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“Sentinel, I just finished up with the mercenaries. Now heading to help the other agents with the kids.”
“Sounds good, Supergirl. See you there.”
Supergirl landed softly by the school buses that were lined up outside the zoo. She thanked Rao that they weren’t the main targets of the bad guys. Just in the wrong place and wrong time. She saw that the DEO agents were handling the first two buses, so she went to get Vasquez to help guide the kids to where their parents were waiting.
“Vasquez!”
“Yes, Supergirl?”
“I’ll start helping the kids on the 3rd bus, can you guide them to their parents?
“Of course.” With that confirmation, Supergirl took a deep breath and put on a smile before she headed up the stairs to the bus. When she got in, the kids were all in awe and couldn’t believe who was in their bus.
“Hi!” She said to the bus driver, “What’s your name?”
“Barbara.” Barbara said with a shaky voice, Supergirl is assuming that her brave face for the kids was starting to fade.
“Hi Barbara, my name is Supergirl. You’re all okay now. You were so brave, but I still need your help. Can you do that?” Barbara nodded. “Okay, Agent Vasquez is outside ready to help the kids to see their parents, can you help me make sure they get there?”
“Of course, I can do that.”
“I had no doubts, Barbara.” Supergirl kindly smiled.
“Hi kids!” Supergirl now turned her attention to the elementary students. “Do you want to hear great news?”
They all shouted yes. Kara gave them a toothy grin, amazed by the resilience kids have.
“I knew you all would be ready for that! Guess what! Your parents are just right outside,” Supergirl pointed to the parking lot where they can see a horde of parents. “And they are so happy to see you all. So, can you do me a favor and get your backpacks and then exit the bus?”
“Yes!” The kids all said at the same time, eager to impress Supergirl.
“You’re all such good kids! Alright then, follow me and Miss Barbara!” Supergirl exited first, then Miss Barbara. Supergirl stayed by the door so that the kids could high five her if they wanted, which they all did. The last one even gave her a hug.
“Thank you for saving us, Miss Supergirl.”
“Oh you’re very welcome, miss? What’s your name?”
“Hayley!”
“You’re very welcome, miss Hayley! Go ahead, your parents are excited to see you!” Vasquez made sure the kid was with her group.
Sentinel walked right up to Supergirl after helping the last bus. “Not too shabby of a day, huh?”
“Definitely not. No casualties, kids saved? Probably the best outcome ever.”
“Agreed. Well, why don’t you go back to the DEO while I finish here. We’ll meet you back there?”
“Are you sure?”
“Yep.” Sentinel nodded.
Supergirl flew back to the DEO. Once she landed, she looked at her watch to see if she could still sneak in some “working hours” at CatCo, but saw that it was past 6pm already. She’ll just have to wake up early tomorrow to sneak in some extra writing, knowing that the team will likely want to have drinks tonight.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
“Lena, hi! I didn’t know you were in today.”
“I wasn’t planning on it, but heard the news and just wanted to be here in case I was needed. Glad that I wasn’t though and that all the kids were not harmed.”
“Oh well, I’m glad, you’re here.” Kara hugged Lena. “Oh sorry, I forgot I was a little bloody.”
“No worries, I think they’re dried blood now.” Lena said while inspecting her still clean clothes.
“Well, let me go freshen up and I think the rest of the Superfriends should be back by then.” Kara smiled widely.
Sure enough, by the time she was done, they were all back, and starting their paperwork. Kara went to grab a stack as well to fill out her reports. Lena sat right next to her as she completed it. They all didn’t talk, just wanting to get the report done as soon as possible and head home or wherever they will go.
“FINALLY.” Nia said as she turned in her last report to Alex.
“I believe that is the last of the reports so we are good to go. Anyone want drinks?”
A chorus of hell yes-es were heard. The Superfriends went to an alien bar so that Brainy, Kara, and J’onn can actually feel the effects of the alcohol. They did their usual thing: talking, playing pool and darts, and once or twice Kara went up to sing karaoke. But none of them were really drinking that much since it was a weekday tomorrow. Except Kara may have gotten the extra strong alien liquor.
“Hey Lena, need a ride?” Kara asked.
“You sure you’re up for flying?” Lena asked, noticing the slight slur in Kara’s speech. “I could have my driver pull up instead?”
“Okay” Kara agreed to Lena with a thumbs up.
“Okay, come on. When did you get drunk? I swear I only saw you drink like 2 shots.”
“They may have been extra strong cause I’m a strong alien”
“Okay, time to go home, indeed.” Lena smiled as she directed her to her car.
As they got into the car, Lena gave Kara her water bottle, “Come on, drink up.”
“Thanks, Lena. You’re so nice.” Kara said with a huge smile on her face.
The rest of the 40 minute ride consisted of Kara pointing out the things that are beautiful on this earth. When they got to Kara’s place, Lena went down with her to make sure that the girl of steel actually made it inside– though she noticeably wasn’t as drunk as when they left the bar.
“Thanks, Lena. I think I’m sobering up.” As she opened the door to her apartment, she moved to the side, giving Lena the choice to go in if she wanted. Lena went in.
“You’re welcome, darling. Let me go get you some water and I’ll leave you some aspirin in case you need it when you wake up cause I know you don’t have those here.” Kara just sat on her couch while Lena was in her kitchen.
“I think that’s all good, I’ll see you tomorrow for our lunch?”
“Yes, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Go get some sleep, Kara. Good night.”
“Good night, Lena.”
Lena closed the door and Kara had all intentions to get up and clean up, but she started thinking about her friends. Alex went home with Kelly. Nia went home with Brainy. J’onn went home to M’gann. Lena had James, at least for a while. And she was, well, here. Alone. Trying to bury the thoughts, Kara got up and showered instead.
“Today was a good day. You saved a lot of kids today, Kara.” She tried to remind her of the good she did today. And with that thought, she tried to go to sleep– and she did.
Suddenly, Kara heard a loud noise accompanied by a bright flash. Her ears started ringing. Someone’s face was in front of her– urging her to go now. No, not just someone. It’s her mom. She’s mouthing something but she can’t hear it, not with the explosions that are still happening. She can feel her heart pounding. Disoriented and partially deaf, Kara followed her mom’s instructions as she pointed to a pod. A figure pressing some buttons was also not far from them. As Kara’s pod closed and started gaining traction, she passed by the figure and saw that it was her dad. Her pod then rocked hard, and in her peripheral vision, she saw a huge flash of light. She turned back to see nothing.
“NO. NO. NOOOO. What is happening?” Kara yelled. Her eyes suddenly opened and she was met with darkness. Panic sets in.
“What’s happening? Where am I?” Kara’s breathing was uneven and heavy, her heart rate was shot. She continued looking at her surroundings, accidentally using her x-ray vision. Thankfully, that puts her back in reality when she realized that she was just in her bedroom and that she was just dreaming, or more aptly put, a nightmare.
She turned to her side and opened a lamp, and saw the glass of bottle that Lena had left on her nightstand. She drank a little bit, before putting it back and turning off the light. She took a deep breath and tried to go to sleep again. And for the second time that night, she fell right back to sleep.
Her eyes opened and she was once again surrounded by darkness. She tried to use her x-ray vision again– hoping that it would help her jolt back to reality. But nothing happened, she tried moving around but her arms were not moving at all. Her breath hitched. She needs to get out of here, she thought to herself, but she doesn’t even know what here is or where here is. Minutes passed by and she still was able to breathe and see, just that she can’t move or use any of her powers. She was trapped. She tried to stay calm. She tried to just ride through it, convincing herself that it was just a dream. And so, with eyes wide open, time continues to pass by. After a while of losing and gaining consciousness, she finally fell asleep again.
She opened her eyes and saw that it was still dark out, which means she doesn’t need to wake up yet, but she wanted to check the time. So, she moved to grab her phone. But she couldn’t.
“Oh no. No. Not again, please.” Kara begged. She had no choice but to wait again– hoping sleep would succumb her again. Seconds turn into minutes turn into hours. She couldn’t see a way out. She closed her eyes so that it would at least make sense why her entire world is dark.
“God. How long has it been?” Kara whispered to herself but no sounds came out.
It felt like days had passed when she opened her eyes again, but she was still there. She tried to move again, to press the shiny buttons that were now visible in front of her. Miraculously, her arms cooperated, but the damn buttons did not do anything. She started to thrash around and punch the walls. She realized that the walls were actually glass. Panic sets in. She couldn’t breathe. Her pod’s walls start closing in, at the same time her chest starts closing in too, slowly crushing her heart.
“My pod? Oh Rao.” Kara thought to herself. She realized that this was not just a claustrophobic dark place, but that she was inside her pod in the Phantom Zone. She doesn’t know how she didn’t register it the first time. That her nightmare brought her back to her actual nightmare. She continued to try to punch the glass, but all it gave her were bloody fists. She tried to use her laser beams, but only bloody tears came down. She tried everything she could do and nothing worked. She held back a sob, not wanting to accept the reality. She cannot get out. She’s all alone here. With bloody hands, she cried to her god.
Though we go forth alone, our soul unites us under Rao's gladsome rays.
We're never lost, never afraid for we shrink not under the Sun of Righteousness.
Rao binds us to those we love.
He gives us strength when we have none.
For we may walk through the valley of the shadow of death
We will fear no evil.
For Rao sees all, feels all.
His love eternal.
Rao, protect us so that we might protect others.
And we shall rise, a fire in His heart, burning and free.
As a last attempt, Kara begged her god. “Why are you punishing me again? I’ve seen the destruction of my planet. The extinction of my culture and race. The death of my parents. What did I do to deserve this? I’ve saved more people now. I’ve repaid my debt. Please let me go. Please, I’m all alone now.”
Somehow, that was what got Kara out of the dream paralysis. She gulped for air. She feels like she just drowned and someone resuscitated her. She felt something wet on her cheeks, she looked up to see if her ceiling was leaking but then she realized that she was crying. And the dam was breaking, she felt suffocated. Her chest tightening as she sobbed louder.
“Please! I’m begging you.” Kara yelled into the universe, “I have lost EVERYTHING. AND I HAVE GIVEN EVERYTHING THAT I AM. WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED?”
She can feel her laser eyes getting hotter and more intense, fearing that she was going to destroy her apartment and hurt people, she flew through her window. And in a second, she landed in an isolated location.
“I WAS A CHILD. DO YOU HEAR THAT, RAO? I WAS A CHILD AND THEY LEFT ME. MY PARENTS LEFT ME. YOU LEFT ME. YOU SENT KAL-EL HERE, BUT WHERE WAS I?” As she spoke the last word, trees fell like dominos from her punch. “YOU LEFT ME TO DIE.”
Realizing what she just said, Kara collapsed to the ground, “You left me. I was alone. For 24 years I was alone. I was just there and you expect me to be connected with my loved ones? For strength?” She looked up at the rising sun, to Rao. Brought up her bloody hands to somehow capture his bravery, his warmth, more importantly, his protection. But he did not come.
“THEY WERE ALL FUCKING DEAD. I HAD NO ONE.” With overwhelming negative emotions, Kara had no choice but to let go. She shot lasers to the sky as she screamed her heart out. “AND NOW I’M SAVING EVERYONE. SAVING THIS PLANET. AND WHAT DO YOU GIVE ME IN RETURN? NOTHING. YOU GAVE ME A BOY WHO I THOUGHT COULD HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE AS I DO. BUT NOOOOOO. HE WAS A MISOGYNISTIC ASS THAT NEVER RESPECTED ME AND MY CULTURE. AND THEN YOU MADE ME SEND HIM AWAY TOO.”
Her clenched fists tightened its grip, closing her eyes, she screamed, “YOU GAVE ME MY AUNT ASTRA BUT THEN KILLED HER. YOU THINK I DON’T KNOW BUT I KNOW THAT YOU MADE MY SISTER KILL HER.”
“You take and you take and you take. And I have nothing else to give. Nothing. Burn me, at least I will be free. At least I will be with my parents, my aunt and uncle, and with my people. At least I won’t be alone. Burn me.” Kara completely fell to the ground, now looking directly at the sun and nothing else. She lost consciousness.
“Alex, I’m telling you, she is not at CatCo nor is she at her apartment.”
“Lena, you are early for your lunch.” Alex said, trying to calm Lena.
“No, Alex, she told me. She told me that I’ll see her and she hasn’t broken that promise, ever.”
“Okay.”
“Alex, something is wrong. I can feel it. I may not have her super senses, but I know Kara.”
“Okay, I hear you, Lena.” Alex paused to talk to someone off the call, “I just asked Brainy to locate her. I’ll keep you updated.”
Lena touched the watch that Kara gave her. One press and Kara would come to her, but for once, Lena wants to be the one that shows up for her.
“Lena, are you still there?”
“Yes, Alex. Where is she?”
“She’s in the national park 30 minutes away from here. I’ll have agents pick you up.”
“Thank you, Alex.”
“No, thank you, Lena. You were right. Bring her back, okay?”
“I will.”
As they drove, Lena’s heart never once calmed down. “Please be okay, Kara. I need you to be okay.”
She looked through their pictures on her phone, scared of what she will happen upon when they get there.
“Ma’am, we’re here. We were told that you should be the one to talk to her first.”
“Thank you, Vasquez. Again, call me Lena.”
“Of course, Lena.” Vasquez nodded, and pointed to where Kara was laying down, “She’s right there. We’ll be ready, if needed.”
Lena walked carefully, looking at the destruction that her gentlest friend did. She then saw Kara laying down in the middle of the forest. If she excluded the fallen trees and burned grass, she almost looked peaceful. But when she looks at Kara, really looks at her, she knows that she was hurting.
“Thank Rao.” Lena whispered as she saw her friend breathing, she was unconscious, but she was breathing.
Once she got close enough, Lena kneeled next to Kara. She slowly and gently touched Kara’s hand.
“Kara, darling.” She gently squeezed her hand. “Please, it’s Lena.”
“Le..” Kara croaked, “Lena, please don’t leave me.”
“Oh darling, Kara. I won’t. I will never leave you.” Lena said as she wiped the tears from the cheek of the last remaining Kryptonian.
“Please, don’t leave me. I have no one. I’m all alone now.” Kara sobbed.
“Kara, please hear me. You’re not gonna lose me. You don’t have to be afraid. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.” Lena’s voice broke. “You told me that, and I believed you. So, now, please believe me.”
“I don’t want to be alone anymore.” Kara broke down as Lena held her.
“You won’t. I promise you, Kara Zor-El.”
“Thank you.” Was the last word Kara spoke before she became unconscious again.
With Lena sobbing at the hurt her best friend is experiencing she yelled for help. “Please help! She needs a medic! NOW!”
J’onn put a hand on Lena, “Please J’onn, take her to the DEO, now.” J’onn nodded and carried Kara, leaving Lena behind with the rest of the DEO agents. Vasquez helped Lena get back to the car where they rode in silence.
“Where is she? Where is Kara?” Lena yelled as soon as she entered the DEO.
“Lena, calm down.” Alex said as she stopped Lena from running. “She’s fine. Just dehydrated and has some bruised fists. She’s in the room, I’ll take you to her, but you need to calm down. Take some deep breaths for me, kid.”
Lena closed her eyes and followed Alex’s breathing pattern. Once she felt like she was calm enough, she opened her eyes and nodded at Alex. They both walked to where Kara was resting. When Alex opened the door, Kara made a noise.
“Lena?” Kara said.
“Ye..yes. It’s me.” Lena said as she stepped closer. It was just them now, Alex didn’t go in with her.
“Do you promise?” Was the first thing Kara said besides her name. Lena immediately knew what Kara was talking about. So she looked her in the eyes, those blue eyes that normally exude joy, are just filled with sadness. She held Kara’s hand.
“I will always be with you. I promise you that. You won’t be alone.” Lena stroked the top of Kara’s head, and kissed her forehead before she sat down.
“Even when I am broken?” A tear fell down Kara’s cheek.
“Oh darling, especially then.” Tears fell from Lena’s eyes, seeing how much pain and suffering Kara is in. “I will hold your hand as you pick up every single broken piece, and even after you’ve pieced them together, I will be there.”
Kara closed her eyes and squeezed Lena’s hand, “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” Kara said over and over again until all that was left was her tears and Lena did what she promised. She never left Kara.
After a while, Kara woke up. She saw her friend, sitting next to her bed, while she was holding her hand.
“I love you, Lena.” Kara whispered.