Karry Universe

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Coping Mechanisms.

Mid-January 2018

Young Justice were having their solo training days with their mentors, and so Clark was out with Donna. He was concerned for the girl though, as she had been a little wild and hot-headed since Christmas, but he was hoping he'd be able to help her focus and train her anger into the fight. Any fight.

They had reached an abandoned office in Metropolis, following a call out from Gideon which Clark wanted to follow, but paused when a cage suddenly dropped around them and red-tinted light was blasted into their faces – Clark was worried for a moment, but then he felt his powers were still working, he realized what must have been happening.

"Haha, you are my prisoners! Red light takes away the powers, after all…" the man in front of them laughed. "After all, I am the Master Planner."

"You've got to be kidding me," Clark sighed, having heard of Master Planner but so far he had only been seen in Central City and National City, not far out in Metropolis. Clark hadn't believed the stories he had heard from Kara, but guessed now he had no choice but to believe them.

"And now as you sit, trapped, you will watch as my master plan…" before Master Planner could even finish his taunt, Donna had torn apart the cage, sword in hand and went to attack him. It was only by dumb luck that Master Planner fell backwards that Donna didn't stab him through the chest.

Before she could try again, Clark was at her, grabbing the sword. The Master Planner, shocked by the sudden turn in events and a near-death experience, ran out.

"Wonder Girl!" Clark yelled out at her now. "He was a harmless idiot. You didn't need to go for a kill! We don't kill unless we need to." Clark stated, taking a breath now.

This was getting out of hand now. He knew the reason behind her attitude – the death of her sisters on Themscryia, but hadn't realized what an emotional toil it would take on her. He grabbed the angry girl by the arm and took to the sky, keeping their conversation private from other eavesdroppers.

"For weeks, you have been careless. I think you need more time to heal." Clark knew that her anger and sadness was being taken out on the normal humans, meta-humans, and aliens they went after, but it was no excuse.

"I don't need time. I need justice!" Donna snarled. "Isn't that what we do? Isn't that what the Justice League is for? Or is it all just words?"

"This is not how you cope with grief! We don't take justice out on people who don't deserve it," Clark pointed out, pointing back down to the old office building they'd left behind and Master Planner's absurd trap. "He had nothing to do with your home. There's no justice in taking him down or any of the people you have injured lately."

"Well you're doing nothing to the person who did. He was scum!" Donna spat back.

"You're going down a rocky path. I was hoping you would stop yourself, but that was too close to killing just then. I don't want to do this, but until further notice you're off Young Justice. No more superhero work for you," Clark said, not wanting to do that but it was necessary. "And if you need to talk… well, I lost my people too."

"You were a baby," Donna turned from Clark, but then paused. "What are you going to do to me though? If I didn't follow your rules I was being sent home, but I have no more home to go to – only here. I don't need to follow your rules anymore." Donna laughed coldly before turning and flying off, leaving Clark mystified to the answer.

-Superflash-

"Nice job," Kara called out to Connor during their own training; Karen was also there but busy.

With Diana on a business trip, Kara had taken both Karen and Connor. Barry was also with her, but the two Justice League members were watching Connor and Karen team up on a meta human: A teenage girl who could control metal but had very little control herself. The girl seemed more scared than dangerous; in fact, Kara saw tears in her eyes as she tried to stop her powers going haywire.

The two young Justice members were protecting the public and getting people away while the girl tried to gain control.

"Calm down," Connor was finally able to get near the girl as Karen managed to clear a path for him.

"I didn't want to…" the girl was sobbing. "He was hurting me… I… my foster father… and then his truck, and now… the metal keeps coming to me. I don't know how to stop!"

"It's your emotions," Karen said, coming up next to Connor. "Take a deep breath and calm down." Kara saw a window washer cart on a building now soaring down towards them, but she flew up to grab it as Connor and Karen continued talking to the girl, easing her down. Wolf and Junior weren't with them today, and Krypto was also away, so it was just regular heroes on duty.

Look around. The metal is stopping. I think Connor and Karen are getting through to her, Barry thought as Kara put the window washer down. Superboy and Power Girl are doing good. Should we let them go out on their own soon?

Maybe for small things, but they are definitely not ready for a real meta or alien attacks on their own. We're going to need some kind of system to regulate the level of crime. Think you can get Gideon on that? Kara thought back, Barry already thinking of ideas on how to number crimes. By the way, I have been meaning to ask you: What do you want for your birthday? Barry's birthday, January 14th, was nearing and Kara hadn't a clue what to get her husband.

Whatever you decide will be perfect, Barry thought back, being mysterious as ever. That wasn't helpful.

"What happens to me now?" Their attention was brought back to the metal girl as Kara and Barry came up and police cars were finally able to safely come over. She was calm now, if upset. No metal was coming towards her anymore; Joe and Eddie came out of their car though.

"For now, you go with them," Barry said, nodding toward Joe and Eddie. "They are Detectives West and Thawne. They are nice and will get this sorted out for you." Barry called the two detectives over as he put a hand on the metal controlling girl and explained her situation to them as he knew it.

"You two did well," Kara said to Karen and Connor as the girl was led off. "But you're lucky I was here to catch the window washers. Next time, keep an eye out. If there are two of you like today, one can calm the meta or alien and the other can take care of fallout." Karen and Connor nodded at that.

"Glad training day is going well for some," Kara heard a voice and turned to see her cousin in the air, looking down at them.

"Superman," Kara said. Connor smiled at his biological father as Clark landed. "What brings you here? Where's Wonder Girl?"

"That's what I need you for," Clark said. "Superboy, Power Girl I got to steal your trainer."

"Okay, dad," Connor said.

Given how open Connor was to calling Clark, not to mention Superman, his father, it had been decided for them to release a statement saying Superboy was Superman's son – after all, it was an easier story than saying he was a clone. Power Girl, however, they were keeping presences saying she was Supergirl's other cousin, since Kara was not old enough to have a teenaged daughter Karen's age.

"We're done anyway. Good job today," Kara said again to the training pair, and Karen flew into the air with a grin. Connor made a giant jump to get to the top of a building and followed Karen at running speed.

"So, what's wrong?" Kara asked, flying into the air where she and her cousin could talk without being heard. Once Clark went over the events of the day though, Kara started to worry.

"She won't listen to me but… you were a teenager when Krypton was destroyed. Maybe you can relate to her?" Clark said, hopeful.

Barry, I am going to go with Clark to find Donna, Kara thought to her husband,

I know. Going to head to the Green House and get the girls, Barry thought back. Caitlin's powers had grown exponentially since they had funded her greenhouse; she was already producing fruit sweeter, and healthier than the ones mass-produced for supermarkets – Alura, Nora and Garfield were the first ones to try these out, much to Barry's amusement.

"Okay then, let's go," Kara said, nodding to Clark as she got the all clear.

"Keep an eye out for Master Planner though. He's an odd one," Clark added.

"We really need to do something about him," Kara agreed, as the two headed back to Metropolis at super speed.

-Superflash-

Diana sighed as she looked around the capitol building. She was taking a trip in Washington D.C. for the day, instead of training Karen. She worked for the government in a secret agency which sometimes required trips to the capitol of the nation. It just wasn't something she was happy with after what she saw on Christmas – she was still getting over the loss of Themscyria herself – but it was hard to take a leave of absence when explaining it would give away her own secret identity.

That was when she felt a shake.

"Earthquake!" Someone yelled, but Diana shook her head. It wasn't continuous as it stopped, then started once more. That was no Earthquake.

Looking around, she found a safe place to change into her Wonder Woman costume as the shakes continued and people ran in panic. As she took to the streets, now as Wonder Woman, it was easy to find center of the shaking; which seemed to be coming directly from the White House.

Diana flew above to see what seemed to be a man, or at least a humanoid male, with grey skin, bald head and a thick armor covering a good portion of his build. He was directing energies from his own body, or suit, to blast the ground, creating the tremors.

Diana landed in front of him, sword out, ready and willing to attack.

"Go!" Diana said to the secret service agents who had also appeared at the attack, and were firing at the man to no result.

"An Amazonian?" The unusual man growled, looking up at her as the agents ran. His voice was deep, almost gravelly, as he talked. "I thought I killed all of you." A dark laugh came out of him as anger filled Diana, realizing she was face-to-face with her peoples' killer. She felt pure rage as she yelled out and attacked the man, striking her sword down upon him.

The man blocked the attack though with ease, causing no injury as he tossed Diana into the air. "I guess I can kill another!"

Held in the air, Diana managed to free her Lasso of Truth, striking the man with it as she called: "Who are you?" The rope glowed.

"I don't need your stupid truth rope to tell you who I am. I will tell you willingly." The man dislodged the rope as he threw Diana back to the ground, towering over her as she looked up at him. "I am Darkseid," he raised his hand, about to strike as he added: "And I am the last man you will ever see!"

Diana rolled away from the attack before Darkseid could harm her; she jumping to her feet as she spun and clashed her bracelets together, causing an energy blast that sent the villain stumbling back. He glowered at her as he gained his footing. "Okay, I've had my fun," Darkseid taunted.

"Why here?" Diana had to ask. "Why attack my Island?"

Darkseid laughed out now. "Since you'll be dead soon anyway, I see no harm in telling you. I told your precious Amazonians as I brought them to their knees. I am looking for something great – something that is here on this miserable little rock of a planet. A species with the ability to see the future told me it would be guarded by a great army here on Earth. Now, it wasn't on your Island, but I have heard about this house of white and the 'presibent'... so, I am looking here." Darkseid started walking towards Diana, wanting to taunt her now, when suddenly he stopped and flinched.

Diana paused for a moment, wondering what was happening to the man but then she felt the necklace Zeus had given her burn on her neck. She suddenly remembered what Zeus had said about it being a key… a soul collector. Diana took it off to see it was glowing bright and knew almost instinctively that a part of her soul was in it.

Darkseid backed up but Diana wasted no time as she now ran at him. Darkseid grabbed her though, lifting her up into the air by the neck. "Time to die, Princess," Darkseid said, but something seemed different about him – he didn't seem as strong as before.

"Not this time," Diana said smashing the necklace against his chest, feeling its energy – a part of her own soul – merge into his.

Darkseid dropped Diana as he took a step back, gasping in shock.

"What… what did you do?" Darkseid asked, putting his hand on his chest where the necklace had shattered. Like he wanted to claw out the energy, but he couldn't.

"I cursed you, I think. I gave you a tiny little piece of my soul," Diana breathed with a smirk. She didn't know what it had done to him, she didn't know why Zeus recommended it, but she knew it did something. She also felt the soul piece missing from her – a small hole inside herself. It wasn't much, she would probably get used to it eventually, but right now she felt off.

Darkseid screamed out in rage as some new agents appeared, and started firing at him. Darkseid didn't seem hurt by the bullets, but he flew up in the air and left.

Diana took deep breaths, wiping blood off her face. In hindsight, she should have pressed the panic button to get the rest of League here. She should have called for help, but she had not thought of it – instead she went in blindly fighting, trying to avenge her island. She had to be smarter in the future. Although an attack on the White House should be an instant Justice League priority… she'd have to check with Barry when she got the chance – it was too late now.

"Wonder Woman," one of the agents said coming up. "Do you need a doctor? We can get the best."

"I doubt that," Diana said, knowing the best was Caitlin Snow as she stood up. "Are all your people good? What about the President?"

"He killed a few of ours before you got here, but we managed to get the First Family out," the agent said.

"What was he doing?" Diana asked, looking back over the patch of ground she and Darkseid had been battling.

"He dug," the agent responded, pointing to the holes strewn across the lawn.

Diana remembered her island – the holes, and the building being damaged and then she remembered what he had told her: He was looking for something. Something he was told would be guarded by an army. Her island counted, but it had not been there. Here, the White House could also be considered guarded by a great army, but it was not here. Where was this thing he was looking for? What was he looking for?

-Superflash-

Clark and Kara easily found Donna using Gideon as a tracker. It seemed she was taking on some car thieves and was not being too gentle with them. Kara wasted no time in jumping in front of her sword, grabbing it out from her before she could do harm.

"Go!" Kara said, turning to the robbers who quickly ran. Kara and Clark didn't even care about getting these small-time thieves to jail. They had more important things to deal with. "We need to talk." Kara looked directly at Donna at this.

"You're going to say the same as him," Donna said, pointing at Clark and rolling her eyes as the duo brought her up into the air to talk in private once more.

"You didn't listen to him because he was a baby when Krypton was destroyed. I was not," Kara said, getting to the point. "I wasn't much younger than you, so I know how you feel. Lost. Alone. Like no one will ever understand you. Your entire life, everything you knew since the minute you were born, is now gone. There's a gaping hole in your chest. You're the last one, but… you're not. You have Diana. You have all of us. You have a lot more than I did. I only had my cousin, who was more human than Kryptonian."

"Hey," Clark said a little sadly.

"Sorry," Kara said with a small smile, "but you barely knew the basics – and all you knew, you read." Clark nodded as Kara turned to Donna again, who looked ready to bail. "But see, I wasn't the only one."

"Yeah you had people come back," Donna said. "But I don't have that chance. My people are dead."

"I wasn't talking about people coming back," Kara said. "My people, my culture live inside me. They are a part of me. And I taught it to Clark; to Karen and Connor. To his kids and will teach it to my kids. Krypton lives on inside all of us, and Themscryia will live on inside you and Diana, and maybe someday your kids and Diana's kids. You can teach your ways to anyone you want, any meta you think is worthy of being an Amazonian, any woman who needs courage to continue on… You lost so much and it hurts now, but you have to remember the good. Make sure to live to honor your people. To bring their traditions forward but this… what you're doing? This is not honoring them."

"You don't know what honor is…" Donna mumbled, suddenly seeming lost in Kara's words.

"Trust me, Kryptonian tradition and Amazonian culture are not too dissimilar when it comes to honor," Kara spoke up. "We're here for you Donna – remember that."

-Superflash-

Diana had sent a message at the League about what happened in Washington DC, including the name of the alien she fought. Turns out Gideon sensors had not registered it as an attack until after it was over which is why no one showed to help. Now the news was all over the attack she almost needn't have bothered, but felt it important to give the League's leader's inside information on the attack. Since it was an alien they were dealing with, Hal and John agreed they would look into it, and Clark and Kara sent Diana a message to come to the penthouse.

Diana landed on the balcony to see Kara, Clark, Barry, and Donna inside. The two babies were eating their food at speeds too fast for the normal eye to watch.

"What is going on?" Diana asked; her eyes however on Donna, who didn't look up at her sister.

"Diana, we need to talk," Clark said. "Krypto, watch Donna." The dog barked and gave Donna a glare. Diana had to raise an eyebrow at that, as Kara and Clark brought Diana into the office. It didn't take them too long to tell her about the events of the day and how Donna almost killed a somewhat innocent man due to her anger.

"We have her calmed down now, but I think she needs to speak with you," Kara said as Diana sighed. "What's wrong?" Kara knew there was something up with Diana; this wasn't a very positive reaction.

"I lost a piece of my soul today," Diana said, making the two looked at her confused. "I used it to curse Darkseid. It was what Zeus said I needed to do, but since… I have been off. I feel more disconnected from my feelings than normal. I am sure I will adjust, but right now this was not a good day for this."

"I'm sorry, but your sister needs you," Clark said patiently. "You're her guardian now; and I know what that's like. Sometimes I go home after a difficult time as both Clark Kent and Superman, and I don't want to deal with anything, but Jason and Ella need me. So I suck it up and do what I need to do. That's what Donna needs. That's what you need to do. And I know you got thrown into this, but she's more important."

Diana sighed and nodded, saying no more as she went back into the living room. "Barry, could you…?" Diana asked and Barry nodded, grabbing one of the girls. Kara came to get the other.

"We'll go to Watchtower, see if Hal and John found anything," Kara said, and they all left the penthouse, leaving just Diana, Donna, Krypto and Hex. Diana had a feeling the animals were the guards, and she was sort of happy they were there.

"Donna," Diana said, taking a seat and putting a hand on her sister's arm. "What happened? I thought you were dealing with all this?"

"Weeks went by and nothing," Donna said quietly. "The Justice League did nothing. I got so angry at… everything. The criminals we fought… the League…. And you."

"Me?" Diana questioned.

"You continued living like nothing happened. Like our home was not gone," Donna said. "How could you do that? How can you cope with that knowledge?"

Diana shook her head sadly at this. "Experience," Diana said quietly now. "I've seen places destroyed. People die. This was a little deeper, but I learned how to cope with it. I guess I forgot you didn't. I should have shown you how upset I was. How much it hurt. Because Donna, it hurts. Everyday, knowing they are no longer there, is like a part of me dying. Knowing my home is gone and I can't return ever again." Diana had a tear in her eye now. Even with a part of her soul gone, the pain at losing their home, of speaking about it, was too much to go through. "But we're alive, Donna. We can't live in the past. We need to move forward."

She paused. She had to tell Donna this – she deserved to know. "And Donna, the man who killed our people, I saw him today." Donna's head perked up at this as she looked directly at her sister now. "He is strong. Too strong. The League needs time – we need to find this Doctor Fate. We need to figure out Zeus's message. To be able to defeat him, we need to know everything. And when we do, we will need all hands on deck – including Young Justice."

"Really?" Donna said, hopeful tears in her eyes.

"Really. But you can't do this again. You need to respect us." Diana said, suddenly serious. "You need to respect our traditions. Honor those who have died. Live the way they would want you. If you go down a bad path, you become no better than those we take out. Understand?" Donna nodded, tears in her eyes now as she leaned into Diana. Diana hugged her, putting a hand on her back.

"But Donna… I have to say, you are grounded. And until you work through your anger and emotions, you are off Young Justice, but we can deal. We will deal." The two sat there for a while, Donna determined now to get in order so she could face her peoples' killer as part of Young Justice, to prove herself.

Krypto came up and put his head on Diana's knee, and Hex rubbed against Donna's legs for comfort.

-Superflash-

"Ha-Pri's got something," Hal said, coming in with Ha-Pri behind him.

Kara, Barry, Clark, and the girls were in Watchtower, waiting for them.

"Ha, I'm starting to think you should be an honorary member of the League," Kara said with a smile. "Or maybe you'll become an Uncle."

Ha laughed nervously at that, ignoring the comment however.

"How do I?" Ha asked, lifting the device in his hand and Hal took it.

"Gideon, connect the device. Please display the information," Hal said, connecting the device up to the system.

"Yes, Green Lantern 2," Gideon said, and Ha gave Hal a look at that.

"Do not ask," Hal said with a mumble.

"I'll take care of that," Barry stated absently, bouncing his daughter on his knee who laughed.

The information on the device displayed on the screen – complicated algorithms and reports from the Lantern Corp. and even pictures. "Darkseid," Ha said. "There was a Darkseid who was ruler of the planet Apokolips. He tried to conquer the entire universe and was defeated, but not very easily. His powers were impressive and he had a large army behind him. When defeated, a new technology was used to hopefully weaken him. It did, but didn't work – it limited his power."

"Diana said in her message at one point he looked like he was in pain and then seemed weaker," Clark spoke as Alura waved at him and Clark had to smile and wave back.

"It was this technology, limiting him," Ha explained. "He reached his limit, but unfortunately he is still very powerful. He broke free and started looking for a way to reverse what was done to him."

"It seems he believes what he needs is on this planet," Hal said.

"Guarded by an army," Kara said with a nod.

"This is how he copes with defeat," Hal muttered now, worried.

"Are there really aliens who can see the future?" Barry asked now. "Reminds me of Men in Black 3…"

"Yes," Ha said nodding to Barry at this, but not commenting on the movie reference. "There are species that are sensitive to future events. It seems Darkseid found one which led him here."

"Even in a weakened state he killed an entire army of Amazonians," Clark said, shaking his head at this. "We really need more members – more than just that new Citizen Steel." Ray had defended his choice for the League with enough supporting evidence to convince everyone to add this Nate to it, but even with Citizen Steel on board, it wasn't nearly enough to take on this Darkseid.

"And we need Doctor Fate," Kara added in. "Thank you, Green Lanterns… Where is John?"

"Training Jade," Hal said. "He's following a Young Justice's regimen, even if Jade is technically not in Young Justice." Jade, being older than the members of Young Justice, preferred to stay out of everyone's business for the time being. She wanted to work to be a member of the real Justice League instead, and was getting the hang of her Green Lantern powers. John was showing her how to use them in battle situations, and even had asked Sara to train her in fighting techniques.

Kara nodded as the two Green Lanterns left. "I should get home too," Clark said, standing up. "I got kids that need me..." Clark bent down, kissing both girls and then hugged Kara. "It's always nice working with you, little cousin and…" Clark paused thoughtfully now, "I'm sorry if you felt alone when you came here." Clark had been thinking of this since Kara's talk with Donna earlier. "It was never my intention for you to feel alone."

"For some time, I did," Kara said truthfully. "But it went away quickly thanks to the Danvers and to you." Clark smiled and kissed the top of Kara's head.

"Send my love to Ja and Ella," Kara added. "Aunty Kara misses them."

"They miss their aunt too," Clark smirked at this as he left Watchtower.

"Eventful day," Barry said, and Kara had to agree. "By the way, that metal girl... the judge and DA are adding self-defense and not having control into her case. She is going to get a foot monitor to be tracked, but with good behavior she will be free. She's being sent to the meta house." The DEO's meta house was officially opened for metas in the foster system. Eliza was in charge, and also lived there now. A couple of little kids were already there and it was probably going to fill up fast they were going to need a second one before they knew it.

"Good," Kara said with a nod. "I'm glad Eliza's found her calling. I'm glad there is a place for wayward meta teens to go now… Anyway, do you think it's safe to go home?"

"Let's give Donna and Diana some more time," Barry said thoughtfully as Nora laughed aloud. What would we do if they got out of control when they get older? Barry thought now, not daring to say it out loud – almost like he didn't want them to hear.

Hopefully we never find out, Kara thought back, kissing her girls' head. And if we do have to find out… we'll figure it out then. There's nothing we can't do together.

Nothing at all, Barry thought back, leaning over to kiss Kara's cheek.

Post Chapter Note: This chapter was a necessary evil for the next saga in Karry's story. I'm not too keen on it, but hopefully you guys like it. Plus, now you know the bad guy…

Next Time on Karry Universe:

Little Sister- It's been a long time coming, but Barry-White of Mutant Earth makes his return to Karry Universe – and he doesn't come alone. Meanwhile, a clue into his searching leads Darkseid to Amaya's doorstep.

Karry Master OUT!