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The girl's sobs slowly quieted, her trembling body gradually calming in Alexander's arms. He held her gently, not speaking, just allowing the silence to settle between them. The wind brushed through the debris-laden street, carrying the distant sounds of sirens and the murmurs of a city shaken but not shattered.
Around them, people were evacuating in stunned confusion, guided by local authorities and agents of A.R.G.U.S., their faces a mix of shock and awe. Even the usually bold and brash League of Villains' minions who had been lurking in the shadows had vanished, fleeing from the scene after witnessing the raw, uncontrolled power of the girl. They weren't sticking around to see what would happen next.
In the sky, a familiar streak of red and blue appeared—Superman—rushing towards them at breakneck speed. He landed gracefully just a few yards away, the ground barely registering his impact. His eyes, filled with concern, swept across the destruction before locking onto the girl still clinging to Alexander. There was a moment of hesitation, the world seeming to slow as Superman took in the scene—Alexander, a towering, unyielding figure, holding a distraught girl who looked like she belonged to the same star as he did.
"I can explain..."
Alexander glanced at the girl, who was still sniffling softly into his chest. Her grip loosened, and she turned her head to look at Superman, her tear-streaked face reflecting both confusion and yet relief. He's here, Alexander thought. Whatever was about to unfold next, he knew the moment had shifted.
Superman approached slowly, a cautious smile on his face as he spoke in his deep, calming voice. "It's okay. You're safe now."
But as the girl's eyes met Superman's, something shifted in her. Her posture straightened, her body stiffened, and her eyes widened in recognition. She murmured something—words in a language unfamiliar to Alexander but unmistakable to Superman. Kryptonian.
Superman's eyes widened in response. He replied quickly in the same language, his voice softer now, as if realizing who she might be. There was a flurry of exchanged words, and the girl's face slowly transformed from confusion to comprehension.
Alexander, still holding her gently, couldn't understand their words but didn't need to. The emotional weight of the moment was clear. Superman knew this girl—or, at the very least, he knew what she was. After a few more moments, the girl pulled away from Alexander's grasp, standing shakily on her own feet, though she stayed close to him, as if unsure whether to completely trust anyone yet.
Superman finally turned to Alexander, his expression a mixture of surprise and concern. "She's Kryptonian," he said softly, confirming what Alexander had already suspected. He took a deep breath, his eyes filled with wonder. "Her name is Kara. Kara Zor-El. She's my... cousin."
A flicker of surprise crossed Alexander's usually stoic face, though he remained calm. Kara Zor-El—Superman's family. The connection made sense now: her raw, unchecked power, her fear and confusion. She was Kryptonian, like Superman, but clearly not yet in control of her abilities.
The tension in the air thickened. Superman's brow furrowed with worry as his gaze shifted back to Kara, who was still watching him with a mixture of hope and fear. "We need to make sure she's okay," he said, turning back to Alexander. "I don't know what she's been through or how long she's been out there, but I need to check for any... anomalies."
Alexander gave a small nod and motioned towards the mountainside. "We can do that on my ship."
Superman hesitated for a moment, glancing at Kara as if seeking her approval. She gave a tentative nod, still visibly shaken but trusting enough to follow. though both men did not notice a patch of red hue on her cheeks.
Without another word, Alexander took off towards the mountains, the wind whipping around him as his body shot forward like a missile. Superman followed closely, keeping pace, while Kara, still unsteady but determined, flew between them, her movements less graceful but strong. In a few heartbeats, they arrived at the hidden entrance of Alexander's dreadnaught.
The massive ship lay concealed within the mountain, its dark, imposing structure nearly invisible against the rock. The entrance slid open silently, and the three of them entered. Kara's eyes widened slightly as she took in the vast interior, the advanced technology that hummed quietly beneath the surface.
"This is incredible, quite similar to the fortress of solitude yet different, bigger its quite old... yet advance" Superman muttered under his breath and shrugged, as he didn't dwell on it. His focus remained on Kara, guiding her to a diagnostic station.
The ship's A.I. flickered to life, its soft voice acknowledging Alexander's presence before scanning Kara with a gentle hum. The screen glowed as lines of alien text flowed across it—Kryptonian, Valorian, and Earth languages blending together. As the scan progressed, the AI's interface translated both their language and anatomy into data streams that both Superman and Alexander could understand.
Kara's readings flashed across the screen. She was young—too young, perhaps, for the weight that had been thrust upon her shoulders. Her physical structure was still developing, adapting to Earth's gravity and yellow sun. But there were no severe anomalies—no signs of critical damage from her journey, though traces of radiation and exposure to unknown elements suggested a difficult passage through the cosmos.
Superman breathed a sigh of relief, his shoulders sagging slightly as he took in the results. "She's going to be okay," he said, though his voice held an edge of uncertainty.
Kara, who had been watching the exchange quietly, suddenly spoke up in Kryptonian again. This time, the words came out quicker, more urgently. She pointed at the screen, at the ship, and at the distant stars beyond the walls. Superman's face darkened as he listened.
"She's worried," he translated, turning to Alexander. "She doesn't know what this planet is going to be like for her. She has no place to go... no one she knows..."
Alexander remained silent, processing the information. The fear in Kara's voice was palpable, her uncertainty about the future weighing heavily on her. Superman's worry deepened as he continued, "I can take her in. She can stay with me—"
But before he could finish, Kara cut him off with a rapid stream of Kryptonian, her voice rising with emotion. Superman winced slightly, running a hand through his hair. He turned back to Alexander, almost sheepish. "She... doesn't want to be a burden. She thinks she'll put too much pressure on me, and, well..." He trailed off, clearly unsure how to balance his responsibilities as Superman and now, as a cousin to a girl who had just fallen from the stars.
There was a moment of heavy silence before Alexander finally spoke. "She can stay here," he said simply, his deep voice cutting through the tension. "I have space. I can look after her until she's ready."
Superman blinked in surprise. "Here? In your ship?"
Alexander gave a small nod, his expression unchanging. "She'll be safe. I can teach her to control her powers, help her adjust."
Kara, who had been following the conversation as best as she could, looked between them with wide, hopeful eyes. Superman hesitated, glancing at the vastness of the dreadnaught and then back to Alexander. "I don't know..."
But Kara stepped forward, placing a tentative hand on Superman's arm, her expression soft but determined. She spoke in Kryptonian, and though the words were foreign to Alexander, the meaning was clear.
Superman sighed deeply. "Alright," he relented, though his tone held a note of reluctant acceptance. "But... only for now. I'll check in on her regularly. She's still my family, and if anything happens—"
"I'll call you," Alexander finished, nodding.
Superman smiled faintly, though there was still worry etched into his features. Kara Zor-El, the last living remnant of his family, had found an unexpected home. But what that meant for her future on Earth—no one could say yet. he turned to Kara still trying to per-sway to come with him