Karry Universe
Disclaimer: I do not own Supergirl, the Flash or any DC characters.
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Note: So, there is something special about this chapter, but what that is, I will be revealed at the end.
The Fall of Cadmus.
Superman entered Watchtower. He was determined, and he meant business. After cleaning off some of those creatures, he had had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach so had gone to his Fortress to only be met with what he dreaded. It hadn't been a nice surprise.
Heading up to the top level of Watchtower now, he wasted no time in calling out to Gideon, who answered him with a pleasant: "Yes, Superman?"
"Can you get STAR Labs on the line? I need to speak to Kara and Barry." He couldn't sit down. He was agitated, so he started pacing.
A moment later one of the large TV screens flickered on, and the familiar faces of Cisco, Caitlin and Lisa appeared on the screen. "You're on with R-Man, how can I help?" Cisco teased.
"R-Man?" Superman raised an eyebrow as Caitlin rolled her eyes behind Cisco and Lisa giggled. "Do you guys sleep there or something?" Superman couldn't remember a time when Cisco and Caitlin weren't in the Superflash Cave of the lab. Lately, it seemed like Lisa had joined them there too.
"We have rooms when we need to stay, but that's not why you called us. What's up, Superman?" Cisco asked, a little bit more seriously now.
"I need to speak with Kara and Barry," Superman stated. "It's urgent. I tried the communicators but they put them on unavailable."
"Well, that's because they are unavailable. They're not here right now," Caitlin stated, a little bashfully in the background. "We're not sure when they'll be back either."
"Where have they gone?" Superman asked, a little worried now. Could something have happened to them or the girls?
"Earth hopping," Cisco stated, a little wistfully. While it was true he was glad he didn't have the Vibe powers, having talked to other Ciscos, Caitlins and more, the idea of meeting them face-to-face was a fun one for him.
"Seriously? Right after those creatures…? There were links to Cadmus and they left?" Superman groaned. He was happy they were okay but annoyed they had chosen the worst possible time to leave. "Can't you get them on that multiverse-phone-thing?"
"They went to a world not on the system," Caitlin said, this one surprising Superman. "They were asked for help."
"Well there was a matter of the Reverse Flash to deal with and a female version of The Flash… It was quite cool actually," Cisco started.
"Clark… What's wrong?" Caitlin moved next to Cisco, cutting him off. She could tell something was up by the expression on his face now, and wanted to get down to business with Superman.
"Cadmus. Those creatures… they were a distraction," Superman sighed.
"A distraction from what?" Caitlin continued, her tone level.
"Whatever their real plan was. I found the real Hank Henshaw leaving my Fortress of Solitude," he revealed, annoyed and wondering how he had even gotten in. Yes, Hank could lift the key but Kal-X was supposed to stop intruders not of the House of El. Unless Hank had managed to mask his biological signature somehow – it wasn't a priority to ask the man at the time, and now it was too late to find out.
"What?!" both Cisco and Caitlin looked taken aback. "Why?" Cisco now added.
"That's what I need your help with." Superman said. "I have no idea why he was there."
"Why can't you ask him? What did you do to him?" Caitlin now asked.
"Killed him," Superman sighed. "He left me with no alternative. He mentioned something about Cadmus's last strike and that I was too late, but he wouldn't give anything away, even in his last breaths."
"Not so much a Superman himself," Cisco breathed, adding to Superman's slightly confused look, "You know… Cyborg Superman? He went by it, according to J'onn. Guess it didn't catch on," Cisco shrugged. "Okay, so Cadmus's last strike, they needed something from the Fortress, something that didn't need to be physically sent to Lillian Luthor – who, let's face it, has to be behind this. Which means it must be digital. Cyborg Superman wasn't part-computer for nothing…" Cisco moved away from the screen to get to his computer as Superman raised an eyebrow.
"So, what? He transmitted plans for something I have in the Fortress to Cadmus? Where are Cadmus now? The League pretty much destroyed their last base…" Superman pointed out.
"Technically it was one of their less successful clones of yours that did that," Caitlin pointed out, to a 'shush' from Cisco.
"I've got something, and you're not going to like it," Cisco turned back to look at Superman on his own screen. "There's very little in the way of radio waves coming from the Artic, but there was a massive spike of information about half an hour ago, and the destination of the signal went to your hometown…"
"Smallville?" Superman asked, a little perplexed.
"Oh, sorry. I always forget you grew up there. I meant your current hometown. Well… city actually," Cisco fumbled.
"Metropolis?!" Superman moved closer to the screen now, a little shocked. "But I checked that out myself. Used my x-ray vision and everything…"
"They must have found a way to block it. The homing signal of the information is centered where the former Luthor Corp building was," Cisco looked up at Superman now.
"Lena doesn't have holdings in Metropolis anymore – she doesn't want to give L-Corp that publicity. Besides, my last battle with Lex ended up with the destruction of Metropolis's Luthor Corp building," Superman explained. "There's an apartment complex on the land now. Underground parking too. I checked it all out, just in case Lex left something else, a last surprise if you will, but there was nothing."
"They must be working underground," Cisco shrugged. "Probably have access from that very carpark."
"Well, we'll make sure this is their last attempt at anything." Superman sighed. "I don't know what Henshaw took from the Fortress, but it must be something important, and deadly. But we need Kara and Barry – they can lead the League into a strategic attack on this final place of Cadmus's."
"That's all very well, but like Cisco said earlier: We have no idea when Kara and Barry will be back. And this last strike of Cadmus's could be before they do," Caitlin voiced. "You need to get the League behind you Superman, and stop them now."
"I… I can't," he took a sudden step back. "I'm not leadership. I'm good working solo as Superman and as part of the League following their instruction, but I can't lead… I don't know how to even start."
"Then you better sort yourself out because this is happening now, and you're leading," a new voice forced Superman to turn around. Wonder Woman stood by the door, looking steely at her old friend. "Kara and Barry are parents. They're business owners. They're going to be busy a lot more than back in the good old days when the League was starting up and they're going to need second-in-command's."
"Very well put," Caitlin stated from the screen.
"What, you're putting yourself in for second-in-command?" Superman asked, a little taken aback.
"No. Well, yes, but you're going to be joint-leader with me," Wonder Woman smirked now. "I have experience from before Kara and Barry even had powers, and you desperately need experience. The world may look to Supergirl and The Flash, but they seek faith in Superman too. You've been in the game longer than they have – you should know how to lead by now. The League needs to be able to function without The Flash and Supergirl all the time. Besides, you did alright last time, when we discovered the clone of Jeremiah Danvers."
"That was just a small lab with you, Hal, and John with me. I never thought I would have to do it again," Superman said with a shrug.
"Well buckle up, Clark, because you will and you are." She wasted no time in turning her attention to the screen now. "Metropolis you say? There aren't any Zap Tunnels there, it will be hard to get the League there quickly, especially the vigilantes."
"Those who can fly can get there quick," Superman pointed out, bashfully.
"That leaves us with Firestorm, Fire Hawk, J'onn, the Lanterns – if any are available – and maybe Vixen," Caitlin now pointed out.
"Vixen can fly?" Cisco turned to her now.
"She can bring up the spirit of an eagle and soar… well, Amaya said she could when I last spoke to Tantu…" Caitlin admitted.
"How long have you been in contact with Tantu?" Cisco asked in shock.
"She's in the League – I don't want her to feel left out, just because she's alone in Texas," Caitlin pointed out.
"Jesse!" Cisco turned to the screen now to look at Superman and Wonder Woman, who both remained in quizzical silence. "She's a speedster. Jesse's been under Barry's tutelage for a while now and she's in the League, too – she'll help."
"Let's hope so, because none of the Lanterns are available," Caitlin now added in. "They'll all marked 'unavailable'." She'd been looking at their communications array. "They must have left after helping with those creatures."
"Just get anyone who can be there, there," Superman now pointed out. "We're wasting time by talking this over. We must stop Cadmus and we must do it now. Wonder Woman, I'll go ahead to Metropolis, see if I can figure out where to get into Cadmus's lone headquarters. You lead the rest of the League that we can get there as soon as possible. Cadmus has to end, now."
"Spoken like a true leader," Wonder Woman smirked, but Superman wasted no time in leaving the Watchtower as she turned back to the screen. "Cisco, can you hack into that carpark? Any surveillance into shifty characters and where they go might help us figure out what secret entrance they could use."
"On it now," Cisco smirked.
-Superflash-
In National City,Eliza pressed the buzzer on a door and waited. It had been long overdue that she come to this place, but she had never felt the need to until now. The man wasn't her husband, not her true husband, but he was the closest she would ever get now, and with so much changing in her life, she needed something – someone – who could provide stability. Someone who would make her feel like herself.
The door opened and Eliza crossed the threshold, heading straight for the reception desk and smiling politely at the woman.
"Hello. Eliza Danvers here to see Jeremiah Danvers," she informed the woman, her heart heavy using just his name.
"Eliza…? Director Danvers's mother?" the woman asked. This place was clearly run, or at least co-owned, by the DEO and the government.
"Indeed. She allowed me clearance the day Mr. Danvers was submitted," Eliza confirmed.
"You've never been here before," the receptionist stated, looking at the records on the computer. "I'll just call up security so they can take you to the wing. Jeremiah… he still has episodes. Whatever happened to him, the trauma was too much, I'm afraid. He has good days and bad days, though," she gave Eliza a sympathetic smile at this, but Eliza knew better. Whatever Cadmus had done to the clone, this Jekyll and Hyde persona, it couldn't have been removed by J'onn J'onzz. All J'onn could do was remove the memories of Cadmus, and of Kara, and keep him safe in this place.
How was eternity locked up safe? Eliza thought as she followed behind the security guard to the wing Jeremiah's clone was being kept. It wasn't the only thought running through her mind either. Alex's words the other week kept ringing in her ears. Kara had her father back, she had her aunt, she had Cat Grant… did she even need Eliza? The last time Eliza had truly felt a part of the family was Christmas, when Kara had told them she was pregnant. That had been a nice holiday, Eliza had felt like the matriarch again, she felt like part of this special super family.
But now… Now she was living with Joe West. She was living off early pension schemes and wondering what her life meant. What else could she do but think?
"Here you go, Mrs. Danvers. I warn you, he's not very responsive today," the security guard informed her. "As you were told, he had an episode last night and they had to up his medicines to keep him calm, so he's heavily sedated. The doctors… they also had to strap him down. For other's safety."
Eliza tried not to moan as she was let into the room to see the man, with his sunken eyes closed, hair greying, and a thinner frame, lying unconscious, strapped on the bed. Silently she moved over to look at the man's face, stroking his cheek.
"I'll be outside, ma'am. Take your time," the guard muttered as he left Eliza alone. She glanced back at him with a nod before turning her attention back at Jeremiah.
"Clone or not… you're my husband. I think Karen, Connor and Morgan can back me up on that one," Eliza muttered to the man on the bed as she took a seat, the other clones in the Super Family in her mind. The ones who had joined as she looked at the one who couldn't.
-Superflash-
Superman landed outside the apartment block. He didn't waste time to x-ray the building's landscape, just in case it was a façade, before heading toward the underground carpark area. Once inside, he looked around, keeping his x-ray vision tuned, trying to see through the walls or find a blind spot. Before now he hadn't considered anything, or anyone, Luthor-Corp related would remain in Metropolis, what with Lex's triumphant downfall and Lena's take-over, and move of, the company, but now he knew better.
The problem was, a lot of this carpark was lined with lead – the one thing he, and even Kara, couldn't see through. It was frustrating, but luckily for him, another presence announced himself and he turned to see J'onn J'onzz, arms folded, standing near the entrance, looking about.
"I was informed that Cadmus is still operating around here," J'onn finally called out to Superman, who moved over to his friend. "I came to help."
"Thank you," Superman nodded. "Your Martian Vision may help where mine won't. A lot of this structure is lead-lined, which I cannot see through."
"It's lucky I have nine senses compared to human's mere five, then," J'onn smirked.
"Kryptonian here. I have a few more, you know," Superman stated, a little perplexed by this, but J'onn merely shrugged at this as he looked around the large basement carpark, scanning each wall and every crevice where he stood.
It was then that a blur sped around the carpark, coming to stop in front of Superman to reveal Liberty Belle, with a rather nauseous-looking Vixen holding on to her.
"I could have flown, you know…" Tantu muttered, moving off from Jesse and bending down, shaking.
"Your grandmother said you hadn't travelled long-distances by flight before, I told you it would be easier this way," Jesse responded simply, patting her friend on the back as Tantu groaned.
"I could have…" Tantu muttered again, just as Wonder Woman, Firestorm and Firehawk also arrived. Wonder Woman wasted no time in moving closer to Superman now.
"Cisco and Gideon know where the entrance to Cadmus is," she started.
"It's there," J'onn pointed to bank piece of wall opposite. In front was a sign calling for no parking. An obvious deception. Superman glanced to Wonder Woman then nodded to J'onn his thanks. He looked to the rest of their smaller League. He wasn't sure if he was glad it was smaller or not. The larger League would be harder to lead, but would also have more a chance to be successful. He had to have faith though, regardless on numbers.
"Wonder Woman has informed you what this mission is?" He asked, to a round of yesses. "Then we stop Cadmus. Right here. Right now." He was putting on a false sense of bravado, not the eager leader, but little glances from Diana kept him sure of himself, kept him going in the right direction. Barry and Kara may not be here, but in their spirit and name, the Justice League would stop Cadmus, here and now. They would show them that the League they put together could work without them. "Wonder Woman and myself will lead. Liberty Belle, you are fast so you scout ahead when the opportunity arises. Everyone else, keep behind and be ready to strike. They might be running thin, but Cadmus is dangerous."
Without another word, he charged forward, flying at the wall. His fist hit the stone hard and it crumbled, but didn't collapse. In another moment, he was joined by J'onn, who too used his superior strength, and together he and Superman beat the wall to nothing, bending the entranceway behind it until all that was visible was a dark, winding, corridor, curving and sloping downward. Superman took a step back at this.
"In my city, too…" he moaned, looking back and nodding. Jesse moved in front and sped down the dark corridor, while Superman, Wonder Woman and J'onn took the lead; Firestorm and Fire Hawk lighting the way from behind, with Vixen coming last.
They were met by the sounds of fighting, to see a familiarly dressed man in a helmet, striking Liberty Belle, who hit him back, speeding around. There was a flash of blue and Vixen had called up the spirit of a tiger and moved around her comrades to help her friend take on The Guardian. Superman didn't want to waste his energy, but he realized Guardian was protecting a door behind him – an elevator.
Fire Hawk had now joined the fight, wanting to protect his girlfriend, and they were a distraction enough as Wonder Woman moved forward and pulled the doors to the elevator shaft open with her own strength, no-one surprised to see the cubicle waiting within as Guardian must have only just used it to get up and try to stop them.
There was a cry from Guardian, but Vixen had pulled up the essence of an ape and sent the man flying up the corridor. Fire Hawk sent a blast of fire after the man as Vixen sped back up the corridor to keep The Guardian distracted.
"Liberty Belle!" Wonder Woman called to their speedster, who realized she needed to be with the main team at that call, and sped into the elevator with J'onn, Superman and Wonder Woman. Firestorm and Fire Hawk elected to keep the Guardian at bay, and because Vixen was still reasonably new to her powers, so the four remaining members of the League let the doors close before them and the silence of the elevator lessened the battle with Guardian. Their numbers were suddenly nearly halved – this wasn't good for Clark, but Diana still looked confident.
"Always elevators with Cadmus," Wonder Woman muttered as Superman pressed the only other button available on the panel.
"At least there's not two this time. We can't do two teams this time without Kara and Barry," Jesse pointed out.
"We'll do fine without them," Superman countered quickly, glancing to Wonder Woman who smirked at this remark. It was true though – the full bond between the two had been useful last time they went up against Cadmus, until Barry had to ditch to save Robin, but Cadmus didn't have the numbers now for two parties needed to stop them.
A moment later and the doors opened to reveal two rooms – one immediately before them, and another behind, separated by a green-tinged glass wall. Twenty or so guards had weapons pointed at them, while behind the green glass, another twenty or so scientists worked on something, Lillian Luther pacing between them – although her pace stopped when she looked up to see the four members of the League framed by the elevator doors.
"Liberty…" Wonder Woman muttered, the speedster not having to be asked twice as she moved, disarming and knocking out all twenty guards before they could even pull their triggers. Superman felt weak though, and looking down at the weapons now discarded on the floor, the slight green tinge to their barrels made him realize there was something Kryptonian about them. Or inside them. He groaned.
"I was expecting The Flash and Supergirl, not their simple wannabes," Lillian announced, walking through the glass doorway to face Superman, Wonder Woman, J'onn and Liberty Belle.
"We're not wannabes. Most of us have been at this game longer than they have," J'onn pointed out levelly.
Lillian turned to J'onn at this. "Oh, the Martian… nice to see you in the green flesh," she smirked. "Shame you won't be here long. Besides, everyone knows it was Supergirl and The Flash who made and put together the League. Most think you would not survive without them. No matter how long some of you had been at this, they are the real challenge."
"You're wrong," Liberty Belle stated in false bravado. Lillian raised her eyebrow at this.
"What are you planning?" Wonder Woman asked now, before Lillian could respond. Diana was on guard, her sword in her hand.
"What did Hank Henshaw steal from my Fortress?" Superman added.
"Blueprints," Lillian folded her own arms at this. "Where is my Cyborg Superman, anyway? Your little DEO holding cells can't hold him for long, Martian."
"He's dead," Superman stated. "As he should have been long ago."
"Oh. Well, I can't say I'm not pleased. This does put a little dent in my plans, but changes nothing," Lillian turned her back on the heroes to move back into the laboratory. The lack of guards now didn't seem to faze her.
Superman moved forward, but stopped at the doors, feeling even weaker. "Kryptonite-lined…" Lillian muttered, turning back and pointing at the green glass. "I wouldn't step forth in here, Superman. There's more Kryptonite within. I made sure to keep myself protected after you lot decimated my previous facility. Then again, it wasn't that fair with that odd clone of Supergirl's about. Who was she?"
"None of your business," Superman muttered at the Kara Kent reference, almost having forgotten she was in on the previous Cadmus takedown. The others edged forward concerned, all knowing what Kryptonite did to Kryptonians. Superman was the lead on this though, and they wouldn't act unless he told them otherwise though.
"Oh, but it is, because once I release Medusa, her, you, even the Martian will be forced to leave this planet – forever. Or die. Your choice, I suppose, but death will be sooner rather than later. Ladies and gentlemen…" she addressed the scientists working for her, the eldest of whom nodded to his boss. "Ah, excellent!"
Liberty Belle moved, speeding around the lab and now knocking out all the scientist – she knew better than to injure them – leaving Lillian on her own. She desperately wanted to attack the Luthor too, but knew it wasn't her place to stop the woman. It was up to the other three.
"Medusa?" Superman asked, Lillian blinking momentarily as she was suddenly on her own, facing the four superheroes.
"A… a Kryptonian weapon," she pulled herself together. "My Lex learned about it years ago when he broke into your Fortress – you really should up security there, Superman. It was designed by your people to save the planet from invading forces, although ultimately never used. I've modified it to do harm to anything not of Earth-origin. Meaning the planet will finally be rid of you and your alien friends. Although with no Supergirl, that's half the battle won," she added in afterthought.
"Supergirl will be back," Liberty Belle growled, defending her friend.
"Sweet. Still, all I need to do is this… and my job is done," she opened her hand to reveal a small battery-like device, with a button on top which she had already pressed. She was grinning now as she dropped the device and stomped on it, breaking it. "Medusa released… and no way or stopping it. How's that for stopping us?"
All four seemed taken aback that it had been that… easy, but at the same moment Tantu suddenly spoke in their ears. It seemed there was no radio-block like last time. "The Guardian's escaped! We chased him outside and something… something big is coming out of the field next to the apartment complex. It looks like a pipe or chimney…"
"Who'd go for a rocket, when you can release it directly into the atmosphere?" Lillian mocked, flicking a switch on a panel nearest. There was the shriek of feedback, but it seemed she had managed to tune her system into their earpieces. Now she could hear everything they could.
"It's a virus," Jesse replied before the other three could, frowning at Lillian. "It's going to wipe out all alien life on the planet! You and the Fires need to stop it… somehow."
"As if," Lillian muttered, taking a seat now and leaning back. She really was basking in her own victory.
"On it," the voice of Ronnie now spoke, as Firestorm moved. "We can change the particles being released and transmogrify them into something harmless, like extra oxygen or simple solar radiation."
"What?" Lillian moved forward as it was the heroes time to smirk. It was a good job they'd brought Firestorm along with them. There was more to the hero than met the eye – or to what Lillian must have known.
"I think your plan is about to change," Superman's eyes glowed now, as he looked up and fired heat vision at the glass, stepping back as it exploded, but Jesse moved quickly and carefully, thankful for her protective outfit and gloves and she swept aside the shards so Superman could take a thankful step forward, no longer feeling as weak. "I would give up now while you still can, Lillian, because Cadmus and Medusa… it stops now."
"NO!" Lillian moved and, almost as quick as Jesse, pulled a pistol from out of her belt, previously hidden by the lab coat she was wearing. Superman hesitated as he saw the green glow, but the bang that came next, the Kryptonite bullet aimed directly at him, and everything slowed down – and sped up. Wonder Woman jumped in front of Superman, directing her bracelets in the path of the bullet which rebounded off the protective material and headed directly back at its owner, striking Lillian in the chest as she stepped backward, looking winded and shocked for a moment before she collapsed backwards. Dead.
There was a moment's silence that was only broken by a triumphant cry in their earpieces and about the lab's speakers: Firestorm had done it. Medusa had been transformed into harmless CO2, and was raining back down on the city as simple rain. But Superman felt numb. Wonder Woman turned to her friend, breathing heavily, but smiling.
"It's over," J'onn finally spoke. "Medusa is gone. Lillian and Cyborg Superman are dead. It seems Cadmus is over."
-Superflash-
Back at Watchtower, Superman and Wonder Woman were in conference with STAR Labs and the DEO this time, although the latter was in the confidence of J'onn office. J'onn looked pleased, but not half as pleased as Superman felt.
"Agent Schott wiped all the data from Cadmus's computers. There's no trace of them, or this Medusa virus anywhere," J'onn stated. "We obviously have a copy of everything for our records but it seems Zor-El was one of the scientists on the project. We contacted him because of this, but his work on it was minimal. He worked on an anti-virus, just in case." He paused at that. It seemed even if Cadmus had got the virus airborne, Zor knew how to counteract it. "I also took the liberty of wiping the minds of the scientists who'd worked on Medusa, so they can't recreate it from memory. No stone left unturned, and all that. It's just a shame there are no DEO holdings in Metropolis, or else we could have surrounded the perimeter and stopped Guardian's escape."
"He's the only one missing thread now. Well him and that speedster DNAngel," Cisco added, as Jesse paced behind him – Jax was there as well, listening in. Lisa had since left, having nothing to contribute to this takedown, but Caitlin remained in the Labs, watering one of the plants she had recently brought into the place while Martin Stein was lingering, also. "With The Guardian's escape, we don't know what his plan is, but with Lillian Luthor and Hank Henshaw dead, he can't do too much harm. There's nothing of Cadmus left. It died with Lillian."
"Speaking of which," Caitlin spoke up. "We've informed Lena of her mother's death. She wasn't too fazed. A small funeral will be arranged once the body is delivered to her, and an announcement will have to be made, but it will have very little details on the manner of death. I think Lena was pleased, though – she's free from her mother once and for all."
"Kara will be sad she missed this one," Superman spoke up. "She and Lena are good friends, even if they do own rival companies. I'm sure she'll attend Lillian's funeral, if just to catch up with Lena."
"We'll see," Wonder Woman spoke up. "You did good today though, Superman. Your first proper lead and things turned out good."
"I didn't mean Lillian to die," Superman pointed out. He wasn't sad about that, but he had wanted her to go on trial for what she had done. At least her death meant there was no chance she could have walked free from her past. "Thank you, for taking the bullet for me."
"It was Kryptonite," Wonder Woman shrugged. "That place was littered with it, from the glass wall to the guns the guards were using. You were weakened – it made sense to protect you from it, and from her."
"Well I thank you regardless," Superman smiled. "I'm just glad this whole affair is over. It's just as shame Kara and Barry missed it."
"I think they'll be impressed with how you handled it though," Cisco spoke up, Caitlin nodding behind them. "They love the Justice League, but they can't always be there to help. It's like Wonder Woman said earlier: they need people they can rely on to deal with threats the League can face when they're away, and you two are the best they could ever have hoped for."
"That's high praise indeed," Wonder Woman nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Ramon. And thank you too, Firestorm, for stopping the Medusa Virus."
"Ronald and myself learned how to transmogrify objects during our time with Rip Hunter," Martin spoke up now. "It's quite easy in theory, applying the Firestorm Matrix to the calculations, but in reality, it took time and training – especially for a less physical object this time. I am lucky to have a partner such as Ronald who was willing to take the time to learn of such an ability. Metropolis may face a few days of odd weather, however, but beyond that the city, the people, and the planet are safe."
"Good," Superman sighed. "What would we do without you, Doctor Stein?"
"All in a day's work, sir," Stein remarked with a small nod.
-Superflash-
Once everything was done, Jax turned to his girlfriend. They were outside of STAR now, walking away. "Let's go out," Jax said thoughtfully, but before Jesse could say anything, Wally had sped in front of them, smiling at Jesse.
"I heard about the battle," Wally said. "Good job."
"And where exactly were you?" Jax asked, not liking the man. He knew Wally was after his girlfriend, so was on the defensive instantly.
"No one contacted me," Wally said with a shrug. "I'm not a part of the Justice League after all. I only lead Young Justice."
"Boys," Jesse said sighing at the male macho moment between the two. If she wasn't the reason for the fighting, she would stay out of it though and let them deal with their egos. "Stop this."
"Well, I want to treat you to ice cream," Wally said, turning to Jesse and ignoring Jax.
"We were going out," Jax said firmly, putting an arm around his girlfriend and glaring at Wally.
"Some other time then," Wally said with a nod, winked at Jesse and ran off.
"Yeah," Jesse mumbled as Jax glared to where Wally had been, his arm clenched around Jesse's neck now.
-Superflash-
Eliza didn't know how long she had been with Jeremiah, but she had poured her heart out to the unconscious man. She had told him everything about life since Alex's postponed original wedding, how Ray and Lucy had taken their daughter and Sara's place, how Lucy was now heavily pregnant and living in Gotham with Ray – who ran that branch of STAR Co. She also told the man of Cat and Henry and, of course, Zor-El's return.
She knew none of this information would sink it – how could it? – but she needed to tell someone about what was laying heavy on her. Alex had let go of her anger. She had accepted that her wife was right – that Kara now had Zor, and she still had her mom, but no-one could sway what Eliza felt.
"I feel guilty and horrible to admit it, but Kara has everything." Eliza muttered to the room. "She has two wonderful daughters, she has Barry, she has STAR Co., she even has her aunt and Karen. Clark is more a big brother to her than Alex ever was a sister and she has Connor and Morgan as well. Now she has her real dad back. It's like I'm a spare part, Jerry. We may have taken her into our lives when she had nothing, but she has so much more already – and it's not for a lack of my trying. I uprooted, moved closer, thought I could be more part of her life and find some meaning to mine, but I'm still lost." Eliza sighed as she thought of her life since the move.
"I used to have friends, I was so good at meeting new people and staying connected but as the years have gone by I've lost that. What with all the secrets I have to keep, what would I talk to friends about anyway?" She continued her rant. "Joe's a wonderful man, and does share some of those feelings – after all Barry, still has his father, why have the foster father who raised him through crisis on top of that? And with Cat and Henry dating, who knows how long it will be until they properly tie the knot. Cat's been more a mother and mentor to Kara than I could ever try to be. I'm just not that kind of person – not someone who can just give random, good advice from the top of my head. I'm not who they need…" she shook herself, glancing to the sleeping man. "Oh, why do I bother? You know… It was a bad idea to come here."
She stood, about to move over to the door when Jeremiah groaned. Eliza stood shock still as she turned to look at the man, his head was now angled in her direction, his eyes barely open but she knew he was looking at her. "Jerry?" she asked, a little tentatively. If this was the other personality… the one who had tried to murder Nora, Alura and Krypto…
"Find… peace…" the man muttered, barely audible, still completely drugged up. "Purpose…" he added, before sighing peacefully himself, and falling back into unconsciousness.
Eliza almost choked at this. Three words but so much meaning to her. Of course, he was right. She had to find her peace with Kara, make something right – even if she had to confront her foster-daughter about her feelings first – before moving on and finding a purpose with her life.
But what was her purpose? What could she do with her remaining years…?
There was a lot for her to think about, as she left the asylum, and a lot more for her to do.
-Superflash-
The next day, after Kara and Barry had heard of what happened from an excitable Cisco and a level-headed Caitlin, Kara had to smile at her cousin leading the League.
Thinking of him, her thoughts shifted to Kara Lane on New Justice and how lost she had been. The drawings of Clark in the notebook, the way she and her Lois had broken down thinking of him. She needed to see her Clark. She needed to make sure he was okay. It was silly really.
"Barry can you…?" she began.
Before she could even finish asking if Barry could handle their hyper girls, Barry said, "Go." He had known what she was thinking. Kara smiled as she headed out. Krypto ran to follow and Hex jumped up and flew onto Kara's shoulder – she didn't know how to fly long distances yet, so Kara held her as she flew.
Clark was walking into his living room, groaning at he saw what was on the television. "Do you have to watch that?" Clark asked, glancing at the Superman TV show. His kids seemed to love it though. "That is so not…" Clark never finished his sentence, as there was a gust of wind and he was tackled by a burred force. The force of the tackle almost knocking him over and Lois and the kids stood, shocked.
Clark was almost ready to fight, but realized it was Kara hugging him. There was a Gray Cat on her shoulder and Krypto landed nearby, barking happily. Musty barked as she ran to her dad.
"Kara? Is something wrong? Barry? The girls?" Clark asked. The last time Kara had done this was when Barry was struck by lightning.
"They're fine," Kara said pulling herself out of the hug. "I needed to see you – to hug you."
"Well I always welcome a hug from you, but what brought this on?" Clark asked as he put his arms around Kara giving her one of his bear hugs.
"I heard what you did yesterday. It was amazing you and Diana leading the League against Cadmus," Kara started, needing to get this out of the way. She had been impressed after all, but it wasn't the reason why she was here. "Cisco and Caitlin told you that we went Earth hopping. Well, the Reverse Flash on New Justice world – the Earth we were on – killed the Justice League there! Everyone but Rae, that worlds Flash." Kara said. "You were dead Clark. And when I tracked down my counterpart I saw a version of me who had lost you. Kara Lane, she was so lost until I convinced her to become Supergirl. Lois was so upset. The kids had no idea what was going on. I never want to lose you like that."
"Hey, I'm here and I'm good," Clark said soothingly, wiping a single tear out of Kara's eye. "Damn that Eobard was better than ours then." Clark had assumed the Reverse Flash was the same as here.
"No, it wasn't him. It was Barry's counterpart," Kara said. shocking Lois and Clark.
"Wait, did you say Kara Lane?" Lois backtracked after a moment, going over what Kara said in her head.
"Your counterpart was that Kara's foster mother. Not Eliza," Kara said, and Lois had to smile.
"Taking in a new-to-Earth Kara. Mentoring her," Lois mused, "I could see myself doing that."
Barking stopped Kara from responding as they turned to see Musty yapping at Hex, who was on top of the couch. Krypto gave his puppy a warning bark as Hex who had just been being bullied by other dogs, did not take it well and hissed back. Her eyes lit up and a heat vision just missed Musty, who jumped back in shock and whined.
"Hex!" Kara called and the cat flew to Kara's opened arms. The heat vision had frightened the puppy though and Ella moved over to hug the dog in reassurance.
"Kryptonian cat? We have Kryptonian cats now?" Lois said. "How?"
"New Justice world has a sanctuary with Kryptonian animals. My counterpart runs it." Kara said, hugging the cat.
"Can we get a kitty?' Ella asked, eyeing Hex but still cuddling her dog, who had calmed down now.
"No," both Lois and Clark said at the same time. They didn't want to fall into the Krypto-puppy trap they did last time, so didn't add more to this. If Hex had kittens, both knew they weren't going to have any of them.
"You got a dog. That's it," Lois added, a little more softly now, and the two kids pouted. Jason lightly kicked a nearby by stool, but his super strength caused it to completely collapse, and Lois moaned. That boy was getting strong lately and it was becoming harder to keep things safe.
Kara smiled as she went up and hugged the two children. "My little ones. You're always welcome to come over and see my cat," Kara said, and the two laughed as Kara kissed both of them on the cheek, struggling to get out of their aunt's arms, but Kara's superior strength kept them held captive. "You're mine," she now teased playfully as they laughed. Clark smiled at the scene, happy to have his cousin over. It had been far too long.
"Kara," Clark said, and Kara turned to him. "Don't you go anywhere yourself, either. I need you as much as you need me. Besides, I prefer when you lead the League." Kara laughed at that.
"I hear you did a good job though. I was thinking of having you lead more often," Kara said with a smirk.
"No," Clark said quickly. "Although Diana wouldn't say no. I think she's eyeing leadership herself," he joked, and Kara laughed too at that. Diana was headstrong and she loved Wonder Woman for that. "I'll only willingly lead when you're not around." Clark smiled at his cousin who smiled back now. "Even though I can still beat you in a fight, Kara Zor-El."
"Oh? You think you can, Kal-El?" Kara said, letting go of the kids, smirking as Clark went to grab Kara and the two laughed. One of their classic games had started. Lois laughed as the kids stared happily, watching the two playfight – although safely in the confines of the apartment. Hex eyed the two but curled on top of the couch. Krypto and Musty barked happily too as they watched their owners have fun.
Post-chapter note: So, I said at the beginning there was something special about this chapter, and that's because I didn't write this chapter! Well, I didn't write most of this chapter – the last scene was me, as I was able to have some Clark/Kara fun this story's been lacking lately, and I added some minor edits into it as well, but that was it. Sigma, my wonderful Beta, wrote this piece. If you followed Power Girl and The Flash, you know I wrote one of his chapters so he returned the favor with this one. It's his first major contribution to Karry, beyond heavily beta-ing chapters. So, if you haven't read his work before… well, now you have! I hope you enjoyed.
Next time on Karry Universe:
Finding Peace: Eliza's feelings of resentment are getting the better of her. Thanks to the clone of Jeremiah, she knows she needs to talk to her foster-daughter before her emotions gets the best of her. But how will that play out when Kara herself has no clue to Eliza's feelings? And does the girl really have everything, as Eliza believes?
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Karry Master OUT!