Kara entered the virtual world and found herself in the Galactic Federation Senate Chambers. The large dome structure was lined with 1000 pods for the senators and representatives from the various Galactic Federation members. The platforms could detach from the walls of the chamber, which was equipped with voice-amplifying microphones, translators, and hovercams that recorded the various proceedings. At the center of the chamber was the Supreme Leader's podium. It was often the case that the sector coalitions would sit together. The Senators all wore white uniforms with a rank insignia of six blue on top, four orange, and two yellow on the bottom. While ranks were standardized across the Galactic Federation, their economic systems were not. Only in the case of Earth and its colonial outposts were pay grades standardized. In this case, the Earth Senator would have a pay grade of O-12.

The following significant members were present in alphabetical order: Antares, Bgztly, Bismoll, Braal, Calish-Aetia, Cargg, Colu, Dryad, Durla, Earth, Hajor, Hykarius, Imsk, Jin-Saiyan, Lupra, Lythyl, Mardru, Naltor, Orando, Phlon, Rimbor, Shwar, Sklar, Somahtur, Starhaven, Tharr, Teall, Titan, Touston Trom, Winath, Xanthu, Zoon, and Zwen. Several members had colonial empires giving them additional senators. The power players in the Senate were Earth, Titan, Winath, and Orando.

"Her Imperial Highness, Kara Zor-El, of House El, first of her name, Supreme Leader of the Galactic Federation, Empress of Humanity, Queen of Earth, and Defender of the Faith is recognized," the Senate Speaker announced.

"On my recent trip to the 21st century, I conceived and bore a legitimate daughter with my consort, Prince Mon-El. Her name is Kameron-El. Naturally, she would be a princess and in the line of succession," Kara told them all.

The senators politely applauded Kara's new daughter although some were dismayed that the House of El was expanding with more Insane Kryptonian hybrids capable of planetary destruction. "However, as she was born in the 21st century, a thousand years prior to the creation of the Galactic Federation, I seek advice and consent from this body to make it...legal."

Kara eyed the senators daring any of them to defy her wishes. As with the Earth Senate, it would take 2/3rds of them to block her proposal. "Was the Supreme Leader born in this time? What does it matter when someone is born? The Supreme Leader's daughter is now here in this time. All that matters is the order in which the Supreme Leader's children are born," the Earth Senator argued.

"The date and order of the birth of a daughter are irrelevant to the line of succession. Only a male heir should take the throne," the Jin-Saiyan Senator declared. The Senate largely booed and chastised him for his blunt misogyny.

"The line of succession is in question. Kameron-El was born in the 21st century. Her date of birth is older than that of Prince Kon and Princess Mara," the Titan Senator said smugly.

Kara eyed the Titan Senator realizing that the Titan Empire would be all too happy to have Kameron on the throne as a child to weaken her House's hold on power. "The past, the present, the future is irrelevant. What is relevant is the wishes of the Supreme Leader to name her heir however she sees fit and to devise her line of succession however she sees fit," the Naltor Senator said loyally.

"The proposal I put forth is to make the determination that my daughter, Kameron, be styled Her Imperial Highness as an Imperial Princess and that she be placed fourth in the line of succession behind my consort, Prince Mon, and my twins. That is all," Kara said to them.

"I propose my own bill to make Princess Kameron-El, second in the line of succession," the Titan Senator said obnoxiously.

Kara rolled her eyes. "I will veto such a bill."

The Senate rapidly voted on various bills. The Titan bill to make Kameron second in line failed. The Jin-Saiyan bill to exclude females from the line of succession failed. A Naltorian bill to exclude the males from the line of succession failed. Kara eyed her computer bored as she saw the vote tallies come in. "Alright, you done wasting my time?" she asked the Senate. There was some nodding.

"I hereby propose my amendment to the Galactic Federation Line of Succession Act," Kara said and then pressed a button on her computer sending it to every senator. Within a minute, the vote tally was counted up. Seeing the writing on the wall, no senator opposed her. The vote was unanimous.

Kara then hesitated to bring up the next issue. "I have retrieved my adopted sister from the 21st century, Alex Danvers. She is now on Earth in my personal custody. As you well know, I am a superstitious woman. If some accident should befall her, shot in the head by a cop, hung herself in her room, or struck by a bolt of lightning...I'm going to blame some of the people in this chamber," Kara threatened. "And that...I don't forgive."

The Senate was dead silent. "You all know my history, how much my adopted sister means to me. I'll remind this chamber it was her memory and her character that motivated me to create the Galactic Federation. And where would any of us be without that? Without me? Therefore, she is to be styled, Her Imperial Highness, Princess Alexandra, and will be addressed as such by this chamber," Kara said.

"Do you intend to make your adopted sister part of the line of succession?" the Titan Senator asked skeptically.

"No," Kara said softly. "She will not be."

"Does the sovereign intend to style Princess Alexandra's consort as a prince?" the Titan Senator asked mockingly having read Kara's mind.

"Not at this time," Kara said awkwardly.

"It is the sovereign's prerogative to style any peer she deems worthy, but the rank of princess should only be given to blood relations or the consort of the sovereign," the Earth Senator said.

"And why should I take that seriously? Was I born royalty? I am the Supreme Leader, empress, and queen via conquest. I am not even human; my own race isn't even in this chamber. I have broken all traditions of royal protocol. In light of all Alex has done for me, done for this galaxy with her memory, I beg you to consent to this exception, the last exception I'll make," Kara beseeched them.

The Senate was deeply skeptical and there were requests to debate the subject length. Kara noticed the Colu delegation was absent. "Barney, where the fuck are your people?"

Metropolis

In Brainiac 5's lab, Lyle (Invisible Kid) was present with him. Brainiac 5 was seated in a special chair with cables from the ceiling connecting to several ports all over his skull. "Holy shit," Lyle said as he read the computer screen.

"Don't interrupt. If someone is to develop a new economic system for the galaxy, it might as well be me," Brainiac 5 scolded. "If only humanoids used tentacles instead of fingers...,"

"Sir, it says there's a fatal error. That's bad, right?" Lyle pointed to the screen.

"Impossible, I don't make fatal errors," Brainiac 5 said arrogantly as he detached the cables from his head and got off his chair. Brainiac 5 then eyed the screen that ominously stated, "Colu is Next."

Rome

Alex and Kelly toured Rome and the rest of Italy on their 50-country tour. Alex couldn't help but notice, with some amusement, that the American flag was in every single country of the world so far. The two of them were dressed in casual clothes and while the locals gave them odd looks for their appearances, they had no idea who they were. As part of the tour, the two visited the Castle of Angeles, completely restored with modern materials. As was the outside, statues of angels were present inside.

Mara came out to greet them with an escort. She approached them wearing her white uniform. "Her Imperial Highness, Princess Mara, Regional Governor of Southern Europe," one of them announced.

"I see you brought your friends," Alex said dryly.

"My Governor of Italy, Lt. Governor of Lazio, Mayor of Rome, and members of the College of Cardinals," Mara introduced them.

Alex and Kelly politely nodded to them all. "Will they be staying in the holy city long?" one of the cardinals asked Mara in Latin.

"I will handle them," Mara assured him in Latin. She then turned to the group. "Leave us," she said in English. The group departed and went on their merry way. Mara then turned to Alex and Kelly.

"You will not be harassed while here," Mara promised them.

"I don't suppose you could provide your circle of protection to everyone else that lives here," Alex said sarcastically.

"Please follow me," Mara said, evading the question. The three took a tour of the castle with Mara going into detail about the reconstruction efforts in the city. "All of the Roman ruins you are familiar with in the 21st century were destroyed when this city was repeatedly hit with thermonuclear missiles in the past world wars. Everything here is a replication of the original," Mara explained.

"Why the effort?" Kelly asked curiously.

"My mother believes humans should not forget their history," Mara said vaguely.

The three then arrived at a living room. "Wine?" Mara offered.

"I'll have a little," Kelly said graciously while Alex simply shook her head. Mara gestured for a servant to bring in a bottle of wine and pour them glasses. "Red or white?" Mara asked.

"Red is fine," Kelly said awkwardly.

"I suppose it all depends on one's preferences," Mara said as the servant poured the red wine. "Of course, you're open to white as well, right?"

"Sure," Kelly smiled agreeably.

"Are you?" Alex asked bluntly.

Mara simply stared at Alex and then snapped out of it. "My reputation in this land is quite consistent...until your arrival. And yet, I'm obliged to be inconsistent for the sake of my mother's affection for you. You can appreciate my dilemma, can't you?"

"Absolutely," Kelly nodded. "We're not here to cause trouble."

"If you would decline any public displays of affection while you're here, that would be appreciated," Mara said.

"No problem," Kelly allowed.

"And you will be given two rooms for your stay in Rome," Mara added.

"We won't be using the second one," Alex said adamantly.

"Nonetheless," Mara replied. "If I appear too liberal with you, two, I may have to overcompensate with the people here. You understand my meaning, yes?"

Alex simply stared at Mara, the embodiment of religious conservatism. She could sense the Kryptonian political calculation to be civil while also the Insane desire to lash out at her. "You think you could get us inside the Vatican?" Alex challenged.

Mara frowned not wanting to cooperate but also wanting to be a good capable host. "I'll see what I can do, but it's up to the Bishop of Rome to decide."

Colu

The Vindicator cruiser arrived at Colu to investigate the situation. "Sounds like a fuck-up," Ayala said conversationally as she ate an orange without peeling it.

"Don't be absurd. The equation Invisible Kid discovered was a stroke of genius on my part. It created a subroutine that revealed a coded message I obviously sent myself," Brainiac 5 said.

"That sounds like bullshit," Ayala doubted.

"The enemy seeks the knowledge of my home planet, and the average citizen has a twelfth-level intellect," Brainiac 5 said.

"Twelve doesn't seem too high. Didn't you say Earth was a nine?" Ayla recalled.

"The entire planet is a nine," Brainiac 5 clarified.

In the back, Imra was messing around with Reep. "Convincing?" Reep asked as he morphed into a naked Garth.

"Absolutely," Imra said turned on. "Now, do me."

In the cockpit, Brainiac 5 and Ayala wondered what was going on in the back. "I should have gone just by myself," Brainiac 5 figured.

"Didn't Nura pick the team based on her precog?" Ayala asked.

"It's merely intuition," Brainiac 5 downplayed.

"God, you're beautiful," Imra said from the back referring to Reep's transformation of herself.

"Maybe it's my job to keep your ego from sinking this mission," Ayala joked. "Get it? Cuz, I make objects lighter, so they don't sink."

In the back, Reep mocked Brainiac 5 by looking like an exaggerated caricature of him. Imra laughed amused by Reep's big head. Reep then noticed Ayala's orange and went after it with his antenna as he stretched himself out like a snake.

"What the fuck?" Ayala said as she avoided Reep's antennas.

"What is that?" Reep asked curiously.

"It's an orange. Get your own," Ayala told him off.

"May I?" Reep asked as he scanned it with his antennas.

"If it keeps you from putting your antennas in my ears and mouth," Ayala allowed.

The Vindicator cruiser then came to Colu and encountered its forcefield. The entire surface of the planet was one large city. "Doesn't look very hospitable? How do people even live here?" Ayala wondered.

"Only 11% of the Earth's surface is used for crops and production is still highly inefficient. Imagine what could be accomplished with indoor farms in a smaller space," Brainiac 5 said to her.

"How are we going to get past that forcefield?" Ayla asked concernedly.

"Our shields have the right frequency to bypass it," Brainiac 5 said as the Vindicator cruiser sailed through the shields without difficulty. The four exited the Vindicator cruiser and looked around seeing a relatively smooth metal surface in all directions.

"I'm sensing a lot of lifeforms here," Imra said telepathically.

"I can smell them, too," Reep confirmed.

"Colu has the highest population density in the galaxy at 16.3 trillion beings," Brainiac 5 said.

"How can a planet host that many beings?" Reep asked amazed.

"That's a question these people answered before your civilization discovered how to make fire," Brainiac 5 said condescendingly. "Coluans are known for their forcefields and miniaturization."

Brainiac 5 then shrank them all down so that they were now in the middle of a city with skyscrapers everywhere. "Eons ago, my ancestors concluded that the only way to maintain data storage was to minimize the physical demands on the terrain all protected by a forcefield against meteor showers and cosmic rays."

"You speak like you're from them but not of them," Imra noticed.

"Coluans are limited by their biology. Their strategy of miniaturization is obviously flawed. It makes this planet a target whereas I am spread out across the galaxy. They are subject to disease whereas I am not. When they die, their information and experience are generally lost," Brainiac 5 explained. "There is the cortex, the central router," he pointed out.

The four flew over to the central router, a short distance away. "I'm sensing some fucked-up mental activity," Imra reported.

"Or you're incapable of comprehending Coluan thoughts. For you, it must be like staring directly into the sun," Brainiac 5 said insultingly.

"Hey, asshole, I still outrank you. You can't talk to me like that," Imra said offended.

"You only outrank me, by design, so that all the blame goes to you. Unlike all other organic beings, your power has no effect on me," Brainiac 5 reminded her. The four entered the router and found a room full of dead or near-dead Coluans. "Find me a live one," Brainiac 5 sighed as he looked them over.

Reep unnecessarily became like a snake and started checking each one of them with his antenna. Brainiac 5 went up to one of the sickly Coluans and stood him up. "What happened here?"

"Barney, he can't stand up. He's forgotten how to," Imra told him.

"Which is why I'm holding him up," Brainiac 5 said obviously.

"There's no sentient thoughts here. We're wasting our time with this room," Imra told him off.

Brainiac 5 forced the man's eyes open and examined him. "Some kind of viral infection. Organic beings...," he said shaking his head. "Do you sense any mind that could have been the carrier?"

"No," Imra replied.

"I recommend you contain your telepathy to the group," Brainiac 5 advised.

"What's the root source?" Reep asked.

"I don't know yet," Brainiac 5 admitted.

"Maybe your theory that you sent yourself a message is bullshit if it didn't tell you the why and how," Ayala chided.

Brainiac 5 ignored her as the four flew to the roof of the router to look over the entire city. There, they found large fires. "Here is our trail: external combustion long outlawed here."

"You outlawed fire?" Reep asked incredulously.

Rome

Pope Barney assembled his cardinals before him, some of which had just been scandalized by Alex and Kelly at the Castle of Angels. "The Supreme Leader's third child, Kameron-El, has been approved by the Galactic Federation Senate to style herself, Her Imperial Highness. Let it be known that no one may ascend to the throne of Supreme Leader without the consent of the Holy Father regardless of birth or title."

"Yes, Your Holiness!" the cardinals exclaimed in agreement.

"The Supreme Leader also wishes to make her adopted sister, Miss Alexandra Danvers, a princess as well with the same style. As of right now, the Supreme Leader has not requested that Miss Alexandra Danvers be placed in the line of succession. I have serious doubts she has the political support in the Senate to make that ever happen," Pope Barney informed them.

"It does not concern us what titles the Supreme Leader hands out for 'Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted,'" Pope Barney quoted.

"No one is humbler than the Holy Father!" the cardinals exclaimed.

"In light of what we know of Miss Alexandra Danvers and Miss Kely Olsen, what say you of their status as Christians? After all, both were baptized and raised in the faith," Pope Barney quizzed.

"A true Christian will not continue to live in sin. The regeneration of one's soul would not allow for it. Therefore, both of them were never Christian, to begin with, and must be rebaptized," Cardinal Marco said.

"They are simply Christians in bad standing and need only confession and repentance to come back to the fold," Cardinal Lucio countered.

"Which will never happen," Cardinal Marco scoffed. "A formal excommunication is in order. The whole Holy Church must be aware should these two be members of the royal family."

"They're already automatically excommunicated. A trial would be unnecessary," Cardinal Lucio replied.

"Excommunication is to punish and warn those who follow them," Cardinal Marco argued.

"Excommunication is to rehabilitate the morally sick," Cardinal Lucio brought up.

"It is both," Pope Barney silenced them. "The situation is evolving rapidly, and we must not be premature in our judgments. Nor do we know how the public will receive the new princess. We shall wait and let priests and the local bishops speak first on this issue to gauge the public's reaction."

"Yes, Your Holiness!" the cardinals agreed.

"We must not be seen as prosecuting this sin beyond all other sins. We must be aggressive toward all sins to avoid hypocrisy. Now, leave the room while I give them my pastoral care," Pope Barney ordered.

The cardinals left the room as Alex and Kelly were escorted inside by a priestly aid. "Holy Father, they refused to comply with the dress code," the priest informed him.

"Leave them to me," Pope Barney dismissed him away. Pope Barney then eyed Alex and Kelly still wearing their tourism clothes and then extended his hand to them.

"Yeah, no," Alex refused to kiss his ring.

"You must not see me as you usually do. I am below you as your servant, above you as your superior, and I am your peer all at the same time. In time, even Kara began to see me the same way," Pope Barney said to her.

"I wouldn't care even if you were just the pope. I only answer to God," Alex told him off. "I have seen how you've brainwashed Mara. You will not do the same to me. You don't even believe in any of this. You're just using religion as a political tool like so many other popes before you. You don't even have a soul."

"It is for this reason that Kara wanted me to hold this position. It is why I have been so successful. Believe me when I say that the science regime would have persecuted your kind with even greater intensity," Pope Barney told her.

"I seriously doubt that," Alex shook her head.

"At the end of the 21st century, the human population began to rapidly decline due to low fertility. In the following centuries, continents were conquered, cultures were lost, and entire ethnicities disappeared from the face of the Earth. Your ideology is unsustainable, only able to prosper by parasitically converting more fertile cultures. For these reasons, when humanity restarted, the science council repudiated your ideology with a vengeance, but it wasn't enough. Not even with patriotism, nationalism, and scientific zeal could the Science Council unite humanity and bring back fertility rates. Something was missing, something that was considered irrational and illogical. In the end, the only rational choice was to endorse the irrational, in moderation, of course," Pope Barney told her.

"You going to throw me to the inquisition?" Alex asked sarcastically.

"You'll both be immune to persecution and prosecution. However, should anyone follow in your footsteps...," Pope Barney said, letting it hang.

"Since you're the pope, do we address you as such whenever we see you?" Kelly asked confused.

"No, only in this capacity," Pope Barney clarified.

"Can we take a tour?" Kelly asked brightly.

"Of course," Pope Barney said and then gestured them to the door where they toured St. Peter's Square, St. Peter's Basilica, Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museum, and the Vatican Gardens. As they did, Pope Barney explained everything to Kelly who was overly attentive while Alex sulked. As they moved about, the Vatican, itself, was evacuated so no one would see or disturb them.

VR Galactic Federation Senate

As the debate continued, Kara addressed the concerns of several senators in her virtual Supreme Leader chambers. Mon was standing at her side presumably to intimidate members. "I understand your reservations completely, but I assure you, the appointment of my adopted sister to princess will, in no way, compete with the duties of the senate."

"Are we to understand there will be no more non-blood relations added to the imperial family?" the Titan senator asked bluntly.

"I want this embarrassing squabble to end just as much as you do. And when it does, everything will be as it was," Kara said.

"You are pursuing a medical solution to your sister's condition?" the Titan senator asked.

"You must trust me to do the right thing. That is why I am here," Kara said vaguely.

"But surely...," the Winath senator interjected.

"I will do what is right," Kara said annoyed. "That should be enough for your coalition," she sneered.

"On behalf of our coalition, we thank you, Supreme Leader," the Titan senator stood up.

"I thank you for your honest thoughts and opinions on this sensitive matter," Kara said with false sincerity.

The senators then left the virtual room back to the Senate chamber to debate the issue some more. As soon as they left, Kara exploded. "They're not sincere! They're using my sister as a bargaining chip to get more concessions out of me. None of these people can be trusted!"

"Well...no shit," Mon agreed. "Maybe you should hold off on this vote. There's instability in the galaxy right now, and they'll use your sister to exploit you."

"The Titan senator knows everything. I can see it in her eyes," Kara said wide-eyed.

"You've always been paranoid as fuck," Mon rolled his eyes.

"I'm surprised your Insane insights are not sensitive to such things," Kara chided.

"Oh, I sense it, alright. I just don't give a shit. Let them make the first move in an open field," Mon advised.

"Without the Coluan delegation, I will lose this vote," Kara admitted.