A/N: Thanks for the reviews.
Baratta jennifer - Thank you.
As the DEO team stepped through the portal the older Alex carefully took in her surroundings, every so often glancing at her niece as the other teams ensured the area was secure. When the lead team reported it was safe Alex looked round the assembled group.
"We are going to start the search. Team Uniform guard this portal. Do not leave your post." Alex ordered. She then turned to Diz, Ruby and Alex.
"You three stay here until we call you forward. When we call, stick to our route. Do not deviate and you," she said looking at Alex, "do whatever they say. Don't forget what will happen if you don't."
"I won't." The teen said.
"Ruby, if you have to evacuate, do it. Alex is your priority." The older Alex said to Ruby.
"Yes boss." Ruby said.
"Based on our estimates the range is good for half a mile. After that we will call you forward. We don't have the resources to protect the route so go carefully."
"I will." Ruby said.
The older Alex then turned to the main team and said. "Let's go."
00
"You okay?" Diz asked Alex as they waited by the Portal.
"Yeah."
"You sure? You look not okay."
"This place gives me the creeps." The teen confessed.
"It does have some bad vibes." Ruby agreed. "But we've got you."
"But who has mom?"
"We'll get her." Ruby said.
00
As the older Alex led the main team through some dark tunnels they saw some armed aliens in the distance. Signalling her team they hid in the shadows and watched. Moments later a door opened and some beaten lifeform was dragged from one room to further down the corridor before being tossed in another room.
Turning to her team Alex gave more hand signals resulting in a sub group silently rushing and subduing the unexpecting guards.
With the guards subdued the next group of DEO agents went into the room they were guarding. Inside was a cell with several lifeforms. Alex quickly scanned the room for sister and found no sign. But as she scanned the occupants of the cell start to speak all in alien dialects.
"I think that is Solwitian." One of the DEO agents said recognising some words.
"Figure out what is happening." Alex ordered. "You two stay with him. Everyone else with me." She then led her team further into the dark maze of tunnels. As they walked they passed several cells, all of which contained various aliens, all of whom looked scared. Getting a bad feeling Alex's progress was stopped as the agents she had left with the Solwitian, approached with the alien.
"Director." Agent Patino called.
"What have you got?" Alex asked quietly.
"You need to hear this." He said. "This is krundy."
"Are you here to help is?" The alien asked Alex in Solwitian
"We are here to rescue someone, help us, we'll help you." Alex said when Patino had translated.
"Anything." He said. "But the guards will be back. We don't have long." Krundy replied in Solwitian.
"He said this was a processing facility." Patino explained to Alex. "For a slave trade."
"Have you seen her?" Alex asked showing the alien a picture of her sister.
"No. But there are many prisoners here." Krundy said to Patino after another round of translation.
"Ma'am, you need to see this." Another agent called from down the tunnel.
"What?" Alex asked heading up the tunnel, signally for Patino to bring Krundy. They then entered a small room with various machinery and a dead body on a table.
"What happened?" Alex asked as Patino started to talk in Solwitian to Krundy. After a while Patino said to Alex.
"They failed the conditioning process."
"What conditioning process?" Alex asked.
"Breaking someone's will takes time. Brainwashing, less time. But it is risky. Forty percent fail so they only do it if they have large numbers or are in a hurry." Patino said.
"What happens if they fail?" Alex asked causing Patino to talk to Krundy again before turning to Alex and saying.
"They die."
"Ma'am." Agent Edwards called from near the machine. "Does this look familiar?" He asked picking up a necklace from the floor.
"Yes. It's Kara's." Alex said taking the necklace before asking the alien. "Where are the bodies?"
"This way." The alien said pointing after having had the message translated.
"It could be trap." Alex said to Agent Edwards as they walked. "Make sure we separate the teams."
"Yes ma'am." He said signalling for his team to slow the pace.
00
After a few minutes of walking, and a growing feeling of uneasiness Alex suddenly smelt the unmistakable stench of death moments before seeing another door. With several feet to go before the door the alien stopped walking and pointed, not wanting to go further.
"Stay here." Alex ordered Patino before she led the others into the room, the stench of decay almost unbearable as they opened the door. As they shone light in the room they saw countless bodies.
"Start looking." Alex said fearing the worse. She then walked back down the tunnel to Krundy and asked.
"How long after they arrive do they go through conditioning?"
"Hours to five days. It depends how big the haul is." Patino said after translating.
"What happens then?" Alex asked, getting frustrated by the time lag for the translation.
"They go to auction."
"Where?"
"Off world."
"Where?"
"I don't know." Krundy said.
"How come you are alive?" Alex asked. She then watched Patino translate before Krundy gave a very animated description of something before pulling up his sleeve and showing a band.
"What is that?" Alex asked running out of patience.
"It's like a security tag. He said he works here, but not by choice. He's a slave. He's too weak to fight so was kept here to deal with the bodies." Patino said. "The band stops him using the portal. If he tries going through it will explode."
"So he works here?" Alex asked.
"Yes."
"But he hasn't seen Kara?" Alex asked.
"No ma'am."
"Watch him." Alex ordered as the tunnels started to light up.
00
"A group is heading this way." Diz said hearing footsteps from down the corridor.
"We need to hide." Ruby whispered guiding Alex to some storage crates. "Whatever happens, stay here and stay quiet until I tell you otherwise." Ruby said to Alex who nodded. Not believing her Ruby repeated. "I mean it."
"I know." Alex said as Diz stood next to her as the group guarding the portal hid on the other side of the room.
They then silently waited as they heard footsteps and voices approaching. As the noises got louder the room suddenly became bathed in a yellow, orange light moments before the group stepped into view. As the group became visible Alex saw her mother, but before she could react she felt Ruby's hand on her shoulder, warning her not to move. However at that moment Kara came to a stop and one of the men with her asked.
"What's wrong?"
"There are others here. Seven of them."
"You sure, you are still-"
"I am sure." Kara said before pointing. "There and there. Kill them." As gunfire erupted somewhere deep within the tunnels.
"Stay." Ruby ordered Alex before saying quietly into her radio.
"Boss, we have a major problem." Ruby reported, although from the echoes of gunfire she assumed her boss had equally big problems.
She then looked back at Alex and said. "If I get the portal working, run for it." She then looked at Diz and they both broke their cover and tried to make it to the portal.
Obediently Alex remained hidden, wondering what had happened to her mother. It was then that she noticed that instead of not having powers she actually felt stronger.
Before she had time to dwell on it she saw a shadow fall across her. Looking up she saw her mother, but where there was normally warmth in her eyes, there was coldness.
"Finally." Kara said. "I can right a wrong."
Scrambling to her feet Alex asked.
"Mom?"
"She's gone." Kara smiled as she grabbed Alex by her throat and started squeezing. Gasping for air Alex saw Ruby and Diz were running towards her and used what strength she had left to send them flying across the room. She then clenched her fist and prayed she could last the five seconds Lena had said she needed, all the while she tried to protect images into her mother's head.
00
"What the hell happened?" Alex demanded as she entered the area and saw bodies littering the floor.
"Umm, Kara went nuts and tried to kill Alex. Alex sent us across the room and then electrocuted Kara and they both ended up unconscious, but they're alive." Ruby said looking dazed.
"Where's Diz?" Alex asked as she went to her niece's side.
"Down but alive." Another agent called from Diz's side.
"Let's get everyone back." Alex said. "And I want this facility shut down."