The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Millma Verse
Disclaimer: As always, this story is loosely based on the Arrowverse and DC Comics in general.
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Escape to In'Dak
Late November, 2022
A portal opened in STAR Labs on Karry Universe, which Mutant Cisco came out of. Jesse was there alone, working on something on her computer.
"Hey, Junior," Jesse stated, not even looking up from her work.
"Hi. Urm, have you seen Kayla?" he asked her.
"I thought you could see everywhere with your spying?" Jesse mused, now looking up.
"Well, I thought she was here, but I can't find her anywhere. I would have gone to Kara and Barry but…" Cisco explained.
"Disney Titania again, yeah," Jesse nodded. "There are some last-minute things they needed to do there."
"Lucky them," Cisco mused before adding. "So…?"
"So what?" Jesse sighed.
"Kayla?" Cisco asked.
"Oh right. She left," Jesse explained.
"Damnit," Cisco moaned.
"She didn't seem herself," Jesse stated. "Something about her original world and her mom?"
"Yeah, Villain Earth found Alura and have her locked up, the resistance there came for Kayla to help rescue Alura, but Kayla's kind of in two minds about it," Cisco explained.
"Well coming from someone who lost their mom young, and their dad ended up being an evil speedster from the future–" Jesse began.
"Actually, Thawne just took your dad's face – he wasn't actually your dad," Cisco interrupted.
"Regardless, I can understand," Jesse stated. "Anyway, she went to a new world actually."
"A new world?" Cisco asked, surprised – and a little upset – by this. After all, she rarely went hitchhiking without him.
"Gideon, what world did Kayla Lane go to?" Jesse asked their world's A.I. aloud.
"I have no name on record yet, but the world is number seventy-six on the list," the A.I. responded aloud.
"Hm, earth seventy-six…" Cisco bit his lip at this. "I better go and find her."
"Depends on if she wants to be found," Jesse reasoned at this.
"Good point," Cisco paused, knowing Kalya had to be running away from her past. "Thanks though," he added.
"No problem," Jesse stated, going back to her work. Cisco debated asking her what she was working on but decided against it as he opened a portal and left Karry Universe.
-Hitchhiker's Guide-
An hour or so earlier, Kayla almost wasn't surprised when she came through the portal from leaving Karry Universe to Kent Farm – the place very recognizable to her after visiting a lot of worlds Kent Farms, including Mutant Earth and New Justice. She wasn't surprised to see someone who looked exactly like her in front of her, either, or a version of Clark.
What did surprise her though, were the older two people…
"Who are you?" It was her – or Kara's alternate – who spoke.
"Um… I'm from the multiverse," Kayla stated, pausing. "Think Sliders...?" She tried this one – it never got old, after all.
"Sliders?" It was Clark who asked it, wearing the same face as that of Karry Universe, albeit slightly older.
"A TV show," her alternate said.
"Wait, are you Martha and Jonathan Kent?" It had taken Kayla a moment looking at the older two, who had yet to speak – the only Martha Kent she knew was on Sister and was much older than this younger woman with red hair; but there was a similarity. Jonathan Kent looked the same, if not younger, than he should – and not to mention alive, for once.
"Yes," Jonathan Kent simply said.
"Wow, now that is unusual. I'm Kayla Lane," Kayla said. "Or… Kaylar Zor-El."
"Another Kaylar," this version of her or Kara said, before taking a moment and holding out her hand. "Kara Kent," this confirmed Kara said, shaking her alternate twin's hand. "Did you say Lane. Like Lois Lane?"
"Yeah, when me and… my Kara arrived, Clark had Lois take us in," Kayla said. Ever since the return of her home world, the pain of losing her sister and cousin seemed to have returned. Like an old would splitting open again.
"Clark…?" All four asked together.
"Him," Kayla pointed at the older Clark – or at who she thought was Clark – but was unsure now.
"I am Kal-El, son of Jor-El," Kal said.
"You really got to get out of the habit of introducing yourself like that," Kara rolled her eyes.
"Wait, how did you keep the name Kal? Kara's pod clearly ended up in the Phantom Zone. You came to Earth," Kayla said, confused by him being older and yet called Kal here.
"I didn't come here until we saw Kara was here," Kal supplied, but Kayla was confused. "May I share the history with her…?"
"Why not? She doesn't seem to be a danger," Kara said with a shrug, relieving Kayla that there needed to be no big multiverse explanation. Honestly, since Crisis, people had become less suspicious of the multiverse when we showed up. Kayla was beginning to think that the Paragons had something to do with that.
"When Kara and my Kaylar were three, my father and Uncle Zor were working on the pods to one day send us to Earth. They were testing one of the pods without knowing Kara was hiding in one for a game she was playing with Kaylar," Kal said. "Unfortunately, due to damage done on the pod by the monkey meant to be in it, they could not bring it back. After a search only located some parts of the pod, we thought she was dead until recently, when a Kryptonian animal smuggler named Quark told us of her existence on Earth. We figured she was in the Phantom Zone until the pod reactivated and brought her here. We had the Alliance declassify Earth as a primitive planet so we could contact her. Then, I decided to move here permanently."
"I have so many questions," Kayla said. "Starting with… Krypton is alive?"
"No, Krypton exploded, but Kryptonians joined with our sister planet, Daxam – which has been renamed In'Dak – with a dwindling population due to a virus. The merging of Kryptonians and Daxamites together helped soar In'Dak's population. You are now Queen there, besides your husband Mon," Kal said.
"Well, the In'Dak thing is new and kind of cool. Me and Mon are not," Kayla said, having to give a smirk to that. She hadn't seen her Mon since leaving Prime and was starting to miss him. "I've got to see this."
"Well, you're in luck. Kara has to go deliver the wedding invitation to them. You can go with her," Martha said.
"I could use the distraction," Kara stated. "Come on."
"Hold on a second," Kayla said, turning to Jonathan Kent who had busied himself getting some tools ready while Martha watched with some content. "Mr. Kent?" Jonathan turned at this. "Go to a heart doctor and get a complete checkup – everything possible. Pay if you have to."
"I'm sorry?" Jonathan asked.
"All of your alternates died young of heart attacks – some taking Martha with him due to driving a car while it happened," Kayla explained.
"Wow. I'll take him myself," Martha said, putting an arm around her husband whose face gone pale at that.
"And if you don't, I'll fly him," Kara added seriously. "But bye ma, pa," Kara gave Kayla a nod and then jumped into the air and Kayla followed.
"Clark…?" Martha mumbled, looking at Kal, remembering Kayla had called him that. "You know that is the name we said we would have given a son if we had ever been blessed with one." The three paused for a moment before Jonathan and Kal went back to work and Martha went to look up heart doctor.
Kal couldn't help but smirk at the comment, wondering what his life could have been.
-Hitchhiker's Guide-
Kayla was surprised when Kara didn't bring her towards the North Pole – she didn't even bring them towards the South Pole.
"Whoa," Kayla paused in the air as she saw the Fortress sticking from out of the ocean. "It's an ocean Fortress?"
"Diana let us put it near to Themyscira so it's out of the way of any boat lanes," Kara explained; Kayla had known this way felt familiar. She had been to Themyscira many times on different worlds, after all. She wondered if this world had a Herculea, the male island.
Normally there was a large yellow key to open the Fortress, but as Kayla and Kara landed on a platform outside, a door light scanned them. "Two Kara Zor-Els," a voice stated.
"Let us both in," Kara said.
"Override," the voice said back and the door opened slowly.
"Kryptonian security systems," Kara stated as they walked inside.
"More advanced than the ones I know," Kayla said, but not surprised – Krypton and Daxam had combined, after all. A combination of their technology and their scientists must have improved the world's technology greatly. Kayla wondered if In'Dax was more advanced than even Prime's Krypton since the two civilizations became one.
The inside was barer though than the Fortresses Kayla had come to know, and thankfully she kept her powers, so this wasn't like Kingdom Come's Fortress. Usually, Clark had decorated the Fortress with things he collected from his time as Superman. Obviously, that hadn't happened here.
There were no statues of the family either that usually decorated the Fortress, while one of the most obvious things missing was the little servant robot, Kal-X. It honestly felt more like a blank slate, like the beginning of the Fortress, rather than somewhere in the middle.
Kara reached an area of the interior and moved her hands, holographic panels appearing. "The transportation is there," Kara said. "I set it for two… I think. I don't really understand the language."
"You're good," Kayla said, moving over to the archway that had appeared double check, realizing that this Kara had been on Earth since she was three, meaning her knowledge of Krypton was limited – and as Kal had come to Earth recently, she obviously hadn't learned much since. She recognized the archway as a similar transportation device as to what Prime used to go to Ceres and Krypton itself, although different to the teleportation pad that Kingdom Come used, for example.
Stepping through the activated portal, they were in a different room that looked like the interior of a castle and Kayla realized it probably was. They weren't alone for long as soon Alura walked in followed by Zor. Kayla froze at this, knowing this was her mother – she even had the same face as the woman she had recently seen the image from, locked in a cryogenic chamber.
"Kara," Alura said. "I was wondering when you would visit."
"We've been busy," Kara said, giving Alura a hug. It was slightly stilted, Kayla noticed, like there was love and trust still building between the two.
"How is Kal?" Zor asked.
"Doing great," Kara said. "He seems to love the farm and him and Lois hit it off fast. Rae jokes I should change my wedding to a double wedding," Kayla was not shocked to hear Rae's name mentioned.
"And who is this?" Zor asked, having not spoken until now.
"I'm Kayla," Kayla said. "Well… I am Kaylar's alternate from a different Earth in the multiverse."
"An infinite multiverse separated by different vibrations," Zor smirked. "How do you travel?" Kayla took out her world hopping device at this.
"I wouldn't use it here though," Kayla said. "Daxam normally dies with Krypton."
"Well, that is not nice to hear," it was Jor-El now coming into the room with Lara; he must have heard the end of the conversation. "It is normal for Krypton to explode?"
"Only one world Krypton didn't blow up," Kayla said, knowing the reason was the original Anti-Monitor's trap, but chose to not bring that up. "I was, curious since In'Dak is unique."
"You're welcome here," Alura said. "Come. We can show you and Kara around."
"First, I do have something to give you," Kara said, taking a piece of paper out of her pocket.
Alura took it curiosity. "Martha and Jonathan Kent cordially invite you to the wedding of their daughter Kara Kent to Bartholomew Henry Allen," Alura read. "Bartholomew?"
"It's Barry's full name. Barry is a nickname," Kara explained and Kayla had to smile. Another Karry. "The invite is for everyone here."
"Of course. You can count on us coming," Alura said. "And you haven't actually officially met Jor and Lara. Kal's parents."
"Well, nice to meet you," Kara said, holding out a hand that the two took.
"And you go by Kayla now?" Lara asked looking at Kayla.
"Yes, Aunt Lara," Kayla said. "Kaylar wasn't really a human name when me and Kara landed. We cut off the r."
"Well, come, come," Alura said and the two were brought through what Kayla realized was a palace, not a castle. Kayla's reservations of her mother were soon gone when she met a Gal-El and even Kyra Zor-El – who she had only heard about from Karry Universe – but quickly realized the two were brats. They barely said two words to Kara and herself before counting them out for being from Earth.
"I would like his Prime alternate to come here," Kayla said of Gal, after meeting the two.
"Prime Earth's Gal is nicer?" Kara asked.
"Yes, and also now the Anti-Monitor," Kayla said to a look from Kara. "It's a long story..." Kayla's own alternate here was interesting to meet though – and so was the older Mon; Kayla liking what she saw there with a few grey hairs and a beard. Their kids were excited to see an alternate of their mom and their newly discovered aunt, taking Kara into a hug – the three kids were interesting; their oldest had been busy, but made sure to say she would be at the wedding. Their middle kid, Tru wanted to know everything about Earth which seemed to calm Kara a bit, while the youngest, Mad-El, a blonde girl, was more withdrawn, but gave them a smile.
But, while Kara continued to talk to Tru about Earth, Alura pulled her alternative daughter aside.
"Why are you really here?" Alura asked Kayla, giving her pause.
"I'm a hitchhiker. I explore the multiverse," Kayla said, a little too quickly in response.
"Kaylar…" Alura said sternly in a way Kayla hadn't heard in a long time – even Prime's Alura called her Kayla now.
"It's true," Kayla said, but the gaze of her alternate mom unlocked something in her she hadn't seen in a while: a scared little girl, wanting her mom to hold her.
"I'm… a hitchhiker because my little world fell," Kayla admitted; Alura waited for more. "My own Kara and Clark, um… Kal… were murdered by Black Siren – a Meta Human with sonic abilities. So many heroes were killed by villains. We couldn't stop them from taking over. Two Meta Humans who could travel the multiverse helped those they could escape after that – including me. Since then, I have been traveling, avoiding my home world… until recently."
"What's happened?" Alura asked at this, no judgement in her voice or face.
"I've discovered that my mother had shown up on my world and was captured and being held by a bad guy. My friends have offered to help me save her but… going back there is making me… well, panic," Kayla admitted.
"Your mother would not expect you to put her life over yours," Alura reasoned.
"That's not even it," Kayla said. "I would gladly put my mom before me, risk my life for her. It's going back there." Kayla paused, knowing her words were true. "When my mom put me and Kara in our pod, she told us to protect our cousin, to protect Kal. We never got the chance. Our pod ended up in the Phantom Zone and when we arrived he was a grown man. We became heroes with him, but then he and Kara were killed. I abandoned all those I swore to protect. I left innocent people there to the villains. I failed… badly. No matter what I do, I can't take that back and facing my mom and letting her know how much of a failure I am…"
"Stop. Now," Alura said, a little sternly. "You are not a failure, Kaylar Zor-El. You were a child. It wasn't your fault you did not protect Kal. And as for your world, you did your best but sometimes it's beyond any power. Your Alura would be happy you got out and would be proud of the woman you have become. So, don't not go because you're afraid of showing her who you are, because she loves you just as I love my daughter," Alura looked up at this, at her Kara who was talking to Tru. "You think it's easy for Kara to come here? She loves her life on Earth and didn't remember us. But here she is. If she can choose to come here and open herself up to us, you can return to your world and open yourself up to your mom."
Kayla paused and opened her mouth, but didn't say anything. She just stood up and hugged Alura. "Thank you," Kayla said. "This is what I needed."
"You're always welcome to come back here," Alura said with a smile returning the hug.
"Thank you, mother," Kara switched her language.
"You speak Kryptonese," Alura said.
"Of course, I was raised on Krypton until I was a teen," Kayla said.
"Kayla, we need to go, I need to get home," Kara spoke in English, "we have more invitations to give out," at that, Kayla gave a nod as Alura went to lead them back to the transport.
-Hitchhiker's Guide-
Arriving back in the Fortress, the pair were surprised to see a Cisco Ramon waiting for them. Kayla had to sigh as she realized this was Mutant's Cisco.
"How did you get in here?" Kara was the one to ask this.
"I can vibe," Cisco stated simply. "Kayla, I've been trying to find you."
"I guessed that," Kayla stated, rolling her eyes a little.
"What's with the long hair?" Kara asked, causing Cisco to pause. "My Frankie has short hair…"
"Your Cisco is Frankie?" Kayla asked, holding back a laugh at this. It seemed this world had something to share with New Justice.
"Yes, and he doesn't know about the Fortress," Kara pointed out.
"Scout's honor we won't tell him," Cisco stated, holding his fingers up as a sign to his honor. "But Kayla, have you reached a decision about you mom?"
"I… I think so," Kayla said. It had seemed so much easier when talking to this world's Alura, but now she was back on Earth – well, this Earth – her doubts had begun to return.
"Ready to come back to Prime?" Cisco asked; Kara decided to keep quiet.
"I will, but only because I miss Mon and Power Girl needs cover, as for Cindy and Henry…" Kaya decided, letting this sentence lie.
"Okay. Besides, Rein isn't doing that great as Power Girl and the public are starting to notice," Cisco stated and Kayla couldn't help but chuckle – the good Reign alternative on Prime was wonderful, but she'd never really got to grips with her Kryptonian powers, despite having them under red sun.
"Well then, have a great wedding," Kayla turned to Kara.
"You're invited to attend," Kara stated, quickly, handing a blank invite to Kayla at this. "I made spares, just in case," she explained.
"Thanks," Kayla stated, taking the invite, and risking it by giving her alternative sister a hug, which she did return. Cisco smiled at the scene as he opened a portal for him and Kayla.
"Any ideas on names for this world?" Cisco asked as Kayla moved toward him.
"Honestly, I'm lost for ideas," Kayla shrugged as she moved through. Kara laughed as Cisco followed and the portal closed behind them.
-Hitchhiker's Guide-
Kayla wasn't entirely sure she was ready to face her original world, but it was good being back on Prime and with her Mon. She had already taken over as Power Girl again and, although she was avoiding Cindy and Henry, the words of her alternative mother still rang in her ears and reverberated in her brain for comfort: don't not go because you're afraid of showing her who you are, because she loves you just as I love my daughter.
Now Kayla had her journal open as she thought of what to say. She hadn't written in it in a few days – having left it on Prime when she ran to Karry – and wondered where to start.
My mom is alive, she started. Not an alternative, because there's surprisingly a lot of them, but my real mom. And I have to save her.
I went to a new world to clear my head after I discovered this news, and it was exactly what I needed – on this world, Kara accidentally got sent off to Earth very young and after being lost in the Phantom Zone for some time, ended up there. I wonder how much the Speed Force influence was there considering she's also with Barry? Kayla had to wonder this, given the Speed Force, herself, had once admitted to a Barry that he and Kara or Kayla's made the perfect couple. She was thankful that hadn't happened on her home world, given Villain Earth's Barry had always been an ass.
Anyway, both Martha and Jonathan Kent are alive, too, and seem younger than they should be. That was nice. Again, I wonder how much influence the Speed Force had there. I told Jonathan to get his heart checked out and he and Martha seemed to take it seriously. I hope so. It's nice having both alive somewhere. I think Crisis might have changed Martha's face, though, because she's different to the Marthas I have known – I mean, it could just be that world, but I have a feeling she's going to have this new face now on other worlds. It was true, this Martha seemed nicer than the others she had met in the past – even the one from her home world, and she instantly seemed to have an affinity to this version. She didn't know why.
The biggest thing on this new world is Daxam, with a decimated population, took in Kryptonian refugees and was renamed In'Dak. My alternate married Mon and is now Queen – quite right there, she still felt smug about that. I knew from Prime's elder Mon that he'd look good old, but this was confirmation he completely will do. Their kids are nice too – their eldest was busy but Tru seemed nice and Madd was chill. Rao, I wonder if my Mon and I ever have kids, if we have those children? They were lovely, though.
Most importantly, my alternate mom talked to me, and I opened up to her about everything that was going on with me. She had to smile as she wrote this bit. She calmed me down and confirmed what I had to do. I will return home. I will save my mom. But not yet. It's one thing to go back to save mom, another to face my past. I'm not ready. Not quite yet. But I will be. I have to be…
With that, Kayla closed her journal, ready to settle into bed as she turned from the nightstand which she's been sitting at to see Mon dozing in bed. She had to save her mom, she knew it, but she just needed the courage to do so.
Post Chapter Note: Well, considering the drama going on in her life, Kayla's coming to decisions quicker than expected. What did you think of Lost's official debut in the Millma Verse? Of course, it wasn't actually named in this chapter, but there were hints. It's hard to find a reason to name it 'Lost' in-universe, but we'll get there.
As usual, please REVIEW.
Karry Co-Master and Master OUT!