The Return Chapter 542, a supergirl fanfic

"It's over." Jane said as she joined her teammates in a college cafe.

"What is?" Matt asked.

"This year's competition."

"Did we get the date wrong?" Phil asked.

"No. It's been cancelled."

"Why?"

"Some idiot got the chemicals wrong and now the chlorine levels in the pool are too high and the aquatics whole centre has been shut off."

"Can't we use another pool?" Matt asked.

"All pools get their chemicals from the same source, so the whole State is screwed." Jane said.

"They can't just postpone?" Alex asked.

"No. No dates before spring break. So this year's competition is cancelled." Jane said.

"That sucks." Matt said.

"Yes it does." Jane agreed.

"So what do we do with Smokey?" Phil asked.

"He's not called Smokey." Jane said. "And I don't know. For now all we can think about is next year's entry."

"Maybe we should take MJ's advice." Alex said.

"Which was?" Gordo asked.

"Test it to destruction." Alex replied. "That way we will know all the weaknesses for next year."

"That seems harsh on Smokey." Phil commented.

"Smokey isn't a person." Jane said. "And it will make us stronger."

"Could be kinda fun." Gordo added.

"Before we rush into anything. Let's go for dinner and discuss how we would run those tests." Matt suggested.

"Pizza at my place?" Alex offered.

"What's wrong with them?" MJ asked Mel when he saw the robot team, less Alex, sitting in the lounge.

"The robot competition has been cancelled. So they can't win this year." Mel said.

"So all that work for nothing?" MJ guesses.

"Yes." Mel confirmed.

"That is rough." MJ said. "But where's Alex?"

"Calling her mom. Telling her not to bother coming tomorrow."

"She'll come anyway." MJ pointed out.

"The good news is they are talking about running with your idea and destroying Smokey."

"Really? You think they want help?" MJ asked.

"From someone smiling like you are? Probably not." Mel replied as Alex approached them.

"Hey." MJ said. "Sorry about the competition."

"It's fine." Alex shrugged.

"No it's not." MJ corrected. "But after your mom has visited, if you want to go do something to commiserate, let me know."

"Thanks."

"I don't want to add to your problems, but should we be worried Martin isn't back?" Mel asked.

"No, it's Friday and six pm." MJ said.

"So?"

"Elevator girl." Alex said.

"What?" Mel asked.

"He's got a huge crush on Elevator girl. She is in the mall every Friday at six." Alex explained.

"In an elevator." MJ added for context.

"So he's going to talk to her?" Mel asked.

"Hasn't for the last few weeks." MJ said as Matt joined them.

"Your mom still coming?" Matt asked Alex.

"Yes."

"You want me to stay away?" Matt questioned.

"No, but yes."

"I get it. It's fine." Matt smiled.

"We can spend the day together destroying Smokey." MJ offered before seeing Matt's expression and asking. "Too soon?"

"I'm sorry about the competition." Kara said as she and Alex walked through the common.

"It's okay. Besides we still got to build the robot." Alex said. "And this way we get to spend the whole day together. But you didn't have to come to Boston."

"I missed you. And your aunt said I needed a break."

"It's really bad over there isn't it?" Alex asked.

"Probably the same as here."

"Do you want to leave?"

"To get back to National City?" Kara asked.

"No. I meant leave."

"National City?"

"Earth."

"Earth is still my home." Kara said.

"Even though you can't be you?" Alex asked.

"What do you mean?"

"If people find out what you are you will be hunted like every other alien and meta."

"Things will get better." Kara said.

"You really believe that?"

"Yes. Because it isn't the first time I have gone through something like this. No matter the species, when bad things happen, people get scared and lash out. It happens on every planet." Kara said as she saw a poster demanding the rounding up of metas.

"You don't have to put on a brave face for me." Alex said. "I don't face the same daily attacks you do. I just want to make sure you are okay."

"I'll be okay." Kara said.

"Lex has submitted a statement, describing what he did when he was on the run." Vasquez said as Alex walked towards her.

"That seems uncharacteristically helpful."

"Maybe he was bored."

"What did he say?"

"He says he was asked to work on the chemical, well the chemical that evolved into a virus."

"Did he help?"

"He says he didn't as he didn't like the requestor."

"Who he won't identify?" Alex guessed.

"No. And then he laughed like the crazy person he is and said he finally understood."

"Understood what?"

"That we have no idea what that chemical is for." Vasquez said.

"And did he offer any information?"

"No. But he says he is willing to negotiate."

"I'm sure he is." Alex said dryly. "Where are we with the virus simulations?"

"No where new. It evolves, but the mutations seem random, like a virus. It is like we are missing something."

"Which Lex claims to know?" Alex guessed.

"Yes." Vasquez said. "But I assume you want me to ignore him?"

"Yes. If he is telling the truth we will figure it out." Alex replied.

"Understood." Vasquez replied.

"Thanks."

"And Alex?"

"Yes."

"Go home."

"Kara? What are you doing here?" The older Kara asked when she saw her niece on her doorstep.

"I was hoping we could hang out."

"Everything okay?"

"It's fine, but I need a break from studying. The guys at college were going clubbing and that didn't appeal. Diz has an assignment. Mom is working. So I thought we could hang out, have a girls night."

"Sure, but how did you get here?"

"Used my DEO escort as a taxi service." The younger Kara confessed. "I mean it seemed stupid me taking the train while they followed in a car."

"True." Her aunt agreed. "You could have called me."

"Then it wouldn't have been a surprise me being here. Plus you were in Boston." Her niece pointed out before asking. "So can I come in?"

"Of course." The older Kara said stepping away from her niece and letting her into the apartment. As she did so she asked. "You sure Alex didn't send you?"

"You make me sound like a pawn." The younger Kara said picking up Chewie.

"I'm sorry." The older Kara said. "I just don't want you to feel forced into hanging out with me."

"When do I ever do anything against my will?" Her niece questioned.

"Good point. I stand corrected."

"So how is Alex coping with the disappointment?"

"She seemed okay. She pointed out there is always next year." The older Kara said as she grabbed some water from the fridge.

"MJ is going to work on her tomorrow."

"Hey Kara you awake?" The older Alex asked as entered her sister's apartment. As she did so she saw her daughter and sister asleep on the couch, while Chewie looked hopefully at Alex.

"Mom?" The younger Kara asked groggily.

"Hi." Alex said confused.

"Alex?" The older Kara asked waking up. Her speaking causing Chewie to bark. "What time is it?"

"Eight."

"Already? Steve will be back soon." The older Kara said sitting up.

"Want me to walk Chewie?" Alex offered.

"Thank you." Her sister said as the younger Kara stood and stretched.

"I'll walk down with you. I need to grab some clean clothes."

"Kara." The older Kara called. "Thank you."

"Why are you thanking me?" Her niece asked. "Oh by the way, we have a cake testing later, want to come?"

"Sure." The older Kara smiled as her niece and sister left with Cheiwe.

"Were we meant to be meeting?" Alex asked her daughter as they went downstairs.

"No. Diz told me you were working yesterday. But Alex called to say she was worried about aunt Kara, so I stopped by. But if you aren't doing anything this morning, maybe we can hang out?"

"I'd like that."

"Hey, sorry I'm late." Diz said jogging over to the two Karas and Alex.

"It's fine, did you get your assignment done?" The younger Kara asked taking his hand.

"Yes and submitted with six hours to spare. Plus I beat Rice by five minutes." Diz said before looking over at the older Kara.

"Hi Diz." The older Kara greeted before asking. "You sure you guys want me here?"

"Seeing you know more about cake than anyone, you are the chief taster." Her niece said. "But we should go in."

"Is there a plan?"

"You try everything and tell us which is best." Her niece said.

"That I can do." The older Kara said before entering the hall.

"Alex is going to be ticked with you." Her sister commented as Kara went straight to the first stand.

"Helping my niece?"

"Binging on cake." Her sister corrected.

"I am not binging. With these size portions there can be no binging." Kara pointed out.

"You were right." The older Kara said as she entered her sister's lounge that evening, having dropped her niece back at college.

"I should get a recording of that." Alex said. "But why am I right?"

"I needed a break. And this weekend has been one, first with Alex in Boston, and then with Kara."

"So you feeling better?" Her sister asked.

"Yes."

"But?"

"I know you are going to say it is not my problem to fix, but I have to do something. There is so much hate, and not just here. In Boston there were posters everywhere."

"I get that, but as amazing as you are, you can't fix it alone."

"I know. Barry said the same thing. So I need to be smart. Which means I need you."

"Me?"

"You see things I don't see. And you think things through a little more than I do."

"A little more?" Alex asked.

"Fine a lot more. So will you help?"

"Of course."