Chapter 13 - Reunion
Superman with a bundled up Alex, and J'onn with a bundled up Eliza, landed in the Fortress.
"How's the arm?" J'onn asked, glancing worriedly at Eliza's cast.
"Fine," Eliza said warmly. "Thanks for the lift, J'onn."
Alex looked at Clark. "Yeah. Thanks," she said halfheartedly. Eliza sighed at her rudeness.
Not seeing Kara in the main hall, Alex frowned and loudly called out, "Kara?"
"Alexandra! We don't want to scare the poor girl," Eliza scolded.
Alex's intended retort was forgotten when she saw Kara and Cat arrive.
Cat observed the group. Her gaze traveled from Alex's walking boot and Eliza's cast to the DEO director. Her eyes narrowed slightly; Superman would not have brought three people at the same time, especially if two had injuries. Director J'onzz nodded respectfully to her.
"Kara!" Alex exhaled emotionally, tears forming in her eyes. She fought every urge to pull her sister into a hug and not let go, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.
"Alexandra," Kara greeted with a smile. "Your name is of Greek origin meaning defender of man. And I understand you have always been a staunch defender of me. You honor me with your devotion," Kara said, surprising Alex by stepping forward and enveloping her in a hug. Alex gasped in surprise and eagerly returned it, unable to stop the tears from falling.
"And I am glad you learned to fly my pod more quickly than I did," Kara said, pulling back. "Or we would not be speaking now."
Briskly wiping her eyes, Alex glanced suspiciously to Cat, who shrugged. "Don't look at me. I just told her what I knew."
"How long did it take you?" Eliza asked, fascinated.
"One . . . Earth-week," Kara said, searching for the right time unit. "And I was given the code for the interlocks."
"Well, you were a child," Alex said dismissively, recalling that overriding those interlocks was a real mother fu . . . .
"True. My mother took two days," Kara said with a slight smile, surprising Alex. "Though, to be fair, she was more adept at law than science. Which my Aunt Astra would frequently point out."
"So Alex is not technically an idiot," Cat offered bluntly, glancing to Eliza, who smiled and silently mouthed "thank you." Cat just shook her head and shrugged dismissively, though pleased Kara tackled Alex's stupidity so quickly.
Alex frowned, embarrassed by the attention.
Kara looked at her sincerely. "Thank you for rescuing me."
"Anything for you, ie te," Alex said honestly, prompting a delighted smile.
"You speak Kryptonian?"
Alex laughed, wiping the wetness from her cheek. "It was kind of self-preservation. You used to mutter in it all the time."
"I wish I could remember," Kara said sadly.
"You will. Or . . . if you don't, we'll make new memories," Alex declared confidently.
Kara smiled, warmed by the sentiment, and nodded. She glanced to the older blond. "You must be Eliza. The woman who took me in," Kara said with appreciation.
"I am. And I am so happy to see you awake," she gushed. "You nearly died," Eliza blurted as tears welled up.
"But I did not," Kara said and also gave Eliza a needed hug, careful of her arm. "Thanks to Alexandra and Catherine," Kara noted, turning to acknowledge the two.
Alex looked at Cat. "So you stopped the man with the kryptonite dagger?"
Cat shrugged. "Thankfully, your organization was up-to-date on OSHA requirements," she said breezily. Seeing Alex's confused look, she explained, "portable fire extinguishers were readily available."
Alex blinked.
"Eliza? Kelex can mend your arm," Kara offered with concern.
"I will gladly take you up on that offer," she said with relief and added with a slight grimace, "My cast is itchy."
"Kelex can also heal Alex's ankle," Superman offered helpfully, getting an uncomfortable, but thankful nod from Alex.
"Miss Grant, Kara, any details you could provide on the attacker would be helpful. We are still investigating," J'onn said, gaining Kara's curious attention. "Uh, I am J'onn J'onzz, the director of the facility you woke in . . . and were attacked," he added uncomfortably.
"He's also a flying alien that is too cheap to buy decent coffee and oh, did I forget? He can read minds," Cat blurted flatly, eyeing him. She didn't know for sure, but a good, old-fashioned accusation was usually a good way to flush out the truth.
He sighed. "You need not worry, Miss Grant. I did not probe too deeply and I am not a gossip," he said with a hint of irritation. Humans were just too sensitive sometimes.
Cat glared at him.
"Can you help with my memories?" Kara asked him hopefully, having heard about different telepathic aliens.
"I'm afraid not with Kryptonian minds," J'onn said apologetically.
Kara sighed with disappointment and looked around at the group, starting to realize just how much she was missing.
"What do you remember, sweetie?" Eliza asked kindly, getting a thoughtful look as Kara reflected.
"I . . . remember my life on Krypton. All of my family. Grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles . . . my baby cousin," she briefly glanced at Kal-El, who smiled. "I had a good life. A happy life. Then everything . . . changed," she said, growing somber as she descended into her memories. "I remember the day the ground shook . . . and would not stop. The air changed. It became foul. Suffocating," Kara said, making a face as she recalled the stench. She continued, staring off into the distance, unfocused. "My parents told me I was to leave the planet, but I did not want to go. I would have rather met Father Rao with them, with my world, than leave them."
Cat immediately looked to Eliza and Alex, knowing they would be disturbed by Kara's words, and they were; they had no idea how willing Kara was to join her family and people in death. Stepping closer to Kara, Cat gently rubbed her back.
Appreciating the comfort, Kara nodded and took a calming breath before continuing.
"But they rushed me to the launch pad. I didn't even have time to gather any of my belongings. My parents told me of my duty. Kal-El had already left and I was to follow him to Earth and raise him. They said . . . he needed me. I remember embracing my mother one last time. I didn't want to let go. But I had to," she sniffed and took a breath. "I had a duty," she said firmly.
Cat fully understood why Kara's parents gave her that "duty." How else could they get their reluctant child to leave than to appeal to Kara's honor and give her something to focus on beyond the horrific end of her family and Kryptonian life? She knew she would do whatever it took to save Carter.
"I remember leaving Krypton in my pod, and looking back to see it deform, then . . . explode, destroying everything," she said with a devastated whisper. With an unsteady breath, she pushed aside her pain and added, "except my cousin . . . and my duty," Kara said resolutely, not bothering to wipe the tears from her cheeks, the loss feeling so fresh and raw.
Alex glanced uncomfortably to Eliza, who was also tearful from Kara's heartbreaking account. Everything Kara had shared before had been significantly abridged and downplayed. The only unvarnished glimpse they had of the scope of Kara's trauma had been her nightmares.
"The shock wave knocked me off course. I . . . remember trying to compensate, but I could not," she said with difficulty. "Somehow, I got trapped in a dark place; I knew it was the place of criminals. The Phantom Zone," Kara said with a cringe. "It was quiet. Too quiet. I prayed to Rao, asking what I did to deserve to be in that . . . place," Kara said with a haunted look.
The group looked at Kara in stunned silence, not knowing whether it was best to stop her or let her continue. Cat looked over to Clark, never expecting, nor desiring, to see the Man of Steel's tears. She wondered if he had ever truly understood what Kara had gone through.
"I was supposed to be in stasis until I arrived in Earth's solar system," Kara said, still staring off without focus, her mind in the dark Pod. "But the shock wave must have impacted the systems . . . I drifted between stasis and periods of consciousness. My mother installed several educational modules for when I arrived at Earth. I went through all of them. Many times. I had always studied hard to excel . . . but . . . that was not why I kept going through them. I just needed to hear the lecture. To hear my mother's voice, so I would not feel so . . . alone," Kara admitted with a weak shrug, vividly recalling her despair.
Cat sucked in an uneasy breath as her own tears fell. "You are not alone now, Kara Zor-El," she firmly reminded her, again. But she was determined to repeat it as many times as necessary.
Alex and Eliza quickly chimed in. "Oh, sweetie, you are not alone. You have us," Eliza stressed tearfully, reaching out to squeeze her shoulder.
"You are so not alone. And I'll make sure you get sick and tired of us," Alex promised, reaching out to squeeze her sister's arm, prompting a watery chuckle from Kara.
"What she said," J'onn said, pointing to Alex, who rolled her eyes. Kara gave him a small, appreciative smile.
"Kara?" Kal-El said softly, drawing her attention. "Your parents were right, even though things didn't go as planned. I do need you."
She took a breath as she nodded, softly saying, "Yes . . . I understand you still need help with your pronunciations," Kara offered as she wiped her face.
Clark looked at Cat, mildly wounded. Cat shrugged. Alex smirked, knowing she spoke Kryptonian better than he did. Eliza struggled not to chuckle.
"Thank you. All of you," Kara said, looking at everyone in gratitude. She turned to Cat and gave her a surprising hug and whispered, "especially you."
"We are all here for you, darling," Cat said tenderly as they stepped apart. "Now you just need to believe us," she added firmly, taking her hands and squeezing them. As she let go, Kara surprised her and held onto one, holding it as if it was the most natural thing in the world. And it felt like it was, Cat considered, uncertain how to feel about that.
Kara looked at her with a small smile, before proceeding, feeling more centered. "I do not remember escaping the Phantom Zone, arriving at Earth, or growing up here," she said, looking at Alex and Eliza apologetically.
"Not your fault," Alex said firmly.
Kara looked at her thoughtfully. "Nor yours," she countered, surprising Alex, who sighed and nodded reluctantly. Eliza smiled happily.
An awkward silence followed.
"You should tell them what you do remember of Earth, Kara," Cat suggested. "Regale them with my amazing heroics," she added playfully with a flourish of her free hand.
Kara looked at her with a small smile and nod.
"My recent memories start when I woke up to a very loud, repeating sound. A klaxon of some sort. I saw a woman, Catherine, by my side. She called my name. She seemed relieved I was awake," Kara said, glancing at Cat, who nodded, quietly adding "very relieved."
"A man came into the room and pushed her aside, making her fall. He tried to stab me with a dagger. I fought to keep it away, but he was too strong and the dagger made me . . . ill," Kara recalled the surprising pain with a grimace.
"When I thought he would succeed, he . . . fell. Catherine had hit him with a . . . . portable fire extinguisher?" Kara asked Cat hesitantly. She nodded with encouragement.
"She said something in a language I did not understand, but she seemed worried about me. She noticed the dagger was still causing me distress and threw it away. I felt much better after she did," Kara said, glancing at Cat with a warm smile.
"Explains why it was found in the corridor," J'onn noted.
"She returned and spoke more, but I did not understand. There was another explosion and part of the ceiling came down and hit her. She fell unconscious. I . . . I was frightened for her," Kara said, glancing at Cat, squeezing her hand. "I was frightened for myself," she admitted.
"And the loud noises and explosions continued. I had to get us out of there. I carried her out of the room and passed several people. I was seen, but no one tried to stop me or harm us further. But I did not feel safe. I had to get us away."
"That, you did," Cat confirmed flatly.
"I already apologized for abducting you," Kara said with a frown.
"And I told you, I am incredibly grateful for you saving me. It's just that waking up in a spaceship, seeing the Earth, then almost immediately colliding with the International Space Station is not an experience I care to repeat," Cat offered, causing a few chuckles.
"I will do my best to make sure the experience is not repeated," Kara vowed with a slight smile, then looked to the group. "I would not have survived without her help," she added with conviction, looking at the group.
"I am glad she is on our side," Alex joked. Superman nodded thoughtfully.
Kara smiled. "As am I," she said, looking so fondly at her, Cat blushed.
"We need to understand the threat, and how we are going to counter it," Cat declared firmly, annoyed with herself. For God's sake, she was middle-aged woman who should not be blushing like a school-girl! But she was not about to let go of Kara's hand, as if holding it was somehow wrong. It was not! And who was she to deny the comfort Kara sought?!
"The attack was clearly an inside job, designed to distract us while someone tried to assassinate Kara," J'onn offered.
"We still have Williams to formally interview," Alex added. "You whacked him pretty hard, Cat. He's still pretty out of it. Dr. Hamilton won't let us interrogate him yet."
Cat stared at her unapologetically. "Well, he did make me brake a nail."
"Could you identify him in a lineup?" J'onn asked looking between Cat and Kara.
"Absolutely," Cat said with steely determination as Kara said curiously "line up?"
Superman, who had been rather subdued, jumped at the chance to help. "It serves the same purpose as the criminal recognition screens on Krypton. Only with several similar-looking people, including the suspect, physically present, standing in a line next to each other, for witnesses to positively identify the perpetrator among them."
Kara nodded in understanding. "Then, yes," she said, looking to J'onn confidently.
"We could use photographs, if you don't feel comfortable seeing him in person at the DEO," Alex offered worriedly.
"Oh no," Cat countered slowly. "I want to look him in the eye," she said with such venom, Alex was almost worried for Williams.
"That's not how lineups usually w . . . ," J'onn started to explain, then cleared his throat after the look Cat gave him, accompanied by some unsettling thoughts. "We'll work something out," he amended, receiving a satisfied smile.
"Before anyone leaves, I'd like to consult with Kelex about Kara's condition. Clark said he did a scan?" Eliza looked at Kara and Cat, who nodded.
"The flying bot was useless. But knock yourself out," Cat blurted, shaking her head.
"Knock yourself out?" Kara repeated curiously.
"That was an idiom," Alex answered with amusement. "Oh, Kara, you are going to get so frustrated with them until you get your memories back," she warned with a chuckle.
Kara frowned.
"Kara, sweetie, would you mind if I have Kelex do another scan for comparison purposes? I am actually encouraged by what you told me. You had not grasped English when you first woke, but in a very short period of time, you are conversing amazingly well," Eliza said happily.
"Well, except for idioms," Alex piped up with a helpful smile. Eliza rolled her eyes and sighed.
"If I had any doubts you were my sister, they are all gone," Kara responded wryly, looking at her. "My Aunt Astra would often tease my mother like that," she offered with a small smile.
Cat curiously noted Alex's smile falter.
"Kara, I would like another scan to see if there are additional signs of improvement," Eliza said with a hopeful smile.
"Of course, but I must insist we tend to your arm and Alex's ankle first," Kara said firmly, making Eliza chuckle, warmed by Kara's concern.
SGSGSG
After Eliza's arm and Alex's ankle were healed, Eliza took charge and had Kara sit for the scan.
Alex spoke briefly with J'onn, then joined Cat's side with a knowing grin. Cat sighed. Both remained silent for a long moment as they watched Kara and Eliza. Alex continued to grin.
"So . . . Catherine," Alex teased melodically, feeling so much lighter and hopeful seeing her sister up and about.
"Alexandra," Cat responded briskly, having anticipated Alex would want to address the elephant in the room. She had only hoped it would not be so soon, not sure what to tell her . . . or herself, for that matter.
"Are you all right?" Alex asked sincerely.
"Define 'all right'," Cat countered, crossing her arms over her chest, still staring at Kara.
"How are you physically? Mentally? Take your pick," Alex suggested with a shrug.
"Physically, Kelex healed my wounds but I'm hungry and tired. It has been a very long day," Cat admitted wearily, surprising Alex, who expected the proud woman to lie and say everything is fine. That's what she would have done.
"Well, we're going back to the DEO soon. Lucy reported that Dr. Hamilton has cleared Williams for a formal interrogation and Mom's almost done with Kara. We can eat at the DEO, before or after you ID the bastard. Don't worry, I'll make sure it's decent food. Then you can either sleep there or I'll take you home," Alex offered, surprising Cat.
"You're surprisingly . . . accommodating," Cat noted suspiciously.
"You saved Kara's life. And you've been her anchor throughout all of this. It's the least I could do," Alex said plainly.
"Yes, well . . . ," Cat responded uncomfortably. "I'm glad you didn't shoot me."
"Not yet," Alex grinned, earning a glare.
SGSG
An impatient Alex crossed her arms over her chest with an unsympathetic frown as Cat expressed her clear displeasure in returning to the DEO in the pod, which quickly prompted offers to be flown by J'onn or Superman over the arctic tundra. Cat stared at them as if they were idiots.
Kara could understand her hesitation with the small, cramped pod, which she too was reluctant to return in. And she knew it would be cumbersome for Kal and J'onn to fly everyone, even if Cat agreed to being flown, which she suspected would not happen.
"Just suck it up, Grant," Alex finally blurted with exasperation, getting an irritated glare from Cat.
"Alex," Eliza moaned in disapproval.
Clark and J'onn shared a look, each believing it safer to stay quiet.
"Suck it up?" Kara asked in confusion.
Cat looked at Kara. "She is, in her inelegant way, telling me to just get over my aversion to flying," said with a disgruntled sigh. "Let's get this over with," she begrudgingly said in defeat, starting to march towards the pod.
"Wait," Kara said softly, reaching out to gently touch her arm, immediately stopping Cat.
"Kelex?"
"Yes, Lady Kara?" The robot floated towards her.
Kara spoke in Kryptonian.
"Zhi," the robot responded, causing Alex to look at Clark, who was equally surprised.
"What? What did you say?" Cat quickly blurted anxiously, noting Alex's and Clark's reaction.
"You have portal technology?" Alex blurted incredulously to Clark.
"Apparently," he said, stunned. "I knew Kryptonians had it . . . but I never thought. . . ."
"Wait a minute," Cat interrupted worriedly. "Are you planning to beam our molecules across space?" she asked with alarm, the pod option looking better and better.
"It's not a transporter, Cat," Alex countered impatiently.
"Well excuse me for not having a PhD in physics or Kryptonian technologies!" Cat snapped.
"Transporter?" Kara asked curiously, not having expected Earth to have developed such an advanced transportation method.
"It's an imaginary device in science fiction stories," Eliza explained, causing Kara to nod. "It would dematerialize a person into energy, beam the energy to a location then re-materialize the person."
Kara's eyes widened. "It is not that," she quickly told Cat.
"A portal creates a path between two points in space, theoretically," Eliza offered, then amended. "Well, apparently not just theoretically."
"Like a door you walk through," Kara added with soft smile. "Kelex, open a portal to the DEO."
A purple light appeared and expanded into a large oval, which Cat eyed uncomfortably.
"It is safe," Kara said softly, gaining Cat's uneasy gaze.
"I'll go first," Alex announced, "If you hear screams of agony, you'll know it isn't," she said sarcastically, glancing at Cat, who glared at her.
"Oh Alex," Eliza sighed as her rude daughter walked through the portal, followed by J'onn.
Emerging from the portal, Alex and J'onn were met with several nervous DEO agents pointing weapons at them with the General Quarters alarm blaring. Both J'onn and Alex slowly lifted their hands up.
"Hi guys," Alex blurted uncomfortably, a bit embarrassed they didn't think about the DEO response to a portal suddenly appearing in the command center.
"Stand down! Stand down!" Vasquez shouted, lowering her weapon. The agents complied and the loud alarm was silenced as Superman and Eliza emerged behind Alex and J'onn.
Susan looked at Alex incredulously, prompting an apologetic shrug.
"You know, J'onn, a little warning would have been nice," Lucy grumbled as she holstered her pistol. A career in dancing would be a healthy choice, she considered, burning excess energy while keeping fit . . . and not having to deal with nerve-racking surprises like a frighteningly-large energy spike from a portal suddenly appearing in her place of employment….
"Good to see you were on your toes," J'onn said firmly, looking around to the agents with satisfaction. "We'll count this as this month's drill. I'll be in my office," he announced and departed.
Alex noticed that the seconds kept passing and Cat and Kara had yet to emerge. She curiously looked to her mother, who just shrugged. Sighing, Alex walked back through the portal, prepared to carry Cat back, unconscious, if need be. She emerged at the Fortress and spotted a frowning Cat and a patient Kara, who held her hand, talking with her softly.
"Are you coming or what?" Alex said impatiently.
Cat looked at her with surprise and relief at the reappearance of a perfectly unharmed Alex. Kara smiled at her sister with gratitude when Cat squeezed her hand and started walking confidently towards the portal.
"Come along, Kara. I understand portals are safer than flying."
