Chapter 15 - Evisceration
They arrived at the interrogation room, where five men of remarkably similar appearances and builds stood by one wall, each holding a numbered sign. Director J'onzz was already there with Assistant Director Lane. Alex followed Susan to the room on the other side of the one-way mirror to minimize the crowding, while still being able to observe.
As Lucy opened her mouth to provide instruction, Cat was already marching with purpose towards number 4. She stopped right in front of him, her eyes never leaving her prey.
Williams eyes widened slightly with her surprising proximity. Cat looked at him with such disgust, it nearly made him flinch.
"This is the one. This is the one who failed so spectacularly when he had . . . every . . . advantage," Cat said, her voice dripping with contempt, her eyes never leaving his.
"He is the one. He attacked me," Kara announced, stepping up next to Cat, gaining a hateful glare from Williams. While not happy with their proximity to this violent man, Kara stood staunchly by Cat's side, as requested.
J'onn looked to the four other men. "The rest of you, dismissed." As they started to file out, they stopped at the door curiously when they heard Miss Grant speak again.
"How embarrassing. To be six-foot tall and two hundred pounds of solid muscle, with a Kryptonite dagger, no less . . . and completely fail to overwhelm a de-powered Kryptonian woman," she said. "A woman who was just waking up after a five . . . day . . . coma," she spat with disgust.
J'onn remained silent, keeping a close eye on Williams and his thoughts.
"The very Kryptonian, who saved your pathetic life," Cat ground out.
"How embarrassing . . . to be a trained agent, no . . . double agent," she mocked, "and be so completely . . . unaware . . . of your surroundings," she shook her head, with feigned disappointment, satisfied when his gaze turned hard with anger.
"How embarrassing . . . to be taken down by a five-foot three, one-hundred pound, middle-aged woman," she said, motioning to her petite self with a pitying frown.
"I'm sure your handlers are pleased," Cat suggested with a thin smile. "I'm sure they're anxious to reward you for your . . . noteworthy . . . performance."
That got Williams to shift uncomfortably as J'onn received a distinct image of Dr. Luthor from the man's thoughts.
Lucy and J'onn shared a look, neither intending to interrupt.
"Perhaps you should be released, so they can thank you in person," Cat tossed out breezily.
"But then, they did manage to orchestrate an attack on the DEO . . . from the inside. A supposedly secure facility. My guess?" she said with a shrug. "Whatever government cell you end up in, they'll find and give you the reward you so . . . richly . . . deserve."
Williams' alarmed gaze immediately went to the Director, before he schooled his features, returning to a neutral stare over Cat's head.
Alex started to think that maybe encouraging glares from this woman wasn't her best idea.
"You could help the Director prevent that," Cat said, hoping Williams wasn't a complete idiot.
"But from your underwhelming performance so far?" Cat said and sighed. "I suspect you are far too stupid to realize you are just a pawn. An expendable pawn, that has embarrassed them with your incompetence.
I suspect you are too . . . oblivious . . . to realize that because they are so consumed with their hate for aliens, their goals far outweigh whatever human collateral damage they leave in their wake," Cat said confidently.
Alex glanced to Susan, who stood there with a satisfied smile, enjoying what could only be described as a "thing of beauty."
"I suspect you are too . . . selfish . . . to be concerned that if they don't want to expend the resources to reward you directly, they will do so indirectly . . . through your loved ones.
What better opportunity to so clearly incentivize others to succeed, where you had so . . . completely . . . failed."
Williams' gaze fell to the ground.
"Of course, you could help the Director to prevent that. But I'm sure your misguided loyalty to the 'cause' to is far more important to you than the people you put in harm's way . . . the people I pity the most . . . the people that love you," Cat said sadly, shaking her head.
"He's all yours, Director. I truly hope he cares about his loved ones . . . for their sake," Cat said and turned, heading towards the exit.
A mesmerized Kara took a second before following Cat. They passed the four, stunned agents at the door, who gave Cat and Kara a wide berth before following them out of the room.
J'onn looked at Williams and glanced to a chair. "Sit."
In the hallway, Kara and Cat could hear the agents, who were huddled together, talking amongst themselves.
"Hole. Lee. SHIT!" Number Two said, shaking his head.
"I almost soiled MY pants," Number One said.
"Are you sure she's not an agent?" Number Three offered, prompting them to cast curious and admiring glances at Cat.
"Maybe she is," Number Five whispered.
"Catherine?" Kara asked softly, noting her weariness.
"Hmm?"
"Are you all right?"
Cat smiled weakly. "I'm exhausted."
Kara pulled her into a warm hug which Cat melted into, resting her head against Kara and shutting her eyes. "No wonder. It must take tremendous energy to be so terrifying," she said wryly, and felt Cat stiffen. ". . . and magnificent," she added, feeling Cat relax into her embrace again.
"I hope it helped," Cat said, exhaling drowsily.
Alex and Susan joined them. "What's wrong? Are you ok?" Alex asked with concern, noting Kara's protective embrace.
"We are both tired," Kara said, prompting Cat to silently nod with her eyes still shut, unmoving from her Kryptonian cocoon.
"Well, we could get bunks here, or I can drop Cat off at her home and you can stay with me," Alex offered.
Kara grimaced. "I . . . do not wish to leave Catherine." From the slightly tighter grip from Cat, she believed she was not alone in that wish.
"Oh. Yeah. Sure, I understand that," Alex said with an easy smile and added with a shrug, "There are plenty of bunks here."
"I do not wish to stay here," Kara said uncomfortably.
"You will be safe here," Susan vowed, willing to stand guard herself.
Alex nodded quickly. "Absolutely."
"I do not wish to stay here," Kara repeated stubbornly, skeptical of the claim, however earnest.
"Oh. Uh . . . ," Alex blurted, her mind racing through various options.
"I will take Catherine back to the Fortress of Solitude with me," Kara announced confidently, satisfied with her perfect solution.
"Oh. Dear. God!" Cat moaned, her eyes opening as she reluctantly pulled back from the embrace. "If the Director deems it safe enough, we all can stay at my penthouse," she offered. "It already has good security," she said and looked to Alex. "And with you there, added security."
"What about your son?" Alex asked.
"My son is on a camping trip with his father. It'll be two weeks until they get back," she said, missing the troubled look crossing Kara's face. "There's plenty of room for you and Kara . . . and Eliza, if she wishes."
"Sounds like a plan," Alex said with a relieved smile.
"What about me?" Susan piped up innocently.
SGSG
"Well that was almost too easy. He gave up McGill right away," Lucy said with amazement, walking to the cafeteria with J'onn, who shook his head.
"I'm still worried there are more moles that Williams doesn't even know about. The Luthors are nothing, if not thorough. I suspect Dr. Luthor has multiple contingencies should her agents get caught," he said gravely.
"You should scan all the agents," Lucy suggested, getting a surprised look.
"You, of all people, suggesting that is a surprise, AD Lane," he said honestly.
"Not for arrests but for intel. You may even get intel to find Luthor," Lucy explained. "I know it's an ethically gray area, but you've got clear parameters for your search and we should use the tools we have. And as my sister believes, it's easier to get forgiveness than obtain permission."
"The fact you are adopting your sister's philosophy is an even bigger surprise."
"Well, we are living in extraordinary times, J'onn," Lucy said without apology.
"That we are, Lucy," he said with a sigh, adding "which is why I think we need to have a new operational contingency in place . . . ," he said, falling silent as they approached the women in the cafeteria, who all looked tired as they glanced at him curiously. "We'll discuss it later," he said to Lucy, who nodded, wondering what he had in mind.
"Williams confessed to what I already read from him, and more," J'onn announced, standing at their table in the quiet cafeteria. "We were able to apprehend another mole, McGill, who helped him with the explosives. The attack was orchestrated by Dr. Lillian Luthor, to take advantage of Kara's incapacitated state. Unfortunately, we don't know where she is," he admitted with irritation.
"A Luthor, of course," Alex spat the family name with disgust.
"The Luthor's have never hidden their hatred of aliens," Lucy added with a frown. "I just never expected the family would be as extreme and violent as Lex."
"Apparently, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree . . . ," Cat said with a worried sigh, seeing Kara's curious look she added "it's an expression about children taking after their parents."
Kara nodded, then looked to J'onn. "We had planned to stay at Catherine's home. But I do not want to endanger her," she said worriedly. "Any more than I already have," she added guiltily.
"Kara," Cat sighed, shaking her head.
"Unfortunately, I can't guarantee you'll be completely safe anywhere," J'onn said bluntly.
"The Fortress of Solitude," Kara immediately countered.
"Zha!" Cat objected, pointedly looking at Kara, who blinked with surprise, then frowned, too annoyed to be pleased by the Kryptonian Cathrine had picked up.
"Zhi!" Kara countered, knowing her solution was the safest.
"We will be fine in my penthouse and more importantly, close to those who can help, should a problem arrive," Cat said confidently.
"I'm with Cat on this, Kara," Alex chimed in, earning a wounded look.
"You truly believe Cathrine's home is as secure as the Fortress of Solitude?" Kara challenged.
J'onn interjected before Alex could respond.
"No. But now that you are out of the coma, you are an unknown to Dr. Luthor at this point," J'onn said. "I strongly doubt she would blindly attack you, even if she did know where you were staying. She's too calculating."
"And I doubt she would want to risk possible exposure with a public attack of National City's beloved hero or her friends," Cat offered, adding, "Bad image."
After a moment, Kara sighed in frustration. "Very well, I'll stay with Catherine," Kara announced reluctantly, then looked to Cat, "if you are sure."
"I am," Cat said firmly.
Kara nodded uncomfortably, still believing the Fortress was the best solution.
"Miss Grant, I wish I had known what you were planning during the line-up," J'onn said.
"Says the mind reader?" Cat challenged, making him frown.
"I don't make a habit of constantly reading everyone's minds," he said with irritation. "My point is, your speech was highly effective. I just wish I had recorded it for training purposes," he admitted.
"Got you covered, Sir," Vasquez piped up, prompting surprised looks. "I had a hunch there would be something worth recording," she offered with a shrug. Alex laughed and gave her a high-five.
Cat just shook her head, though immensely pleased by the praise.
J'onn nodded with a smile. "And if you ever need a job, Miss Grant . . . ," he said with amusement.
"No, thank you," she said, looking directly at J'onn. "I refuse to work somewhere that doesn't appreciate decent coffee," she said with a thin smile.
