Karry Universe
Declaimer: The usual
Note: On this chapter I have to give credit where credit is due. This chapter was inspired by an idea given to me by a reviewer, PiotrMc - it was a long time ago, but PiotrMc, thank you.
Legends of Today
-One Year Ago-
Maxwell Lord walked down the halls of his facility and into a lab, opening the door. One of his workers was in the room but his eyes went to the body on the table. He had offered to fly the body back to Metropolis for the family free of charge. No one knew he had other motives for doing this.
"James Olsen," Max said looking at the body. "This life might be over, but I'm going to give you a new life." Max backed away and looked at his employee. "Take the brain, make sure this procedure remains off the record - you understand?"
"Yes sir," the employee nodded solemnly and went to work.
-Superflash-
Present Day
"What's going on?" Maxwell Lord yelled running through his building, as red lights were flashing and alarms blaring.
"Some kind of power surge," one of his employees said. "It's out!"
"What do you mean it's out? We have safeties on it?" Max said.
"Safeties are gone. It's out," the employee moaned. 'I don't know what did this."
Max ran through his building, following the obvious destructive path the thing that had gotten out took and paused at a large whole in the wall of his building. It wasn't just on the loose in his building; it was loose on National City! "What have I done?" Max whispered to himself.
-Superflash-
Ray followed Lucy into CatCo, his arm around his girlfriend with a smile. "Come on. Just a bit longer," Ray begged. He had taken Lucy to lunch and had been upset when she mentioned having to go back to work.
"Some of us have to work," Lucy said with a smile, kissing her boyfriend. She never thought she would be so happy with another man after what had happened to James. She was even starting to think about getting her James tattoo finally removed; it felt weird having it on when she was so happy with Ray.
"I work!" Ray protested, offended at her remark.
"I'm sorry, when was the last time you went into your company?" Lucy asked, causing Ray to bite his lip. He had left Felicity in charge of most things for a while now - some things were still run by him, but he hadn't returned to Starling since Kara and Barry's wedding. "I thought so." Lucy concluded with a smirk.
"Well, you're too…" Whatever Ray was about to say was interrupted by a loud crash and flying glass. Instinctively, Ray dragged Lucy down with him as he ducked and looked up to see what had happened: In the window was what appeared to be a humanoid robot. It was large and silver, with glowing green eyes and something glowing green beneath its chest.
The robot went to Cat Grant's assistant's desk, picking up the girl hiding behind it easily. Looking her over, the machine seemed to exhibit emotions, getting angry and easily snapped the girl back and neck at the same moment, killing her instantly.
"Where is she?" The robot demanded; it's voice unrecognizable as it smashed into Cat Grant's office, yelling the same line as he went towards the woman.
Before Cat Grant could do anything or the robot could get to her, it was shot from behind. Cat was happy to see Atom standing in the doorway. Ray had quickly made an excuse and ran off on Lucy to change into his suit, which he carried everywhere these days thanks to its size. "Haven't you ever heard about picking on someone your own size?" Ray asked the thing with a smirk.
The robot charged at Ray, punching him and sending the man flying back. "Where is she?" the robot yelled in tinny vocals. Ray fired again and the robot sent his own firepower back from his arm that Ray was barely able to dodge.
Ray didn't really like shrinking in front of crowds but if he could get inside this thing he could turn it off. Ray shrunk down to miniature, barely hearing Cat mumble in realization: "so that's why he's called Atom!" He flew towards the robot but the robot easily flung his small form towards a wall.
Ray's suit was damaged from the impact forcing him to resize to normal, and he was on the floor. The robot came running towards him and it was all Ray could do to fire at it, but the firepower didn't seem to affect it.
Lucy didn't know why she did it, but seeing the superhero damaged this way, she jumped in front of Atom and between the robot, putting her hand up in a stop motion. "Leave him alone," Lucy said, almost not believing she was coming to the defense of a hero and a friend of Supergirl's. She still had bad feelings towards the heroes of this world, but something in her made her like this Atom. Maybe it was his almost familiar voice...?
The robot actually paused and looked over Lucy. It then backed away and flew out the window it had entered without another word or damage caused. "How the hell did you do that?" Atom asked, shocked, as he got off the floor.
"I don't know," Lucy said in amazement, still holding her hand up but slowly putting it down at the realization that the danger was gone.
"Well, good work Ms. Lane. I think...?" Cat said, stunned from her office door just as Supergirl and Superdog flew in and the Flash ran in - all three to late for the action.
"What happen here?" Supergirl asked, her eyes on Atom; he had quickly sent them a message on his communicator to get to CatCo before he had changed.
"Not a clue," Atom responded, shaking his head.
"And where were you two exactly?" Lucy asked, rounding on the superheroes, her dislike of them suddenly switching on now that the realization of the situation had registered with her. Krypto responded by barking angrily at her.
"Correct yourself," Supergirl said, making Lucy raise an eyebrow. "You said two there are three of us."
"Oh seriously? But it's a dog...!" Lucy remarked as Krypto growled. "Fine, have it your way then. Where were you three?" Krypto stopped growling and sat back making, Lucy give the dog an uncomfortable glance - he really was too smart for a mere animal.
Before any of them could answer there were three loud bings. Supergirl, the Flash, and Atom all took out their communicator, all having revamped their costumes slightly so they had a place to hold them. "This cannot be good," Flash muttered, looking at the message from Sara on the communicator asking for them to come to the DEO.
"When is it ever good?" Atom asked, putting his communicator away.
"He's got you there. You good to fly or do you need a lift? Your suit is kind of messed up," Supergirl said.
"I'm good," Atom responded and Supergirl and Atom flew out the window and Flash ran off.
"Nice to be let in on things after nearly being killed." Lucy remarked coldly to the now empty air as Cat spluttered her own disbelief, still at her office door.
"What is going on?" Cat asked herself now. "News happening right in my office and I have no idea about it? This is not right! This is not what I built CatCo on." She looked down at the body of her assistant and frowned mournfully. "And she was the best one since Kiera left... Well someone call the police or ambulance or something!"
-Superflash-
Kara, Krypto, and Barry arrived at the DEO before Ray but waited for him so the three could walk in together. Nevertheless, Ray had filled the pair in on what happened on the way.
"Can this wait, we have a robot to take care of?" Kara said as she walked into the main lab of the DEO.
"We know, that's why we called you here," Alex said. She and Sara were leaning against a computer console and Sara had an arm around her; Hank was not far off and Kara finally noticed Maxwell Lord too, standing in the room.
"What's he doing here?" Kara asked defensively.
"The robot you mentioned, I sort of made him…" Max said airily, and not a second later Ray had punched him, surprising everyone.
"I always wanted to do that," Ray said shaking his hand.
"What the-? Raymond Palmer is that you?" Max asked, recognizing the voice as he held his, now bleeding, nose "I should have known…" Ray took off his helmet now that he was ousted and glared at Max.
"What do you mean you made him? Why would you do that?" Kara asked.
"What is it?" Barry asked.
"I've been calling it 'Metallo'," Max said sighing. He had hoped he would never have to explain this.
"Cat will think up something better," Kara responded drying, Max responded with a glare.
"I figured the world needed heroes and felt I should keep myself in the game. I decided to make my own hero. Something strong and fast that could defend this world." Max explained further.
"You failed miserably," Ray responded, annoyed. "Can I punch him again?" Kara shook her head at Ray and Ray backed down with frown. "What went wrong with the programming?"
"Well… you see there isn't actually any programming," Max said deviously, making everyone look at him in confusion – and worry. "The programming and design needed to have a robot hero that could act on its own, react to sudden changes, and know who was its ally and enemy is far beyond anything I could currently do. "
"So, how is it working?" Barry asked.
"Well…. I put a human brain in it," Max said, to the groans of many around him. "I might not have been able to do the programing but I was able to design a way to connect a human brain to the robot body."
"Where did you get the brain?" Alex asked.
"And if it's from a coma patient I will let Ray punch you again," Kara snapped, Ray smirking as he massaged his fist, ready to strike again.
"No need for that," Max said holding up his own hand. "I would not take a brain from a person who had even the slightest chance of revival – no matter what you think of me." Max saw the looks pass between Kara, Alex, and Hank, the only ones who had to deal with Bizzaro. "I took the brain from a deceased person, someone I thought could be a hero."
"Well something obviously went wrong," Sara said rolling her eyes.
"My theory was that the brain activity after death would be enough to revive the organ when housed in the new body, but too many brain cells had died by the time I revive him, that the person that once was… well, his mind became so twisted he's almost unrecognizable." Max sighed. "I locked him up in hopes of finding a way to fix him – sadly I failed again there, as there's no bringing memories and personalities back so long after death."
"Why did you let him out?" This question came from Astra who had been silently listening from the side, although Max's eyes caught sight of the other blonde woman smirking oddly at him now.
"I didn't," Max said. "There was an anomalous power surge at my building. It let Metallo out; not me." These words seemed to entice the superheroes as they glanced knowingly at one another, forcing Max to add: "And you know something."
None remark on this as Barry instead spoke up: "The point is your Metallo is out and attacked CatCo and killed someone – maybe more on its way to and from the building. But why would it attack CatCo?"
"I'd imagine he's looking for your wife," Max told Barry, confusing everyone as he pointed at Kara. "It hates you with a passion."
"All of your doing, I assume?" Alex asked, annoyed.
"Oh no," Max said holding up his hand again, and shaking his head. "That's all her doing." Max pointed at Kara. "The brain blames you for his death, and I don't know… something about stubborn cockroaches? It was a little hard to make out."
"Stubborn cockro…." Kara paused as she was talking remembering something; it was obvious she had known this deceased individual. A light bulb suddenly lit as dots were connected and in a blur she had sped toward Max, picking the man up by the collar of his shirt, eyes now glowing at him. "James Olsen? You took James Olsen's brain from his body and made him that?!"
Max laughed nervously, hoping someone out of these people would stop Supergirl from reacting this way, but no one moved. Max laughed again. "Well… yeah…. You have to admit he seemed like the perfect candidate to be a superhero." Kara was tempted to hurt him, but instead just tossed him back into a control pad – although reluctantly not using her full strength, as she didn't want to unnecessarily damage any DEO equipment. Max used the control pad, however, to balance himself so he didn't fall and mumbled something, rubbing his side that hit the control pad.
"How did you get James Olsen from stubborn cockroach?" Alex asked – everyone but Barry was curious, Barry already knowing.
"My last words to James were…."
"'I do not need my cousin sidekick hanging around'," Alex, Ray, and Hank all quoted together.
"How did you know that?" Sara asked, having been dead herself when James died.
"It was all over the news at one point," Alex answered her girlfriend. "Lucy confronted Supergirl about why James was upset with Supergirl at his funeral and someone taped it."
"Yeah," Kara said with a small sigh. "I made that nicer than it was. What I actually said though, I think, was: I don't need my cousin's sidekick hanging around like a stubborn cockroach."
Everyone looked at Kara in shock. "The one time in your life you have be mean to someone," Alex stated annoyed and worried for her sister but also finding it a little bit funny.
"Okay, the superheroes will take care of robot. We're looking into this power surge," Hank said knowing it was better this way and the group nodded.
"Wait," Max said before anyone could move. "There is something else you should know… The power source for Metallo is Kryptonite that I enhance." There was a moment of silent before Barry now ran up and punched Max, hard. Max put a hand on his face where he was hit.
Sara was confused, looking around at everyone and noticing the angry glances at Max. "What's Kryptonite?' She had never heard the name before so wasn't so sure what it was – it seemed to be bad considering the reaction.
"Radioactive material of Supergirl's home world," Alex answered. "It's the only thing that can weaken, even kill, a Kryptonian on earth."
"Even with my anti-kryptonite devices, weapons powered by Kryptonite can hurt us," Astra added, glaring at Max.
Sara groaned audibly at this as she looked to the others. "I really don't like this man," she stated to the room at large, to which Max raised an eyebrow as Alex smirked.
"Join the club," Alex said kissing Sara.
"So that's why I never had a chance with you," Max moaned on seeing the pair kiss, pleased until Alex kicked him. "Hey this is not beat up on Max day! I came to you remember, I could have easily gone to the official government or Cat Grant."
"And what tell them you violated James Olsen body, took his brain, and made a killer robot? How soon would you be in jail?" Alex asked and Max mumbled something under his breath knowing she was right.
"Sir," Vasquez said from a computer. "The robot hit again. An apartment in National. Killed the people inside."
"Let me guess," Kara said and spoke her old address and Vasquez nodded. "The plan doesn't change. We'll take the robot and you guys track down that power surge. Max, you'll have to give us all the plans."
"Here," Max said taking out a flash drive, having long since expected that.
"You're going to need these," Astra said, taking out two of the anti-kryptonite devices. Kara took them and put one on her and one on Krypto. "Be careful." Kara nodded.
"Sara, you coming?" Barry asked and Sara seemed torn, looking between Alex and the others.
"Go," Alex inclined, surprising Sara. "You're one of them. You belong chasing killer robot James and not tracking power surges."
"You sure?" Sara asked.
Alex took Sara's hand. "Yes, just come back to me and come back soon," Alex kissed Sara on the cheek; Sara smiling and nodding to Barry.
"Okay," Kara said going to pick Sara up to fly her to STAR with them. "Oh and Max, after this I would take all your money and find a place to hide."
"Is that a threat, Supergirl?" Max asked coyly, a little bit like his old self again.
"No, a warning… because after this is over I'm going to Metropolis and telling my cousin what you did to his best friend," Kara stated, Max going pale as the superheroes left. Alex laughed at the expression on Max's face as she went to work herself.
-Superflash-
As they got to STAR, the first thing they saw was Firestorm fighting the robot. The group went in to get closer but as Kara neared the thing, she felt weak. Both she and Krypto collapsed to the floor, in fact. "Kara…?" Sara paused, noticing the physical pain both Kara and Krypto seemed to be in.
The Robot James noticed Supergirl, instantly ignoring the others and focusing her. Sara took out her bo staff, not sure how affective she would be, but Barry was in front of his wife and dog in a moment; he knew how weak she was feeling and was confused – why were the anti-kryptonite devices not working? Atom fired at RoboJames and Firestorm sent his heat blast.
Whatever part of James was left in there knew he was not getting to Kara and backed off, running away once more. Firestorm flew after him and within moments Kara and Krypto both started to feel better.
Kara, what just happened? Barry asked internally, but Kara had no answers. Aunt Astra's anti-kryptonite devices had never failed before.
"What was that?" Cisco asked, appearing from the lab entrance.
"Long story," Barry sighed, instructing simply: "Cave." The group of superheroes nodded as one and went to the backdoor to walk into the Superflash cave.
-Superflash-
Lucy was still working. Despite the hole in the wall and a million questions from police, Cat demanded they continue working, wanting to know all she could get about the robot. None actually expected its return however, until there was another loud crash and the robot reappeared.
"Not again!" Lucy heard someone say as people ran for cover.
"You!" Cat was at her doorway in seconds as she addressed the robot fearlessly, "Either use the public entrance or the first hole you came in – do not go ripping up my office!"
The robot glanced to Cat as it had been looking for someone, before moving toward the boss, who tried not to show fear as Lucy jumped in front of her boss, between the robot for the second time today.
"Stop," Lucy said, trying the same thing as before by holding out her hand. The robot actually did as instructed again. What was going on? "Leave us alone." Lucy now demanded.
"You," the Robot said, looking at her now. "You will do." Lucy was confused momentarily, but then she was suddenly picked up and flying through the air in the Robot's grip.
"Ah damn," Lucy said not sure what she had gotten into.
"Huh. It listened," Cat stated, staring at the first hole the robot had come in, and now just left through. "Someone find Lucy Lane!" She now cried to her cowering employees.
-Superflash-
"So, I figured out why the anti-kryptonite devices didn't work," Caitlin said. The minute everyone was in the cave and everything was explained, Caitlin, Cisco, and Ray all went to looking over the plans for Metallo – as Max had called it. "He really did enhance this kryptonite; as in it's more than a hundred times powerful than this size of Kryptonite should be. It's overpowering the anti-kryptonite devices. This is the best Kryptonian killing machine I have ever seen."
"Why would the same person who broke out a bunch of Kryptonians want a Kryptonian killing machine on the loose?" Barry asked concerned and worried for his wife. "Why create a superhero killer if you want that same thing to be a superhero itself?"
"To kill the biggest threats to their plan before they even start?" Caitlin suggested. "Aside from Diana, you have to admit Kara, Clark, and Krypto are the most able to take on a Kryptonians in our group. Makes sense, in a twisted way, to take them out first. As for why Max made it like this…. He's always been strange when it came to the heroes."
"Probably didn't care it would weaken Clark, and me," Kara mumbled.
It was then that Ronnie walked in, still on fire. "Lost it a while ago. Trying to find it again, but whatever that thing is…" Ronnie paused looking around. "You guys already know and are formulating a plan," he grinned. The group nodded as Ronnie and Stein separated. "So, what is the plan?"
"Well my original plan when I first fought Metallo…"
"RoboJames," Kara corrected Ray smugly. "Let's not use Max's dumb name."
"Okay RoboJames is a good one," Ray said, nodding his approval. "If I can shrink down and get into it, I can sever links that will disable him for a time, but getting into him is not going to be easy. This thing is well protected, but there is one flaw we discovered. Well, Max discovered and hasn't corrected yet, thankfully."
"A high pitch wail will temporarily stun him," Cisco continued. "Something like the Canary Cry."
"You want to go to Starling and get my sister?' Sara asked.
"Who said we need your sister?" Cisco asked, moving away and bringing out a mannequin with Sara's outfit on it. He had asked for it back to make slight changes and Sara noticed a very familiar device on it. "Since you're going by White Canary, I figured you deserved one too, so I made another. In fact, I made improvements to this one I should add to Laurel's – I was going to surprise you with it later but now is as good a time as any."
"But," Ray continued, "we don't just need Sara's Canary Cry, we need someone strong who would be able to physically rip open this section right here." Ray pointed at a picture of Metallo and at a section to the left of its body.
"I can't do it. I get anywhere near him and I'm on the floor," Kara said sadly.
"Maybe I could…" Barry paused when Cisco and Caitlin shook their heads.
"Maybe firestorm could melt that…?" Ray now shook his head.
"That would take too long. We need someone with great strength."
"Well then, it's a good thing I showed up to see if you needed help." They turned to see Diana. She wasn't in her Wonder Woman outfit but instead she was in normal work attire clothes of a shirt and long skirt. Her hair was up in a ponytail and she was wearing glasses. Kara knew she had gotten her former identity of Diana Prince back and she had a job doing something in government, but Kara was unsure what.
"That will work," Cisco said nodding his approval.
"I don't get the glasses thing…" Ray said. "How does no one see through it?"
"Probably the same way people don't look through that ridiculous helmet of yours. Besides, this has been working since World War Two, boy," Diana said, making Kara laugh.
Ray was about to say reply when Caitlin piped in, "Facial recognition does work around the eyes, and so by putting glasses on they would be throwing off that type of computer program."
"I used that to find Olly's identity though…" Ray pointed out, but no one was listening now.
"Um, guys… we have a new problem," Cisco interrupted. "Seems James took a hostage." They looked turned to the computer where they could see footage of RoboJames with Lucy in his arms, on top of a roof. "Reminds me of something…" Cisco muttered.
"No!" Ray shouted, angry and upset at seeing his girlfriend in trouble. "He wouldn't hurt her before. She got him to back away!"
"She's his former girlfriend," Kara reasoned. "Who knows what his twisted mind will do."
"If we go through with our plan as is we can get her hurt," Ray said rounded on Kara.
"We need a distraction. Someone to lure him away from Lucy," Kara replied reasonably.
No, Barry thought to Kara right away, knowing what she was thinking. You can't. The minute you get near that thing you're too weak. You can't put yourself in that kind of danger.
I can't let anything happen to Lucy, Kara thought back and then switched to verbal communication. "Besides, you'll all be there to back me up."
"We'd have to focus on protecting you instead of defeating James," Barry shot back out loud again.
"Did they just have a telepathic conference again? Do you ever get use to that?" Diana asked, being caught up on the mental link a while back and finding it odd but fascinating.
"No," Everyone answered, annoyed at the couple's internal monologue when planning.
"We have to save Lucy. The best way to get him to let her go is by giving him what he wants: Me," Kara said reasonably.
"Guys…" Cisco said, trying to interrupt the fight.
"It's too risky," Barry said. I can't lose you. Barry switched to thinking and feeling, going through the bond.
You know I have to, Kara thought back. "You know we have to save Lucy."
"Guys!" Cisco finally yelled, seeing he was being ignored. "I think I have a way to solve this and for both of you to get your way." Kara and Barry looked at him confused.
-Superflash-
Lucy had no idea what to do or what was going on. She figured she was being used as a hostage, but had no idea why or for what purpose. Why did this thing come back to CatCo? "Just let me go," Lucy demanded.
Before anything else could be done, a familiar voice called out, "James!" Flying near the opposite end of the building was Supergirl; the robot turned around at the mentioned of his name.
"James…?" Lucy mumbled in shocked.
"You did this to me!" RoboJames said, not letting go of Lucy.
"No, I didn't," Kara said, apparently landing on the other end of the roof. "The Reverse-Flash killed you and Maxwell Lord did this to you," she indicated the robotic figure. "Not me. Not Supergirl."
"Stubborn cockroach," James said, shaking Lucy.
"Okay that one was me," Kara admitted as James, once again, shook a shocked Lucy. "Look, if there's anything left of James, the real James in there, you do not want to hurt Lucy. Just let her go."
James did drop Lucy and sped toward Kara, only to be surprised as he went right through her. "Sorry not really here," Kara smirked as Barry appeared on the roof and grabbed Lucy and sped off.
The White Canary jumped out from where Barry had dropped her off and turned to face RoboJames. Before he could move she used her new Canary Cry on him and the robot was stunned. Not a moment later, Wonder Woman was on him, using her strength to pull the panel Ray had pointed out back, giving a big enough hole for an already small Ray to fly in.
"Go my friend," Diana said and as the tiny Ray vanished into the robot.
"This is going to take a bit," Ray said through the coms as Barry appeared back on the roof and RoboJames' stun wore off. "And don't use the Canary Cry again. It could affect me in here."
"Well then, looks like we're in a good old fashion fight," Diana said, nodding to her two comrades.
-Superflash-
Barry had run Lucy not far away into the truck Kara had been using to project the hologram. "Hello Ms. Lane," Kara said; she was in her Supergirl outfit and shutting off the holographic technology.
"What just happened?" Lucy asked.
"The Flash ran you to safety," Kara said, pointing toward the screen where playing was live footage of the fight going on between RoboJames and her three comrades – they had left Ronnie and Stein at the labs in case something went wrong and James headed back there. Cisco was up front in the drivers seat having needed him to help with the hologram, but he was hiding now so Lucy did not see him. Kara had also ordered Krypto to stay at STAR due to the kryptonite in the robot body. "Shouldn't be long now."
"Why aren't you up there with them?" Lucy asked, realizing the Flash was fighting the robot of her ex too. "You should be fighting with him."
"Don't you think it kills me not to be up there? Not to be able to help my friends? I can't," Kara stated. "He is powered by my one weakness. If I went up there I would be a liability to my friends, not a help." Kara took a breath. "I was going to though, go up there and distract him to get you free even if it meant my life. Until our friends at STAR came through with this holographic technology and the truck to borrow.'
"Oh," Lucy said not entirely sure she understood what Supergirl meant. "You can always count on Kara and Barry – STAR Labs, after all," Lucy finally decided on.
"The Allens are very helpful," Kara said, trying not to laugh as she talked about herself in third person.
Lucy looked at the video and the robot. "Is that really James?" Lucy asked as Barry ran from a blast RoboJames sent out. Kara didn't answer. "Tell me."
"What's left of him," Kara finally said solemnly. "Maxwell Lord took his brain and put it into that. It's wrong though and he's not the man you remember." Kara had to drive that point home for Lucy.
"Is there any chance to get him back?" Lucy asked, but before Kara could answer she saw RoboJames pause and not a moment later Atom flew out and resized to normal. "Take me back up there!" Lucy demanded and Kara decided not to argue.
-Superflash-
Barry took a breath as the fight was finally over – Maxwell Lord knew how to make a robot. Barry, Sara, and Diana had trouble keeping it at bay until Atom reappeared. "We better get him locked up fast. The robot is designed to fix itself."
"Lock it up? We should turn it off permanently!" Sara stated.
"Oh great, you seem to forget there's a living brain in there!" Ray protested. "But you do have the bloodlust, I suppose death thoughts stems from that – how surprising," Ray said annoyed.
"Not the blood lust!" Sara protested, "I just hate Max Lord and that… thing represents him. If I can't kill Max, I can sure kill this thing." Sara paused for a moment. "Besides, how can you kill someone who is already dead?" Sara asked reasonably.
"He's not dead though. His brain is alive in there," Barry said, coming in on Ray's side of this argument. "Is someone really dead if their brain is still working?"
"He is not who he once was," Diana reasoned, having been caught up on circumstances of who and what they were fighting before they had headed out. "Once someone is dead they should remain such. We would be returning order to what once was and should be. No offense," Diana turned to Sara as she said this knowing a bit of her history. "You are the exception to the rule."
"This is a living being! We don't kill unless we have to." Ray stated angrily, and Barry agreed.
"It's what we are," Barry said.
"I'm kind of surprised you're on the side of keeping this thing working," Sara said to Barry. "It's the most dangerous thing to your wife in this world right now."
Before anyone could answer this, Kara flew up with Lucy in her arms. The minute she was on the roof though, Kara was on the floor, Lucy almost falling down with her. Barry was by Kara's side, picking her up and letting her lean on him. "You shouldn't be up here," Barry intoned softly.
"Lucy wanted to see," Kara muttered, and Barry smiled as she replayed her conversation with Lucy before in his head.
Lucy was looking over the robot and was surprised as Atom put a supporting hand on her shoulder. "Everything will be alright," Atom said, and Lucy looked at the Atom, thinking. "And Supergirl… kind of good thing you're here. We need a tiebreaker. Flash and I want to lock this thing up. White Canary and Wonder Woman want to kill it."
"Oh, I'm so not getting involved in that," Kara said, backing up as best as she could.
"You never answered me," Lucy stated, turning to Kara. She could see she was really weak being up on this roof with this thing but she needed the answer. "Can we get him back? Can we fix James?"
Kara shook her head. "No," Kara said. "He's gone Lucy. He's been gone for a long time."
"All this is, is a robot body controlled by what was once his brain," Diana added. "It's not him."
"It is a living thing though. The brain is alive. No matter how damaged it is," Ray said.
"No," Lucy said, turning back to the robot. "This is a disgrace to James, to who he was. You said the brain was damaged? James would never, even with such power, do what this robot did today – it's dishonoring his memory, it's everything James Olsen wasn't." Her eyes watered as she put a hand on the robot's face. "Goodbye James." Lucy whispered and backed away. "Kill it."
Barry nodded. "Okay, Atom," Barry said.
Ray nodded, taking Lucy as tiebreaker and accepting her choice and RoboJames' fate. "Wonder Woman tear off the chest plate where you can see the green and take out the power source. Once out, the robot will be permanently turned off and the brain will die."
Diana nodded as she went to remove the chest plate, having a hard time getting it off, but once she did she took out the green rock out of it. The robot's eyes suddenly faded and it slumped over on the floor.
With the sudden exposure of the green rock, Kara got a bigger doze of Kryptonite than planned and instead of leaned against Barry like she was, she ended up slumping to the floor too, having problems breathing. Barry ran and grabbed the Kryptonite from Diana and then sped off to get it safely into DEO custody – and deciding to punch Max again when he had that chance.
"I'll take you home Ms. Lane," Kara said, feeling her strength returning as she got up off the floor once the Kryptonite was gone.
"Take me back to CatCo actually," Lucy said, accepting Supergirl's offer and giving one last, confused, look at Atom before going. There was something familiar about him and she thought she knew what it was.
"I'll bring this to the lab," Diana said, picking up the robot's body once Kara and Lucy were gone.
"Mind giving me a lift back to the labs?" Sara asked Ray, who nodded and picked her up before flying away.
-Suerpflash-
Once Lucy was safely backed at CatCo, Kara went to the DEO where Barry was waiting. "So what's up with the power surge? Same person?" Kara asked, wanting now to address the issue that had caused hell for them.
"Definitely," Astra said, from the computer. "And now with three instances of this, we managed to put together some of the code the person used to cause these power surges and I haven't got good news... It's a Coluan."
"That sounds familiar," Kara said, intrigued.
"They are an alien species that could be described as living computers… almost," Astra said. "And there was one in Fort Rozz that has not been caught yet – she knew about the Myriad plan, so I would be cautious until she is captured."
"This one is known on file as Brainiac 8," Hank stated.
"She always hated that. I am sure she changed it," Astra said making everyone look at her. "She was Non's ex. I should have let her have him." Kara tried not to laugh at that.
"Well you have the code. Anyway to track her?" Barry asked, having put RoboJames' Kryptonite safely away where it could no longer hurt Kara and Krypto, or even Clark, Astra or Karen come to think of it.
"This is far beyond us," Alex said and eyes turned to Astra.
"I'm not a computer expert. Not this level," Astra said simply. "I'm just lucky I recognized the code."
"Well then, we'll leave this to the real computer experts," Kara said, smiling at Barry to the confusion of Hank, Alex and Astra.
"Cisco," Barry said with a nod.
"Winn," Kara added with a continued grin.
"Felicity," the two said together. "The three of them will have this sorted out…"
"Ooh, The Techno Trio? No, don't tell Cisco I tried to make up a name," Barry inputted, regretting his naming choice instantly as Kara laughed at this.
"Okay," Hank said, ignoring Barry's remark but knowing the computer nerds the superheroes had working for them would be far better than any he knew anyway. It made him want to hire them in fact, but Cisco had already rejected his offer, working for STAR and the Allens, and he knew Felicity would not leave Starling where there was no DEO base. Maybe Winn…? "But until then," he continued, "we have a powerful enemy out there who has an army of Kryptonians with her. You all must remain on alert."
"It would be a very bad time for anything to happen to the Justice League to weaken it…" Alex added, knowing this League was the best shot at defeating this Brainiac and her army.
"What's going to weaken the Justice League?" Kara asked, dismissing that. "We're all together and on alert. We're good. Now I have a promise to keep to Max… I simply have to go tell Clark what he did and must do this in person," she sounded pleased about this.
Oh I'm coming! Been a while since I have seen Lois and the kids, Barry thought to Kara.
We should grab Krypto too. You know how much the kids love him, Kara thought back as the pair left.
-Superflash-
Later that day, Ray and Sara were walking out of STAR labs in their normal clothes through the front exit when they heard Ronnie and Stein bickering – as usual. "Do you guys always have to argue?" Sara asked.
"Yes," Ray answered for them, appearing in the corridor before Sara and Ray.
"What are you two still doing here anyway?" Ronnie asked, ignoring the comment and walking outside with them, followed by Stein.
"Kara and Barry let me use their equipment to fix damage done to my suit," Ray said in casual response.
"And Cisco wanted the Canary Cry back to make more improvements, and then I was looking over their bikes. Remember the one I drove in on when you guys had problems with that light controlling meta?" Sara recalled.
"The bike that nearly blew up?" Ronnie asked with a laugh.
"Well they worked out the problem they were having with the engine and are going to be releasing it to the public soon, but they are also making Vigilante bikes to give to us. Tricked out with weapon installed in it and everything. I was giving opinions on what to add."
"Very James Bond," Ray smirked at this.
"Sometimes with all the money those two put to making gadgets and equipment for superheroes, I wonder if they are making money off this lab," Stein thought seriously, and Sara started to laugh.
"Oh… wait you were serious?" Sara said after a moment. "Well, I'm dating Kara's sister, so I got a look at what they are making once and trust me, money is no issue for them."
"Okay then, spill," Ray said curious. "How much do they get from the labs?"
"Let's just say 'a lot'," Sara said deviously. "The inventions and research they have copyrighted and released are earning them cash, and that engine you make fun of is set to make them billions, especially since it does not run off gas – I forget what it does run on, but from what I understand it's better than a gas or diesel engine or even electric. Oh, and the labs are not the only thing Eobard Thawne left them… They now own the rights to their symbols so anything Supergirl, Superman, or Flash-related that is sold in stores, the profits goes to them. And there are other companies Thawne held shares in."
"Where do you get an enemy like that?" Ronnie asked playfully. "He destroys your life, you kill him, and he makes you rich." The group actually laughed at this.
"Where can I get specs for that engine? Palmer Tech…" Ray started.
"Mr. Palmer!" Sara cried mockingly, "Thinking of stealing ideas from under your friend's noses! Very devious of you. Then again, even without I suppose Kara and Barry are set for life."
"The Allens really will do well for themselves," a British voice was heard. The group hadn't been paying attention to where they were walking, just maneuvering through the streets of Central, and had just noticed they had wandered far from the labs to the local park. It was late, so the park was empty and dark, expect now for themselves and the stranger…
TO BE CONTINUED ON THURSDAY
Post Chapter Note 1: cliffhanger… how unusual for me. Well I guess you'll have to wait and see who it is…. No Next Time on Karry Universe this time. It will make who showed up way too obvious…. If you haven't guessed already.
Post Chapter Note 2: I hope you all enjoyed James sort of return.
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