"Good you are here." Vasquez said when Alex limped into the control room with Supergirl the next day.
"What's going on?" Alex asked.
"We've been looking into the guys who tried to take MJ-" Vasquez started only for Alex said say.
"Let me guess you have figured out they are shapeshifters and have no way of tracing them."
"Umm, no. We actually managed to find them on file and we found no link to anyone associated with you. But they have a very shady past and we started thinking wider. As in outside the world of aliens, metas, Tycho etc." Vasquez said as images appeared on screen. "So far we have identified the two on the left." She said pointing to the screen. "Recently a lot of their jobs have been believed to be for a group known as the The Root."
"The who?" Supergirl asked.
"That's all we have name wise." Vasquez said. "But what we do know is The Root is politically motivated. Their recent jobs have been attacking politicians and their family members."
"And I've just sent MJ to James." Alex said.
"On it." Supergirl said flying off.
00
"What are you doing here?" MJ asked opening James's front door and seeing his aunt.
"Hello to you too." Kara said dryly before hugging her nephew who squirmed uncomfortably.
"What's that for?" MJ asked.
"It's from your mom. She misses you." Kara said releasing him just as James came into the hallway.
"Hi Kara." He said looking confused.
"Hey."
"What's going on?" James asked. "Is Alex okay?"
"She's fine. But we have made progress in the investigation." She then looked at MJ. "We've identified the group that tried to take you and they are a political group who have been targeting James."
"So I have to go home?" He asked hopefully.
"No. I just came here to warn you to be careful." Kara said. "Make sure you don't sneak off and make sure you have your watch and don't hesitate to use it."
"Sure." He said heading back to his room.
"Alex is giving all the intel to your security detail as well." Kara said to James before asking. "How's it going?" Kara asked James who pulled a face. "Alex sends her thanks."
"Any advice to go with that?"
"No. Sorry. Anyway I should get back. Call if you need anything."
00
"I gave him a hug for you. But he did say he'd be careful and that he would keep his watch with him." Kara said as she flew back into her sister's office.
"Thank you." Alex said. "In the mean time we will chase the Root down from here."
"Any new leads?"
"No."
"Based on previous events what are the chances this is distraction tactic?" Kara asked.
"High." Alex said. "Which is why Vasquez is running point on the main investigation."
"And you?"
"I'm going after the Root."
"With me?"
"Aren't you busy with literally everything else?"
"Ignoring the fact they tried to kidnap a teen, at the end of the day they went after MJ. There is no way I am not getting involved. Besides someone has to keep an eye on you." Kara pointed out.
"Thank you." Alex said. "But what about Alex?"
"She is maxed out with work experience and Frax."
"You sure?"
"I'm sure. Besides Frax has to leave tomorrow for some weird business dealing so Alex wants to spend time with hime before then. So where do we start?"
"This is everything we have so far on MJ's kidnapping." Alex said showing Kara a file. "And this stack has everything that is known about the Root."
Taking it Kara read both stacks with superspeed before saying. "I have something."
"You do?"
"Yes. Just give me a minute." She said before flying off.
"I hate it when she does that." Alex complained, although she barely had to wait a minute before Kara returned.
"Sorry, I wanted to check something at CatCo." Kara said.
"What?" Alex asked.
"I remembered Nate, CatCo's political editor, discussing some recent changes in security details to various senators and congressmen. He didn't know why but speculated some threats had been made against them. The only thing he had for certain was a post by Senator Knight's daughter."
"Sucks to be famous." Alex said reading the tag out loud.
"She was complaining at being banned from parties. But look dow the page a photo she posted the day before."
"Okay." Alex said looking down the page.
"Look at the background. Recognise anyone?"
"Ummm." Alex said as she scanned the faces that surrounded the Senator's daughter. Suddenly seeing what her sister had seen she said. "Is that? How'd you even spot this?"
"I wouldn't dare not pay attention during a Cat led staff meeting." Kara said. "And I can't be sure but-"
"He looks like one of the ones Diz identified."
"More importantly, if he was, look at his wrist."
"He's wearing a watch." Alex said.
"Not just any watch, a GTX-6780S."
"Which is?"
"Incredibly rare. Only one hundred made. And while it is more likely he stole it, maybe we can trace it."
"How do you know this stuff?" Alex asked.
"I work at CatCo." Kara shrugged.
"I'll get Rose to track it." Alex said limping off.
00
"You were right, it was reported stolen six months ago." Rose said entering Alex's office a short time later.
"Six months?" Alex asked. "So no way of tracking?"
"Not exactly." Rose said. "They are all fitted with a tracker so they can be found if stolen. However, the smart criminals know how to deactivate it. Which clearly this guy did."
"But you have smarter ways to reactive it?" Kara asked.
"The only way to reactivate it would be to use completely illegal malware, which we would obviously never do." Rose said. "But coincidently we suddenly started getting a ping from it and we should have an exact location in less than ten minutes."
"Good work." Alex said before noticing Rose was looking uncomfortable. "What aren't you telling me?"
"The person it was stolen from was killed in that robbery. This guy is really dangerous."
"Well soon this guy will be off the streets." Supergirl said.
00
As Supergirl landed behind the target, who had his fist raised ready to punch the person opposite she commented. "Nice watch."
Confused that there was anyone behind him he turned and was about to lash out when he saw Supergirl. On seeing her he immediately turned and ran.
"Why are you running?" Supergirl asked landing in front of him. "I mean you can't out run me." Ignoring her words he turned and ran in the other direction, only to once again find Supergirl blocking his path. "You really aren't smart are you?" She asked before grabbing hold of him and flying him to the DEO.
00
"Are you dating someone?" Alex asked as Kara came back into her office later that day.
"What? No. Why would you think that?"
"We have been in my office for eleven minutes and twenty three seconds waiting for J'onn to come and tell us what he found out from that creep's head. In that time you have left the office nine times to communicate to someone." Her sister argued.
"It was Alex." Kara explained.
"Then why leave my office?"
"I didn't want to make you feel bad. And I thought Alex checking in and talking to me might remind you that -"
"MJ isn't?" Alex finished for her.
"Yeah."
"Kara, I appreciate trying to not make me feel bad, but you don't have to hide the fact that Alex talks to you." The older Alex said just as J'onn entered the office.
"Well?" Alex asked.
"His mind was easy to read. Although incredibly disturbed." J'onn said. "The good news is they didn't target MJ due to his connection with you."
"And the bad news?" Alex asked.
"Their MO is to trawl the internet for unhappy political family teenagers. They use social media and the darknet, When they identify a teen they then play to their needs. After that they either gather blackmail material or arrange contact, at which point they kidnap and blackmail the family. There was no link to Tycho or Stagg or aliens." J'onn said.
"Can we stop this group?" Kara asked.
"Well mind reading isn't usable in court. But I have obtained the names of families he has targeted, I will pass them onto the FBI."
"Any indication MJ is still a target?" Alex asked.
"No. Previously as soon as a plan has been disrupted they drop the target and move on." J'onn said.
"Well that's something." Kara said.
"I'm going to pass on what I know to Agent Bell." J'onn said. "In the mean time you should get some rest." He said looking at Alex. He then turned to Kara and said. "You should get her home before she does anything to the prisoner."
"I will." Kara smiled.
"I won't do anything." Alex said. "Plus I don't want to go home."
"Then you can come back to my place. I'm sure Chewie has missed you. Let's go."
"Fine." Alex said standing.
00
"I thought you'd be happy. I mean MJ is safe and we have stopped a politically motivated terror group." Kara said as they sat on the couch.
"Technically we haven't stopped them. I mean that will take awhile." Alex said.
"But we will have contributed to their downfall." Kara said. "So you should not look this miserable."
"I'm sorry. I was just thinking about what J'onn said about how they are recruited and it made me realise how much I don't know about what is happening with MJ."
"Are you thinking about invading his privacy and accessing his accounts?" Kara asked.
"Honestly? Yes. But I won't as I think that will just make everything worse. But I'm worried."
"The last few months have been hard on both of you. Why don't you two go get a cabin in an internet free zone and chat things over?"
"Ignoring the fact he doesn't want to spend time with me?" Alex questioned.
"I can fly him there." Kara pointed out.
"I know." Alex said. "And I appreciate the offer, but I don't think that would help."
"Maybe you should call Eliza then? I mean she dealt with you."
"I know. And I will, but if I talk to her while I feel like this she'll worry." Alex said as the door opened and the teenage Alex walked in.
"Hi." She greeted, but sensing she had walked in on something she asked. "Do you want me to go?"
"Of course not." Her aunt smiled. "How was work experience?"
"Good."
"Any problems at the aquarium?" Kara asked.
"No. It was fine." The teenager said. "You sure you don't want me to go?"
"Of course not." Her mother said. "Plus I need your help."
"With what?"
"Cheering your aunt up."