And then when he does screw up you go in and save the day."