Chapter 9 - Safe Haven
Her head hurt. Her back hurt. And her chair, while not exactly uncomfortable, was oddly warm and bumpy, Cat considered as she slowly woke. With an unsteady hand, she touched the odd pressure at her waist. An arm! Her eyelids flew open and she gasped at the sight before her . . . the planet Earth!
"My GOD!" she yelped, fearfully clamping down on a leg below her and the arm around her.
A soft, familiar voice tried to soothe her, as a gentle hand awkwardly patted her arm that was anchored to a leg. "ugem, voi. ugem, voi."
Cat turned in the tight quarters to look angrily at Kara. "Kara! What the hell are you talking about? Why are we orbiting the planet? What is . . . ," she rapidly fired off questions before realizing that Kara had just awoken from a coma, speaking a language that was not English, and flying a spacecraft.
Kara blinked at her, startled by the outburst but then concentrated on her words.
Silence filled the cramped cabin for a long moment.
"Kara?" Cat asked with forced calm. Maybe flying a spacecraft was easier than driving a car while impaired. It's not like she would hit anything, she considered, then bit her lip worriedly, recalling Kara had crashed Fort Rozz into a satellite.
"Zhi?" she answered with a small smile, glad her passenger stopped yelling at her.
"Are you all right?" Cat asked, looking at Kara, who looked a bit confused before she smiled with recognition.
"English! English speaking you are!" Kara said triumphantly, glad she remembered when so much was so fuzzy.
"Oh god," Cat moaned miserably, then noted a large object heading straight towards them. "OH GOD!"
Kara tensed, seeing the same danger. She quickly tapped in some commands into the console, causing the pod to immediately respond, veering to avoid the International Space Station.
While the sudden acceleration pressed Cat further into Kara, she was too busy fighting her terror to appreciate the unexpected intimacy of the situation.
"Uh . . . collision avoidance control, now set," Kara admitted sheepishly.
Cat glared at Kara, fear making her want to yell at her for endangering them with her lapse. But it was amazing Kara was even awake, let alone able to sweep them away from the DEO attack into the relative safety of her pod. Of course, it was much safer now with the damn collision avoidance control turned on!
"Kara?" Cat said softly, shutting her eyes as she took a fortifying breath.
"Zhi . . . uh, yes?" Kara responded hesitantly.
"Perhaps, we should land someplace soon?" Cat said as calmly as she could.
"A man attacked. Why?" Kara asked pointedly, sadness clouded her face.
"I have suspicions, which I would be glad to share, preferably on terra firma?" Cat suggested, waving her hand at the blue planet out the window. "Back on Earth!" she added in frustration at Kara's confused look.
"I question the safety of returning," Kara said uncomfortably.
Cat understood Kara's point, but her nerves were frazzled and she was starting to feel queasy. "Kara, it's a big planet!" she snapped, then reigned in her aggravation a bit, feeling bad for making the poor girl wince. None of this was her fault.
"As cozy as this is, I do not like flying and I have never been in space before, and so far the experience has not been pleasant. I would appreciate you landing. It is my . . . our home, after all."
"It is my home?" Kara asked softly, not quite comfortable with that thought. This bright blue, aquatic planet with a yellow sun was to be her home, her parents said and sent her to live here. She frowned, not remembering arriving or making a home here. "How long?"
"You have lived here . . . ," Cat said, then rolled her eyes and amended " . . . there," as she awkwardly pointed to Earth, "for, I think about thirteen years or so? Please Kara, a landing sooner than later would be better. For both of us, trust me," Cat moaned.
"Very well. But it is unwise to return to the desert fortress."
Cat nodded, sharing Kara's concern of safety. The base emergency was clearly a diversion for a direct attack against an incapacitated Kara. Bastards.
"Can you land without being detected?" Cat asked.
"It is a pod," Kara answered with a shrug.
"Kara! Can a pod land without being detected?!" Cat snapped, causing Kara to tense beneath her.
"Zhi. Er, yes. A pod in stealth could evade the technologies of Earth."
"Good. Good. You should probably put this pod in stealth now," Cat said absently, glancing at the Earth, wondering how big a danger Kara was in. If they could attack a "secure" government facility, it very likely meant an inside job. So someone within the government was part of the attempt. And their reach could be long, including tracking and possibly engagement with satellites . . . however many were left now, she considered, glancing back at Kara.
Kara tapped on the console, engaging the stealth protocol. "Stealth engaged."
Cat sighed with some relief and stared at the bright blue planet from a perspective she never expected, nor really desired, to see. Carter had impressive high-definition screenshots and screensavers of Earth. Yet, being here, actually orbiting the Earth, she had to admit those pictures didn't do the planet justice. She marveled at the flashes of light from a few storms across the planet's surface and the dots of bright lights clustering around population centers, keeping the nighttime from complete darkness.
"Did your planet have this much water?" Cat asked curiously, watching the beautiful sunrise as they orbited over an ocean.
"Zha . . . uh, no. Even when Krypton was healthy and vibrant, there was not this much water."
"And you don't remember arriving here? How it felt to see Earth for the first time?" Cat asked thoughtfully, again glancing back at Kara, who looked at her a moment before looking at the Earth.
A brief moment of concentration crossed her face as she tried to remember. But Kara finally sighed and shook her head no. "Chahvymah . . . uh, I would have felt . . . alone," she said thoughtfully and looked at Cat, whose heart broke at the thought of a devastated young girl, traveling through the stars, and instead of relief or joy to finally arrive at her destination, she just felt . . . alone.
"You are not alone," Cat declared firmly.
Kara looked at her with appreciation, then smiled slightly. "True. The small cabin does emphasize that."
Cat rolled her eyes with a hint of an amused smirk before glancing out the window again. "Did you have a landing spot picked out before you arrived?"
"North America."
"Well that narrows that down."
"Where do you live?" Kara asked hopefully, then paused with worry. "I hope not the desert."
"God no! I have a private beach house which . . . ," she answered eagerly, then sighed, shaking her head. "Which could be monitored if people were actively looking for you," she said dejectedly, knowing her ties to Supergirl would make her a possible refuge for a fleeing hero. "We should be cautious until we know more. Preferably on the ground," Cat grumbled.
Kara frowned, then tapped on her console.
"What are you doing?" Cat asked.
"First step in survival in a hostile environment - look for a safe haven. I am scanning for possible welcome beacons," Kara said. "Though it is unlikely there are any in this region," she added dejectedly.
Cat squeezed Kara's arm. "We'll figure it out," she said with conviction, then added with a grimace as a new wave of nausea hit, "Hopefully, soon. What about . . . ," an obnoxious beep interrupted Cat's suggestion.
"I have a Kryptonian signal!" Kara said with enthusiasm, which immediately dampened. "It's from . . . Earth?"
"Thank God for small favors. I hadn't packed for a trip to Mars."
"What if it is a trap? I have heard of such deceptions from my Aunt," Kara said sadly.
Cat stiffened, considering the very prudent worry of a trap. But the bad Kryptonians were pushed out into space. And the cowardly earth-bound attackers were unlikely to know what Kryptonian friendly signals were, or that Kara would be looking for them in her spacecraft. The only thing she could think of was Superman's Fortress of Solitude, which she had read about in Lois' mildly intriguing article.
"Kara? I think this might be safe. Can we discreetly check out the signal?"
"It is a pod," Kara said with a dismissive shrug and small smile, earning a small swat on her arm. "Yes, we can discreetly check the signal," she amended with amusement and tapped on the console, causing the ship to change course and follow the beacon.
"Good," Cat said with relief, which was short-lived when she noted the troubled look on her pilot's face. "What's wrong?"
"What did I do to make enemies?"
"Oh Kara, nothing except exist. There are some people that are terrified of aliens and believe they are all a threat. They are idiots, and unfortunately those in positions of power are dangerous idiots."
"Am I not welcome here?" Kara asked dejectedly.
"By most people, you are, Kara. You are kind and caring. And you have helped so many. Especially me," Cat said emphatically.
"You helped me," Kara countered, "you saved my life."
"Well, that's what friends do I suppose. I don't have many, so I have to keep the ones I do have healthy," Cat responded with a smirk.
"You say we are friends, but . . . I do not remember you," she admitted uncomfortably.
Given their conversation so far, the fact Kara didn't know her was not surprising, but it still stung. "Well, I certainly hope you remember how to land this ship," Cat snapped with irritation.
"I remember that," Kara said softly. "I am sorry I do not remember you."
Cat sighed and shook her head, disgusted with herself. "Oh Kara, you have nothing to apologize for. And I'm sorry. You did not deserve that. At all," Cat said, annoyed by how easily her bad responses are triggered. "Now you know why I don't have many friends."
"You are scared," Kara said in understanding.
"Yes."
"You are not alone," Kara admitted and vowed with a small smile.
Cat took Kara's hand and squeezed it. "Not alone," she repeated softly. "So! I suppose introductions are in order. I am Cat Grant, founder and Chief Executive Officer of CatCo Worldwide Media. Pleased to meet you."
From Kara's look of concentration, the name was not sparking any recognition. She tried to not let that fact bother her so much.
"Cat? Like the feline species?" Kara asked curiously.
Cat sighed. "In this case, Cat is short for Catherine, spelled with a "C." My mother, Kathrine, spelled with a "K," was not exactly creative in the naming department…."
"Catherine!" Kara said in recognition, causing Cat to smile hopefully.
"Greek origin - it means chaste and pure!" Kara added with a broad smile, happily remembering what she had studied. Names were important on Krypton, so her pod's learning modules included a course on Earth's names.
Cat's smile faded as she laughed ruefully. "Sadly, I do not live up to the name, my dear."
Kara nodded thoughtfully. "It can be difficult to live up to the expectations placed upon us, Catherine," she said sagely. "I am Kara Zor-El of the House of El, daughter of Zor-El and Alura In-Ze," she said with an air of pride, and took a breath to continue with the litany of her family heritage. "Grand daughter of Seg-El and . . . ," she said but stopped and exhaled, the pain of loss clear. "My formal introductions . . . are meaningless now," she concluded softly.
"No, Kara! Not meaningless. Never!" Cat countered firmly, looking pointedly at her until a reluctant nod of agreement was extracted. "But perhaps . . . you can finish your lengthy, formal introduction AFTER we land, yes?" She suggested hopefully.
"You really do not like flying."
"I really don't."
SGSG
Unused to the attention, Agent Derrick Quinlan stood uncomfortably in the DEO command center with the Director, Assistant Director, Dr. Hamilton, Dr. Danvers, Agent Vasquez, and Agent Danvers all looking at him expectantly. He couldn't help but fidget nervously under everyone's scrutiny - especially from Agent Danvers, whose hard gaze shifted between him and the location where Supergirl's pod used to sit.
"Tell them what you told me, Quinlan," Lucy said tiredly, wondering how she was going to write all of this up for the President. She had thought this job would bring her satisfaction - defending the country in a very unique way.
"Well . . . uh, d during the attack, I s…saw Supergirl enter the co…command center with M…Miss Grant in her arms. Sh . . . She was unconscious. M . . . Miss Grant that is. Would be k . . . kind of hard for S…S…Supergirl to carry M…Miss Grant if sh…she was unconscious. S . . . Supergirl that is," he stuttered, then cringed at the deadly glare Agent Danvers was giving him.
"The POINT, Quinlan," Lucy snapped, causing him to freeze. She wondered why she didn't just become a chef . . . or maybe a dancer? Some career, ANY career, that didn't require reports to the President about assassination attempts, dead agents and prisoners, or missing superheroes and media moguls that all happened right under their goddamn noses!
"Quinlan?" Susan interjected calmly with an encouraging nod. "We're all very worried about Supergirl and Miss Grant. Just tell us what you know."
Quinlan nodded and took a deep breath. "Not much else to s . . . say. S . . . Supergirl took M . . . Miss Grant with her and left in the P . . . Pod," Quinlan said, shifting uncomfortably.
"You didn't think to stop her?" Alex snapped, prompting her mother to reach out and squeeze her shoulder.
"Uh . . . wh . . .why? This p . . . p. . . place was a b.b..battleground. And it looked like M…Miss Grant needed help," he said with more courage. "Sh …she wasn't going to g…g…get that here," he said confidently.
"Did you talk with her? Did she say where she was going?" Agent Vasquez asked calmly.
"No. Sh…She was in a rush to g…get out of here. Sh…She was still in her ho…hospital gown!" he said, embarrassed. But he had the survival skills not share the specific details of exactly what he saw during Supergirl's mad dash to get out of the base. Though, someday, he might tell his grandchildren about the super eye-full he received.
"We need to search local hospitals," Dr. Hamilton offered. "She may have taken Miss Grant to one."
"But why did she take her pod?" Lucy asked.
"Her powers are likely still out," Dr. Hamilton suggested. "Now, Dr. Danvers, enough delay. I need to take care of your arm," Dr. Hamilton declared sternly, eyeing Eliza, who begrudgingly nodded. "Agent Danvers is next," Hamilton declared loudly.
Alex nodded unenthusiastically, her worry still clear.
"Alex, having Supergirl awake and taking care of Cat is very good news, " J'onn reminded her.
"That is excellent news," Dr. Hamilton offered with encouragement, prompting Eliza's nod of agreement.
"I need to see her for myself," Alex countered firmly, getting a sympathetic nod from J'onn.
