"Autopsy results are in." Harris said as the briefing started the next day. "The rats have complicated the issue, but the alien was killed about a week ago. Cause of death blood loss. Their limbs were severed pre-death. After death the head was detached."
"Someone wanted to make a statement." Alex commented.
"The uniform, or what was left of it, the rats went to town on that as well, we could match with what one of the Lieutenants had been wearing. However, the face was to too badly chewed up to run facial recognition on."
"What about the gem stone?" Supergirl asked.
"Not found."
"So all we know for sure is we have a dead alien who was wearing a uniform associated with Mongul?" Alex asked.
"Pretty much."
"What else did you find at the refinery?" Alex questioned.
"It had been used recently for accommodation. There was lots of food waste and abandoned bedding etc. Hard to tell numbers as we don't know how long it was used for, but based on the different footprints the team found our guess is at least twenty. But we have no idea where they went or when they left."
"So we no better off than were yesterday?" Alex concluded.
"No." He confirmed.
"What's happening with the fleet?" Alex asked.
"The remnants of the fleet are now outside sensor range so we can't track them. But the good news is the defensive net is now fully operational."
"That's something." Alex said.
"The better news is we have configured the defensive net to identify Lobo's ship. If he enters Earth's orbit we will know."
"Good work." Alex said. "So the active threats are the remaining Lieutenants, the portals, that may or may not exist and Kai?"
"Yes Ma'am." Harris confirmed. "Although maybe now one less of the Lieutenants."
"Or maybe not." Alex countered.
"Are we sure we counted correctly?" Supergirl asked. "I mean are we sure there are missing Lieutenants on Earth?"
"We are ninety five percent certain some were stranded on Earth." Harris said. "Of course if there are portals they could have left."
"I'm not sure the portals make sense, especially if dead alien guy was a Lieutentant." Supergirl said.
"Why?" Alex asked.
"Let's say there are portals on Earth that Mongul used. His Lieutenants will know where they are. So they could have made it to the portals and left the Earth. Which would explain why haven't found them. But if the dead alien is a Lieutenant why was he still on Earth?"
"Going through a portal is only worth it if they are going to a stronghold that will have remained loyal to them. If Mongul's empire has crumbled, and those planets are no longer loyal, going through the portal would be a death sentence." Alex argued before looking at Harris and asking. "Did any of the fleet go to any planets after they left here?"
"No ma'am. At least not when we could pick them up."
"If they had portals, why send a fleet. Why not use the portals?" Kara asked. "The more I think about it the less sense portals make."
"Which begs the question, why did Krej offer them? Obviously he wanted to get out of here. But where did he want to go and then what was his plan? Especially if there aren't portals." Alex asked before looking at Rose and ordering. "Have Krej brought out to one of the interrogation rooms."
"Krej has said he doesn't want to see you."
"Well last I checked Krej wasn't in charge." Alex pointed out. "Bring him out and make sure all the other prisoners see."
-00-
"Do you want me dead?" Krej asked when Alex entered the room.
"Yes." Alex said. "It would solve many problems for me. But killing prisoners is frowned upon. So I can't actually kill you. Obviously if your fellow prisoners took matters into their own hands, I can't do anything. Either way I am pretty sure you have no future with Mongul. If he did manage to magically escape there is no way he would take you back. For some reason, he no longer trusts you."
"You told him I was working with you."
"Why are you acting like I betrayed you? It was you who tried to cross me." Alex reminded him. "You shouldn't have done that." She then paused. "If I were you I'd be more upset over the fact that Mongul believed me when I said you betrayed him. Presumably you have tried denying it, but he still believes me. So you may as well accept the fact you will never be trusted again."
"I will give you nothing."
"That's fine. But the longer you stay in this room the more guilty you look to Mongul and the less likely it is you will survive."
"When we are freed you will be the first I kill." Krej snarled.
-00-
"How was school?" Kara asked as she entered Alex's lounge and saw all three teenagers doing their homework.
"Fine." Alex replied.
"Do they not teach you english anymore?" Kara asked. "Surely you must know more words than, 'fine'?"
"Fine is the most efficient word in the english language." Alex said. "It can mean anything."
"So conveys no information." Kara pointed out.
"We're teenagers." MJ pointed out. "You really expect information?"
"Yes."
"That would be your first mistake then." MJ said before asking as he showed his tablet to his aunt. "What's a ju … juxta...whatever this is?"
"Juxtaposition." Kara said. "It's the contrast between things. In literature it's where two concepts are put side by side to show the difference."
"And in Romeo and Juliet?"
"There are many examples. Like when Romeo compares Juliet to other girls, he likens her to a white dove among dark crows to demonstrate how she stands out among the rest. And then Juliet says 'Come, Romeo, come, thou day in night' showing the brightness he brings to her life."
"Thanks." He said typing up an answer.
"I have homework too if you want to do it for me." The teenage Kara said.
"I'm not doing his homework, I am helping with his homework." The adult Kara pointed out.
"Well writing this report for me would help." The teenager replied.
"But wouldn't benefit you." Her aunt countered.
"It would be a huge benefit. It would mean I could go out tonight." The teenager pointed out.
"That's not what I meant." The adult Kara said before looking at her daughter and asking. "Want to walk Chewie with me?" Her tone implying it wasn't optional.
"Sure. This is boring anyway." She said putting her tablet down.
-00-
"So want to tell me what really happened with school today?" Kara asked as they walked.
"It was fine. I didn't even see him." The teenager replied guessing at what her mother was getting at. "That might have been because MJ and, or Kara were glued to me at all times."
"That is because they like you and want to look out for you." Kara reminded her.
"I know. But between them and my powers I'll be fine."
"Just please be careful."
"You know you get into more trouble than I do?" Alex asked.
"I do not."
"Mongul, Lobo, the weird gang." Alex listed.
"All of those I chose not to fight alone." Kara countered. "Besides, I'm an adult."
"That's a cop out." Alex replied.
"Your use of slang is getting better." Kara commented. "Just please be careful."
"I thought you were going to worry less."
"I am. But I am never going to not worry about you." Kara pointed out.
-00-
"Where's Alex?" The adult Alex asked when she returned home and only found her children.
"Aunt Kara took her out for an interrogation." MJ replied.
"Obviously aunt Kara didn't phrase it like that." The teenage Kara said.
"But the intent was clear." MJ said.
"So what happened? Did Holtz cause any trouble?" Alex asked.
"For Alex no. But he didn't have a chance, one of us was with her at all time." Kara said.
"What about the kid who was being bullied in the first place?" Alex asked.
"He's keeping a lower profile than normal." MJ said, not sounding sympathetic of his plight.
"You don't like him?" His mother asked.
"Alex could have died and he hasn't even said thank you."
"He did get help though." Kara reminded him.
"He's probably really shy." Alex said. "And he might be assuming he is going to get the brunt of any backlash." She added as the front door opened.
"You're back early." Eliza commented walking into the room.
"Well it was an almost quiet day so I managed to leave on time." Alex said before noticing how many bags Eliza was holding. "Anything left in the shops?"
"Seeing you seem incapable of stocking your own fridge I thought I would do it for you before I left."
"Technically she can shop." MJ said. "She just can't do anything with the food when she has it."
Alex opened her mouth to defend herself, then realised she had no defence to offer so shut it again. Only this allowed the teenage Kara time to say.
"You know you are going to have to get a girlfriend so that you can actually eat when we go to college."
"How were things at school today?" Eliza asked, deflecting attention away from her daughter.
"Fine. No issues with Holtz." Kara replied.
"And Alex?"
"She's fine. Assuming she survives the interrogation." MJ said.