In those days, East Africa was governed as one country stretching from Egypt to Somalia to South Africa to Nigeria. Its size was based on its GDP output relative to the other nations of the world. It bordered Arabia to the east and Spain/West Africa to the west. The borders were to fluctuate every ten years in an economic census. In accordance with Kara's directive, years ago, the human population from 15 degrees north to 15 degrees south latitude was to be evacuated and reassigned unless there was a compelling reason to remain. As a result, the human population migrated away from the equator and Africa, in general, while Brainiac 5 drones moved in.

After she recovered from her injuries on the battlefield, Alex reunited with Kelly in what was once known as Uganda. On one particularly hot day, Alex was on a bus with a bunch of locals. Inside the bus, Alex saw a collection of people of various ages. They all had the same skin complexion making her stand out. When they tried to speak with her, it was in English, but the dialect was barely comprehensible. For Kara, her mental processing power allowed her to easily understand new languages and dialects. For Alex, she had trouble understanding and speaking to the locals.

Outside her window, Alex saw dirt roads, impoverished housing, and people still living off the land. The bus stopped as a military convoy of tanks and troop carriers went by. "What are the soldiers for?" Alex asked one of the locals.

"The army is taking over. It's a coup," one woman answered.

"A coup? Holy shit, are we safe?" Alex asked dismayed.

"Don't worry. These are General Mufasa's men. He fights for the people," the woman assured her. "It's a very happy day for us."

"Well, okay then," Alex allowed. "Is that him?" Alex asked of a large African man.

"Yes," she confirmed. "What do you do?" she asked curiously.

"I'm a doctor," Alex replied. "Figured I would use my skills here. I'm from Maine."

"Do you have monkeys in Maine?" one asked her.

"Err...no," Alex replied.

The bus finally arrived at a town at night. "Dr. Danvers," Kelly called out.

"Dr. Olsen," Alex smiled and then gave her a handshake to avoid an immediate scandal in front of the locals.

"Safe journey?" Kelly asked.

"I've had worse," Alex considered.

"That bad?" Kelly winced.

"Well, there was no air-conditioning on the bus, it was packed, it was slow, and we ran into a military coup," Alex listed off.

"Right, hop in," Kelly said of her van.

The two drove the dirt roads trying not to hit any of the locals. "I was worried about you. Thought you might have been caught up in the coup. It's official now. The radios are full of it," Kelly said.

"So, this Mufasa has taken over," Alex considered.

"We came during a busy time," Kelly smiled.

"Whatever we can do to help," Alex said resolved.

The next morning, they ended up at a church/hospital in the middle of nowhere. Brainiac 5 greeted them as they arrived. "Morning, Alex. What do you think?"

Alex surveyed the poor food, all the sick people, and the lack of medical supplies. "Like shit," she said honestly.

"Come with me," he said and then showed her a new room. "This is the operating room. Simple procedures, for the most part."

"How many doctors are here?" Alex asked.

"There's me and there's you," Brainiac 5 replied.

"But there are billions of you. What the fuck?" Alex asked outraged.

"It's the policy that we shut off the system when a country goes independent. Typically, the rebellious leader stands down or gets assassinated by his own people within a short time. Then, the new government quickly rejoins us. It avoids us from having to invade," Brainiac 5 replied.

"So, what happens to the people in the meantime? Fuck'em?" Alex wondered.

"It's part of our long-term strategy of compliance," Brainiac 5 said simply.

"What about human self-determination?" Alex asked.

"Yeah, that was tried for tens of thousands of years, and it did not work, it did not work," Brainiac 5 said shaking his head condescendingly.

"Fuck you, Barney. This is not right," Alex said pissed off.

"You're welcome to take your place as this world's princess and be present at the policy table," Brainiac 5 reminded her.

"And be ignored every time?" Alex rolled her eyes.

"Well, you can argue with me to your social justice warrior heart's content, or you can make a difference for the people here," Brainiac 5 said.

Alex nodded and assisted Brainiac 5 with vaccination shots to the locals, checking heartbeats, and checking mouths. In the evening, Alex had to do a difficult surgery on a young boy without anesthesia. Kelly, meanwhile, was assisting in the boiling of water.

The next morning, Brainiac 5 took off to supposedly treat a sick baby leaving Alex and Kelly behind. "Is this really your kind of work?" Kelly asked her.

"I want to make a difference," Alex insisted.

"And you can by advising your sister," Kelly said.

"But I want to have some fun, too. A bit of adventure, something different," Alex deflected and immediately went to play soccer with the locals.

After kicking their ass, Alex noticed the women were singing. "What's up with that?" she asked a random man.

"The president is coming to the village," he explained.

Alex and Kelly went down to the village where a large gathering awaited President Mufasa's arrival. The villagers chanted, danced, and played drums until his eventual arrival. President Mufasa then addressed the crowd. "This will be a government of action, not words. We will build new schools, new roads, and new houses. I may wear a general's uniform but, in my heart, I'm a simple man like you. I know who you are and what you are. I am you. I never eat until my soldiers have eaten first," he began.

"The alien queen wants you to leave your homes, to go to a strange land far from here, and do whatever she says. Or else, she takes away your food, water, power, and way of life. But together, we will make this country great again," Mufasa declared.

Alex and Kelly went back only to be stopped by Mufasa's men. "What's the problem?" Alex asked annoyed.

"We need a doctor," he said urgently. "The president has been hurt in an accident."

"We'll follow you," Alex agreed.

Upon arriving at the accident, a bull was on the ground mortally wounded. Alex walked up to Mufasa as he held out his hand. "Can I examine your hand?" Alex asked him. He reluctantly raised his injured hand to her. Alex examined his hand by testing the thumb and touching the wrist. "I think it might be sprained, not broken. I'll need a splint," Alex said to Kelly. "And do something about that cow."

Alex worked on Mufasa's hand as Kelly tried talking with the locals. "I can't even think. Do something!" she shouted at Kelly.

"I'm trying to talk to them," Kelly said defensively.

"Fuck it," Alex said and then grabbed a pistol off the trunk of a jeep. She then fired two shots into the bull's head, killing it. All of Mufasa's men trained their rifles on her. Alex then walked over to Mufasa and handed him the pistol.

"Sorry, couldn't hear myself think," Alex said nonchalantly.

"You took my gun," Mufasa said amazed.

"I'm Dr. Alex Danvers, a medical doctor," Alex explained.

"You are British," Mufasa assumed.

"Actually, American," Alex replied.

"American? Why didn't you say so? Great soldiers, very brave, and good people, completely," Mufasa said impressed. "Let me tell you something, if I could be anything other than African, I would be an American."

"Really?" Alex asked confused.

"Thank you, Dr. Danvers. Very good job," Mufasa complimented. "Now, I must leave."

At their cottage, Kelly chewed Alex out. "I can't believe how you shot that cow. Are you fucking mad?"

"The animal was suffering," Alex pointed out.

"No doubt but you could have had us both killed," Kelly pointed out.

"Nothing happened," Alex said dismissively.

"You need to stop doing this. You need to stop putting yourself in danger to get a rush," Kelly told her.

"It wasn't about that. I was trying to fix his hand and I couldn't think with all that noise," Alex said defensively.

"Would you have shot that cow in a hospital or in the DEO?" Kelly asked incredulously.

"I need a drink," Alex admitted and then looked for one.

"No," Kelly told her off.

"Look, it's fine, it's just one drink," Alex said as she found a bottle.

"You can't do this," Kelly said assertively.

"What?" Alex demanded of her.

"My wife is a good woman," Kelly reminded her.

"You sound ridiculous," Alex said as she took a sip to calm herself down.

"Do you understand why I am here? It's to counsel people into making the right decisions in life," Kelly reminded her.

"I understand," Alex said as she continued to drink.

"No, you don't. When you're married to a good woman and you see her making the wrong choices in life, it makes you feel...," she said and trailed off.

"Like shit?" Alex finished for her.

"Look, I can't do this," Kelly said and exited the house.

"Okay, fine," Alex relented. Kelly then came back inside but as soon as Kelly was sound asleep, Alex got totally wasted on the entire beer supply.

The next morning, Alex woke up totally hung over. "There are some people that want to see you," a man told her. Alex eventually got out of bed and met with an armed delegation.

"Good morning, Dr. Danvers. My name is Zazu Wasswa, minister of health," he introduced himself.

"So...how can I help you?" Alex asked painfully.

"The president has something he wants to ask you," Zazu replied vaguely.

"Well...shit," Alex sighed and went back inside the house. "Hey, I have to go talk to the president. Probably just wants me to retie his bandages," she said to Kelly. "I'll be right back."

Alex hopped into the president's limo and headed toward the capital. "My name is Rafiki," her driver introduced himself.

"Alex," Alex replied politely.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Alex. Welcome to the president's car," Rafiki said jovially. Alex noticed some kids wave at her. "They think you're the president," Rafiki explained.

"They need to get their eyes checked," Alex figured.

Alex finally arrived at the presidential palace and was given a tour by the health minister. "Please sit down. His excellency will be with you in a moment," the health minister said to her once they entered his office.

"Who's that?" Alex questioned of a picture.

"The previous incumbent. We don't need to talk about him," the health minister said awkwardly and then immediately hid the photo.

"Incumbent of what?" Alex asked impatiently.

"Of the post of personal physician to the president!" Mufasa interrupted as he came in.

"Holy shit," Alex said, startled.

"Hold onto your guns. Everyone, hold onto your guns!" he mock-shouted.

"By that, you mean your pistol and not your penis," Alex assumed.

"You see, Zazu, this is the kind of woman a president needs, someone who is willing to speak her mind," Mufasa smiled warmly.

"I speak my mind," Zazu said pathetically.

"Shut the fuck up, Zazu," Mufasa glared but then quickly recovered. "So, what do you say, Alex? Will you take the job?"

"You want me to be the one to give you a prostate exam?" Alex wondered.

"You want to be of service to Uganda?" Mufasa asked rhetorically.

"Absolutely," Alex replied.

"Then, what better way than to look after the health of its president? And let me tell you, it will not be a difficult job because I am in perfect physical condition," he said.

"Your eye-twitch and obesity say otherwise," Alex frowned.

"Also, I know precisely when I will die. It came to me in a dream, so you don't have to worry about making a mistake," Mufasa said.

"I've always wanted a guinea pig of a president," Alex considered.

"Listen to me, this is very important. Here, in Kampala, you will have a hand in creating a new health service for this country, something that will help millions of people," Mufasa enticed.

"I have to get back to the mission. I can't disappoint Dr. Olsen," Alex declined.

"Tell her to come here with us," Mufasa said.

"It's complicated," Alex said awkwardly.

"Why? Is she married?" Mufasa wondered.

"Yes, she is...to me," Alex admitted.

Mufasa laughed at that. "Oh, doctor, you are very naughty. Now, you're even more interesting. Lesbians, they are always the most passionate, huh?"

"It's true," Alex admitted.

"They are so grateful, huh?" Mufasa chuckled.

"Right," Alex cringed.

"Tonight, we're having a state dinner. Please, would you join us there?" Mufasa requested.

"Sure," Alex allowed.

"You have a dark dress?" Mufasa asked.

"No, I don't," Alex said awkwardly.

Alex was sent over to a clothing shop to buy a new dress. "How much is this going to cost me?" Alex wondered apprehensively.

"It's okay, it's on the president's account," the store owner assured her.

Outside, Uganda soldiers grabbed a random man, threw him in the trunk of their car, and then drove off. "Well, that was weird," Alex said concernedly.

"They're communists," Brainiac 5 said, sneaking up on her.

"Holy shit," Alex said startled.

"No doubt the president is more than a match for them. We trained him, after all. He's a little unpredictable but he has a firm hand. It's the only thing these humans understand," Brainiac 5 said and then exited the store.

"Such an asshole," Alex shook her head dismayed.

That night, Alex was given a ride to the presidential palace. While in a stylish black dress, Alex greeted several Ugandan officials. "So glad you came. This way," Mufasa suddenly grabbed her. He was wearing his military uniform filled with medals. "This is my first wife," he introduced. "And this is my second wife, and this is my third wife."

"This is Dr. Alex Danvers, she saved my life," Mufasa said to all his wives.

"Absolutely," Alex said, playing along.

"Come, I must introduce you to some people," Mufasa dragged Alex around the room. "This is the Imperial High Commissioner, Mr. Dox."

"Yes, we've met before," Alex said, narrowing her eyes at Brainiac 5.

"I leave you now," Mufasa said and then took off to talk to other people.

"It would seem the president is in your bosom," Brainiac 5 mocked.

"How inappropriate," Alex said dryly.

"How do you think he's doing?" Brainiac 5 quizzed.

"I think he's doing a rather good job all things considered," Alex said defensively.

"Well, there are a few issues to be sorted out like corruption, lack of due process, murder squads, and worst of all, inflation, but he's a straight shooter," Brainiac 5 allowed.

"Well, I wouldn't know anything about being straight," Alex told him off.

Mufasa then clapped his hands from the second floor to get everyone's attention. "I am speaking to you now because if I don't, you will be too drunk to understand my words," he joked.

Alex cringed slightly as she realized she was already on her second martini. "Africa is where civilization began. Here is where the Greeks stole their philosophy, and the Arabs took their medicine. We, Ugandans, must be more proud of this history. We are an independent African nation, living in peace and an economic power. Black Power!" Mufasa claimed.

"Amen!" several people in the audience agreed.

"The Imperials never thought this was possible but now onto dinner. The food tonight is special local food and none of it is human flesh this time," Mufasa told the crowd. The crowd applauded as Mufasa left the scene.

That night, Alex was woken up by a knock on the door. She opened the door less than sober and totally shirtless. "How can I help you?" she asked groggily and hung over.

"The president is very sick," the soldiers told her.

Alex rushed over to the presidential palace and found Mufasa lying in bed in agony. "They have poisoned me. They want to assassinate me," he said incoherently. Inside his room were giant elephant tusks and several stuffed leopards and lions.

"I wouldn't doubt it," Alex said dryly as she looked him over. "This might hurt a little bit, but I have to check." She proceeded to push lightly on his gut and got some painful reactions. Alex eyed some pills on a table.

"I think I know what this is," Alex said and then tapped on Mufasa's gut. "I know what to do," she assured Mufasa and got herself a baseball bat. She placed Mufasa on a couch cushion, sat him up, and then got behind him. Alex then placed the bat around Mufasa's gut.

"What is this?" Mufasa asked fearfully.

"When I say, stand up slowly," Alex instructed. "One, two, three."

Mufasa and Alex slowly got up with the bat pressed across his gut. Upon doing so, Mufasa gave a loud ten-second-long greasy fart. "I think I just shit myself," Mufasa admitted.

Mufasa and Alex stared at each other for an awkward moment as Mufasa assessed how he felt. "Much better," he said and started laughing. "You are a good doctor."

"I recommend not mixing aspirin with beer," Alex said obviously.

"That was the cause?" Mufasa asked incredulously.

"Yeah," Alex confirmed.

"I am ashamed that you saw me like that," Mufasa said embarrassed.

"I'm a doctor. I've seen some weird shit. Everything that comes between us is confidential," Alex assured him.

"But a man that shows fear is weak," Mufasa replied. "One that has fear is a slave."

"If you have a fear of dying, it means you have a life worth keeping," Alex told him.

Mufasa smiled at that. "You are a good doctor and a sage. Take a seat," he invited as he sat down. Alex joined him on the floor. "I come from a very poor family. I think you should know this. My father, he left me when I was a child. The Imperial army, it became my home. They took me in as a cleaner in the kitchen, cleaning pots. Build this wall, Mufasa. Dig this latrine, Mufasa. And now, here I am, the President of Uganda. And who put me here? The Imperials," he said resentfully.

"That's quite a story," Alex said sympathetically.

"Goodnight, Alex," Mufasa said appreciatively.

"Goodnight, Sir," Alex said respectfully and left the room to go back to her hotel.

The next morning, Alex gave Kelly a call. "Kelly, it's Alex," Alex greeted.

"Alex, where are you?" Kelly asked concernedly.

"I'm still in Kampala. The president has offered me a job. Now, normally I wouldn't accept a job from a rogue African dictator, but I think I can do some real good here," Alex said.

"Well, I'm a little disappointed. I hope you can do as much good over there as you would over here," Kelly said peeved.

"Right, I am. Thank you for your support. Love you, got to go. I'll be in touch," Alex said quickly and hung up.

Alex met up with Zazu, the Health Minister, and was given a tour of the capital's hospital. Alex became an instant celebrity due to her appearance. "Dr. Danvers," Brainiac 5 said as he snuck up on her.

"Holy shit," Alex said startled.

"So, you've decided to stay," he assumed.

"That's right," Alex confirmed.

"Excellent, I just wanted to say that if there's anything I can possibly help you with, please don't hesitate," Brainiac 5 offered.

"You my best friend now?" Alex mocked.

"Well, given that we were so intimately involved with the president coming to power, the foreign office has asked me to point out our awareness of your special unique relationship with President Mufasa. Should you find the need to clarify your status regarding details of that relationship, we would, of course, welcome any clarification you might feel the need to share with us…," Brainiac 5 said delicately.

"Go to hell, Barney," Alex told him off. "President Mufasa is the leader of an independent nation free of your rule, and you can't handle it."

"Uganda's GDP is one-thousandth of the world GDP. I assure you, we don't need it," Brainiac 5 said rudely.

"This is more than just money and resources. It's about ego, Kara's ego. She can't stand anyone defying her. But despite all of your efforts to meddle, they're still here."

"Do keep in touch," Brainiac 5 said condescendingly and then walked off.

Over the week, Alex hung out with Mufasa at the bar with his wives, at pool parties, and playing baseball with the African kids. Alex was given an office in the hospital and basically ran the hospital however she wanted. In her office, Mufasa greeted her.

"Before I forget, I need a favor from you," he said seriously.

"What is it?" Alex asked concernedly.

"I'm going to Libya for a conference, and I need someone to attend a meeting here," he said vaguely.

"About?" Alex wondered.

"A matter of common sense and taste," he replied. "I can't think of anyone better."

Flattered, Alex accepted the job and headed a meeting with investors and architects. "The president is away so I am standing in for him," Alex informed the group.

"And you are?" one investor asked cluelessly.

"Dr. Alex Danvers. I'm his doctor," Alex replied. There was an awkward silence in the conference room. "So…what the fuck is this about?"

Once Mufasa came back, he eyed a model of a new government building Alex had picked out. "I love it. A symbol of modernity and Uganda's future," he praised. "Your design is perfect."

"Well, I wasn't the one that designed it. I just…," Alex clarified.

"Nonsense. You have a wonderful eye. Zazu, on the other hand, has no taste. Even his suits make him look silly. Is that not right, Zazu?" Mufasa insulted.

Zazu merely frowned but kept silent. "What the fuck do you want, Zazu?" Mufasa asked irritably.

"I have ministerial papers for you to sign," he said lamely.

"I will sign them later. Get the fuck out," Mufasa ordered.

Once he was gone, Mufasa gave Alex a concerned look. "I don't like the way he looks at me. Do you think he looks at me strangely?"

"I'd keep an eye on him," Alex shrugged.

Alex continued to gain favor with Mufasa by treating his son who had epilepsy and referring him to the hospital for treatment. Mufasa visited Alex at her new home in the capital. "Thank you for what you did for my son," he said gratefully.

"It was nothing," Alex downplayed.

"Allow me to give you a gift. A doctor should have her own ambulance," Mufasa said, showing her a brand-new hovercar.

"Fantastic gift. I'm overwhelmed," Alex said sincerely.

"Go ahead and drive it. You can drive me to the airport. I have business with Libya," Mufasa suggested.

"Don't you think I should get dressed?" Alex asked as she was only wearing shorts.

"Quickly then," Mufasa allowed.

"Just a minute," Alex said as she went back inside her room and went to get some clothes. Mufasa followed her inside her room.

"You happy here?" Mufasa asked as Alex quickly changed. Alex felt slightly uncomfortable with Mufasa being in her room but eventually got ready.

"Absolutely," Alex nodded.

The two then drove to the airport in the new car without incident.

Soon thereafter, Alex was asked to attend a pool party with several Ugandan politicians and Mufasa's son. As the child had epilepsy, he could potentially drown suddenly if not eyed carefully. "Hi," Alex said awkwardly to Sarabi, Mufasa's third wife.

"Hi," she said awkwardly as Alex gave her a stare.

"He's looking much better," Alex noted.

"Much better," she confirmed.

The two stared at each other for an uncomfortable moment. "Goodbye then," she said to Alex and went back to her son.

Alex snapped out of it as Brainiac 5 casually approached her. "Daydreaming?" he chided.

"Looking at you, I hope so," Alex snapped.

"I thought you'd be with the president on his trip to Libya," Brainiac 5 figured.

"I'm needed here," Alex said resolved.

"You should read this article from the Daily Planet. It seems a judge that ruled against Mufasa…has gone…missing. No worries. I'm sure there's a logical explanation. But there have been reports of people protesting the regime disappearing," Brainiac 5 said.

"And you would know all about how that works, wouldn't you, Barney? Disappearing people?" Alex asked scornfully.

"I was just hoping you could give me some clarification," Brainiac 5 said smirkingly.

"Fuck your clarifications," Alex told him off. "Mufasa is an independent African black leader. You just can't stand to see him succeed without you."

"Then, would you be so kind to tell me the whereabouts of the health minister?" Brainiac 5 asked knowingly. "You see, he's apparently missing, too. Of course, there must be a perfectly logical explanation. I'm going to have drinks with some reporters. Care to join us?"

"Fine, I will," Alex said as she felt triggered by his offer to drink.

That evening Alex got sloshed, forgot what anyone had said to her, and woke up with a hangover. She arrived at the hospital to find the health minister had mysteriously been replaced. Upon discovering the new health minister was a woman, Alex gave a sigh of relief and carried on. Later in the day, Mufasa called Alex into his office. There, she found him facing his back to her in his military uniform with his other ministers present.

"You're not the president," Alex sensed.

"Damn," Mufasa said amused as he entered the room. "Nothing gets past Alex. Meet my body double, Ed. Look at him, everything is the same. What do you say, Alex? Is he as handsome as me?"

Alex gave Ed a long look as he seemed to just stare ahead with his tongue out of his mouth. "No, he's not."

"Aha, you see. Even a lesbian can tell you're much uglier than me," Mufasa said amused. Ed merely laughed at that. "There are others: Shenzi and Banzai. All part of Captain Iron's plan for my security. Clever, huh?"

"Yep," Alex allowed but knew it wouldn't be enough to fool the Vindicators.

Mufasa then turned serious and dismissed his bodyguards. "I fear it's not safe for you here, Alex. Your work here is done. You should go home."

"You can't do this. My work here is not finished," Alex protested.

"You didn't come here to finish anything," Mufasa said dismissively.

"I made a promise to you and to myself to help build a new Uganda," Alex told him.

"You swore a doctor's oath, nothing more," Mufasa told her.

"I have a conscience. That is why I came here in the first place. I'm not like Kara and others who just...fuck and take away. Why else would you trust me with your family?" Alex asked him.

"You are like my own daughter," Mufasa nodded appreciatively. "You're here because you love this country and Uganda embraces you," he said as he gave her a heartfelt hug. "Now, let's have some fun."

That night, Alex took part in a party with dancers and booze. Mufasa dressed up like a cowboy and obnoxiously pulled his ministers to him with a roping rope. With temptation all around her, Alex got sloshed at the bar rather quickly. Sarabi came to give Alex some company, still grateful for her treating her son. "You look lovely," Alex told her.

Sarabi merely stared at her awkwardly. "You know, I shouldn't be here. I'm a white woman. I should be in Maine where white people belong. I'm an oppressor. I don't deserve to be here. I'm all fucked up," Alex said drunkenly.

"Not here. Walk with me," Sarabi said to her.

"What the fuck?" Alex wondered and then followed her. "Where are we going?" she asked as she was led away from the bar.

"Through here, just follow me," Sarabi said as she led Alex into an empty bedroom.

Alex eyed Sarabi confused, looked at the bed, then back to Sarabi, and then back to the bed. Upon realizing what was happening, Alex shook her head horrified. "No," she said softly and then stumbled away into the darkness.

A high-functioning alcoholic, Alex managed to drive herself to her apartment only to find Brainiac 5 already there. "You want to crash at my place? What happened? They take your passport?" Alex mocked.

"You once said you would do anything for Kara. You need to leave Uganda, please," Brainiac 5 requested of her.

"Please? That's a nice touch," Alex said, not taking him seriously.

"Do you have any idea what's going on in this country?" Brainiac 5 asked.

"Yeah," Alex said argumentatively.

"In the countryside, they're not bothering to dig graves. They're simply feeding them to the crocodiles. In Kampala, Mufasa has wiped out his political opposition," Brainiac 5 said and then showed her photos of the carnage. "Even members of his cabinet, your health minister. Zazu was actually trying to help his own country. Mufasa always seems to get it wrong, doesn't he?"

"And how are you any different?" Alex questioned.

"Do you know what they call you in Imperial circles? His little white monkey," Brainiac 5 informed her.

"Fuck you, Barney. Just for that, I'm staying put!" Alex said outraged. "You think he's so bad! You all have blood on your hands! All of us!"

"You're an Imperial princess, an Imperial citizen. Your place is not here," Brainiac 5 said seriously.

"Fuck your society," Alex snapped at him.

"You have unprecedented access to him. Obviously, we'd help you with whatever you needed...," Brainiac 5 said and then let it hang.

"You're a bastard," Alex said upon understanding his meaning. "Get the fuck out!"

Brainiac 5 merely shrugged and walked out of the apartment.

The next morning, Alex woke up hungover. She turned on the TV and saw Mufasa making a speech. "The Imperial government has broken its promises to Uganda. Because of this, I have decided to expel all foreigners from this country. These foreigners are leeches. They milk the cow, but they won't fuck the cow," Mufasa declared.

Alex squinted as she thought she misheard. At the hospital, the army was moving in to kick patients out who were just waiting around to be seen. Alex arrived on the scene and manhandled the commander. "This is a hospital!" she shouted at him. "You get your men out of here!"

The commander relented and moved out. Shortly thereafter, Alex discussed the recent policy with Mufasa in his office. "You expel foreigners, the economy of this country will be on its knees, not to mention the damage to your reputation abroad," Alex told him.

"I'm not persuaded," Mufasa said stubbornly.

"Your tailor is a foreigner," Alex pointed out.

"Holy shit," Mufasa realized and quickly reversed himself. "You are more than just my doctor. You are my most trusted adviser. I have a headache. My head is exploding."

"I got some pills," Alex said helpfully.

"What would I do without you, Alex?" Mufasa said gratefully. "Now, come with me, I have a press conference."

Alex joined the press corps. as Mufasa made his statement. "What about the reports of mass killings?" a Daily Planet reporter asked.

"Who have you been talking with? The Imperials? Go look around for missing people. Go anywhere you please. The Imperialists spread these rumors because they hate me. I refuse to recognize their regime, a racist regime. Also, they're jealous of me. The people of Uganda are eating beef and driving big cars. I have created the God Save the Queen Fund. We, Ugandans, we like to help friends, so the Ugandans have got together and saved three tons of food and vegetables for their friends in the surrounding Imperial countries. Because they are having economic difficulties, let me assure you."

The press corps. humored Mufasa with laughter completely aware he was full of shit. "Did you write to the queen asking to be her lover?" one reporter asked.

"You are very cheeky," Mufasa laughed.

At the hospital, Alex heard the cries of mourning leading to the basement. Alex followed the sounds down the stairs, through a crowd of people, and into the coroner's room. There, on the table, was Sarabi naked with her legs and arms detached and then surgically reattached in the wrong places. There were also signs of torture. The people present were Sarabi's son, Simba, and the rest of her tribal relatives. Alex winced and then left the room to go find Mufasa.

She took a short drive to the palace and found Mufasa and his crew watching pornography on a projector's screen. "They say she has a clitoris halfway down her throat. Is this possible...medically?" Mufasa asked Alex.

"Sure," Alex said agreeably.

"I made an example of her because she betrayed me," Mufasa explained, referring to Sarabi.

"Here are your headache pills," Alex said, handing them over to him.

"Is there anything else?" Mufasa questioned.

"No," Alex shook her head.

Mufasa handed the pills over to one of his men who then handed them to a young subordinate to test. Alex eyed the young private and then suddenly stopped him from taking the pills. "Spit it out!" he told him. Mufasa's men suddenly took hold of Alex and took her to the floor.

"Did you think this was all a game!" Mufasa shouted outraged.

"No," Alex shook her head.

"You thought you would go to Africa and play the white woman with the natives. Is that what you thought?" Mufasa asked her. "We're not a game, Alex. We are real. This room here...is real. I think your death will be the first real thing that has happened to you. Listen to me, Alex. I know about you and Sarabi. How could you do that me?"

"We didn't do anything," Alex told him off.

"Alex, I am the father of this nation and you have grossly offended your father," Mufasa said peeved.

"You're a fucking child. I've seen it all before. That's what makes you both so scary," Alex said referring to Kara.

"In my village, when you steal the wife of an elder, they take you to a tree, and they hang you by your skin. Each time you scream, the evil comes out of you. Sometimes, it takes three days for your evil to be spent," Mufasa told her.

"Do your worst," Alex spat.

"Pull her up," Mufasa ordered his men.

Mufasa's men pulled Alex to her feet and took out hooks as if prepared for this moment. Alex merely gave them a defiant look. Suddenly, Mufasa's men took their hooks and sliced opened Mufasa's neck open. They covered his mouth and let him bleed out. Mufasa briefly struggled as he was brought to the floor. "Long live the king," his chief bodyguard said as Mufasa died.

Alex simply stared as Mufasa's bodyguard's holograms fluctuated revealing themselves to be Brainiac 5 drones. "I suggest you take the next flight to Metropolis," Brainiac 5 said to her.

Alex simply gave him a shell-shocked look but then quickly recovered. "Not without Kelly," she refused.

"She's already there," Brainiac 5 informed her.

Alex wiped away tears and nodded.

As Alex was put on a plane to Metropolis, Brainiac 5 drones began a purge of the Ugandan political system and military. Alex merely looked out the window as she left Uganda behind and sped towards Metropolis at several MACH speeds. Upon arriving at the Metropolis International Airport, Alex was greeted by Kelly and Brainiac 5 attending her.

Kelly ran over to Alex to embrace her, but Alex threw up her hands. "No...I don't deserve it," she said to her.

"You were deceived. That's all," Kelly told her.

"You were all waiting for me to pull the trigger...right?" Alex asked Brainiac 5.

"Yes," he replied without emotion.

Alex then turned to Kelly. "I let my prejudice against Kara get people killed. I'm responsible for all those people getting tortured and murdered."

"It's never too late to make things right," Kelly told her.

"I put my ambition ahead of you. I betrayed you," Alex said to her.

"It's all in the past. As I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it," Kelly told her as she embraced her.

Kampala, Uganda

Kara watched as the Ugandan flag was taken down and replaced with the Imperial flag that looked identical to the old American flag with fifty stars. She then turned to Brainiac 5. "Has every war criminal from the regime been eliminated?" she asked.

"Some have fled into the wilderness," Brainiac 5 admitted.

"I'll leave Mon to take care of them. He likes a good hunt," Kara rolled her eyes. She then addressed a large column of the Ugandan military and police force while televised to the rest of the planet.

"Uganda, you have forgotten me. You have forgotten who you are and so forgotten me. Look inside yourselves, people of Uganda, you are more than what you have become. You must take your place in my empire. Remember who you are. You are all my children," Kara smiled for the cameras and then signaled to cut the feed.

"And remember...who the fuck I am," Kara warned those assembled and walked off like a boss.

Brainiac 5 followed Kara as she left the scene. "We were slightly inconvenienced waiting for Alex to come to her senses," Brainiac 5 informed her.

"Just pawns," Kara said dismissively.

"And how many pawns are you willing to sacrifice for Alex's sake?" Brainiac 5 asked her.

Kara gave him an incredulous look. "All of them."