"I have made copies of the map with our route marked out. I couldn't go with my first choice unfortunately so rather than a 3000-mile trek, we're looking at about 4600 miles to the nearest city and then from there, we should be able to get proper transportation over to Kryptonopolis. Any questions?"
Nia raises her hand as she begins to speak. "Is it really called Kryptonopolis? Like Metropolis?"
"Nia, it's another planet with many other sublanguages. Some things get translated and others don't. Kryptonopolis is the capital of Krypton, and the only other English translation comes to City of Krypton, although it is known on Krypton as Kandor. It's for ease of speech and…why are we discussing this? It has literally nothing to do with the plan. You were definitely the student that derailed all of the classes."
"Is that a compliment?"
"No. It most definitely is not."
"I'm going to ignore every weird interaction that was and ask how long we are expecting this mission to last?" Kelly steps forward.
"It will take longer than we would hope. It will take us between six weeks and two months approximately to hike to the city and retrieve what we need, and that is based on our average walking speed if we move for ten hours per day."
"Two months! Kara, I like a hike as much as the next person, but two months is way longer than we want." Alex is the first to complain, just as Kara had anticipated.
"I know and that's why I want you and Kelly to stay with Esme."
"You're benching us? Seriously Kara?"
"I'm not benching you, I still want you on the mission with me, obviously, but I can't justify taking you away from that little girl for that long. The travel alone could be two months but add in a couple of complications and it could be a lot longer." Kara shrugs as she tries to justify her plan, spending that amount of time away from her sister will be awful but she isn't willing to leave Esme without her parents, she knows how that feels and wouldn't wish it upon even Lex.
"Kara."
"I know, Alex."
"And I also think that once we arrive, Brainy should stay with the ship, ready and waiting for us to signal for him to pick us up and get out of there. We have to make a sneaky entrance, but it doesn't matter about our exit. We'll have time-jumped out of there before they can see what colour socks we're wearing."
"Absolutely not, I am a level twelve intellect, I will not be left behind. You'll need me to assist you in your mission." Brainy stands from his chair, puffing out his chest.
"And I need someone who knows the ship to be on hand to make sure it stays in one piece and fully functional or we all die with Krypton." Kara's voice shakes as she reaches the end of her sentence, showing the group just how emotionally invested she is forced to be with this mission and how vulnerable she has been left.
"Are you certain that nobody else can do this job? Lena perhaps?"
Brainy barely gets the words out before Kara is shooting him down. "No! Lena is with me." She pauses for a second re-evaluating. "Unless Lena would feel more comfortable away from the action, if you want to stay on the ship instead of Brainy, you can Lena."
Lena eyes Kara closely, trying to figure out what is going through her head, but her face goes through her emotions quicker than she can keep up with them. "I would appreciate making the journey with you if that's alright with you. I think it's best that we all stay with our assigned tasks, Kara is taking the lead, and this is a very important mission. The last thing we should be doing is undermining her position."
Lena tried to watch for a reaction from Kara but all she finds is slightly reddened cheeks. "Thanks."
"This is getting rather heated, how about we all take a few minutes and go over our resources?" J'onn, ever the mediator, steps in to prevent any unnecessary squabbling.
The group disperses quickly, and Lena looks to Kara to talk to her about why she hesitated about her being with her on the mission, but Alex beats her, pulling Kara away.
Once Alex has her out of earshot she hits her with a tough question. "Are the dangers of Krypton worse than the dangers of being on Lex's warpath?"
"Alex, how could I possibly give you an answer to that?" Kara looks at Alex the way she always does when she thinks she knows what Alex is thinking. "Is this about coming on the mission?"
Alex has only one priority these days, her daughter. "This is about whether or not it would be safer if Kelly and I came and brought Esme with us."
Kara looks baffled. "The main dangers of Krypton will be the wildlife and the terrain until we get to the city, but I am confident that we can make it through that part. Do you think that once we are in those situations you can handle it? And more importantly, do you think that Esme can handle it?"
"That depends, Kara. Are you willing to do whatever it takes to keep Esme as safe as possible whilst completing this mission?"
"You know that I am and having you and Kelly there will make it ten times easier too, but I can't make the decision on Esme for you. The only other idea to make the decision easier would be if we bring Nia along too and contact Lucy to see if she is willing to help J'onn and M'gann with the alien fleet but that would be up to you. This isn't something that I can decide for you, Alex. This is a decision for her parents so go, speak to Kelly and come back to me. Alright?"
Alex hugs her tightly. "Thanks, sis."
"You're welcome, now go." She gives her a push from behind as she saunters away to find her wife.
As soon as Alex is gone she finds herself reworking the plan in her head, creating checklists and racking her brain for solutions, requiring technology that hasn't been invented yet on any planet.
Her thinking is interrupted by Nia. "Wow, I can practically see the cogs turning."
"Hey, you. How are you holding up?" Kara shoots her a smile, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes.
"I'm good, I was just wondering if there is anything I can do to help with the whole planning thing you've got going on, maybe take a load off your back?"
"Well, if you could dream up a way to get us across a lot of dry land with little water without dying of thirst that would be a great help. Do you think you could have a little research or maybe consult Brainy? I love the guy, but I can't take him talking my ear off right now."
Nia is visibly surprised that Kara has actually given her a task based on her unwillingness to put any burden on other people in the past, but she is happy that her mentor seems to have turned a corner and is willing to be open with the team. "Yeah, no problem. Want me to ward everyone off so you can have some time to think without them battering your head whilst I'm at it?"
Kara breathes out a sigh of relief, "I knew there's a reason I like you so much. Send Lena in if she isn't busy but if she's actually taking a break then don't disturb her."
"You got it captain, but just for the record, you should take a break too," Nia calls over her shoulder as she leaves.
Kara mumbles to herself. "Maybe…" She glances at a half-written to-do list. "Or maybe not."
It is dark outside when Lena makes her way into the main part of the tower, having fallen asleep earlier on the couch and everyone vying to be as quiet as possible to let her sleep. She has a slight angry stomp to her steps at losing precious time to something so unevolved as sleep.
As soon as she steps inside, ready to start working, her stomps turn to a quiet tap and her movements slower as though she is trying not to disturb the air within the room.
Fast asleep, head resting in the crook of her elbow on the table as she is perched on a stool, sits Kara. A soft breeze flows in from the balcony and Lena shivers, immediately setting out in pursuit of blankets. She finds them tucked away in a crook in the corner of the room, where she promptly wraps one around herself, mimicking Supergirl's cape and grabs a second before walking back over to the blonde.
She carefully wraps the blanket around Kara, being as gentle as possible as she tucks it into place to be sure that she doesn't wake her up. With one hand, she tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear, out of her face.
Lena isn't surprised that she has fallen asleep, she has worked non-stop since Brainy figured out his plan and based on the still full take-out containers, she hasn't even given herself a dinner break. It shows how stressed Kara must be if she hasn't even eaten when she was brought food, the girl loves her food.
She works around the room slowly, tidying things up, and organizing the scattered papers until she can make sense of the writings. Kara really is smarter than she lets on, she guesses that she has always hidden it as part of her hidden identity.
She glances over the equations, adding more where she feels necessary or simplifying where she can, to save them time but overall, Kara's workings are sound. Next, she moves over to Kara's to-do list and her eyes fall on the third line.
3. Figure out how to recycle water without a trackable energy source.
Now that gives her a good starting point of what to do whilst Kara is getting her beauty sleep, Lena only wishes that she had Supergirl's strength so that she can move her somewhere more comfortable, but she supposes that it wouldn't matter anyway, it's not like she'll wake up with a crick in her neck like a human would.
She takes a seat across from Kara with some fresh paper and a pencil, ready to work until her brain shoots out something helpful.
Lena can't help but take sneaky glances u every once in a while, checking on Kara frequently, despite the fact that she hasn't moved even an inch since she entered the room. She must have pretty much passed out from exhaustion to be out like this, Kara once divulged to Lena that she can be a light sleeper, her super hearing often picking up things miles away no matter how hard she tries to keep sounds blocked out.
She finds her presence comforting and makes much quicker work of the task at hand than she thought, she designs a very lightweight water recycler which works using the motion of walking to power up the device, using the smallest power source that she could use.
She double-checks her calculations to make sure that the power from the device would not be high enough to be trackable and finds it to be just under the traceable amount, but that doesn't give them any room for power fluctuations and if the device overloads at any point it would give them away. Her mind practically begins to whir as she tries to redesign her already super compact water recycler into an extra mini compact water recycler.
She does it. Just barely but it still counts. The key was to make multiple small recyclers, one for each person. Practically just an upgraded water bottle but with more of a kick. It would have been much easier to use solar energy but with the red sun, she didn't want to risk any solar devices going on the fritz in retaliation to trading in yellow for red since that would definitely end in their demise.
Once she has the recycler down she goes back to the list, much more confident now that she has completed what looks to be the most difficult item on it. She even has a little chuckle to herself when she reaches point 12.
12. Make a list of necessary items to take along in personal inventory bags.
Only Kara would add 'make a list' as a point on a list. She goes to start on the next task but detours at the last second, picking up a pen on the way. She marks off number 3 with a swift flick of the hand with a smile and heads back over to the table to keep working.
Kara grumbles as she lifts her head and stretches. She wipes the sleep from her eyes and scans the room disorientated. She doesn't remember going to sleep but somehow here she is. Falling asleep is possibly the worst thing that could happen, how is she going to get everything done now?
"Hey, sleepyhead."
Kara startles.
"Hi. Sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep. I need to get back to work, I have so much to do. Crap, I never even got started on the water recycler."
She begins to stand but she is swiftly pushed back down onto the stool by insistent hands on her shoulders, "Sit back down, you are going to have something to eat, take a shower and then you can come back to work. I took over whilst you were asleep, and I have made some pretty good progress, so you don't have to worry about it right now."
"But I- "
"No buts, I have designed the recycler and I sent the schematics to Brainy, who is currently in the process of testing out the prototype, it might need a few tweaks here and there but we're pretty much set. Oh, and I also completed more than half of your list. So…. eat and then shower."
"Ok so firstly, you're amazing and secondly, you're really bossy this morning."
Lena smiles widely at Kara as she places leftovers in front of her. "Thanks."
Kara's lips quirk up as she heat-visions her food. She should have known that Lena would have answers where she had none, she has always been able to pick up the slack when Kara lacked. She balances her out and makes sure she has her head screwed on straight.
Kara double-checks her list, making sure that everything is exactly right before they get going.
Everything that needs to be packed has been and it is all strapped down tightly for the journey.
Everyone knows what they are doing and where they are going, and Kara's stress level is so high that is practically puncturing the atmosphere.
Maybe she should triple-check.
"Are you on check number 144?"
"What?"
Alex leans on the door frame, crossing her arms. "We are all set, everything is packed and ready to go. Everyone is ready and fully aware of what they need to do, in fact, there have been a lot of complaints about you over-explaining everything. Apparently, people don't appreciate hearing the same information forty times."
"I just want everything to go well." Kara folds her list and tucks it into her pocket.
"I know you do kid, but you know our team, we're all very capable people. Plus, with our track record, the plan will go haywire within the first two days so we'll probably end up winging it anyway."
Kara deadpans at Alex. "How inspiring. I wasn't worried about that but now I am. Great."
Alex shrugs at her, not feeling guilty at all.
"I can and will get Lena to tell on you to Kelly again if I feel like you deserve it."
Alex looks scandalized. "How could my own sister betray me like this? This is ridiculous.
Kara shoots her a grin as she walks out of the hold of the legion ship.
She makes quick work of the ship's many hallways until she reaches the cockpit where the team is waiting. She is about to speak when she hears Alex's quick footsteps coming from behind her.
"Hey! Wait up, not all of us speed walk everywhere."
Kelly and Esme giggle at Alex. "Babe, you're going to struggle on this mission if you can't keep up."
"Oh, haha. Very funny." The team was grateful for the break from all of the stress and tension of the last week of preparations.
Kara steps forward, catching everyone's attention. "Before you all start to panic, I'm not about to make you all run through the plan again because according to Alex, you all hate that, and the plan is probably not going to work anyway…"
Everyone takes a second to glare at Alex, who is very aware of the fact that she just became the bad guy because she put her foot in her mouth.
"I mean…I didn't say it in those words…"
"Anyway, what I just want to say is; thank you guys, I really appreciate you guys being here and supporting me. So, let's get onto our next adventure."
They all cheer. J'onn peaks next, "M'gann, Lucy and I will have the fleet in the sky first thing in the morning, so you don't have to worry about us, besides we all have faith that you'll get the job done, just get back to us in one piece please."
"We'll certainly try our best but if Alex walks as slow as she just did we may just leave her there." Nia laughs. "Also, I am very glad I get to go see where little Supergirl played ball."
"You're kidding yourself if you think I will show any of you anything like that. You get tourist destinations only if we have time and even that is a big if." Kara puts her hands on her hips.
"Party pooper."
Esme laughs at Nia, causing everyone to smile at her innocent giggles.
"We've got this, I know we do." Lena directs the words to the group, but she is only looking at one person.
"I believe my comrade to be correct, our chances have significantly increased, so let us get this show on the time road."
Kara hugs J'onn goodbye, making sure to tell him to say 'hello' for her when he sees M'gann and Lucy and to tell Lucy to stick around for a while when she gets back for drinks. He begrudgingly agrees to be her messenger but still hugs her back tightly.
Kara heads over to the main console with Brainy. "You all set?"
"I am ready to launch and have packed multiple kinds of puzzles to keep me occupied once we land and I am awaiting your signal."
"Thank you Brainy. I know it's hard to feel like you're sitting on the sidelines, but I need someone that I know I can trust to be on watch for the signal without being distracted.
"One of the perks of being techno-organic." He puts a finger to his head knowingly and smiles.
She takes her seat and looks around at the team. Everyone is strapped-in, and Esme is holding her plushie in her hands as she kicks her feet excitedly.
"Up up and away in 3, 2, 1…"