Slugfest

Chapter 4 of Where's Superman?

The Kryptonian who led Supergirl on a whirlwind chase across the countryside ripped away the coat to reveal a white bodysuit. There was no way Kara was losing a chance at payback after being sucker punched the day before. Being a scrapper was one thing her mom was always chiding her about. If things worked out, she might even let Chiller off the hook for endangering Jimmy and Lois. The other showed a lack of experience in her pattern, as if she were new to super powers. She must have just gotten off the rocket.

Kara anticipated the next swerve and took a shortcut. She dealt a resounding smash to the back that sent the other plummeting fast enough to crater a field. That of course wasn't the end of it. Bodysuit streaked out of the hole, obliged to fight. The two circled, dived and parried to put F-100 jets to shame. Kara pretended to get careless and afford her foe a chance to snatch at her cape. It had a snap-on feature for just that purpose. When it came free in the other's hand, Kara did a sweep with her legs that sent the other spinning.

She took advantage of the brief disorientation to grab the other in a bear hug. A titanic struggle ensued to see who could fly her opponent into an obstacle. Kara was so busy pushing back that she was taken by surprise when her opponent suddenly reversed course. They were both hurtling toward the smokestack of a derelict factory. Bodysuit wrenched herself around so that Kara took the brunt of the impact. They crashed inside, bringing the ancient structure down in an avalanche of bricks.

Kara exploded out of the pile, grimly latched on, rocketing into the clouds. Now it was the other's turn, diving straight down in a game of chicken. Kara pulled up so they glanced off the ground, taking out a tree, bouncing downhill to splash into a lake. Oddly enough, it was getting her hair wet that took the fight out of Kara's opponent. They stood waist deep, glaring at each other.

"My cape," Kara said. It was flung at her. She snapped it on. "You have a name?"

"Yes."

"And a sense of humor, I see. They call me Kara."

"Dalith."

"Shall we put some sentences together, or keep on rock and rolling?"

"Keep on what?"

There was no way she wouldn't know such a common expression. "You haven't been here long. Where do you come from?"

"Krypton, just as you." She waded ashore, wringing out her hair, with Kara doing the same.

"Not a chatty type, are you?" Kara recalled Kal's instructions about his Fortress of Solitude. "We seem to be at an impasse. Tell you what—I've got things to do, but your fun is coming to an end."

Dalith shook her hair into place. "Perhaps not. You may find we both have things the other wants."

Perhaps? Who used a highbrow word like that? "All I want is to know what you've done with Superman."

The other assumed a coy look. "He is well."

"Where!"

"You might begin with his facility in that cold part of this world."

That had the smell of a trap. Kara had to go there while Dalith was occupied elsewhere. She needed time for Kal to impart whatever he wanted her to find there. The two section numbers he had mentioned in the note were the only clues. She could hardly investigate with Dalith lurking in ambush.

"As I mentioned," Kara said, "I have a life to lead, even if you don't. I'll get to the fortress when I have the time."

"As you wish." Dalith zoomed skyward, headed back to Metropolis.

Kara had to restrain herself from giving pursuit with fists cocked for battle. "Next time you'll get more than a ruined hairdo." During the casual flight back to Carpo's place, she tried to figure out Dalith's angle. If it was only to get Kal out of the way, she'd have embarked on a destructive crime spree, setting herself up as queen of the underworld. Yet she had to know it meant nonstop war with Supergirl. She'd never have time to enjoy it. Maybe it was related to what Dalith said about them having something in common. It was hard to imagine what she expected Supergirl to agree to.

She landed at Carpo's place to find two police cars and a forensics van. Chiller's car was still there, as was Lois' convertible. The officers made no objection to her crossing the crime scene to approach where everyone had been hustled outside.

Chiller swaggered over with Lois and Jimmy. The police had made no arrests after learning this was a hit by a third party, backed no less than by the super villainess. "There's the champ!" he crowed. "Did you catch up with that other broad? Hey, your hair is wet."

"Our fight ended up in a lake."

"Wow! Two super chicks duking it out in the water!" He pulled a hanky and dabbed at his forehead. Kara gave him the evil eye. "Look out, now—I know it was a risk using Carpo as bait, but it lured our bunny out of hiding. Am I right?"

"And," Lois added, "could have gotten Jim and me killed." She turned to Kara. "We'll follow your lead, Kara. How do you want the press to handle this?"

"Exactly as Perry would want—full exposure. Her name is Dalith, and she's a recent arrival from somewhere. I want to make things uncomfortable by keeping a spotlight on her."

Jimmy hefted his camera. "How about kryptonite?-except that it's dangerous for you as well."

"That's a thought," Lois said. "She probably doesn't know what kryptonite is."

"Forget it." Chiller put away the hanky. "That stuff is no more dangerous to her than a petunia."

"I'd prefer to keep that secret," Kara said. "If someone else pulls it on me, that's another piece I can take out of circulation."

Lois was taking notes. "You hear that, Jim? Keep that out of the article."

"You bet."

Kara spotted Inspector Henderson. "I'll meet you at the Planet after I speak with Henderson." She lifted off and settled down near him, as if taking a slow, giant leap.

He tipped his hat back. "Well, Supergirl, did you get her?"

"We're too evenly matched. I need a favor, Inspector."

"Anything."

"Call the Planet the minute you know where she is. I need to go somewhere for a little research. I suspect she's there now, expecting me to fly into a trap—possibly the same she used on Superman."

"He's okay, then?"

"She said as much, if that can be believed." Having obtained Henderson's pledge to cooperate, Kara flew back to the Planet via Kal's permanently open storage room window, where she had a spare set of clothes. Perry's office was just across the hall.

He scowled at her entry until recognition set in. "Supergirl, where are Lois and young Olsen?"

"They're on the way, with an exclusive about my fight with the super villainess."

He thumped the desk in satisfaction. "Good! At least we'll beat the competition to the story. Err . . . why aren't you in costume?"

Kara took a seat and crossed her legs. "I don't want to be a distraction, since I'll need to hang around awhile. Henderson is going to let me know when this woman is spotted next."

"I don't know," Perry said. "You Kryptonians are so evenly matched. Can you take her?"

"It's keeping her that's the problem. It isn't like the police can put her in a cell."

Perry nodded. "Fine. But that part about being a distraction—that's the case, costume or no."

Kara gave him a little smile. "I'll wait in Lois' office. There may still be things Superman can tell me from wherever he is right now."