Alternities

Chapter 1

It felt like deja vu, only this time, Kara watched TV with no sense of anything on the horizon. She lay abed with coffee and chocolate, bored, bored. How could anyone with her abilities be bored? Superman had Metropolis well in hand, and Sirtis had gone back to the mermaid act. The high of the caper on Kratos Island had faded. Worst of all was the split with her folks over taking time off from college.

A commercial came on for Duz powdered detergent. The cylindrical boxes contained either a cup or saucer of textured crystal. The announcer said, "You wouldn't think an offer this good could come in a detergent, but it does—in Duz!" Her mom had a cabinet full of them.

"Kara," her mom called. "It's that Lois girl on the phone."

Kara went into the living room, where her mom had a hand covering the mouth piece. "We need to talk, daughter." Eliza wasn't done yet. "Only Supergirl could get away with a junk diet and still have a figure modeling agencies would bid each other for." She handed over the phone. Kara wasn't the type to roll eyes or she would have.

"Kara, Professor Periwinkle is at it again."

"Don't tell me. He's invented something that's causing problems for Superman."

"He won't talk to Superman. He says this would keep Superman away from Metropolis too long."

And good old Kara had nothing better to do. Still, the promise of action had a certain appeal. "Is he in his lab?"

"He's here at the Planet, wearing out his hat with the nervous twirling."

"I suppose I should come right away. See you soon." Kara handed the phone to her mom to hang up. "It's not like I'm dropping out. I'm just taking a hiatus. These recent adventures have come at the expense of attendance."

Eliza put up the receiver. "I'm sure Superman's secret identity has a college degree."

Clark had gotten his degree before ever coming to Metropolis, whereas Kara was a more recent arrival on Earth. "Mom. I can absorb a book in minutes and retain it. I know more about the courses than the instructors."

"I know, dear, and you can always take the challenge exam for your degree. But you're missing the whole social experience. I was hoping this would settle you down, so you wouldn't be such an amazon warrior."

In Kara's world, there were far more interesting types than college could offer. "Well, I'd better suit up." Kara went to the secret closet panel and got our her costume, tossing the boots over a shoulder.

Eliza still waited. She drew Kara into a hug. "Ah, my impulsive daughter." She held her at arm's length. "Keep in mind—there just might be something out there that can hurt you." A pause. "Are you flying there barefoot?"

Kara pulled the boots on. "I should. The Planet is like a second home of late." She went to peek out the patio glass. "With this low overcast, I think I can slip away." She looked back. "If this keeps me away awhile, I'll call every chance I get." She made a rueful grin. "It's ironic. Sirtis earned her science degree on Krypton. I don't see her going through that again."

Eliza came for another hug. "Love ya."

"Love ya right back, mom. You know I always come back." Kara slipped outside into the relative obscurity of a giant elm. With a wave to her mom, she shot straight up. Anyone turned that way might have seen a blip in peripheral view.

Daily Planet

As soon as Kara floated in through the vertical louvers, the old professor jumped up. "Supergirl, I've been going crazy!" Lois waited with an impatient hand on a hip. "As I told Miss Lane, the world must never know about this!"

Lois was the type to roll eyes. "Okay, okay, I'll be in my office. And Kara—you know I don't like secrets."

Now alone with Kara, the professor unfolded a map on Perry's desk, showing an area circled in black.

"Pennsylvania," Kara noted. "What's in the circle?"

"A nature park with history exhibits and statues. It all started when I built a machine to detect weather anomalies. I found one, all right, but it was too static and too permanent to be weather. So I went there with a portable detector." He seemed at a loss for words.

"And?"

"There it was," he said, "seen with the special glasses I brought along. An oval halo. I made sure no one was around, because it's up a grassy knoll. I put a stick through, then my hand, then my head. It was a dark cylindrical space with a convex lens I had just come through, giving a view into the park. The way ahead was open. Outside was a large square under a braced, clear dome big enough to cover a city. Beyond that was the starry void of space. Fantastic architecture abounded, which I believe are gateways to yet other realities. The one I came out of resembled a library.

"Heavens, Professor. What did you stumble into?"

"A kind of nexus—a clearing house between alternities."

"Alternities?"

"Alternate universes. I was about to explore a futuristic tower when a group of people spotted me. Some of them had green skin! They started waving to me, but I ran. Old man be hanged! I ran like a track star, back to the chamber I'd come out of."

Kara paced, trying to process it all. "You encountered other explorers, who don't come from Earth. It was wise not to risk contact."

He folded the map away. "What about you, Supergirl? You'd have nothing to fear."

"Hard to say. You mentioned stars. Was there a star nearby—a yellow one?"

He scratched his head. "If so, it was obscured by the nexus. I see what you mean. If it's anything but a yellow sun, then . . ."

"Then I'm powerless."

"Take a weapon," he urged, "or a friend."

Kara didn't want to start off on the wrong foot. "You said these people chased you. Were they hostile?"

"No, now that I think about it. They did have swords and bows, but they looked very excited to see me. Not angry at all." The professor handed her the glasses, which she put in her cape. "Those are all you'll need. I feel guilty asking you to go. Strange—it came to me in a dream."

"Like my mom says—I'm the impulsive type." A thought occurred. "Do you have any more glasses?"

"Just the prototype. But I'll have them handy in case I have to tell Superman. How long should I wait?"

"Twenty four hours should be enough. I'll follow these people to their world and find out all I can without going too far. Then I'll come right back with a report."

The professor nodded solemnly. "Better you than me. Even without powers, I'm sure you can take care of yourself."

"We're about to find out. Give Lois some excuse, will you?" Kara went to the windows and jumped out.