Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Life Equation

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 30:

 36 years ago

“Why are we out here again?” six-year-old Kara asked her father. “This seems like one of your plans that is going to get us into trouble with Mother.”

The two were in the Errant Jungle, tracking an enormous, extremely aggressive and dangerous Rorrrok. Though she had never seen one in person, Kara knew the species well. She knew the creature weighed over two tons and stood on four legs at minimum height of six feet tall. It had a giant tusk on its forehead that is used for boring its prey and large teeth to chew up what was left. Across its broad back, it had a row of hard ridges, offering even more protection against enemies that might strike from above. The tracks it left behind were huge, twice the width of Kara’s head and were definitely tipped with exceedingly long claws.

“We talked about this.” Zor El told his daughter, following through the rough, muddy and overgrown terrain, tracking the beast with only a small rifle in his arms as Kara trailed behind him. “We need a scrape of its tusk. They have incredible healing property. We need it…”

Kara interrupted him. “Yes, I understand we need it for the immunization booster and Vira Fever treatment. What I mean to say is what are we doing here? After our last adventure, Mother forbid you from allowing me to accompany you into the wild. This will not work out well for either of us. Shouldn’t we have sent in soldiers?”

Zor El shook his head. “Soldiers would likely just kill the beast. We can sedate him, scrape a small sample and be gone long before he wakes up from his peaceful nap. You can also see a Rorrrok in complete safety once I have sedated the creature. Besides, your Mother doesn’t have to know we were here.”

Kara looked at her Father doubtfully. “So we lie to Mother? You know how difficult that is.”

Zor shrugged his shoulders, keeping his rifle ready and eyes on the trail. “We won’t lie to her. We just won’t mention it to her. If she asks what we did today, just say we were working on an immunization booster and treatment for the latest mutation of Vira Fever. Explain to her what the fever is, how the virus occurs, how our immune system reacts, what causes the virus to mutate or die. Break it into DNA sequencing if you have to. Eventually…”

“She will nod her head like she understands, kiss my cheek, tell me how smart I am and then tell our Kelex to prepare the table for dinner and have a glass of wine.” Kara finished, familiar with the routine. “But this is the first time I have worn this dress and the hem is already covered in mud. I’m not even sure if my shoes are still on.”

“She won’t notice a little dirt on your dress. It’s not as if she doesn’t buy you a new one every day. Jor complains to me about it constantly, like I can do something about it.”

Kara looked at her Father’s back. “It’s a white dress. She is going to notice. Whatever. If we are going to get into trouble, we may as well make the most of it.”

Zor looked over his shoulder and smiled. “That’s my girl. I think we are close. We can clean your dress when we return to our lab, grab your extra shoes and then no one will be able to tell.”

Kara frowned. “And my Kelex…”

“Kelex does what I tell him to do… what you tell him to do, of course… he is yours after all. Now grab onto my belt and follow me quietly. It’s noon, so he should be resting soon, most likely in the muddiest hole he can find.”

The two jungle explorers trekked through the wild as silently as possible, picking up different tracks along the way and finding the bodies of the animals that crossed the monster.

“At least it won’t be hungry. Maybe it won’t try to eat us.” Kara whispered, taking in the fresh torn and chewed up bodies.

Zor smiled, readied his rifle and whispered to her approvingly, “That’s my Sunbeam. Always the optimist.”

The man could hear the deep, steady, half-rumble of the creature as it slept. He peaked through the bush and saw the monstrous creature, laid out in a pit of mud, the slime substance coating its body to keep it cool in the heat.

“Okay. Stay behind and watch my back.” Zor whispered to his daughter. “I need to get closer. It has to be a perfect shot in the soft skin behind the eye to pierce the hide and have an immediate effect.”

Kara stayed in the bush, watching with wide eyes as her Father closed in on the large, slumbering creature. He raised the rifle, nearly point blank behind the creature’s closed eyelid, when the eye opened.

The Rorrrok lifted its head up immediately sweeping Zor and his rifle away. Zor managed to get a shot off but it bounced harmlessly off the thick hide and his rifle flew away as did Zor into the muddy pit.

Kara watched in horror, her Father laying half deep in mud and his rifle ten feet from him. She moved to run towards him but before he could raise his hand to stop her, the creature caught sight of her.

“Uh, oh.” the little girl whispered, adrenalin surging through her body.

Zor saw the monster had caught sight of his daughter and grabbed a handful of mud, tossing it towards its eye to distract it.

“Kara, get up the tree!” he yelled.

Kara looked to her right and saw a tree that didn’t appear carnivorous. She leapt, arms and legs grabbing as many branches and knots as she could, scurrying high, nearly losing her grip when it rammed the trunk under her. Finding a branch that overlooked the creature, Kara kept one eye on it and another on her Father who was desperately trying to clean mud off the firing mechanism and reload a fresh tranquilizing dart into the rifle.

The monster turned towards Zor.

“Hey! Ugly! You can’t get me! C’mon, give it a shot! I’m really tasty! Yum, yum!” Kara yelled, trying to gain the creature’s attention once again, away from her Father.

Seeing this wasn’t working, Kara decided on a new strategy.

She jumped… and landed between the ridges on the creatures back, holding on tight. Feeling the new weight, the Rorrrock’s head swept up trying to find her. Unable to bite the child, it began a new tactic. It jumped and continued jumping, hoping to throw her off.

“Kara, what are you doing?!” Zor cried out.

“Load the rifle!” She yelled.

“Get down!”

“Load the rifle!”

“No, get off the Rorrrok now! Slide off the back!”

“There are too many ridges! Can we argue about this later!? Load the rifle!” Kara cried out, her arms holding on to the ridge in front while her body bounced up and down on its back.

The creature gave up trying to buck her off and turned towards Zor El. The man fired once again but not having a side shot made it difficult to fire behind the creatures eyeball. He aimed at the creature’s eye, not worrying about blinding it now.

And missed.

“Non is a horrible instructor.” Zor muttered. “This is all his fault.”

The creature raced towards the man and he threw the rifle at the beast, then sidestepped it, jumping onto the creature’s back as it raced past him, landing behind Kara.

“Hello, Father… in case you didn’t noticed, you missed. I thought you had been practicing with Uncle Non?” Kara greeted him shakily. He could feel why. The creature had begun bucking once again and the pressure was enormous. He knew Kara was taking a beating, worse than the one he expected to receive when he got home.

“I’m going to stay up here.” Zor said. “When it lowers its head, jump off and run towards the skimmer.”

“I’m not leaving you.” Kara told him.

“I don’t want you to. I want you to get Kelex from the skimmer, run back and shoot this thing while I hold on!”

Kara shook her head. “It’s safer up here. You are the adult! You run and get Kelex… you have to realize you have longer legs, right?”

Zor El ignored his daughter’s logic. He tried to reach into his pocket, holding on with one hand for the communicator so Kelex could be called… then discovered his pocket was empty and it was most likely in the mud. “Let’s hold on until it tires out. Once we get close to that tree with the low branch I am going to throw you up to it. Hold on and don’t let…”

Zor’s plan was interrupted when a blast of red light lit up the muddy area, burning through the Rorrrok, sending it to the ground midjump as Kara and Zor fell the opposite way, Zor barely managing to wrap his arms around his daughter to protect her while trying to guide their fall.

They both plopped into slimy ground, covering their bodies completely in mud.

“Are you okay?” Zor finally asked, clearing his mouth of foul tasting mud.

Kara sat up on her father. “I swallowed mud. My glutes feel like they have been hammered. My back feels like it needs to be popped. Other than that, yeah, I had a great time. What happened? I thought we were wearing him out.”

The two turned towards the fallen beast that had a large hole through it. Kelex hovered in front of it, his optical scope beaming bright, ready to fire again if the beast showed any signs of life.

Kara stood up and gave her Father a hand. They both slipped again and fell into the mud laughing until Kelex floated above them.

“You didn’t have to kill him. Couldn’t you have stunned him?” Kara asked her friend.

“No.” the robot replied shortly, offering no other explanation.

Zor El stood and helped his daughter up. They were both literally covered in mud from head to toe, not even recognizable. Even their hair color matched their bodies.

“That never happened. Understand, Kelex?” Kara told him, pointing to emphasize her order.

Instead of replying, Kelex projected an image of a furious Alura El, staring at the two.

They cringed, not that Alura could tell because of their mud camouflage.

“Live feed, huh?” Zor guessed.

Alura said nothing, her face giving away her rage.

“Kelex does what I tell him to.” Kara mumbled. “Good call, Father.”

Alura snapped her eyes to Kara. “Kelex protects you! Zor, for once I am not going to ask you to explain yourself because there is no explanation for this! Don’t bother thinking of one! I’m not sure if my genius husband has any brain cells left!”

“That hurt.” Zor whispered to Kara, his muddy face looking anywhere besides Alura’s hologram.

Kara shrugged her shoulders. “Mother, I realize our plan may not have been perfect but as you can see we sedated the Rorrrok, a bit more permanently than we planned, and are about to retrieve the tusk sample we need to complete the immunization booster. I think congratulations are in order… maybe?”

Alura’s face turned even redder and her eyes widened before she forced herself to calm down. “Kelex, is Kara injured?”

“Scrapes to her hands and feet, bruising to her thighs, ingestion of mud and an accelerated heartbeat.” the robot dutifully reported to the woman he apparently obeyed over everyone else.

“Any chance my husband has a fatal injury?” She asked, her tone seething.

“No, he has similar injuries as Kara, but none are life threatening.” Kelex said.

“That is a shame. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to do the job myself. Perhaps I may get more enjoyment of the act. Do you have any idea what I am going to do to you when I see you, Zor?”

“Hug me and be thankful we survived the encounter relatively unscathed?” he hoped.

Alura looked at her husband coldly, enough to send a chill through his previously sweating body.

“I am going to slaughter you! I am going to make you wish Rao never gave his light to you. Every day! Every day I went to the Genesis Chamber and watched my daughter grow. After everything we have gone through to keep her safe, you continue to take her into these deadly situations… I can’t even decide what I am going to do to you. There are so many things, so many ways I want to harm you, I can’t just decide on one. It’s impossible! At this point, I trust Zod to watch over Kara more than I trust you! You are an idiot! I knew you were an idiot when I bonded with you, but I had no idea it was this bad. How can someone so smart be so stupid?”

“Wow, that really hurt. How are you going to talk your way out of this one, Father?” Kara laughed but stopped quickly when her Mother’s eyes burned into hers.

“Kara Zor El, you come home… NOW! I told you not to… and he should know better! This is getting ridiculous. I’m… actually both of you come home immediately. I feel the need to scream at both of you in person. I will call Lara and find out if she knows of any new instruments that can be used for torture… Astra wants to have a word with you as well, Zor! She will be waiting for you! And I won’t stop her!” she yelled then the hologram feed was cut.

“That went well.” Zor said. “She took it better than I thought she might. Looks like you will be stuck in court with her for the next few days… or weeks, and as for my fate… it won’t be kind. But as you said, Rao has given us what we needed. Rao does not permit divorce or murder. So all’s well that ends well. Shall we go to our fates or would you like to explore some more?”

Kara thought for a moment. “Since there is no point in cleaning up, we could take a stroll. Perhaps we could find a Miata plant and cut it before it eats us. Do you think there are many Residars in the area?”

The two heard a loud roar in the distance.

“On second thought, we should probably get the booster and treatment prepared. Our people’s needs must come first.” Kara pointed out, her eyes wide at the sound.

“Good choice, Sunbeam. Our people must come first. So, I was thinking next week we could find a Chaulth. I’ve heard their population is growing in the Western Sea. Feel like taking the skimmer for an underwater excursion?”

Kara nodded happily. “As long as I don’t have to swallow anymore of this mud. We should perhaps cut Kelex’s live communication feed and erase his memory of our excursion next time.”

“I was doing as I was…”

“Shut up, Kelex!” Father and Daughter snapped.

“We had the situation completely under control. Isn’t that correct, Father?” Kara exclaimed, giddy with excitement despite the close call.

Zor El winked at the Kelex unit and patted it on the back. “Thanks for the save, friend.” he told the robot, then grabbed his daughter’s hand and moved quickly back towards the skimmer to face his doom.

Metropolis, Present

“So that is why I know I could easily last a mere eight seconds on a bull.” Kara explained, finishing her story to a wide-eyed Kell. The two were at a rodeo outside the city, enjoying the day, Kara forcing Kell to wear a cowboy hat and boots once again, and sharing nachos.

Kell shook his head at the absurdity of the story. The part that surprised him was he had no doubt it was true.

“No wonder your Mother is afraid to let you out of her sight.” he realized.

“What about you? Think you could ride one of those beasts?” she asked.

Kell shook his head. “I have no reason to want to. There must be easier ways to make a living than this.”

Kara shrugged her shoulders. “It’s all about the thrill of taking a risk.”

“I can understand a thrill.” Kell answered back. “I’ve felt many so called thrills running from monsters on worthless rocks and moons. I’ve experienced many thrills with you, racing through asteroid fields, taking on thousands of androids in space, visiting Apokolips to enjoy it’s wildlife and breaking many mating protocols on top of explosive devices. What I can’t understand is doing this bull riding over and over again, despite the injuries. Do it once, sure. Do it repeatedly and you might be considered what humans call a ‘masochist’.”

Kara laughed and the two held hands enjoying the day as it turned into night. Alura had allowed them out with no other chaperones. Kara knew Red Shard troops and Green Lanterns were around, but she couldn’t see them and didn’t bother to look. Hopefully, her Mother hadn’t been lying. It had been a stressful couple of days, with Earth being attacked by thousands of androids, opening gigantic tears in the space time continuum, flying to Apokolips, fighting dreggs and parademons, then setting up satellites around the Earth that would prevent Brainiac from launching a surprise attack.

After the last ride, the two strolled hand in hand around the ground, taking a closer look at the livestock, buying more food, and taking in the sights of the carnival that had been set up outside the rodeo.

They discovered the wonders of funnel cake and Kettle Corn, then began walking towards the sound of music. A large building which had been silent all day, was now vibrant as night fell, humans streaming into the establishment.

“There is dancing. I want to go.” Kara told him and began pulling him towards the building.

Kara wasted no time once they were inside, pulling him onto the dance floor.

“I have no idea how these people are dancing. Can we just hold each other and sway like last time? I really liked that.” Kell suggested.

Unfortunately, Kara shot the idea down. “Nope, we have to dance like they are. I think it is called line dancing. Let’s watch what they do for a minute and then repeat the steps.”

Kell had a bad feeling about this place, noticing the many male patrons eyeing Kara, despite having mates themselves.

Another part of him understood. Kara had worn tight blue jeans and, as soon as they had left the Lake House, knotted the bottom of her shirt to bare her very cut abdomen and let her hair fall loose. She was a sight, not only breathtakingly beautiful, but sexy as hell.

Finally the line dance and Kell’s awkward attempts to imitate the others on the floor ended and a slower song began. Kara wrapped her arms around him and the two began moving slowly to the music.

“Much better.” the man admitted.

Kara couldn’t disagree. “Staged dances aren’t my thing. I prefer to feel the music in my soul, give myself to it and let it guide my body. Music is no different than anything else in the Universe. It essence is different than solid matter, of course, but the sound waves cause vibrations that are transformed into electrical signals in our brain. These signals light up emotional and physical responses. I like to think of them as just another part of the beautiful universe: protons, electrons, the positive and negative constantly drawn together, unable to resist each other. Our bodies are not so much different, just larger manifestations of the basic attractions of the universe, drawing into each other, causing massive sparks that can change everything, merging with each other, forming one out of many or many out of one…”

“I love it when you talk science to me.” Kell admitted, pulling her closer and earning a smile.

“There is more to mates than science. The bonding of two souls, becoming one is beautiful. Are you ready to merge with my soul?” Kara whispered in his ear.

Kell nodded, doing his best not to stutter and ignore the shiver in his body. “Since the moment I saw you.”

Kara smiled and lay her head on his chest.

After a few more moments the song ended but they continued dancing into the next, neither saying a word.

Until Kara spoke of course.

“Do you realize you will be the eighteenth member of our house named Kell El? I know the sound will take a bit to get used to, but I like it.” she said happily.

Kell pulled back. “What are you talking about?”

Kara rolled her eyes. “When we are bonded… our names, your name, my name.”

Kell shook his head. “Why would I take the House of El’s name? Kell El? That sounds ridiculous. It would be like having two first names. I thought we would take mine or…”

Kara had stepped away from him, an incredulous look on her face.

“Kell El is not a ridiculous name. The second to last Kell El, developed the first light speed engine 2 million years ago! The last Kell El, developed the theory for harnessing the power of stars, allowing Gan El 1.2 million years ago to create the first engine to supersede the laws of physics known at the time to promote faster than lightspeed travel without risking time travel or advanced aging. His work also led to his daughter, Anka El, developing the first Omegahedron one hundred and twenty-two years later!”

Kell fought the urge to roll his eyes. “Here we go. Do you know the entire history of the House of El? Even the names of people from a million years ago?”

“Of course. All Kryptonians know the ancestors of the House of El.” Kara told him, not liking his tone.

“Right, the first House of Rao, the favored family…” Kell replied, not keeping the sarcasm out of his voice.

“Every major scientific breakthrough has come from the House of El! That scout ship you grew up in was a 28th level upgrade, designed by my Grandfather! There is nothing wrong with Kell El!”

Kell took his arms off Kara’s waist. “And what of my House? I realize we don’t have an esteemed history that goes back to the beginning of written Kryptonian records, but it is still my family!”

“Yes, but… our House…”

“Of course. The House of Ur compares little to the great House of El.”

Kara stomped her foot and clenched her fist. “I did not say that. I am just saying the House of El must continue…”

“And it is! Am I missing something? I thought Kal El already had the continuation process covered.” Kell reminded her.

“Fine, I can add your name. Kara Zor Ur El is a mouthful though.”

“And Kara Ur is out of the question, I suppose?”

Kara gritted her teeth and balled her fists. “Yes! Only sixty two times in the last two billion years has someone other than the House of El not been the head of the Science Guild. What’s the problem? Uncle Non took Aunt Astra’s name!”

“Because he had a brother and hated him! The man joined Black Zero in the attempted coup and it was Non who killed him. He told me his Father was a jerk too. He left that House gladly. My house never tried to help a man take over Krypton and turn it into a universal terror! I realize we aren’t as well known and we can’t trace our family lineage back billions of years, but we were a House, a family!”

Kara nodded her head. “Well, Kara Zor El Ur isn’t going to work. No one has four names on Krypton.”

“Zor is just a nickname… you don’t have to use it.”

Kara pushed the man in his chest, causing him to step back.

“You hit me!” Kell exclaimed incredulously.

“That was a shove! You will know when it is a hit! I will not give up my father’s name! I didn’t mean your family is…”

“Oh yes you did.” he cut in. “I see what Non was talking about. ‘She can be a bit arrogant, Kell, but she means nothing by it’ . I think he understated your arrogance! But then what else should I expect from Rao’s Hand?”

Kara shoved him again. “You want arrogance? I haven’t begun to show you arrogance. I dumb down most of what I say so everyone around me can understand what is going on! So you think I should give up my Father’s name? The man who saved millions from diseases, saved our battleships in times of war, saved our people?!”

“I am not asking you to. It came out wrong.” he admitted, realizing he may have crossed a line, even though she had crossed several in his opinion.

“It came out fine. We can keep our own names!” she shouted.

“And any children we may have?”

“I’m not sure I even want to have children with you!” Kara yelled.

Kell rolled his eyes. “Of course you don’t! Maybe I’m not smart enough to father children from the great House of El. I wouldn’t want my blood diluting the incredible geniuses expected from your line. What about continuing my House!? Isn’t that important? My father may not have been a hero, but he did as much for Krypton…”

“I never said he didn’t! I’m just saying that you keep your name and if it means that much to you I will have four names even if it sounds stupid!”

Kell threw up his hands. “So now the name of my House is stupid.”

“I didn’t say that. I said Kara Zor El Ur sounds stupid. Saying Councilor Kara Zor El in public council meetings is already a mouthful! What would be so bad about joining my House? We are going to be living in the compound of the House of El.”

“Yes and yet your Aunt and Uncle haven’t changed their names to El.”

“They don’t have to. They are a part of the House of El, through my Mother!”

Kell rolled his eyes. “Right, your Mother that we will be living with. Forever. Why can’t we have our own place?”

Kara looked at him sharply. “We will. We will have our own quarters. I’m going to share a bathroom with you. Do you know how big of a deal that is? I have never shared a bathroom in my life! There isn’t space in Argo City for a new residence. And don’t even think of leaving the bathroom door open when you are in it. I’m not sure if that is what happens with mated couples, but it won’t happen with us. If you are using it for anything other than a shower, it stays closed.”

“The same goes for you.” Kell responded.

A large bald man in a sleeveless shirt, black vest and tattoos covering his arms, stepped up behind Kara. “Hey, what language is that you two are fighting in.”

Kara never glanced at the man, her red-faced glare pinned solely on Kell. “French. Leave us alone.”

The man laughed. “I was hoping since you and cowboy here are fighting, maybe I can cut it. Feel like dancing with me?”

“No. Now leave me.” Kara responded.

The man winked at Kell and moved his hand towards Kara’s…

Then he was on his knees, his wrist in Kell’s grip, arm twisted in great pain.

“You do not touch women without permission.” Kell told the man. “And you most definitely do not touch her. Try it again and I will snap your arm off, human.”

Kara saw that the exceptionally large man was in tears as Kell had him pressed into the ground.

“Kell, you are going to break his wrist. Let him go.” Kara told him.

Kell looked at her, then relaxed, letting the man’s arm drop where he cradled it quickly to his chest.

Kara noticed that other, similarly dressed men and a few women had stood up and were surrounding them.

One swung at Kell who didn’t move, instead letting the man’s fist hit his face. Kara winced at the sound of broken fingers as they struck the immovable Kryptonian.

“That’s two hands that won’t be touching women inappropriately. Who’s next?” Kell asked the group of people.

Kara was about to admonish him when she heard a scream behind her. A female had taken a bar chair and was swinging it towards her head.

Before she could decide if she simply wanted to stop it or move to the side, a woman was in front of the female, grabbing the stool in midair and holding a gun to the perpetrator’s face. A human gun.

The blonde looked around and nearly panicked, seeing ten casually dressed Red Shard soldiers standing around her, holding firearms pointed at the ones who seemed to be hostile towards them.

“ Put the guns down !” Kara nearly screamed. “ You can’t just walk into an establishment and pull guns on people!”

The largest guard, one that she could not help but notice during her life, looked at her confused. “ But they are human guns. This is normal… we are blending in. Zay is even wearing cowboy hat.”

Kara grabbed Kell by the arm and pulled him to the exit. She was glad to see her guards had put away their guns. Instead they had performed a protective column around her, walking in a straight line, sending every human in the dance hall stumbling as soon as they bumped into the unit.

As soon as they were outside, the entire group ran quickly, disappearing into the dark night, stopping a mile from the grounds seconds later.

Kara took out her phone and called her sidekick. “Kelex?”

As usual, her friend had anticipated her needs and answered the unasked question. “Security feed was cut. I believed they moved too fast for human eyes to see.”

“Thank you, Kelex. How is Krypto?”

“He repeatedly jumps in the air in an attempt to bite me. He has also licked your mother again and was chewing her shoes. He is not being a ‘ good boy ‘ by my understanding of the definition.”

Kara grinned at Kelex’s report and ended the call. Her grin then morphed into a glare which she leveled at her companions.

“What were you all thinking?” She asked in Kryptonese.

The one she knew as Commander Zol spoke. “Humans were moving towards you aggressively.”

“You weren’t even supposed to be here tonight!” She exclaimed.

“That was never going to happen. We were told to blend in. We are wearing human clothes and having to use inferior human weapons,” the man calmly explained.

Kara pointed in the direction of the building they had left. “They were humans! What did you think they were going to do? They can’t hurt me!”

The blonde woman, whose name was Ninna according to Alex, stepped up to Kara. “Like the human that struck you with deadly radiation, or the one that conducted a faulty experiment causing her to mutate and strike you repeatedly? Or perhaps the human who Brainiac used as a shell before he attacked you with some sort of mechanical tentacles in the hopes that he could pierce your brain?”

Kara held her breath so she wouldn’t scream in frustration. “I am surprised. All these years and none of you talked to me. Now you can speak to me? Did the council have a meeting rescinding those stupid laws?”

“We are only allowed to speak to you if you argue about our presence or your need for security.” Commander Zol told her.

Kara was beyond irritated. “That’s ridiculous. It stops now. You will not follow me anywhere else. Is that understood?!”

Zol’s expression never changed as he answered, “I understand that as Head of the Science Guild and a member of the Council you have no authority over me. I follow the orders of our Generals and uphold the oath I swore when you were a child. We will go back to being discrete, but we will be near you. If you don’t like that, take it up with Generals Astra and Non.”

Before Kara could respond they were all gone, back into the night sky.

She turned to Kell who was not looking at her. “Did you know they were around?”

The man shook his head. “Look, I’m sorry… about the name thing. I can keep mine and you will keep yours and if we ever do have children in the future we can figure out something then. I can’t just leave my name behind. I hurt my Father enough… I couldn’t do that to him.”

Kara’s face softened at his tone. She walked up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder. He turned towards her slightly and she saw the sadness in his eyes.

“What do you mean? I… I talk about my Father and family all the time. You never tell me anything about yours. I doubt you could hurt anyone, Kell. I mean family, at least.”

The man turned around and shook his head, sorrow heavily etched on his face. “When we returned to Argo City from our last trip, Father found out the big secret everyone was whispering about. He said the High Council forbid Jor El from speaking of Krypton dying. But everyone believed your Father. There were projects being worked on in secret… even from the High Council.

“Father told me Jor El had been petitioning for more exploration missions. I guess he wanted as many people off the planet as soon as possible. The High Council told him it would consider his request at the next monthly meeting. We didn’t have a month, but Father didn’t know that. He wanted me on one of those trips and I told him…”

Kara said nothing, giving him time to continue.

“I told him he was ridiculous to believe that. I couldn’t imagine our planet… exploding. The thought was insane. How could all of Krypton just be gone? Then I told him the trip we had just returned from was my last because I was going to join the Military Guild. He became angry, told me that our House had always been explorers, finding new minerals and elements for Krypton for millions of years. I told him I didn’t care. I wanted more than just mining dead rocks in space. I wanted to fight, be a warrior.”

Kara felt a chill, having an idea of where this was going. “He didn’t take it well?”

Kell shook his head. “He was angry, upset, he kept telling me that I had to get off planet, go on the next trip, that the military would be able to do nothing.”

Kell paused for a moment, tears sliding unchecked down his face. “And I called him a superstitious old man, who believed every rumor he heard. I told him all the work that was going on was just because Zor El believed his brother’s outlandish claims and I would follow my own path. He promised to teach me how to pilot, promised me everything I could ever want if I stayed in the Explorers Guild…. but I told him all I wanted was a different life.

“I said goodbye to Mother, took a bag with my jacket and few changes of clothes and went straight to the Military Guild headquarters. Because the Explorers Guild was technically part of the Military, I had no problem getting in. I stayed on the ship, began training, accidentally saved your life and then went on orbital patrol a week later.”

Kara understood. “The last time you spoke to your Father you fought. You were fifteen, Kell. There was nothing wrong… you couldn’t have known.”

Kell shook his head. “No, I didn’t believe. I didn’t believe your Father or mine and I basically told my Father I was through following in his footsteps. When it happened… when we finally docked with Argo City… after we escaped the Phantom Zone, I hoped I would see him, apologize, hold my Mother… then I found out they were dead.”

Kara pulled the man into her arms. He dropped his head on her shoulder and stood still. “I feel that if I give up the name of our House, it would be like I was giving up any memory of them. I hurt him once. I won’t ever get the chance to talk to him or Mother again… you are right. We can keep our names and worry about children in the future.”

Kara stepped back and shook her head. “Maybe four names would be fine. Or maybe we can come up with our own.” she told him playfully hoping to see him smile.

“Our own? What did you have in mind?”

Kara shrugged her shoulders and smiled. “Thanks to Kal El, Zod isn’t being used anymore.”

Kell burst out in laughter and hugged her close. “Kara and Kell Zod. Your Mother would kill both of us.”

Kara’s phone beeped and she saw her Uncle Non’s number.

“Did you realize your soldiers are packing heat?” she greeted him.

Non didn’t respond to her question. “I need you in Watchtower immediately. Brainiac opened an interdimensional tear. Your defenses worked but he has entered the galaxy. He is at the edge, stationary. Since your fighter isn’t in space we wouldn’t have known except he is broadcasting.”

“How many Lanterns are still in the system?” Kara asked.

“52…” Non replied.

“Don’t let them attack…”

“I know! This isn’t the first war I have fought. He wants to see our next move but more than that… just come directly to Watchtower. We are congregating here. Fly low but fly fast.” Non stated, then ended the call.

Kara looked towards Kell. “Probably is a good idea. I think I hear sirens coming.”

Kell looked up at the stars. “I wish it were as simple as blowing him out of the sky. He has thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of sentients hostage in that ship of his. I am guessing you have a plan?”

Kara shrugged her shoulders. “One with about a 42% chance of success right now. I will figure it out. You ready to race?”

Twenty seconds later, the duo landed on the roof of Watchtower, figuring since it was night there would be no need to take the convoluted entrance under Wayne Industries.

The door opened for them and they raced to the 21st floor.

Her Mother, Lois, and Non were present as were Kal El, Wally, Victor, Hal and Diana. “Where is Kelex?”

Alura looked sadly at her daughter. “Setting up your portable lab in the training room.”

“Okay… where is Alex?”

“National City. She needed a few days to think about some things, a little space. Given the current situation, I am going to send someone for her as soon as possible.” Non explained. “The Lanterns are holding position but will attack if Brainiac tries to move forward and we will follow. No sign of androids yet… but it seems he doesn’t want to attack. He wants to talk to you.”

“How do you know that?” Kara asked, somewhat apprehensively. “Is the broadcast going to a host?”

Non nodded and looked at the screen gravely. Kara looked and what she saw made her heart race, her anger erupting.

Batman and a man in an overcoat were on the rooftop of some building. Standing next to a large spotlight was a little girl, with explosives wrapped around her chest.

“She told Bruce when he arrived that she would only speak to Kara El. He gave Bruce 30 minutes to find you or the girl dies.” Non explained, gritting his teeth. “Coward. I look forward to wiping him from existence.”

Kara took in the sight on the screen, willing her anger to calm, knowing she couldn’t help the little girl if she couldn’t keep a clear head. “If she is being controlled by a parasite he is going to kill her anyway. How many of these things did he send before we knew about it?”

“At least two, obviously, but it could be hundreds. We need a way to track them.” Kal El told her.

“Yes, and we will, but in the meantime, I’m not losing this one. I have what I need now.” Kara’s focus began to narrow as a plan formed in her mind. “Wally, how fast can you run?”

“As fast as you need me to.” he told her, for once no trace of humor in his voice.

“Fast enough to clip that bomb off her before it explodes?” Kara asked intently.

Wally nodded his head. “Absolutely… but what about the parasite?”

“I’ll handle the parasite.” Kara said, turning to her cousin. “Kal, how strong is your cape? Can it contain an explosion?”

Superman nodded.

“Good.” Kara pulled her phone out. “Kelex? Has the stasis pod and the matter manipulation device been removed from my fighter?”

“Yes. Everything is set up as you specified.” Kelex replied, before asking, “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

“No, I’m all out of good ideas. Bad ideas are all I have left.” Kara responded then looked to her uncle. “Uncle Non, I need a stasis chip. Do you have any in the scout ship’s armory in the event of mortal injuries?”

“Yes, I’ll get it immediately.” Non was gone in a blur that would rival the Flash.

Kara took a deep breath. “Okay, let’s have a chat with a Coluan and save a girl’s life.”