Chapter 11 - Family Matters
"Catherine, I understand and sincerely appreciate your concern, but I have no intention of laying inactive in the treatment chamber until I get my memories back. I may be there forever!" Kara complained, frustrated with Cat's fussing, which was not so charming at the moment.
Cat glared at Kara, then bellowed "Kelex!"
"Yes, Catherine Grant?"
"If Lady Kara delays the sunlamp treatment, will her chances of recovery be reduced?" Cat asked, her eyes still narrowly focused on Kara, who sighed.
"No. The current, ambient light promotes some rejuvenation, but at a reduced rate compared to the more expedient sunlamp. Success of recovering damaged cells is not dependent on the rate of receiving solar energy, only the quantity of energy absorbed. The unknowns involve whether adequate absorption is possible and how much solar energy it will take if it is."
"Kelex, you are no longer my favorite robot," Cat grumbled.
"Catherine, please. I do not wish to spend more time in a small space if I have a choice," Kara admitted reluctantly. "Please."
Cat's aggravation immediately faded. "I'm . . . sorry for pushing."
"I do understand and appreciate your concern. But our agreement was that I would have a scan first, then I could ask my questions. Shall we go to the residential wing and sit comfortably, as I ask my questions?" Kara said, looking expectantly at Cat.
Cat sighed and nodded, following her out of the medical wing.
Kara's mouth dropped as she witnessed the most amazing sight - a caped, flying man, with the House of El sigil upon his chest!
Superman landed beside his cousin, glancing to Cat uncomfortably, before grinning and sweeping his still-stunned cousin into a hug. Kara grunted at the pressure and he let go. "Sorry, sorry," he said with some embarrassment, realizing she had not fully recovered. But he could still not help but grin. "Kelex alerted me a Kryptonian pod had docked, and I knew it wasn't me," he joked. "I'm so happy you're okay," he blurted sincerely. "But . . . ." he said, glancing at Cat then Kara questioningly.
"She's not okay, Clark!" Cat snapped, making him look at her uncertainly. "Kara doesn't remember landing or growing up on Earth. So that's about 13 years of missing memories. And none of the so-called doctors at the DEO or your little floating robot can tell if it's permanent!"
"Miss Grant, I . . . I'm not sure why you think that my name is . . . ," Clark automatically responded.
"Can it, Superman. I've known for a while," Cat said bluntly.
"Seriously, Miss Grant, I . . . " he tried again, but Cat was having none of it.
"I just tell you that your cousin has a big gap in her memory, which she might not get back, and you want to waste time arguing over your identity?" Cat spat in disgust, causing Clark to sputter, not sure how to respond.
"Kal?" Kara questioned softly, interrupting the one-sided argument. She stared in amazement that this man before her was her baby cousin.
Kal-El and Cat both looked to Kara, each with different emotions as tears formed in Kara's eyes.
Cat felt a pang of sympathy that Kara had to go through this revelation a second time. Kal-El felt trepidation, realizing he would have to explain what had happened to them and disappoint Kara, again. As a child, she always seemed so disappointed in him.
"Yes, Kara. I am your cousin Kal-El," he said.
Kara looked over him, then searched his face in wonder. "I am so happy you are here and well," she said with relief. "And so handsome," she teased, with a slight grin, playfully nudging his shoulder. "But then, you were a cute baby. I pray to Rao, I did well by you."
"Uh . . . ," Clark murmured, uncomfortably glanced to Cat, who wished she could spare the doting older cousin the heartbreak coming.
"But . . . ," Kara said, hesitating as the glaring inconsistencies added up. "Catherine said I had arrived 13 Earth-years ago, and you are far too old to have arrived with me," she reasoned and frowned. "And she called you . . . Clark"
Clark's heart dropped, wishing he could avoid hurting his cousin.
"That is my name, Kara. My Earth name is Clark Kent. It's the name Johnathan and Martha Kent gave me. They were the couple who found and raised me."
Kara nodded weakly, becoming more withdrawn.
"Because you got caught in the phantom zone, I arrived 24 years earlier than you did," he explained, causing Kara's eyes to widen with surprise. She recalled the phantom zone, but had no idea she spent so many years there. "But you need to know, Johnathan and Martha Kent were amazingly kind and loving. I couldn't have found better parents," he emphasized, making Kara slightly flinch.
"I have a really good life now, thanks to them," he stressed, sighing as Kara stared at the ground thoughtfully.
"Your parents . . . ," Kara said, looking up at him. "Your Kryptonian parents," she felt the need to amend, "would be happy you found a good home . . . and a good life here," she said, reigning in her emotions. "I am . . . relieved and thankful to know you are well, despite my failure to raise you," she said, looking down guiltily as a feeling of inadequacy washed over her. "I apologize for not fulfilling my duty to you and our House."
"Oh Kara," Cat said, frowning. "This unwarranted habit of assuming all guilt really needs to stop," she gently scolded, causing Kara to shift uncomfortably but remain silent.
"You apologize?" Superman blurted with surprise. "Kara, you were stuck in the phantom zone. No one could possibly blame you," he responded. "I certainly don't."
"Protecting family and raising children are sacred duties. And you would know this, had I raised you . . . Clark," Kara said sadly, then spoke to him in Kryptonian.
Cat heard only one familiar word - chahvymah. Alone, was it?
As Kara retreated to the residential wing, Cat looked at an uncomfortable Superman and demanded, "What did she say? Where is she going?!"
"To pray to father Rao. Alone. She may have not raised me, but I do know that is sacred," he said and sighed sadly.
Cat was torn, wanting to go to Kara, but wanting to respect her privacy and prayers, which she hoped might bring her some solace.
"In the first few years, she had been standoffish," Clark offered quietly, surprising Cat with this unsolicited disclosure. "And when we did interact, we never really connected. She was especially critical of my Kryptonian pronunciations," he admitted with an embarrassed chuckle that quickly faded as he scratched the back of his neck.
"I thought having her live with the Danvers was for the best. I knew she was hurt that I didn't take her in, but . . I never realized just how important to her it was that I did. I did not perform my sacred duty for our House," he concluded guiltily.
"Oh for God's sake, Clark . . . Superman . . . Kal-El, whatever the hell name you want to be called. Though, I'd have to say, I'm inclined to just call you idiot."
Clark blinked.
"Do you want to know why I am inclined to call you idiot?" Cat asked, as if talking to a slow child.
Clark nodded hesitantly, inclined to say no, but was certain he would be hearing why, regardless of his response.
"Did you not just hear her?" She asked with annoyance, not waiting for a response. "Sure, she was hurt you did not take her in," Cat acknowledged, matter-of-factly.
Clark nodded guiltily.
"But she was a child, who had lost everything - except her duty to protect and raise you. Then she loses that too. And clinging to the only thing she had, her traditions, she felt shame and guilt, every time she looked at her grown cousin. And your difficulty with something so fundamental to her, that she would have taught you, like Kryptonian pronunciations? Just salt on that wound.
And how does a child deal with all of that guilt and shame, on top of having lost everything? Poorly! She took it out on you, hating how she felt. And you really didn't understand why, not having lived as a Kryptonian or experienced the loss she had. And on top of that, you were dealing with your own guilt. So it's not surprising you were blind to what was going on with her," Cat said, wondering if it was just members of the House of El, or all Kryptonians in general, that had a ridiculous guilt problem. But then, there was Alex. What was with this family? She wondered with exasperation.
"That . . . makes a lot of sense," Clark said, digesting Cat's words.
"Of course it does," Cat retorted. "I have a lot of experience with therapy and analysis."
He smiled, but it faded. "Now I have to tell her I didn't raise her," he said, clearly not looking forward to it.
"Give her time to process this first. I think you'll find this adult Kara is more understanding and even appreciative of your hard decision."
Clark smiled with mild relief. "You are a good friend, Cat."
She nodded, then looked thoughtfully. "I have been curious about one thing, though."
"What's that?" He said with an encouraging smile.
"Why would Kara arrive knowing Mandarin, but not you?"
SGSG
In the DEO command center, Alex hobbled back and forth on her walking cast, under the disapproving glare of Dr. Hamilton.
"Agent Danvers! You really need to stay off your feet if you want to heal. You do want to heal, don't you?" Hamilton challenged, knowing the walking cast would only encourage the Agent to walk. She glared at Alex, then the Director, who sighed.
"I'm fine," Alex grumbled dismissively, but sat down, hoping the Doctor would go away. "We've done the hospital search and nothing," she groused.
"Ma'am? NORAD confirmed a brief sighting of a UFO about three hours ago but it . . . disappeared," Agent Vasquez reported uncomfortably. "Our analysis of their data identified it as a Kryptonian pod."
"It can cloak?" Alex said with surprise.
"There are probably several things we still don't know about that craft," J'onn offered sagely.
"I know it's not in the cafeteria," Vasquez muttered.
"What was that?" Lucy asked, looking at Susan curiously.
"Nothing, ma'am."
"Why would she cloak?" Alex asked, baffled.
"Maybe she thought she was still in danger?" Lucy offered. "The attack was an inside job. Maybe she had reason to believe she'd be shot down. We really don't know how big a threat or how deep within the government it goes."
"And Williams is still recovering," Vasquez added distastefully, wanting to beat the crap out of the traitor. But she knew that J'onn needed to interrogate him first. Maybe she could get some "alone" time with him after the interrogation, she considered hopefully.
Superman flew in and set down beside Alex. "Is everyone OK?" he asked worriedly.
"Four dead. The armory clerk and three prisoners," Lucy immediately reported. "There are several injuries, including Eliza, who has a broken arm and Alex, who has a sprained ankle."
Alex glared at Lucy.
"And we're missing a Kryptonian, media mogul, and a pod," J'onn added gravely.
"They are not missing," Superman was pleased to report. "Kara is at the Fortress with Miss Grant."
"Thank God," Alex said with some relief. "But why is she there? And why hasn't she tried to contact us?"
He hesitated answering, knowing how close Alex and Kara were - a closeness he knew he would never have with his cousin. "Well, Alex, there's no easy way to say this. She doesn't remember coming to Earth or her years living here. She's gone to the only safe haven she could find after the attack," he explained, stunning Alex. "Physically, she is still recovering and without her powers."
"How's Miss Grant?" Vasquez asked.
"She had a concussion and several cuts and bruises. But my attendant healed her wounds. After telling me Kara and the DEO were attacked, Cat told me to . . . and I quote, "go make yourself useful and find out what happened to everyone at the DEO," he said wryly, making Vasquez snort and Lucy nod with a smirk. "And she's concerned about Kara adjusting with her memory lapse," he added more somberly. "And I agree. She didn't take it well that she didn't raise me."
"Her memories of Earth are . . . all gone?" Alex asked softly, trying to digest the news.
"Yes," he said reluctantly. "Kelex scanned her and does not know whether she will get them back. The circumstances are unique." Trying to offer some optimism, he added "she is able to remember everything about Krypton and after she woke here during the attack. So long-term memories are intact and short-term memories are retained. Her brain is functioning."
"Except she doesn't have her memories of Earth," Alex said and looked beseechingly at Clark. "Please take me to her. I need to see her," she stressed.
"Are you sure that is a good idea?" J'onn said gently, getting an annoyed glare. "It will hurt talking with a Kara Zor-El who doesn't remember her sister," he explained sympathetically.
"Imagine your first impression of Earth is being attacked in the midst of a battle! She must be terrified. She needs to know there are people who care about her here, even if she doesn't remember them," Alex said with conviction.
"I agree with Agent Danvers," Dr. Hamilton chimed in, surprising Alex. "It would be beneficial to have people close to her around her. Besides helping her mindset, which can only help healing, it might even help trigger some memories. But, Agent Danvers, I caution you to not get your hopes up," she said with concern.
Alex nodded briskly and looked to Superman.
