Sam Lane had no recollection of what happened during his capture. After a thorough examination by the DEO and the Martian Manhunter, it became clear that his memory had been searched and partially deleted, likely to prevent the leakage of critical information. Fortunately, this had no lasting impact on Sam Lane, aside from the lost memories.
Relieved that her father had returned safely, Lucy Lane decided to take him back to Metropolis to recover. She would report everything that happened to her superiors at the DEO.
Before leaving, Lucy made a point to call Su Sheng and express her gratitude. She also promised that if he ever needed anything, she would come to his aid immediately.
With the situation involving General Sam Lane resolved, Alex sighed in relief. However, she knew there was still much to discuss, particularly with the Martian Manhunter. They ended up talking late into the night. The revelations from their conversation were shocking to Alex, leaving her unsure of what to believe. The DEO's current situation also left her feeling overwhelmed, and she realized she needed guidance—guidance that she once received from the Martian Manhunter, but now, she wasn't so sure.
Sitting in her swivel chair at the DEO, Alex hesitated, holding her phone. The screen displayed an unsaved number—Su Sheng's number. After a moment of indecision, she finally dialed it. Nervous and apprehensive, she was both relieved and disappointed when she heard that Su Sheng's phone was off.
The sun was shining, and the breeze was gentle. Su Sheng received an early morning call from Supergirl, Kara Danvers. She informed him that her powers had fully recovered and that she was back at work at CatCo Worldwide Media. They didn't talk long, but Su Sheng found it amusing to imagine what she might do next—perhaps meet up with Superman? After hanging up, he noticed a missed call from Alex the previous day. He decided not to return it, figuring she would call again if it was urgent.
After his morning routine and breakfast, Su Sheng asked Gideon about Astra's location, intending to speak with her. Gideon informed him that Astra was currently at a company called Rhodes Technologies in Metropolis.
"Rhodes Technologies?" Su Sheng mused, intrigued. "Show me the information."
In an instant, details about Rhodes Technologies appeared on the screen. It was a large tech company owned by a genius named Rhodes. Recently, they had developed a high-speed train, which had made headlines when Supergirl saved the day after an accident.
"A young, wealthy tech genius—classic hero or villain material," Su Sheng thought, piecing together his memories. His eyes brightened as he remembered.
Rhodes was indeed a villain, a nemesis similar to Lex Luthor but for Supergirl. In the TV series, Rhodes had managed to collect Supergirl's blood and used it to synthesize a special material, eventually creating an evil doppelgänger: Superwoman. Superwoman had abilities opposite to those of Supergirl and even impersonated her for a time.
"This guy is a genius. With limited knowledge and resources, he created someone like Superwoman. Unfortunately, in the DC universe, being smart like Rhodes isn't enough to earn lasting fame," Su Sheng chuckled. He wondered what Astra was planning at Rhodes Technologies—was she aiming to disable National City's satellites as in the show, or was she looking to team up with Rhodes?
Since he now knew Astra's location, Su Sheng decided to pay a visit. He wasn't particularly interested in Rhodes himself, but his research was another story.
At Rhodes Technologies,
The building was already under the control of Astra's forces. Supergirl and Alex had arrived after receiving the alert, but the situation was tense, and they couldn't act, leaving them at an impasse.
In the president's office, Astra sat in Rhodes' chair, staring at the man slumped against the wall.
"What do you want?" Rhodes asked, gritting his teeth against the pain in his back.
"Quiet, and you live. Make noise, and you die!" Astra replied coldly.
Rhodes shrugged. "You barge into my company and don't kill me? At least tell me what you want."
Swish!
Astra stood up abruptly, causing Rhodes to tense up. But she wasn't looking at him—her gaze was fixed on the window. Rhodes turned his head, seeing a man in a steel battle suit hovering outside, slowly ascending.
"What are you doing here?" Astra asked nervously.
Rhodes noticed her fear and instantly realized this stranger had power over her. "Who are you? To make a Kryptonian so scared... What did you do to her?" Rhodes inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"Where's Indigo?" Su Sheng asked, ignoring Rhodes.
Astra froze and then shook her head. "I don't know."
"You lead the Kryptonian criminals in Rhodesburg, and you don't know where Indigo is?" Su Sheng asked, stepping toward Astra.
Astra instinctively backed up, trying to explain. "I really don't know. Not all the criminals cooperate with us."
Su Sheng continued advancing until Astra had no choice but to sit back down.
"If you don't know, then find out. You were a general on Krypton—do I really have to remind you of these things?" Su Sheng said calmly. "By the way, how's Faora?"
"You... You know Faora?" Astra asked, startled.
"Let's just say she told me about your anti-Kryptonite plans. After all, how would she know the effects of Kryptonite on you without experiencing it firsthand?" Su Sheng chuckled, grabbing Astra by the chin. "I don't care what your plans are—leave now and find Indigo as soon as possible!"
After speaking, Su Sheng turned to Rhodes.
Astra hesitated for a moment before flying out of the window, signaling her forces to retreat. In no time, the Kryptonians had vacated the building.
"Kryptonite—a green rock that has a strong effect on Kryptonians. If you're interested, I can send you a few pieces to study. Who knows, maybe you'll discover other colors of Kryptonite that have different effects, like... red Kryptonite," Su Sheng said with a light smile as he turned his attention back to Rhodes.