"Director Danvers." The President's Chief of Staff greeted as Alex and Kara entered his office. "And you must be Kara Danvers." He said looking at the younger sister.
"Yes Sir."
"And you clearly know Cat Grant." He said moving to one side so they could see Cat sitting on the chair. "Please take a seat."
"Thanks." Alex said.
"This is how things are going to go." The Chief of staff said. "Everything said in this office is bound by the strictest levels of security and confidentiality. Therefore there will be no reporting of this meeting. Apart from, at the end we will discuss what can be said. And by discuss I mean I will tell and you will not argue. Anyone who doesn't like that, leave now." When everyone stayed seated he turned to Alex and said. "Please give us an update."
"Are you sure?" Alex said looking at Cat.
"Don't worry. My lips are sealed." Cat said.
"Go ahead." The Chief of Staff pressed.
"As you know we found four hundred and seventy one bodies in two locations. All bodies showed signs of the same cause of death, in terms of facial mutation. The deaths in Slater tunnel occurred first and a short while later in the hidden canals. Although exact time of death can be determined, they all appear to have occurred at the same time. But the actual cause of death is unknown."
"But you have options?" The Chief of staff asked.
"Yes. The options include, a virus that targets specific DNA. That would be why there were no causalities outside of the area. And everyone in those tunnels and canals probably would have given a blood sample. However, that doesn't explain why there is no obvious evidence cause of death." Alex said.
"Another possibility, along a similar theme is may they used very specifically programmed nanites, which could have also had a destruction rule in built. That would also explain why there were no traces."
"It could have been mass suicide. We know using VR contacts they were able to get teens to commit suicide. In this case most of the victims we believe are in their twenties and thirties. But it could be they found away way round their original problem. Only no traces of contacts were found and the eye sockets were in okay condition, suggesting no one tried taking them out after death."
"So you know nothing?" Cat summarised. "And it is possible that a highly deadly new weapon is out there somewhere in the hands of someone who has no qualms about using it?"
"Yes." Alex confirmed. "We think our best lead is finding a connection between the victims. However, we have only managed to identify less than ten percent."
"Ms Danvers." The Chief of Staff said to Kara.
"Yes."
"I believe you have a way of identifying the victims?"
"Yes Sir. Everyone of them will be missed by someone. If we find that someone we can start to identify them. So each week I plan on running a feature on missing people, a continuation of the missing meta feature that I did. We won't get everyone, but even if we give one family closure it is worth it."
"And you support it?" The Chief of Staff asked Alex.
"The more identities we have the more chance we have of finding links."
"And you?" He asked turning to Cat.
"I fully support Kara." Cat said. "But you are going to need a good story for what killed them and it will need to be based in truth."
"Because you refuse to publish lies?" He asked with more than an undertone of sarcasm.
"Every accusation I have made against you has been based on evidence." Cat reminded him. "But in this case, you'll find Kara is incapable of lying in a believable way, so you need to give her truth."
"Don't worry, I plan to base everything on our current best guesses."
"You want to tell the public that there is a deadly weapon out there that can kill hundreds of people and we don't know how to stop it?" Alex asked confused.
"No." The Chief of Staff said. "All we know for sure, based on your analysis, and as will be published in CatCo Magazine on Friday, is that a pharmaceutical spin off of Empire Enterprises developed a drug to give normal humans super powers. But they illegally tested that drug on the public, killing dozens, if not more in the process. By testing the drug in this way they managed to drastically reduce the research time. After the attack on Earth Supergirl discovered that at some point Dr Cale, the co-founder of Empire Enterprises, had been kidnapped and replaced by a doppelgänger who remains at large. Having rescued Dr Cale the DEO and FBI stepped up their investigation of illegal distribution of the drugs." He summarised. "I am suggesting that the follow up story goes along the lines that during this time they raided two hubs and found hundreds of murdered victims. It is believed that they were killed to hide the full extent of the drug operation. The perpetrator of these murders ensured that the victims could not be recognised and therefore only a handful have been identified." He then looked at Cat and said. "I assume that contains enough truth?"
"Seeing it is all truth and coming from you, I find it a little disturbing." Cat smiled.
"I miss our verbal sparring sessions." The Chief of Staff smiled. "Have you considered coming back to DC?"
"Careful, I might take that as an offer." Cat replied.
"Should we go?" Kara whispered to Alex.
"Not so fast." Cat said glancing over at Kara. "There is one more point to clarify."
"And what is that?" The Chief of Staff asked.
"We will print that cover story as is. But afterwards if we discover the whole truth is different and we believe it is in the public's interest to know that truth we will publish."
"I would not expect any different." The Chief of Staff said.
"In that case I think we are done." Cat said.
"Wait, I have a question." Kara said.
"Yes Ms Danvers." The Chief of Staff replied.
"I thought you were waiting until after the story was published on Friday before confirming the cover story. What's changed?"
"Originally we had two, more elaborate cover stories. The one chosen would have been based on public opinion following the publication. However, this story is based in truth and easier to swallow."
"By which it means it won't tick off large numbers of the voting public just before elections." Cat said.
"That is only half true." The Chief of Staff said. "I knew you would not allow any story with any political bias."
"You are learning Jim." Cat smiled.
-00-
"Can you imagine Cat running for office?" Alex asked when she and Kara were drinking coffee that afternoon in Alex's office.
"Yes, and I can't work out if Cat as President would be terrifying or inspiring." Kara smiled. "I'm just happy she is on my side."
"Well you earned her support." Alex reminded her. "But if you want my advice, don't tick her off." She smiled before seeing her sister's expression. "What's with the frown?"
"The bodies." Kara said. "I don't think they were about just covering tracks."
"I think you are right." Alex said.
"You do?" Kara asked.
"Yeah. If they really wanted to cover their tracks they wouldn't have left a trace. If they have the ability to kill like that I am sure they have ways of disposing bodies, be chemicals, or portals or traditional burying in the desert. But they left the bodies for us to find. To leave them like that was sending a message." Alex explained.
"The question is to who though." Kara said.
"Until we identify those bodies I don't think we will get an answer to that." Alex sighed as her phone rang. Seeing the caller ID she picked it up answering as she did so.
"Hi Lena … yes, she's with me … we'll be right th-" Alex spoke before Kara picked her up and flew her to Lena's lab.
"You couldn't have waited until I hung up?" Alex said as Kara landed with her in the lab in front of Lena who was still speaking into the phone. Looking at the sisters she ended the call and said to them.
"Hello."
"Hi." Kara smiled before Alex asked.
"What have you got?"
"Like I was saying the programme tried to contact the outside world." Lena said. "The good news is we have the address it tried to access. The bad news is when it didn't get the response it was expecting it self destructed and took out everything in its path."
"But it was on a computer right so it didn't really destroy anything?" Kara asked.
"Apart from a million dollar virtual containment unit." Lena said.
"Have you tried tracing the address?" Alex asked.
"No, because I think it may be a trap."
"You think the programme knew it was trapped?" Kara asked.
"No, well maybe, but seeing how well thought through everything is I think the address will have multiway authentication and if a step is missed then they will attack the link. Kind of like how we took over Tycho in the first place. And even if it didn't, they will know what we did and I am pretty sure it will now be a trap."
"Can you set up a counter trap, or a counter counter trap?" Kara asked.
"Maybe, but not easily." Lena said. "And often honeypots don't always protect you, especially when the opponent thinks you are going to do that."
"So what now?" Kara asked.
"We think about a different attack vector." Lena said. "I will put my finest hackers on it."
"I didn't hear that." Alex said. "But thank you."
-00-
"You okay?" Alex asked her sister that evening. Not getting a response she threw a piece of popcorn at her, hitting her on the forehead.
"Hey!" Kara said looking confused.
"You okay?" Alex asked.
"I guess. I was just thinking."
"About Tycho?" Alex guessed.
"Yes. You think he was a programme?"
"If Tycho was just a programme, but had done everything we believe Tycho did, then that implies a lot of sentience, so there is no way it would wipe itself from existence. Which either means there is clone ready to take over, or Tycho is real and the programme was a decoy." Alex said.
"Or Lobo was behind everything. Either way, Alex is in danger isn't she?" Kara asked.
"So are you." Alex reminded her. "But at least you know who the threat is."
"That's a good thing?" Kara asked.
"Yes. No one will ever be safe, but forewarned is forearmed." Alex pointed out. "The only reason you lived on the run for so many years being pursued by a bounty hunter is because of what I did. You were targeted because of me. Since going back to the DEO I have ticked off plenty of people. Any one of which could go after the kids to get to me. Maybe they already did and that is what happened to Kelly. Unless you live in complete isolation the chances are you will always end up upsetting someone or becoming someone's focus."
"Wow, you should write for Hallmark." Kara said.
"The other thing you can do is share." Alex said.
"I know I used to share everything. Well overshare everything." Kara said. "And I know you are angry at me for not mentioning things to you. I don't not say things to hurt you. When I first came back, I was so used to relying on no one. It was hard to break from that."
"Especially after how I treated you." Alex added.
"That wasn't it. I understood your pain and anger." Kara said. "I think I was scared."
"Of what?"
"Relying on you." Kara said. "When I was out there by myself I was so lost. I didn't know what to do. But as time went on I realised the reason I was lost was because I didn't have you there to help me. And I knew if I was going to get out of there I'd have to do it alone. So that's what I did. And as time went on I started to believe I could do things by myself."
"Kara, you've always been capable of doing things alone." Alex reminded her. "But you are stronger with family."
"I know. But that meant I was so much weaker without. And when I returned I was so scared of something happening and losing everything and feeling lost and alone again. So I tried to keep some distance. But as time went on things started to go back to how they used to be. And I liked that. I wanted that. But sometimes when I get scared I go back to how I felt back then and I close myself off a little. I don't do it to hurt you or because I don't trust you, it's just part of me trying to protect myself."
"I know. I understand."
"You do?"
"It's not like I've always been an open book either." Alex said. "After Kelly died I shut myself off from everyone. To be honest I don't know my Lena and Sam stuck by me. Well actually I do. Clearly it was for the kids. But by shutting myself off I thought I didn't have to face the pain that was building. But then you came back and you were there for me, getting me to open up and helped me face that pain. But despite all of that in the last few months there have been times that I have shut myself off, because it seemed easier."
"But there's a problem with our protection mechanisms." Kara said.
"It makes us weaker?" Alex said.
"Yes, and that makes it dangerous for the kids."
"Yes it does." Alex agreed. "So no more keeping quiet for self protection? From now on you tell me everything."
"I will if you will." Kara said before asking. "So how are you coping?"
"With what?"
"The biggest thing happening in your life at the moment. Kara's college applications."
"I feel like I am walking into a trap." Alex said.
"In what way?"
"Her EA is one of the hardest schools to get into. Statistically she is likely to fail. But if I start thinking about what I could say to her if she doesn't get in, it feels like I don't have faith in her. But if I don't prepare and she doesn't make it, what do I say?"
"Yeah, you're screwed."
"Thanks." Alex said dryly as the front door opened and the teenage Alex walked in.
"Hi." She called as Chewie jumped off Kara's lap and ran over to her.
"You okay?" Kara asked.
"Fine. Do you want me to go hang out with MJ?" The teen asked sensing she had interrupted something.
"I need to head home anyway." The older Alex said standing. She then looked at her sister and said. "We'll talk more tomorrow." She then walked to the door and said. "Night Alex." Before leaving for her house.
"Are you okay?" The teen asked her mother.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"You and Alex looked kinda serious when I came in."
"When you came in we were talking about your cousin's college applications." Kara said truthfully.
"And before that?" The teen asked, sensing there was more.
"Remind me which one of us is the adult?" Kara asked.
"You. Kind of. Although not when it comes to food." The teen replied.
"I'll let that slide. But as the adult, it is my job to interrogate, not yours."
"Okay." The teen said, too easily for Kara's liking.
"You agreed to fast." Kara said.
"There are other ways of getting information." The teen shrugged before she sat down next to her mother. "You sure you are okay?"
"I'm fine." Kara said wrapping an arm round her. "Did you get your assignment done?"
"Yes."
"Have you thought about what you want to do over the break?"
"I thought we were going to Midvale?"
"Yes. But no matter what your cousins may say, you can do things in Midvale." Kara pointed out.