The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Millma Verse: The Hitchhiker's Guide to Karry
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The Past in the Present
It had been a while since Kayla's mother had relocated to Mutant Earth and Kayla had found herself residing on that world a lot more than others, specifically in her mother's little country cottage they had found for her, not too far from Kara and Barry's farm in Smallville – it had been very nice reconnecting with her mom, putting to rest their past and confronting both of their various traumas.
Alura had also taken well to Mon-El, who followed Kayla everywhere these days; she admired him for treating her daughter like a queen herself – something Kayla liked but didn't want all the time.
Still, the one downside was Cisco being around a lot more. Kayla liked the guy, she really did, and honestly considered him a friend, but he was so vibrant and out-there and she was just down-to-earth and settled, in her own way, but that didn't stop the man from appearing every so often – like today.
"But we've waited too long," Cisco was saying to Kayla. "The last thing we did in the multiverse was Disney…"
"He has a point," Mon stated, standing in the hallway of the cottage with his arms crossed. "Do you want your next multiverse hop to be Disney again? Because you know it's only a matter of time before SuperEarth Barry and Karry Amelia find new Disneys to explore." He had a smirk on his face as he said it though. He did enjoy their Disney hitchhikes.
"I just…" Kayla began.
"Oh honey," Alura spoke up at this, sitting on the couch next to Cisco, "you told me you love hopping the multiverse, why the resistance?"
"It's not a resistance, it's just… well, you…" Kayla began.
"If I need anything, your sister – I mean this world's Kara – is just on the horizon, literally," the view from Alura's cottage showed Kent Farm in the distance. Alura had been slipping up and been calling this world's Kara by 'Kayla's sister' and honestly, Kayla didn't mind, given she loved many Kara's like the sister she'd lost. Even the young Kal on this world was starting to look a lot like the Clark she'd lost back home, too.
"Ever since I found you, since you came back into my life, I've felt protective," Kayla had to admit; Mon and Cisco keeping quiet while mother-and-daughter talked.
"I know I was injured and weak when you rescued me, but time in the Earth's sun, with the best medical expertise Prime Earth's Krypton could offer, too, and I'm back to my old self – honestly. You shouldn't have to be with me all the time, you should go and have fun with your friend – and Mon here," she gave Mon a wink at that.
"I have missed hopping the multiverse," Kayla couldn't help but admit. Seeing new worlds was always fun for her.
"Well, that settles it," Alura smirked at that, Kayla a little taken aback by her mom. "Which world do you have planned for these two lovebirds, then, Cisco?"
"Oh. Yes, well there's a world I visited a while back with Karry's Kara and Barry. We've been calling it Young Karry because… well, it's Karry Universe in the past," Cisco stated.
"Are you sure you didn't just visit the world in the past?" Mon asked at this.
"My powers don't work that way," Cisco pointed out. "I can only go to worlds in the time frame they are existing in at my own time, so it's definitely a world in the present, but the past of Karry."
"That hurts my head," Alura chuckled, not really understanding what Cisco meant. Since being rescued she had learned more about the multiverse, but things still confused her.
"It's simple mom, the world is probably like 10 or 20 years behind us, but existing in a time parallel to us," Kayla explained. "Its present is our present, but it's timeline is in the past. Specifically, Cisco is saying this world is very similar to Karry Universe own past."
"Why don't you just go there and give me the CliffsNotes later, honey?" Alura stated. "I think your sister – I mean this world's Kara…"
"It's okay, you can call her my sister," Kayla pointed out. "Many Kara's are my sister these days."
"Okay, well Kara has invited me over to see the grandchildren later, maybe help a little on the farm so I'll be alright," Alura finished.
"Don't go straining yourself," Kayla started.
"Oh, don't start again. Cisco, open that portal-thing," Alura glanced to Cisco at this, who didn't question it as he opened a blue portal for the three of them.
"Come on," Mon took Kayla's hand at that, and with one last look at her mom, Kayla moved through the swirling vortex with Mon.
"Thanks, Ms. El," Cisco nodded to Alura.
"Oh please, just call me Alura, honey," Alura stated. "You're a good friend to Kayla, even if she won't admit it."
"Aw, thanks," Cisco smiled as he moved through his own portal.
-Hitchhiker's Guide-
The trio arrived in an alleyway, the first for them in a long time. They usually went right to the superheroes in their bases lately – usually Star Labs.
"I guess we need to be a little bit inconspicuous," Mon pointed out of where they'd arrived.
"We're in Metropolis," Kayla stated, using her X-Ray vision to see through the walls to the city beyond.
"Yeah, back when Karry's Kara and Barry were in college, they both went to Metropolis University, so it makes sense the Kara and Barry of this world would be at MU, too," Cisco explained as they left the alley to the main street beyond.
"This really is in the past," Mon mused. "I spent considerable time on Karry before I met you guys and Metropolis looked a little different… this city looks, less…"
"There are few, and different buildings," Kayla agreed. "The footprints to what will be…" Of course, Metropolis was big – it always was – but it was always changing as new skyscrapers were put up and old ones taken down.
"Very poetic," Mon stated, smirking at his girlfriend, his eyes catching something.
"I think that is where Kara and Barry will make STAR Metropolis," Kayla pointed out, as Mon moved off to get what he saw.
"Seems about right," Cisco said with a nod, knowing of Karry Universe's newest STAR Labs where they ran their spaceships from and was the center of where they terraformed worlds.
"Oh wow…" Mon moved over to a trash can, Kayla and Cisco glancing at one another until he fished out the paper he'd seen. On it was a photo of a younger-looking Clark as Superman, along with Kara and Barry – both as teenagers.
"'Fright at the Museum – Superman Saved by Hero Teens'," Kayla read the title. "Nice title."
"I remember reading this," Cisco smirked. "There was a robbery at the museum, Kryptonite was present, and Barry and Kara saved Clark – this was before Barry was the Flash and Kara officially as Supergirl," he continued.
"Yeah, that's what the paper says," Mon stated, he and Kayla having been reading it together. "Some idiot thought Kryptonite was a special gem and was revealing it to the public. Kara and Barry were there with Iris, who was reporting on it for the college paper – it's all in this paper."
"It was a few weeks ago though," Kayla pointed out, pointing to the date of the newspaper.
"Oh, this is funny," Mon now added. "It mentions Kara and Barry didn't want too much publicity for this. Look at them now, runners of a global corporation with colony worlds in the sky…"
"Best not mention that to the teen Kara and Barry here," Cisco joked with Mon. "You know I have nearly all the articles from various worlds stored on the computer at home – Karry included. I'll have to show you when we get back, I have articles on this museum stuff, too, including one written by Cat Grant herself for CatCo. Plus, they also rescued students from a fire in a science building as teens. It's kind of hilarious and weirdly fortuitus."
"Well, sure. I could do with a laugh," Mon stated.
"You know, I don't think it's a good idea to go directly to Kara and Barry on this world," Kayla voiced, the other two stopping at this. "If this world is truly going in the same direction as Karry Universe, going to the future top dogs and telling them everything could be devastating to the potential future. It could change… well, everything."
"Okay, so how exactly do you want to do this, then?" Cisco asked. "We normally go to the top dogs and explain everything," he pointed out.
"But they are not the top dogs. Not yet. They are teenagers having fun in college," Kayla pointed out. "They know nothing of the superhero lives they will represent."
"She has a point," Mon added.
"Then what do you want to do?" Cisco asked, but Kayla didn't get the chance to explain what she had been thinking as there was a screech of tires and screaming.
Years of covering for various Kara's as Supergirl or Power Girl when they were pregnant instantly kicked in for Kayla as she got into full superhero mode, about to jump in the way of the speeding car to stop whatever was going on, but a flash of red and blue interrupted her as Superman himself appeared, landing in front of the car, stopping it.
Gunfire shot out as the perpetrators of the car tried to fire on Clark, but he stopped them easily, throwing them out of the car and knocking them out. He was having fun with this, and Kayla couldn't help but smile, reminded of the Clark she had long since lost on her home word, too.
The sound of police sirens let them know that the scene was over, and Clark looked around, to check if the public were safe from this hit-and-run and was obviously about to fly off the scene when his eyes caught Kayla and he paused, frowning.
There was no point denying it, so Kayla waved to the superhero who moved over to them, the eye of the public on him, too, as the police arrived on the scene.
"Why do you look familiar?" Clark asked, Kayla coming over to them as the police started rounding up the felons behind them.
"Because I'm Kara's sister," Kayla stated.
"Ka –? Hang on…" Clark took Kayla by the arm to lead her to a less public spot. Cisco and Mon looked at one another for a moment before following the two to yet another alleyway; Metropolis was full of them, after all.
"Alright, let's cut to the chase, what do you know about the multiverse?" Kayla asked her alternative cousin before he could get a word in.
"Urm… What? I know my wife watches a show called Sliders that has something to do with a 'multiverse'," Clark stated, taken aback.
"Lois watches Sliders?" Mon asked.
"You know Lois?" Clark turned to Mon.
"We know everyone… Clark," Kayla stated, Clark turning back to look at Kayla, shocked she knew her name. "I told you I am Kara's sister. At least on my world." She knew she didn't exist here. Not if this world was as close to Karry Universe as Cisco made it out to be and she herself had observed so far.
"I think we should take this off the streets entirely," Clark decided. "If you are who you claim to be – Kara's sister – then you should be able to follow us. Who's taking the guys?"
"Oh, I'll take the handsome one," Kayla moved off to put an arm around Mon's waste, the two chuckling. Mon could follow on his own – he did have superspeed and could jump high but flying with Kayla was easier.
"Looks like it's you and me, kid," Clark stated, grabbing Cisco before he could say anymore and flying off with him.
"Getting tired of the multiverse speech?" Mon asked his partner.
"We've got to streamline it," Kayla agreed, "although Sliders seems to be a staple of our multiverse," she mused, picking up Mon and following Clark.
-Hitchhiker's Guide-
Arriving in Clark's apartment in Metropolis, the first thing that Kayla and Mon noticed was Lois Lane and the noticeable baby bump she was now supporting. Cisco was already there, with Clark having brought him first, of course.
"To what do we owe this pleasure?" Lois asked, pausing as she looked at Kayla and frowning.
"These three claim to be from the multiverse," Clark stated, in a flash changing out of his Superman outfit and back into his civilian clothes, including his glasses, which he played with somewhat as he spoke.
"Like Sliders?" Lois pointed out, to a laugh from Kayla, Cisco and Mon.
"Just like Sliders," Cisco stated.
"Can someone explain this show to me?" Clark asked.
"I've tried, plenty of times, honey," Lois chuckled. "It's about different earths, all on different planes of existence with different histories and usually the same people. The lead characters are trying to get to their own world but keep failing… are you looking for your home world?"
"No, we can get back easily," Cisco stated. "Not that close to Sliders."
"So, you are from another world…" Clark breathed. "That explains the older Kara," Clark added, looking at Kayla.
"With darker hair," Lois added, and Kayla had to chuckle at that.
"Actually, I'm Kayla, and this is Mon-El, and he's Cisco Ramon," Kayla introduced. "And yes, we are from the multiverse."
"You're pregnant, right?" Cisco suddenly spoke up to Lois at this.
"Cisco!" Kayla berated her friend at his abruptness.
"Sorry, it's just…" Cisco didn't know what to say to this, suddenly a little embarrassed himself.
"Yes, I am pregnant," Lois stated at this, cradling her baby bump. "We had to move the wedding up so I could fit into my dress."
"Boy or girl?" Mon asked now.
"We don't know yet…" Clark stated, putting an arm around his wife.
"Well, if it's a boy… I'd be very mindful of him," Cisco voiced. "If he's anything like the one this world may become…"
"Cisco…" Kayla gave the guy a warning tone. She knew what he was talking about, of course: Jason of Karry Universe, and the way he clearly killed his mother. He had been punished on Mutant Earth for that not so long ago.
"Sorry," Cisco went red as Clark and Lois frowned at one another.
"Alright," Clark decided not to question this further. "So, what are you doing here then," he asked the trio, "if you can get home?"
"Actually, we're just here to explore," Mon stated. "We are explorers of the multiverse. We like to see the differences and we have friends in the multiverse. A whole multiverse system of connected worlds."
"And this world is very interesting to us," Kayla said, clearly confusing Clark and Lois.
"See, this world is heading in a direction similar to one of our Paragon worlds," Cisco started.
"Paragon?" Lois asked this.
"Long story," Kayla stated before Cisco could explain further; Cisco got the message not to say more on the subject. There wasn't a point to an explanation right now.
"The point is, this world is like one of our friend worlds – but in the past – and well, we just want to know more about where you are…" Cisco stated, a little humbly. "See most of the multiverse exists in early 2023," Lois's eyes went wide at that, "and one of our friends who are in the normal time frame past is very close to the present of this world. Like… Mon still have the newspaper?"
Mon held up the old newspaper of Kara and Barry saving Clark.
"This so far only happened here and on that world this one is like," Cisco continued, knowing that must be true.
"Kara and her boyfriend only save me on two worlds?" Clark frowned at that.
"Well, the idiot with the Kryptonite obviously doesn't exist or never did that on other worlds," Cisco reasoned.
"More to the point, what's going on with Kara and Barry?" Kayla stated. Showing the newspaper was a good leeway to asking about them.
"Oh," Clark paused at this, looking to Lois too, who was smirking.
"What is it?" Mon asked.
"Well, this one's been spying on Barry Allen ever since he came across Barry and Kara making out in this very apartment last year," Lois stated as Clark started pacing.
"You don't trust him?" Kayla was surprised by that and wondered if Karry Universe Clark had done the same thing.
"I do," Clark turned back to Kayla, "it's just… it's Kara. Besides it was more last year I did some background checks on him."
"Well, if this world is anything like the one it's shaping after, trust me when I say that Barry is the perfect person for Kara," Cisco stated. "In fact, across the multiverse, Kara and Barry seem to be the de-facto couple."
"That's… reassuring," Clark stated, not entirely convinced.
"Tell them about your research," Lois spoke up at that.
"Your research?" Cisco asked, intrigued.
"He's been looking into Barry Allen, using his reporter background and knowledge to see if he could dish out any dirt," Lois stated smugly.
"You won't find much dirt on the Allens," Cisco stated at that, quite confidently.
"Oh, no?" Clark asked, causing them to pause at this. "His father is in jail for murdering his mother."
"Oh yeah… that," Cisco said shrugging it off. Most worlds where that happened was so far past that event Cisco forgot about it and a lot of newer worlds it didn't happen – more likely an effect of the Paragons rebooting the multiverse. "You know he's innocent, right?"
"That's what Barry claims, I haven't been able to find proof on that," Clark said, and before Cisco could open his mouth, Kayla gave him a small shove to shut him up. Eobard Thawne was important for this world; Barry needed to get his powers, after all.
"Besides, Kara is well aware of that," Lois said. "She even went to the prison with Barry to meet Henry."
"That's sweet," Kayla remarked, imagining a teenage Barry and Kara visiting a younger Henry Allen in jail and Barry introducing his father to his girlfriend.
"Well, does the Barry you know have a sister in boarding school?" Clark continued, pulling Kayla out of her reverie.
"A sister…?" Mon turned to Cisco at this, knowing Karry Universe had an Amelia – but she had come from the multiverse after her home world had been destroyed and that had been when they were adults, not teens.
"We noticed that last time we were here," Cisco voiced, making Clark and Lois look at each other. "Amelia exists here where she didn't on Karry Universe – until the multiverse version made that world her home. Weirdly, this Amelia has the same fake history Karry Barry made for his."
"Karry?" Clark asked.
"It means….' Cisco started.
"Kara and Barry's couple name. I know. Iris keeps putting 'KarryKaraoke' videos up on YouTube," Lois pointed out and Kayla had to giggle at that.
"The name becomes big," Kayla said. "This world has been dubbed Young Karry." Clark made a face at that, not seeming to like it. "But if it's just Amelia existing, I am not sure how that is dirt. I am sure Kara knows about Barry's little sister."
"She does, but there is something else we have been debating telling her. After doing some more digging, it seems he may have cousins too," Lois added that, causing the group to look at one another. Cisco mouthed 'no way!' and Kayla had to admit that was shocking. Were they talking about Rae? Roe? Someone else? She didn't want to push though and waited for them to continue.
"His dad had a brother who died, and his kids are being raised by their grandparents on their mother's side," Clark explained to this. "From what I know, the brothers had a falling out years ago, so Barry doesn't even know about these possible cousins."
"Interesting," Mon stated, looking at Kayla and Cisco knowingly. They knew for a fact that wasn't there on Karry Universe. Karry Barry had looked it up just to make sure there was no possibility of Rae existing and there really wasn't – even after Crisis.
"What about your Kara?" Kayla asked, intrigued by the different Barry backstory, but not as invested as Cisco or Mon. "Was she still raised by the Danvers?" Kayla knew in the early worlds in the multiverse Kara with the Danvers were normal, but later on Kara had a whole mess of different families including the Grants, Langs, Kents and even Lois herself.
"Yes," Clark nodded. "I couldn't raise her, I just… well…" he looked away from Kayla at this, obviously feeling a little guilty about it.
"It's okay, honey," Lois stated, putting a hand on Clark's shoulder. "The Danvers were the perfect family to raise Kara."
"They were," Kayla stated. "On many worlds she was raised by the Danvers and was grateful for it."
"I'm glad," Clark stated. "There was some problems with the DEO when Kara was taken in, and her adopted dad, Jeremiah went missing, but her adopted mom Eliza and Alex herself have been good in getting Kara up to speed with life on Earth."
"That sounds about right," Cisco nodded, knowing of the worlds where that had happened – Jeremiah Danvers always seemed to get the raw end of the deal, even on SuperEarth where, despite being the leader of the DEO for a long while, he had succumbed to some sort of cancer more recently and passed away.
"Alex is actually in town with a friend," Clark continued. "She came by to see me earlier. Seems to be in some emotional crisis."
"Oh, that's a shame," Lois voiced, Kayla frowning at this.
"What sort of emotional crisis?" Kayla asked looking at Cisco. The two knew a little of Alex's Karry background and the fights between Kara and Alex during Kara's college years. Was this the beginning of that?
"She wasn't happy about Lois and me giving Kara hints on how to be more intimate with Barry," Lois actually choked at that. "Something about needing to protect her and I tried to reassure her that Kara doesn't need that protection anymore," Clark stated, quickly checking over his wife, who waved him off. Kayla, though, felt for Alex, knowing what it was like to lose a sister – even if not in quite a dramatic way as she had.
"Any idea where Alex could be now?" Kayla asked.
"Oh, erm, not really, but Kara does have a college bonfire tonight – she could be there. Why?" Clark asked with a shrug.
"I just… I could speak to her," Kayla mused.
"What happened to us not interfering?" Mon asked his girlfriend. "This world has a path it can go down. A path very similar to the world most of the multiverse calls the Perfect World. Do we want to interrupt that?"
"Perfect World?" Lois asked but was ignored by the three.
"If Alex is going to be who she is on Karry Universe, I think she can keep one meeting with me secret from Kara until the time she feels the need to say it," Kayla pointed out.
"Fair enough," Mon stated, raising his arms in a shrug.
"Um, perfect world?" Lois asked having a smirk on her face. "Care to elaborate?"
"Well, we can't say too much and what we do say Kara and Barry cannot know," Kayla said, knowing that she couldn't leave for a bonfire just yet, given it was still daylight.
"Promise?" Cisco added.
"Promise," the two said together curious.
"Karry Universe is very much perfect overall. I mean, they do have some things not-so-perfect but… well CliffsNotes: Kara and Barry are mega rich with five beautiful children and lead a superhero team that keeps the world safe. Many people who died on other worlds lived on Karry Universe due to them," Cisco said quickly, thinking that was fair enough to say.
"Barry… a superhero?" Clark asked, shaking his head and giving a chuckle and Mon, Kayla and Cisco tried not to laugh at Clark's disbelief.
"You called him a hero yourself not too long ago," Lois said waving that off. "More importantly… how rich?"
Mon gave a laugh.
"Let's just say, they get mad if they are called millionaires because they are so far passed that," Mon said, knowing that from experience during his time living on Karry Universe, and Lois mouth opened wide at that.
-Hitchhiker's Guide-
As they had some time until nightfall, Clark and Lois treated them to some food at the apartment – neither needing to go into the office this afternoon – while they talked some more; Kayla had to stop Cisco once or twice form saying too much, before leaving Mon in charge of Cisco's mouth when the skies got dark enough so Kayla could head to the bonfire.
Soon, Kayla found herself on one of the beaches on Hudson River, watching about twenty- to thirty-teenagers by a bonfire, some dancing, some singing and some making out. She could clearly see the young Kara and Barry who were definitely making out. She chuckled at that. The two looked so young, so innocent, it was hard to believe these two could become what Karry Kara and Barry were: the power couple of the world, but she knew once upon a time the Karry duo were just like these two.
Her eyes weren't looking for her younger sister and boyfriend, though; instead, it was scouting the scenes for the woman she knew as Alex Danvers.
Alex was standing, just out of view from the firelight, leaning on the edge of a wall and watching the events – her eyes were so focused on Kara and Barry, that she didn't even look elsewhere to see that she was being watched. There was a chant growing of 'Karry' from Kara and Barry's friends, which caused Kayla to smile, but Alex obviously scowled as she moved off.
"I'm detecting a lot of negativities from you Alex," Kayla mused to herself as she moved away too, following Alex, who had pulled out a cell phone to text someone – this mysterious friend she was in town with, maybe?
It was only a short walk to a bar, Alex pausing in the entrance before moving in, taking a seat on one of the barstools as she pulled out her phone again. Kayla moved cautiously over, taking the seat next to Alex, who didn't look up from her phone, not seeing the person sitting next to her who looked like an older version of her little sister with dark hair.
Kayla took in Alex though; she was barely above a teenager herself, maybe in her early 20s, with longer hair than she seemed to support in the present.
"Are you having anything?" the bartender asked Alex first, as she ordered a beer. Kayla ordered a martini.
Alex downed the beer in one, surprising Kayla at the intensity of Alex's drinking; the bartender seemed to notice this also.
"Okay what's your problem?" The bartender asked, re-filling Alex's drink upon the request for more from Alex.
"I don't know what you mean," Alex said, taking the second drink.
"I know when people are drinking away their problems. What's yours?" The guy asked again, and Kayla wondered if this interaction had been what led Alex down her dark path on Karry Universe. Alex sighed but said nothing. "Oh, come on. I've heard it all. Did a boy break your heart? Or a girl, maybe?"
"Girl. Well… sort of," Alex said, taking another sip. "Years ago, my family took in a foster child – this little girl who was so broken when she came to us. She had nightmares every night... endless crying. She lost everything." Kayla's heart broke a little at hearing that, as her Kara never had that problem – they always had each other, regardless of circumstance. It had helped with the loss of their home world, and this was the first time Kayla really thought of what it must have been like for Kara alone. For once, she was kind of glad her alternates didn't seem to exist without Kara.
"Bummer," the bartender said back "So? What happened? Girl kill herself or something?"
"What? No!" Alex said, shocked as Kayla choked on her martini, wondering how the bartender got to that conclusion. "No, I fixed her up. She became my little sister in everything but blood. It became my job to protect her – always. I gave up everything in my life and dedicated myself to her, to being her big sister, and I made her happy. I thought she would always need me. Then she went to college and now she has this boyfriend who…" Alex paused, and Kayla had decided she'd had enough of Alex's moping.
"Will be good for her," Kayla interrupted, the bartender turning to look at her. Apparently, he had been about to say something else. "A boyfriend who will be good for her." Kayla repeated, forcefully.
"What exactly…?" Alex turned to Kayla, but paused and gasped. "What the…?"
"Consider me the ghost of Christmas Present," Kayla mused, instantly thinking of the Christmas Carol and how Ebenezer Scrooge had been shown a future he didn't know of – it must have been similar to her appearance for Alex, now.
But before Alex could ask more, with Kayla smirking at the young woman, the door to the bar opened and a unexpectedly familiar dark-haired, pale, young woman came in.
"Alex! There you are. This city is amazing!" Samantha Arias ran over to Alex, surprising Kayla now – Samantha Arias didn't exist on Karry, not in this way. Reign had shown up in Galactic Conquest and had been left on life support after that. So, if that came around here it would be different from Karry Universe's history. "I went on the river, went to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, then I went to Central Park and to the Empire State Building – they've got this King Kong exhibition… wait, are you okay?" She noticed the beer in Alex's hand and the neglectful look in her face.
"Oh, I'm just drinking my sorrows away," Alex stated, "although I want to know more about you…" she turned to Kayla as Sam tentatively took the bar stool opposite Kayla.
"What'll you be having?" The bartender asked Sam as Kayla stared at her, Alex staring at Kayla.
"Oh, just an orange juice for me – smooth, please," Sam ordered.
"No alcohol tonight, ma'am?" The bartender asked Sam.
"It doesn't work on me, it's weird," Sam stated, smiling at the attractive young man who shrugged and served her the drink. Kayla wanted to say something now but forced herself not to.
"So, explain yourself," Alex brought the attention back to her, facing Kayla. "Why do you look like… and older…?"
"I could pretend I don't know what you're on about and blame the alcohol but that's not why I'm here," Kayla told the young woman. "I am related to your Kara, in a way, and I know the path you're going down."
"I'm sorry?" Alex looked confused.
"I thought her only surviving family was some cousin living here," Sam spoke up, having heard the name 'Kara', but both Alex and Kayla ignored her; Kayla wanting to hold her tongue on what she could reveal about Sam herself. Her being here was new and Kayla didn't know what she could fix or ruin by saying what she knew. It would be better to leave Sam in the dark on her true origins.
"Look, I don't want to spoil much, as you're on a path that you may need to go down, but so is Kara; she and Barry are literally made for each other," Kayla stated, while Alex scoffed.
"I liked him," Sam spoke up. "We surprised them this morning… you really do look like Kara though," she added to Kayla, frowning.
"Good genes," Kayla shrugged at that. "As you know, she has an older cousin and… well, more family than even she realizes right now," Kayla tried to keep a straight face, given she knew Sam Arias was her sister, too. "But I know I've missed out on a lot of Kara's life, and you've been there since she… arrived, I want to know more," Kayla put emphasis on the word 'arrived', to make sure Alex got what she meant by it – that she knew Kara was an alien.
"Well, there's not much to tell, her cousin – the male one – brought her to us one day, she was so sad and upset and she'd lost everything. It was hard to begin with, for both of us. But once she'd settled, once I'd helped her through her bad dreams she thrived; made friends and excelled in school; we were all proud of her," Alex smiled at this. She didn't mention her dad, Jeremiah, but Kayla didn't push.
"So, she's done well as she grew up and is doing well now?" Kayla pointed out.
"Of course, she's doing well," Alex stated. "It's just… I was always the one to protect her, to keep my eye on her and now…" Alex let her voice fade.
"Alex, I told you before, she doesn't need that protection anymore," Sam pointed out.
"She moved away, down state, and is thriving with that Barry of hers," Kayla pointed out, knowing Midvale was north of New York State. "She may not need you as a protector anymore, but she still needs her sister. Kara always needs her sister," she should know – she was Kara's sister, after all.
"That's what I said," Sam pointed out. "Heaven knows I would have loved a sister…" again, Kayla couldn't help but smirk at that.
"All my life I've protected her though," Alex stated, taking a sip of her beer. "I can't just leave her…"
"No, you can't," Kayla pointed out. "But Kara has a destiny, Alex. One that she shares with Barry. It's bigger and better than anything you can imagine. She needs him right now and at this moment in time she doesn't need you," Kayla knew that sounded harsh, but it was true – at this point Kara didn't need a big sister being overprotective. "You can let her go. You have a life to live too, Alex, you have friends, too…" she nodded to Sam at this. "And you can be comforted by knowing she is okay with Barry and Clark. They've got her for now. You can take a break."
"You can take that scholarship without feeling guilty," Sam pointed out, quickly.
"Scholarship?" Kayla asked.
"Yeah, a laboratory in National City," Sam stated. "I accepted a scholarship in the same city a few weeks ago, I've been begging Alex to take her spot since."
"See, you have your own life to live," Kayla stated to Alex. "You shouldn't be hung up on Kara." Kayla wondered how much to tell Alex. "You can have a pretty good future yourself. An important job… A wonderful wife…" Alex choked on her beer at this and glared at Kayla. "Don't pretend you don't know," Alex bit her lip and Kayla wondered if she had just outed Alex, but Kayla's mind was on Sara Lance there – and Sam hadn't seemed to react to this reveal. Besides, Alex and Sara were perfect on Karry Universe, and they could be here as well. "Just embrace your own destiny and leave Kara to hers."
"I know, I know…" Alex sighed.
"Got any words of wisdom for me oh knowledgeable one?" Sam asked.
Kayla titled her head wondering if she should say anything. "Your real family is closer than you think Sam," Kayla said to her making Sam eyes widen. "Try to be the hero, not the villain." Kayla put down a bill on the bar – one from Karry Universe, hoping it would work here, given money was somewhat different on each world. The bartender took it without question, though.
"Well, I'll let you think about it," Kayla got off the barstool. "It was nice meeting you," she nodded to both women.
"Wait, you never said your name," Alex frowned at Kayla.
"No… I didn't, did I?" Kayla smirked, heading for the door and pausing, one hand opening up the door as she looked back. "And Alex, Sam, it's better if this conversation never happened as far as Kara is concerned. You never saw me. Got it?"
"Sure thing, doubt I will be talking to her anytime soon," Alex said as Kayla left the room.
"What an unusual woman," Sam turned to Alex at that.
"Yeah…" Alex said, thoughtfully.
"Are you… really gay?" Sam asked now.
"Urm… so what if I were?" Alex said to this.
"Doesn't bother me, just as long as you don't beat yourself up over it," Sam shrugged.
"Thanks?" Alex wasn't so sure what this meant.
"Anyway, what about it? The scholarship?" Sam now asked.
"Sure… why not," Alex turned back to the bartender. "Another one, please," she asked the man, who looked somewhat bemused now.
"On your head," the bartender stated, pulling another pint for the woman.
-Hitchhiker's Guide-
After Kayla had spoken to Alex, she'd returned to Lois and Clark's place to collect the boys – who had somehow got into playing a computer game with Clark, much to Lois's amusement. She had explained that she had tried to get Alex to move on from Kara, but also knew that there was road Alex needed to go down, too.
Kayla also didn't want to deter this world too much from the path that it was on, but given the existence of Amelia, Sam and maybe even Rae, all three knew this world may not go the exact same was as Karry Universe, and maybe that was a good thing given they might end up similar and stubborn; not wanting to ask for help when they needed it.
That was why, when she got back from the world and was in her and Mon's room at her mom's cottage, she had her journal open and was ready to write, to speculate and theorize.
After a few months off the scene, caring for my mom, I finally went world-hopping again with Cisco and Mon. Kayla began. We went to a world Cisco called 'Young Karry' and boy was he right. It seems to be on a very similar path to Karry Universe as Kara and Barry are young adults in college at Metropolis, Clark and Lois are expecting their first-born and Alex is going through separation anxiety from Kara.
The weird thing is, if this world is going to be like Karry Universe there are some real differences too – mainly on Barry's side. Kayla resumed. Instead of an Amelia coming to them from another world, this world already seems to have an Amelia, and with the same backstory made for Karry Universe's Amelia with her in boarding school. Clark also mentioned possibles cousins living with grandparents. He definitely said more than one, too. Could it be Rae and Roe living with Emily and Richard? Wasn't there a little sister to Rae on one world? Clark never said names and we didn't want to dig. It's better if Barry doesn't know he might have two or three speedster future-heroes ready to go.
And then there's Sam Arias. She stopped for a second, amused at the amount of Sam Arias's she'd come across of late. She was never on Earth when on Karry Universe, instead her Reign persona was recruited by Galactic Conquest and she nearly died in her fight with Supergirl, while on Young Karry she's already Sam Arias and friend with Alex. I wonder if they'll find out she's actually Kara's sister too…? I wonder, too, if the Paragons had something to do with this world's existence? If Karry's Barry made it, I can see him wanting to actually add Amelia and Rae – or Roe – for his younger self in a way that didn't affect his own history.
It was weird seeing everyone so young, though. Kayla mused at the one. I've seen my fair share of younger versions of people I know, but this was really weird. It's definitely a world to keep my eye on though, but best not to go back there for a while given how much they need to go through first – I mean, Barry isn't even the Flash yet and Kara hasn't embraced her identity as Supergirl. Barry doesn't even know Kara is an alien yet, come to think of it. Weird to think about…
At that moment she heard her mom calling and closed her journal, wondering what was going on until her door opened and Mon appeared.
"Your mom's cooking for about twenty people!" Mon stated, Kayla pausing as she realized could smell something nice.
"Did she invite Kara, Barry and kids over?" Kayla asked.
"No, but she's asked me to ask you to go over there and invite them," Mon said. "She only saw them earlier too."
"Well then, time to go to the farm," Kayla smiled, closing her journal and getting up; she'd seen a lot of Mutant Earth's Kara recently and was enjoying it – although considering she spent months covering various other Karas for their pregnancies, it wasn't something new. "I wonder if mom's using a Kryptonian recipe…?" she added as she left Mon in the room. He seemed to be fretting over nothing, in her opinion.
Post Chapter Note: And that's the first in our Hitchhiker's Guide to Karry with Young Karry! We hope you liked both the similarities and differences to Karry Universe itself. We both had fun with this one.
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Karry Co-Master OUT!