Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Survivors

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 49: The End

“He said he would be here? You are sure you gave him the right time and location?” Alex asked once again. The two sisters were a half mile away from the tunnel, or cave as it was, that led under the lake and apparently into a large, for lack of a better word, spaceship.

“Yes. Relax, he will be here. Even if he isn’t, we don’t need him.” Kara told her. She secretly hoped the man showed up soon. While Alex was somewhat concealed in her suit and of course her DEO hotshots and Martian in the form of Hank Henshaw blended into the surrounding dark scenery her and Lobo tended to stand out.

The team was all spread out,scouting the area but not entering yet. There was quite a bit of foliage, trees, bushes and uneven ground for a full frontal assault. As soon as the entire group assembled, Kara planned to take flight burning a trail straight through the forest and any aliens in front, while her team battled outside. From that point, Alex would ride on the back of Lobo’s bike he swore could go over any terrain into the cave with Kara, while the agents cleaned up outside and then followed her in. Explosives would be set all around, including the core if Non wasn’t near it. If he was, after Kara killed him, she would plant the explosives and everyone would walk out, relaxing while Lake Huron exploded. It should have been easy. Non barely had an army left.

So of course, he hired mercenaries. Khunds, not the most dangerous species in the Universe but one of the strongest. If they swarmed Kara, she would waste precious time getting to Non and delay Alex getting to Indigo.

Connolly had his team prepared, finally in his natural environment. While Henshaw may have been director and Jack had taken on quite a few administrative duties, he was finally in his element. No baby agents to coddle, no trying to determine if an alien was peaceful or full of murderous intentions. This was simply him and his team, blending into the surroundings as night fell, prepared to spring upon an unsuspecting enemy and kill them, then infiltrate an enemy base. Simple and if he was honest with himself, fun. His mind was not on Kara, or Alex, not on determining new ways to kill Kryptonians. This would be a bloodbath and if there was anything he was good at, it was spilling blood.

“Kara, it appears the Batman has arrived. I believe he will be making the initial attack. Shall I open communications?” Kelex asked.

“Yes.”

“Good evening Kara.” Bruce Wayne’s voice sounded in her ear.

“Where are you? I’m ready to light this place up.”

“Is Alex riding with the monster?”

“Yes.”

“Perfect. You, your sister, the monster and Dick will follow me into the cave. Do you see anyone in it?”

“Its winding a bit, a large rock wall between the cave end and the main hub. The hub is huge but I can’t see inside very well. Lead in quite a few places, I guess. Probably recently added. He may not be expecting us but he has taken precautions. There is a greater force outside but the inside looks mostly deserted. Come to our position and you can all follow me in.”

“Save your power and prepare your team. Be ready to move in twenty seconds and follow me. I will get you inside.”

“That wasn’t the plan!”

“New plan. I trust you, now trust me.” the Batman told her. Kara looked at her sister and rolled her eyes, then heard it. Above her, coming quickly towards their location, there appeared to be a giant bat. Only it was a jet, one that was heavily armed.

“J’onn?” Kara called.

“I am ready.”

“Alex put your pack on. Stay alive, please.” Kara begged. Her sister winked but it was lost behind her mask. Alex hopped on the back of Lobo’s bike and waited.

“Now J’onn.” Kara ordered.

The Martian, five hundred feet in front of and to the right of her position unleashed a mental attack, causing sever pain in the twenty two Khunds outside.

At nearly the same time, the forest lit up, shells from the silent jet overhead, blowing trees away, strafing those on the ground and a final bomb dropped as the plane passed over head, the woods lighting up and clearing a fiery path to the cave. Both sisters watched the jet swoop up over the cave and then loop backwards behind them. It appeared the craft would crash until the wings folded upward and thick tires opened underneath, completing the transformation from jet to all terrain vehicle. The ATV never stopped, hitting the ground perfectly and continued moving as a large gun suddenly mounted on the top began blasting the path towards the cave entrance. Both girls watched in shock until the ATV passed them, followed by a whooping Nightwing on a bike with very thick tires.

“I love this guy’s style.” Lobo said with a smile, and took off behind Nightwing with Alex on the back. Kara shook herself out of her surprise and followed, flying and looking side to side, hitting any Khunds she saw with strong heat vision that burned through them immediately.

Once inside, the group followed Batman’s ATV, which continued blasting at guards and finally approached the door.

“Kara, I am out of ammo. Its all you now.” Bruce informed her.

Kara needed no further encouragement, flying through the twists and turns and having a sense of deja vu, remembering Connolly taking her to the Nuclear Fall Out bunker when she was 14, trying to navigate the quick turns in the air, over and over again until she completed the course without hitting a wall. She was just as precise tonight and unleashed her heat vision, over Batman, and the two bikes, blowing the security door wide open. She landed inside the main hub and knew her strange team was behind her. She always imagined herself doing this alone, or with Alex. Now her and her sister had a DEO team of friends and a Martian outside fighting off additional hostiles, an intergalactic bounty hunter and a couple of vigilantes with cool toys inside with them.

The five stood in place, trying to decide which way to go. The room was empty but hallways ran in front and to the left and right. Kara stood in place, looking over the structure. Now that they were inside, it was apparent the lead was only on top to prevent X ray vision from seeing inside.

“There is a control room to the right. Go up four levels and you will find Indigo plugged in. She is controlling the ship and its probable defenses. Non is in the middle, near what I think is the power core. Hostile are coming from above into the left hallway.”

Kara grabbed Alex and hugged her tightly.

“If it doesn’t look like it will work, run. Promise me.” she told her sister.

“I got this.” Alex assured her. “Do what you do and I will do what I do. Kill the bastard. End this. Then we can go to clown school.”

The blonde nodded and flew in a straight line without looking back. Alex and Lobo took off to the right, Lobo with a huge rifle pulled from the holster on his back. Batman looked at Robin… Nightwing now, and ran towards the hostiles coming towards the right.

Outside, the war continued. J’onn Jonzz, the last Green Martian, phasing hands into Khunds and ripping hearts out, Dan Hawk swinging the axe Kara had given him and the rest using explosive hollow point rounds. The surrounding fire and confusion made it easier for the team. The Khunds may have been hired to guard Myriad but had expected no real threats, much less an assault of this magnitude.

“J’onn, Dante and I are going in.” Connolly yelled over to the Martian, running towards the entrance with explosives on their backs and hoping a stray shot did not hit their packs.

Inside, Kara had made it to the room in the center of the compound, kicking open the steel door and walking inside, not rushing this time, taking her time and looking over the area.

There he was, on the other side of the glowing blue power core, standing in black, his trademark sneer on his face.

“I am impressed. I had thought you may be stupid enough to come alone. Smart but not very honorable, is it?”

“Says the man who sent others to die while he ran. Coward. Its all you have ever been. You hired Khunds? You are getting desperate. Or did you think your Coluan would save you?”

“I do not need saving from you. Those men were instructed to grant you entrance should you have found this place. Soon, Myriad will be complete, ready to rise over these waters, take a trip to true North and wipe out the human race, make it a utopia for aliens seeking refuge. What the United States was meant to be for the unfortunate of this planet. The Governments of this word are truly pathetic. It is a miracle mankind has lasted as long as it has. Its a shame you were so old when you arrived. When one spends the majority of time around a race, the brain waves can pick up a certain pattern based off those around him or her. I am certain your’s cannot. You will never truly be a human. Young Kal EL however, he will most likely die with the human race. Fortunately I have the chance to end you today.”

Kara wasted no more time talking, speeding across the room, ready to strike. Before she could lay a hand on Non, the creature morphed, a white demon in its place at least eight foot tall and slammed the girl to the ground.

“Your recruitment of a Green Martian gave me the most wonderful idea.” Non’s voice told her, now on the other side of the room. “I want you dead, he wants the last Green Martian dead. Here you both are. Lets see if a Martian talon can cut you as your friend cut me.”

A hook finger lifted Kara up and stabbed her chest, only to be unable to pierce the material. Surprised caused hesitation and hesitation was all she needed, slamming her head and shoulders into the monster, flinging him against a wall.

She continued to swing, her fist moving in a blur not even the Martian could see. The White Martian let his form give way, his molecular structure softening and wrapping around her arm. A blast of heat vision, stunned the creature, leaving it to slide to the floor. Kara never let up, keeping the heat on the creature. In near panic the Martian reformed and struck, hitting her jaw and sending her against the wall, following with several strikes of its now reformed arms and legs. Kara was pinned, trying to block, but the close contact made it difficult. She finally slammed a knee up, sending the creature into the ceiling and slid to the floor, using her heat vision as he fell towards the ground.

The Martian hit the floor and stood, beginning to smolder. Kara tried to break his neck, grabbing and twisting him over her shoulder. He would not break, his bones becoming flexible.

“Damn Martians.” the girl muttered to herself, and barely ducked a backswing by the creature. She caught a follow up kick in the gut and hit the ground on her feet, rushing him once again and pinning the creature to the floor. Unleashing her heat vision where his eyes were, she did not let up, knowing if these creatures were telepathic like their green counterparts there had to be a brain in there somewhere.

The White Martian did his best to push her off, but the young Kryptonian kept pressure on him, straddling his chest, knees digging into the floor and hands on his shoulders. Kara kept up the heat, watching it go through various incarnations of its many forms it had taken, finally ending with Non. She burned through the face and saw the brain, the focal point of every living creature… except Lobo.

The Martian screamed once more as her beams cut into his brain like a scalpel and sliced it in two, burning the easily deconstructed organ easily now. As soon as the creature was gone, no noises, no heartbeat and no brain, she released the pressure. Before she could celebrate her minor victory, twin beams struck her chest and sent her flying across the room into the strong wall, pinning her, burning her. Though her suit protected her, the heat was blistering her skin underneath. The beams moved to her throat then quickly up. Kara countered with her vision quickly but was already pushed back, the beams out of her eyes barely countering Non’s. He had her on the defensive, pinned, tired and just trying to survive. The White Martian had served its purpose.

Non screamed and his heat vision stopped, allowing Kara to slide down the wall in a sitting position. She took a look to see what had made the man scream.

Non was pulling a green glowing bat shaped blade out of the back of his leg. Ripping the blade out his leg, a trail of blood following, the Kryptonian tossed it to the side and looked across the room. Kara followed his eyes and saw the Gotham City Bat, another green, bat shaped throwing star in his hand.

“You didn’t think I wasn’t going to use at least one of my toys, did you? I did spend two days making them.” Batman reminded her.

Kara slowly stood and took a deep breath.

“Thought I would level the playing field. You got this?” Wayne asked.

“Yeah, I got it.” Kara told him, eyes back on Non who was still holding his bleeding leg.

“Have fun, Supergirl. See you outside.”

The Batman was gone.

“No more games, Non. No more Martians, no more tricks. Take your time, heal your leg. When you are ready we are going to do this. You and me, the way it was always meant to be.”

While two combatants were in a Kryptonian death match, Alex and Lobo were making their way towards Indigo. Lobo pulled Alex back before she turned a corner, to avoid the laser beams that streaked down the hallway.

“I thought you were supposed to be a genius? Don’t get stupid on me now. Listen for steps ahead. If someone or something is coming don’t give them a clean shot.”

Alex nodded, annoyed because she could have been injured before she ever got to Indigo. The suit would have protected her but the blast would have definitely sent her flying and knocked the wind out of her or broken bones. She tool a knee and peeked around the corner. To her disgust she saw Vrangs, At least six.

“Vrangs.” the girl told Lobo and peaked around, gun first and fired. Alex struck the first one in his knee and aimed higher when he dropped, taking him out with a headshot. Ducking back to her corner to avoid the fire that was now raining down the hall, turning that path into a death trap.

Manhunter waited for a lull in fire, stood up and fired again, striking one in the abdomen before another fresh round of shots thundered.

“Too bad we don’t have a garbage disposal to jump into.” she mumbled.

“Put a couple buns on the side of your head, wear a white dress with no bra and you may be my go to fantasy. You should shoot some more.” the monstrous man suggested. Alex turned once again and fired, several times, not sure if she was hitting anything or one. She did notice that reinforcements had arrived and spied some Khunds.

“This place is crawling with mercenaries. We don’t have time for this. We need to find another way but until we get control of this place Kelex doesn’t have the floor plans. Without Kara’s X ray…”

“I got it.” the bounty hunter told her, stepping directly into the hallway, large rifle in his hand.

Alex watched the man taking shot after shot, but he continued firing. He didn’t even budge. Soon the sound of his massive plasma rifle and laughter was the only sound to be heard.

Alex stepped around the corner into the hallway, now littered with at least fifteen smoking bodies, some in pieces.

“You could have done that? Why the hell did you stand there and watch me shooting?”

Lobo shrugged his massive shoulders. “It was cute. You have the most adorable face when you are in combat, even behind that mask, Your mouth looked so determined. I couldn’t ruin the moment. Lets go deal with a Coulan. No time to sightsee.”

The two moved quickly, avoiding lifts and taking the stairs. Lobo led the way, breaking the neck of one Khund on its way down. No matter how strong the Khunds were, they were no match for the bounty hunter. Reaching the top floor, they found a very large door blocking their path. Alex handed a metal box with a display panel on top to Lobo.

“Not until its time.” she reminded him. Pulling out her own small weapons from the bag, she nodded to the Czarnian who fired his plasma rifle at the lock, blowing a small hole in the door.

Alex slowly walked into the room. It was larger than she imagined. Checking the screens surrounding the place it was obvious the hub was pinpointing satellites orbiting the Earth, planning which ones to use. And in the middle of the room, sitting in a large chair and attached to the ship by several data cords was the blue Coluan.

“Welcome to Myriad. I expected Astra’s niece. You are?”

“Kara’s sister. You are going to have to deal with me. Nice set up you have here.”

“I am in control of the ship. As soon as it is functional, it is mine to launch, mine to master. It was my weapon, my idea, made reality.”

“Please, it was your Daddy’s idea. If you were any kind of Coluan you wouldn’t have gotten trapped on Krypton and sentenced to Rozz. So you want a fighting chance or should I just start shooting this entire room and see what sort of damage can be done to your Daddy’s weapon?”

The data cords released quickly and in a flash, Indigo had Alex by her neck and began squeezing. Thankfully for Alex, the armor protecting her neck did not give. Indigo’s hand turned into a blade and stabbed her abdomen but the material held as did the light body armor underneath. Alex felt her air leave her but was not surprised. It had happened before in numerous training sessions. She could fight without air. Taking the small globe in her left hand, Alex activated it, a low hum filling the room. The lights went out as did the screens. Indigo grabbed her head and stepped back, trying to come to grips with what just happened. The only light let in was from the windows on either wall and the hole in the door Lobo had just blown open.

“EMP. Small, not big enough to take out the station but just right for taking out your surrounding electronics. You can’t escape.” Alex told her.

“You think I want to escape? You think you are stronger than me? The backup power will be on momentarily. You will be dead long before that happens.”

“Yeah, thats why I brought another gift for you.”

Taking the small glass container in her right hand, Alex slammed it into Indigo’s head, under her nose. The creature stepped back, its head clearing but feeling something else. Something she had not felt in a very long time.

“What was that?”

“Computer science was never my thing. I’m more into biology. One thing I have learned about Coluans is hygiene. You may be a living computer but your organic tissue is very sensitive to viruses. Its why Vril Dox l keeps his little skull ship so clean inside and never leaves it. I just gave you a concentrated virus. Its a mild strain of influenza. I have had my flu shot this year. What about you?”

Indigo felt the virus spreading throughout her organic tissues. Looking for an escape route, she could find none, the wireless signals and digital paths in the control room all dead and blocked by security systems outside. It would take at least five minutes for the system to reboot after a minor EMP blast.

Feeling the effects of both the electronic and biological attack, Indigo attacked regardless. She was still stronger than this thin human. That was her thought until a blaster bolt struck her in the gut, sending her flying back. A glowing staff swung towards her, catching her in the jaw. A kick to her head and she was on the ground.

Trying to shift her arm into a blade, Alex easily dodged the slow limb and beat the woman over the head once again with her staff then fired another shot at point blank range into her eye.

Indigo screamed and kicked out, catching Alex, sending her across the room. The living computer stood up, going for the exit, body breaking down and looking for any digital outlet she could find to escape into.

Alex fired once again, striking her knee and dropping the woman.

“You have no idea how screwed you are, do you? I have read that Coluans are impossible to kill, at least the binary parts of you. I think we are going to test that theory. By my count, I still have about three minutes before the system reboots. There is no escape.”

Lobo entered the room, metal box in hand.

“Are you ready? When can I plug this in and take over the ship? The signal is active and feeding to the DEO.” the man asked.

“Get that out of here!” Alex screamed, seeing Indigo’s eyes widen. The blue Coluan jumped, turning into binary form and fed herself into the box.

Once she was inside, Alex slapped a button on top of the box and hit the ground.

Opening one eye, she looked up to see a very annoyed Lobo standing over her.

“Why are you on the ground? You said this would work. 100% guarantee.”

“It was more like a strong 85%. Kelex, can you hear me now? Did it work?”

“I am in the ship. Indigo’s control is no longer blocking me.”

“Did it work?!”

“Yes. The miniature Phantom Zone projector has been successful. All readings indicate when Indigo entered into the projector she was sent to the Phantom Zone. I would recommend turning it off now. Eighty five percent is 27 more precent than I gave of this plan working. Excellent design and execution. Indigo is floating in a timeless void now. She cannot pass back through.”

Alex let out a deep breath and switched the box off. It had worked. Kara and her had toyed with the idea of a small, contained Phantom Zone projector for months, working in the DEO basement whenever they could. Knowing that a Coluan could never truly be killed, the only effective strategy was to put her in a place she could do no harm. Fort Rozz may have no longer been there but the Phantom Zone certainly was. Reverse engineering the Phantom Drive from Kara’s pod hadn’t been easy but the only way they could think to stop a Coluan. As science fair projects went, with her little sister’s help she had once again taken home the prize.

“I could have beaten her while you ran in here with the potentially life ending toy. You okay?” Lobo asked.

“Yeah, I am fine. A little sore but nothing broken. I know you could have done it. Not the point. I wanted to be the one to beat her.”

“Why?”

“I just had to.”

Lobo nodded his head in understanding and respect. He had just seen an 19 year old human take out a Coluan. That was pretty hardcore in his book.

“I need to find Kara.”

“No, we need to plant explosives and get the hell out of here. She trusted you to get the job done, now you are going to trust her.”

“I do trust her. I also know I’m not leaving this ship without her. I can wait alone if you want to leave.”

“Or you can help us set explosives.” Connolly suggested, running behind her, Dante at his side. They both were bloodied but nothing seemed life threatening.

“You guys okay?” Alex asked doubtfully.

“Never better. Enemy force outside are all dead. Most fun I have had in years. Ty is covering the entrance from any more hostiles getting in or out. Hawk, J’onn and Jack have the other side. Once Kara finishes him off we can all set the ones around the core and get the hell out of this place.”

“You make it sound simple. Anybody seen the Bat guy and his sidekick?” the girl asked.

“Last I saw, those two were scaling into the engine room, disabling it, just in case he gets any ideas about launching early.” Connolly told her. “I am sure they will be fine. He has a damn plane that turns into an armored ATV. He can take care of himself. Lets move.”

“No, take big ugly with you. I’m going to find Kara. I will stand outside the door but if he wins I am killing that bastard. I have Kryptonite bullets.”

Alex took off at a run, Kelex now fully operational and guiding her movements.

“Did she just call you Big Ugly?” Lobo asked the Seals.

“Pretty sure she was talking about you.” Dante told him. “Connolly, take Big Ugly with you to plant explosives. I’m not leaving her either. I’ve stuck with her all these years and I plan to be there when she ends it.”

Dante took off at a run, following the sound of Alex’s footsteps, leaving Connolly and Lobo staring at each other.

“I don’t think you are that ugly.” the man told Lobo.

“Really?”

“Not really. You are ugly as hell. Make Hawk look like a damn super model. Pick up those explosives and lets get to work.”

Inside the power core room, Kara and Non stared at each other, her catching her breath and him waiting for his leg to heal. which was slower than expected. That damn blade had cut deep.

“You haven’t thanked me for the gift I left you. I know the Black Mercy was gone. I imagine you fell for my trick and traced that call to the bunker. Indigo did good work. Astra never knew. She never suspected you would trace a call. She never could see you as anything other than her innocent little niece. I knew better. I knew you would try to trace the call, I knew you would be stupid enough to go in by yourself. I understand you, Kara. I don’t like you. I despise you and your family. Your family were traitors to Krypton and you are a traitor to your blood. Giving you paradise before death was the more mercy than I ever planned to grant you. Still, I understand the monster you have become. You have shown the true colors of the House of El.”

Kara walked slowly towards the man, keeping her body angled towards her enemy as she had been taught, remaining focused.

“You cannot defeat me.”

“I have a trail of bodies that say differently.” Kara told him, inching closer, wanting her hands around his neck to shut him up.

“The Vrang? A joke. Tyn? He was not expecting you to be able to defend yourself. You surprised him. Astra never fought to kill. Even towards the end she tried to spare you. That was her mistake. Had her heart been in the fight, she would have slaughtered you, child. Do you have any idea how much she loved you? She searched for you from the moment she discovered you had landed. She spent more time searching the world for you than she did leading the army or building Myriad. You were her sole focus, her obsession.”

Kara moved quickly, striking at his head and hitting a wall when Non moved. She swung back, only to find air. The man was across the room.

“You are fast, but not fast enough. Where were we? Oh yes, your beloved Aunt Astra, the one who wanted you for a daughter, the woman who was prepared to protect you against all aliens on Earth, claim you as her own child. She was even willing to take the spawn of Jor El, if it meant having you. Astra never understood. The girl she loved died on Krypton, didn’t she? All that was left was the monster she had become. Oh how she loved you, Kara. You were her greatest treasure.”

“Stop talking about her.” Kara told him quietly, moving slowly towards the man.

“Why? Feeling guilt? You killed her in cold blood. There was never any doubt. Then you proceeded to wipe out the rest of our race. Now it is down to the two of us. Who deserves to live, you or I? Who will carry the blood of our people? The same blood that destroyed our home?”

“Kal El will carry our planet’s blood. He is the only innocent and I killed her to make sure he stayed safe. I will kill you as well.”

“And here I was, thinking you were fighting to save the human race.”

“I am fighting for my family and friends.”

“You are a monster.”

“Yes I am.” Kara agreed. “So are you.”

“I am a warrior.”

“Pathetic coward.” Kara countered.

“Coward? Funny, because I remember you being the coward on Krypton. Do you remember? Of course you don’t. If you thought about it you would. Argo Fever, remember? It ravaged you. Astra and your mother waited on you hand and foot. Kelex was not good enough for the House of El princess. Astra was called away for short periods of time and I was left to wipe your sweaty forehead.I let you burn instead. Oh how you moaned and squealed, tried to hide under the covers from monsters were not there. I gave you real monsters. I sat next to you and whispered in your ear, every torture, ever manner I wanted to kill you. You listened to it all, saw it all. I made you look me in the eyes. Poor little Kara. You were so frightened of me after that. You did not remember, only as more of your delusions but from that moment on, I could see it in your blue, innocent eyes. You knew what I would do to you and your family given the chance.”

Kara stopped moving, visions filling her head. Memories. It was true. She had never felt comfortable around the man but after that illness something had changed. She had been scared of him, afraid to be in the same room with him.

“How many nightmares have you had of me since then? How many of your dreams have I invaded? I suspect Myriad is done. I can’t hear screams so I assume somehow you have neutralized Indigo. Your humans and your pet Czarnian are planting explosives throughout the ship. They are loaded with that green substance you unleashed on our people. I have other ways out. It would be difficult to defeat me underwater. Have you discovered that we do not need to breathe?”

“You won’t be breathing soon enough. Stop talking. I came here to end you, not to talk.”

“You came here to face your demon. I tried to give you a merciful death before. I will not do the same now. How could you ever live with yourself? What you have done? You killed the woman who loved you most, who would have laid down her life for you. The one who wore your Mother’s face. She worshipped you, held you on a pedestal higher than your own parents did and you snapped her neck. She told you she loved you with her last breath, knowing you were going to kill her. She still loved you. Death is too good for you. Consider yourself fortunate.”

Kara tried to remain focused but a parade of images ran through her mind. Her mother on the runway, Eliza brushing her hair with her hands after she tried to kill herself. Her father’s impersonal smile, Jor El, telling her she was no better than a bodyguard for the Codex.

Astra telling her she loved her and the feel of her neck breaking in Kara’s arms.

The blonde screamed and flew towards the monster, Non unable to dodge her this time. Her speed was amazing, faster than he had thought. He quickly found himself pinned, a flurry of elbows in his face, striking his nose, eyes, an uppercut into his jaw. A blind kick sent Kara back, giving the man room.

She charged again into a blast of freeze breath, slowing her down and making her vulnerable to a punch that echoed through the ships and sent her sprawling to the ground.

“As I suspected. You aren’t a fighter, you are an animal. No better. A monster like the rest of your family, dressed like a Daxamite whore, thinking you are better than you really are.”

“Calm down Kara.”

The girl was surprised. The voice was outside the room, a voice she knew as well as her own, the one who had meditated with her, trained her, stood by her side through everything. Dante was there, just outside. She listened and heard Alex’s heartbeat next to his. Another was there, J’onn’s strange slow heartbeat. She had no doubt they would be inside in a second if she faltered. She couldn’t let that happen.

“Don’t show him a soldier. Show him the hero you are, Kara.” Alex told her. She could not see them but knew they were there, just on the other side of that metal door. Having her back as always and as always letting her do what needed to be done.

Kara took a deep breath and focused on the man in front of her. She walked up to him, not charging and kicked. Non blocked but he was not prepared for the follow up strike, a straight jab, followed by a kick to his thigh, then lower to the knee, a chop to the throat and a palm to the ear, striking his most vulnerable places. They may not need to breathe but not being able to was an unpleasant feeling. Twisting underneath him, she slid arm to arm, side by side with him, flipping the man to the ground and following with a punch that cracked the metal beneath his head. He pushed her off, but she floated in the air and charged back down with another strike. Kara turned into a blur, the motion of her strikes just a steady line of blue sending echoes through the ship as her fists connected with Non’s body.

Picking up the man by his throat she tossed him away and let loose her heat vision. Non was struck in the face and screamed, covering his head with his hands and curling onto the floor. Kara advanced, her red vision never stopping.

Non screamed again, rolling over the floor, blindly feeling for anywhere away from the girl’s vision. He had been struck before, Astra made a habit of it, but never to this degree. Grabbing a console, he threw it in the direction of the girl. The distraction was enough to give him a moment to counter, trying to strike her as well. Kara’s beams blocked his and she advanced, having him right where she wanted him. Kara focused, slowly moving forward. The two stood across from each other, the power core between them like the heart of a great beast.

This was not how she imagined it. She had dreamed of snapping his neck, but they were locked on a battle of heat vision, neither able to break without injury. Kara stepped around the large core moving forward, while Non retreated.

As she closed within ten feet, the girl knew she had him. She felt every bit of power he had, and knew it wasn’t enough. For the first time since she entered this room, Kara Danvers was certain she would win.

The blonde continued to close in, Non grunting with extra effort but having no effect. She reached out and placed her hands on the sides of his head and screamed in his face, unleashing every bit of pain, fear and anger inside her. She watched his eyes explode, her beams burning his brain, the limpness of his body as he died and only her hands on his head holding him up. Kara did not stop, letting him fall but continuing to blast into the space his eyes once were. Finally she stopped, pulling the power back into herself.

She was standing over Non’s dead body, his skull unrecognizable, smoke leaving the spots his eyes had once been.

It was over.

She looked around, looking for anything and of course she found Alex there along with her friends. She didn’t see the masked vigilantes or the bounty hunter but the ones who mattered, her family, the guys who had stood by her no matter what, and her sister who had walked into this underwater hell with her and fought and defeated a Coluan, something not many could say, much less a human. She knew Alex had won because no matter what she promised, Alex would not back down or run, ever. If she was here then Indigo was gone.

“Its over.” she said, to them and to herself.

Kara had imagined this moment in her more optimistic thoughts over the years. She thought she would feel incredible joy, some sort of elation, relief, at least some relief.

Instead she felt nothing. It was over, they had won, but how much had been lost? Alex’s childhood, her previous life, the planet she was born on, her parents jobs as researchers, now working for a Government organization. Had she lost her sanity along the way? Of course she had.

Alex walked up to her, pulling up her mask. The two wrapped each other in a hug.

“Is it really over?” Kara asked quietly.

“Yes it is. The nightmares can stop now.” her older sister assured her. Kara doubted the nightmares would ever stop but she did not argue. Her goal had been realized. Clark was safe, Alex was safe, her family was safe and by extension the world. They had all succeeded.

“I don’t know what to do now.”

“Thats simple. We save the day. We will do it together. I’m still not going to leave you.” Alex needlessly told her.

“I know. Lets go. I want to blow this place up and burn his body outside. I want to see it gone.”

Hawk picked up Non’s smoldering body and followed the girls outside. Dante had an arm wrapped around her. Everything he never wanted for her as she was grew up had come to pass, but at least he knew he had prepared her to not only survive but win.

Connolly and Jack remained behind, setting up explosives around the power core, Jack managing to open up a panel and place a large packet of Plastique underneath the blue globe.

As Kara and Alex walked outside, they saw Batman and Nightwing almost one with the dark trees behind them. Lobo was standing beside them, smoking a very large cigar with a wicked grin.

Ty walked out of cover, rifle still in his hand.

“Non’s men are all dead?” Kara asked.

“Everyone.” Batman assured her.

“I thought you didn’t kill.” Kara reminded him.

“I make an exception for aliens.”

“Oh… thats… wait. What the hell?”

Bruce Wayne actually smiled.

“Present company excluded of course… except maybe this guy.” he finished, jerking a thumb at the guy who made Bane look small.

Hawk dumped Non’s body on the ground.

“The living computer?” Batman asked.

“Living in the Phantom Zone.” Alex confirmed. “Honestly, I can’t believe that worked.”

“I knew you could do it.” Kara told her.

“No, I mean the machine. A small Phantom Zone projector? We should probably have Kelex carefully deactivate that thing. Of course I was going to beat her. I never doubted that. The flu strain worked. That was a wild guess. The records were right though. She did not react well to the virus.”

“Something to think about if the worst happens and Brainiac ever shows up here. Biological warfare.” Kara decided. Between that and a larger Phantom Zone projector, perhaps they wouldn’t be as helpless as she had feared.

“I thought you might need this.” Ty told her, offering a can of gasoline. “I always come prepared.”

Kara took it gratefully and poured it over Non’s body. A short burst of heat vision and everyone stood back, watching the former soldier and mad man burn.

No one said a word, but stood in a circle, those who had been there from the beginning and those who had recently joined the strange family of heroes. Once only bones were left, Connolly handed Kara the detonator for the explosives inside.

“Once the signal activates the tunnel will collapse followed by the explosions around the ship, ending with the power core. With luck the explosion will be contained but we should probably back up into Batman’s driveway.” he told the teen.

“Would someone take his bones back to the DEO and incinerate them?”

“Of course. We are going to burn all these bastards outside before we leave and take the remains back to the DEO.” Hawk assured her.

The group backed up into the burnt out path Batman had made on approach. Kara handed the detonator to Alex.

“You beat him, Kara.” Alex told her. “End it.”

“And you beat her, destroyed Myriad and once again, like always, you never left my side. You carried me here, Alex. End it for us.”

“Together then.”

Alex placed her hand over Kara’s and the detonator. The two pushed the button down, an anticlimactic click. Nothing happened at first, a few seconds passed and then a loud boom, catching both girls by surprise. The entrance to the cave collapsed and they listened to a series of booms, muffled by the water but all over the place. Finally the charges under the power core blew and with a loud crash, the top of the ship actually lifted out of the water, holes in its top and Kara imagined the bottom. Water filled the Myriad hub and it sunk back into the dark waters.

“Its deep enough that it won’t be seen from overhead planes. We will send teams out here discreetly to confirm that the tech was all destroyed. Its over kids.” Jack told them. “Go to your parents and brother. I told them we succeeded but I am betting they want to get their hands on the two of you.”

Both girls nodded but held still for a moment, holding hands and watching the large metal object sink slowly to the deep bottom of Lake Huron.

Supergirl then walked up to Batman and offered her hand.

“Thank you.”

“Anytime.” he told her, not letting her know how hard her grip actually was. “I have a feeling we will be working together in the future, Kara. I am looking forward to it. We have to keep trying, right?”

“Thats all we can do. Keep trying and hope for the best.”

“I will see you soon.”

The Dark Knight walked off to his ATV, probably preparing to drive off then transform back into a jet and fly home. Nothing surprised Kara about this man’s toys.

Dick gave her a longing look and then winked, following his mentor.

J’onn pulled Kara and Alex into a large hug.

“My girls.” he whispered.

“J’onn, when we are back, there is something we need to talk about.” Kara told him quietly.

“I know. I felt him. I tried to combat him mentally but you were physically beating him worse than anything I could do. I have never seen them on Earth but if there are more we will deal with it, together.”

“Here you go kid.” the Czarnian offered,handing her what looked like a very small cell phone. “No matter where I am in the universe, this beacon will find me quickly. You need me, hit it and I am here. No charge for you or Princess Leia here.”

“Take care of yourself, Lobo.” Kara told him.

“I survived a beating from the most powerful person in the universe. What is the worst that can happen?”

The girls continued staring at the fire around them and the water. The final evidence of the ship slipped completely under, no more bubbles rising from the lake.

Kara turned around and looked at the men who had trained her, looked out for her, stayed by her side even when she pushed them all away.

“Thank you.” she told them. None of them said a word, smiles their only response. Dante walked over and wrapped her in a hug.

“I will always be here and you will always trust me, right?”

“I will never doubt you again. I swear.”

Alex walked up behind Kara and wrapped her arms around the Blonde’s waist. The two girls took off slowly, leaving Myriad, Non dead,Indigo dead trapped and the past behind. An hour later they arrived on the roof of the safe house. A smiling Dr. Ryan opened the door and their mother, father and little brother were waiting for them.

“We did it. Its over.” Kara told them before breaking down. The family grabbed each other, Clark wrapping his arms around Kara’s waist. She bent down and met her little brother’s eyes.

“Its over. The bad people are gone. You are safe. I told you me and Alex would take care of it, right?”

“You won’t have anymore nightmares?”

“No. The nightmares are all gone. I’ll be fine, I promise. We both will, all of us will be fine.” Kara told him, while the four around her wondered if it would be true.

The blonde took in her family, the humans that had taken her as their own, despite the hell she put them through.

“Don’t.” Jeremiah stopped her, already knowing. “Don’t thank us, don’t say your grateful. There is nothing to be grateful for. We are a family, you are ours and we do everything together. There is nothing to thank us for.”

“Maybe I could apologize for all the…”

“Don’t you dare.” Eliza told her, stopping her inspection of Alex and mentally preparing her inspection of Kara. “You will never apologize for being in our life. You are our daughter. Now change out of that uniform, put the pajamas on in your bag and meet me in the bathroom. Alex if you could shed this skin tight armor I would appreciate it as well. I have no doubt you have bruising all over your torso. I can tell by the way you are walking.”

The girls did as ordered and Kara slipped out first, letting Alex be looked over. Kara knew she herself was fine. She had healed on the flight over and as far as fights went, she had sustained less damage in this one than any other. Only some slightly puffy cheeks a cut on her lip that healed in minutes. Her head hurt from the power she had used. The elation she thought she would feel was still not present.

Jeremiah and Jessica were waiting for her. Kara heard Clark in the kitchen and had no doubt he was listening to everything.

“You okay? Pass inspection?” her father asked.

“I haven’t been inspected yet. Mom is looking over Alex. I am fine. She seems fine but you know how tough she is. She won’t admit to feeling pain.”

“Neither of you will. Are you okay? Because you don’t seem okay.”

The girl smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

“He is dead. They are all dead. We did it. We saved the world without the world ever knowing it was in danger. Everything I have lived with, every fear of fighting Astra and Non,and now its over. Its done. But I don’t feel… anything. Relief I guess but I thought I would be happy. Now, I guess I am wondering what is next. I honestly never gave much thought to my life after this.”

“I guess that depends on you.” Jeremiah told her. “You can continue to be the symbol of hope, continue saving people, helping those who can’t help themselves. You can be the Guardian Angel of this planet. Or you can just be Kara Danvers. She is pretty wonderful. One of my four favorite people. You don’t owe anyone anything, Kara.”

“I don’t know if I do or not, but I know I can’t stop yet. I know I am needed. I guess I just don’t know what else I want to do. It hasn’t sunk in yet. I killed my aunt. I killed the last of our kind. Only Clark and I remain. If I continue doing this Superhero stuff, Clark, you, Mom, you could all be targets. Alex won’t leave my side meaning she would be in danger. What if…”

“What if you stop thinking of us as targets and think of us as a family, a team? Whatever you girls want to do, we do it together, okay? The rest will take care of itself. Have faith in our family, Kara.”

“I will, I promise. As far as right now, I just want to go home, home to Midvale for a few days. I need to be in my real home.”

“That sounds like a great plan.” Jeremiah agreed. “As far as what is next I can offer some suggestions that aren’t really suggestions. Since you have missed this semester we already have you signed up for summer school, books bought. Alex is taking extra classes as well…”

“Wait, I have to go back? Isn’t it soon? I did just save the world.”

“And now you go back to class. You promised you would go to college remember?”

“Yes.” the girl grudgingly admitted.

“And we continue therapy three nights a week at minimum.” Jessica happily told her.

“Why three times?” Kara asked.

“To process everything that has happened to you. To deal with the issues you still have. They haven’t gone away Kara. To deal with what you will continue to see if you continue this Supergirl thing. Dead people, people injured, burned possibly, maybe murdered. The world may look to you for the best but you are going to see the worst it has to offer. So we start back up next week. Classes start in two weeks. It should be fun. Actually it is going to be incredibly hard, but that is what we do, right? If it was easy anybody could do it.”

“Fine.” Kara agreed.

Inside the bathroom while Kara’s immediate future was being planned for her, Eliza checked over Alex, pulling up her shirt and seeing bruising on her abdomen.

“No broken ribs? Don’t lie to me.”

“Nope. The suit and body armor did great. Just some bruising. I have no doubt you will be scanning me as soon as possible to check for any internal bleeding but I am good.”

Elia dropped her daughter’s shirt and took her in.

“The mini Phantom Zone projector actually worked, huh?”

“Don’t sound so surprised. Of course it worked.”

“And the virus worked?”

“Like we thought it would. Enough that I could beat the crap out of her and make her look for any chance to escape.”

“So in the past two weeks you have fought a battle against Kryptonians on a beach, stopped a diamond robbery and entered an alien ship, trapped one of the most fearsome creatures in the Universe…

“I shot some Khunds and Vrangs also. I know I killed one. They really do look like werewolves with sideburns you would see in the Seventies.”

“And you watched out for your little sister. Like I have always said, if you need a badass, find a biologist.”

Alex laughed, her first real laugh since before the raid had started, perhaps days before. While Kara may have felt empty perhaps, Alex felt twenty pounds lighter. She never realized how much worry she carried inside until the mission was done, Non and Astra dead and the world and more importantly her parents, sister and brother were safe.

Giving her mother a tight hug she walked to find a bed and cuddle with Clark. Maybe Kara would join them if she wasn’t afraid of nightmares tonight.

“Want me to get Blondie in here? You know she won’t admit to any pain.”

“I know. But she is my baby so yes, I would like her in here. Sleep good. I love you.”

“Love you too, Mom.”

Three days later the family of five was back in Midvale, Jeremiah preparing to grill and Alex and Kara taking Clark on a walk. It was warm enough to swim but they had a different destination in mind, Kara pushed the large boulder away, revealing the opening and walked inside, Clark following and Alex in the back.

Alex bumped her head on the same rock she always did.

“This is it?” the little boy asked, fighting the urge to hold his nose.

“Yep,” Kara confirmed. “This is where Alex saved us. If not for her we may still be living here.”

“Stop Kara.” the older sister chided. Kara sat on the rocky floor with Clark and told him the stories of their time in the cave. They had come far and Kara wondered, not for the first time, where they would be now, if she had run when Alex found her. None of those scenarios wee very good.

“This was also the last place you ever ate beets. Alex banned them after she smelled them. I don’t know why, I just wanted you to see it. To see where we were and where we are now. Always appreciate our parents and big sister. We survived because of them.”

The boy nodded solemnly and leaned into Alex, who proceeded to tell him where the nickname Stinky originated from. Clark found it amusing then thought better at the idea of Kara changing his diapers.

“Are you going to keep being Supergirl?” he asked when they stepped into the fresh air.

“Yeah, I guess I am. For now. One day I will quit, I may move back here or wherever I can talk Alex into moving. I have four years to talk her out of a career as a vigilante and DEO agent.”

“Thats good. The kids I go to school with think you are awesome! I… I haven’t had an easy time making friends at school.”

“I’m sorry, Clark. Maybe if you tried a different school…”

“So I told them Supergirl would be at my birthday party and they are all coming! You won’t have to sign many autographs, just a few and maybe some pictures. You can do that, right? I told Mom you already agreed to it. The party is going to be on the beach and I was thinking you could swoop in from the ocean…

“Clark, stop.” Kara told him, before he ran out of breath. “Of course Supergirl will be there.”

‘But… in your costume, right?”

“Yeah, definitely in my costume.”

“Sweet! Can we please get out of here? It really stinks even outside the cave and I am having a hard time blocking this out. “

At the house, Kara sat upstairs in her bedroom, holding her phone and gazing out over the ocean.

“Call him.”

Kara didn’t need to turn around. She knew Alex had been there. She always knew where her big sister was.

“Call who?” she tried.

“You know who. Non and Astra are gone. The prisoners are all detained or dead. Those that aren’t, are scared of you. He probably knows who you are and hasn’t said anything. Call Barry, ask him out. Its not like you can’t be in Central City in fifteen minutes.”

Kara shook her head.

“It doesn’t matter if they are all dead. I… I mean we, will always be targets of somebody. Maybe Luthor discovers my identity again. Maybe Max Lord decides to control me by taking a loved one. What about A.R.G.U.S.? What about Lane? Its for the best, Alex. The lives we have chosen require sacrifice. We have both sacrificed a lot and much more will be required.I won’t insult you by asking if you are sure. I know you are, but lets face it, normal got destroyed a long time ago. It is better if he isn’t in my life. I have to cut off all contact, stop looking in on him, stop torturing myself. Bringing him into my life would be the cruelest thing I could do. We both know that.”

Alex had no response to that, sadly knowing Kara was right. If this was the path they chose to follow, personal relationships with outsiders would cease. It would be too dangerous for everyone involved.

“Time to eat. Dad grilled a whole chicken for you. I guess he hoped your appetite would be back. You won’t want him disappointed, right?”

“No, I suppose I better focus. Eating that much delicious food isn’t easy.”

“You haven’t written in a journal. How have you felt?”

“Not cutting myself. I have no desire to feel pain anymore. My demons are dead. I should probably stop torturing myself.”

Kara was not lying. Over the next two weeks, she did not harm herself. The feeling of joy she had expected never came but the nightmares went away. Instead of nightmares something worse occurred. She dreamed of talking to her mother, to her Aunt and all the conversations led to one question they both continually asked of her. Why? Kara gave different answers every time but the looks of disappointment on their faces never went away. The nightmares scared her but they were over quickly. The conversations seemed to last forever.

Listening to Alex toss and turn, having good dreams she imagined since Kara heard the name Cameron spoken multiple times, she decided to do something. Anything. She needed an escape again. This time she did not go to the bathroom but instead dressed and moved towards the garage and her bike.

A half hour later, the crowd at the only alien bar in National City fell quiet, as Kara walked inside, wearing black boots, fade jeans and a well worn riding jacket. Eventually whispers started up but Kara ignored them, finding a booth and sitting down. A few people walked out of the bar quickly hoping she hadn’t seen them.

One Khund escaped the massacre at Lake Huron. One single sentry, guarding the perimeter when the battle began had hidden rather than fight. He saw Kara burning Non’s body. He told a friend and the story reached the ears of nearly every alien on the planet.

A dark skinned, thin female with a pleasant smile approached the table with an order pad in hand.

“Hi, I’m Megan.”

“Hi Megan.” Kara offered, trying to smile and failing.

“Is it true? Are you… Kara Zor El?”

“I used to be. That girl died on Krypton. I think just Kara works now.”

Megan nodded her head. “I know all about leaving your past behind. So Kara, what can I get for you? Hot wings? We have burgers on the grill in back and…”

“I need something alcoholic that doesn’t taste like diesel.”

“I think I can handle that. I have a few ideas.”

Kara smiled at the girl, briefly wondering what species she was or if she as human as she appeared.

“Whatever you bring me, make it strong.”

A/N: To continue reading this series, please read Seeing Red next. Thank you all.