Peace and tranquility resided inside of Argo City. And inside the city, resided fourteen year old Kara In-Ze, who waited for her Aunt Alura to return from a meeting. Young Kara lived with her aunt Alura, her uncle, and her cousin, due to the fact that her mother, Alura's twin sister, had been extremely busy as a high ranking officer of the Kryptonian military. Kara had not been alone, as she stood outside with her best friend Thara. The beautiful redhead leaned in casually and then back to Kara.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is," Kara said.
"Hopefully Jor-El is wrong."
"Do you really think he is?"
Thara responded with a shrug of her shoulders. Kara and Thara practically stood off into the shadows, eavesdropping on the members of the Council inside. Kara could pick up snatches of her mother's voice, especially when it raised.
"It's not ready."
"But, we have to get it up and running. In case, Brainiac is mistaken."
"Is Brainiac ever mistaken?"
"I don't...I don't want to put the hopes and future of my family on some machine. And there's enough independent data to verify that we're heading for a critical core detonation. I believe Jor-El, even if the main council does not."
Kara noticed her Aunt walking out. Thara's mother followed her as well. After an exchange of looks, Thara turned to her.
"So, I guess I'll see you later?"
"Yes. Keep safe."
The two girls hugged. For some reason, the young blonde Kryptonian got a strong sense that something very wrong was going on. And the look on Alura's face clenched it.
"Aunt Alura?" she asked.
"We need to hurry and get back home," Alura said. "With any luck, you'll be with your cousins on Earth, in case we're wrong."
"You're scaring me."
"There's less than one cycle before Krypton explodes."
And now Kara went from scared to absolutely terrified. Alura tried to put a reassuring shoulder around her. However, she had already been nervous.
"Kal-El will be sent there by Jor-El and Lara. And Kara, she'll be there as well to help you both. It will be okay."
Kara smiled. Oh, she had to live up to her older cousin for years. Kara, or Kay as she had been called by many to avoid confusion, had to live up to everything Kara did. Sharing the same name, it did not help matters. Because it made everyone think of her brilliant, beautiful, older cousin before they did Kay.
It had been a very popular name on Krypton. Kay realized she had been walking fast, and Alura and Kay made their way to the lab.
"I'm not certain the stasis field is going to work. Please, Kara, understand this. And please get into the escape pod."
Alura helped Kay in by the hand to the escape pod. She buckled in good and tight. The computer systems hit to light as the navigational coordinates from Earth would be. Several rumbles underneath her echoed. The ship began to blast off.
Kay could sense something was wrong. Very much wrong, as her pod escaped the planet's atmosphere. She got one last look at Argo City, although it was a speck of dust.
One big boom jolted Kay's entire ship. The planet, the core had detonated. Out of the corner of Kay's eye, she saw two ships flying from the planet, although they disappeared in a blink of an eye. One large enough to hold an adult woman, one made for a baby. At least her cousins were out of there.
The ship prepared to reach the final velocity, and the stasis field was going to activate because it was very terrifying to be awake for this next part.
Suddenly, and very jarringly, the backwash of the planet struck the ship. Including a large crystal jamming into the back of the ship just as a portal opened. It sent Kay and her ship flying through the nearest portal.
Kay felt rocked, shaken, and the pod gave a hissed. Thankfully, all of her limbs were intact, although blood dripped from the top of Kay's head. She managed to reach into the compartment of the ship and do what she could to fix the wound. The front of the ship opened up.
This did not look anything like the images of Earth. In fact it looked like, and oh, Kay realized suddenly where exactly she was.
She had entered the Phantom Zone, somehow. The last refugee of many of the most dangerous criminals in the universe. Kay could feel a rush of gold.
Suddenly, two figures lunged for her. Kay did not think of what they were, what they wanted. Instinct, raw instinct hit in. Kay bolted as fast as she could.
Her heart pounded, her pulse pumped, and Kay made her way as far away from the Phantoms as possible. Her head rocked and she could feel an energy just build from her the faster she moved. She could hear the pounding against the back of her head as she moved closer and closer away from them.
Out of the woods. Only not really. Kay found two more come at her and she ran. Further away from her ship and further away from the way out.
A figure appeared in front of them. Dark hair, shoulder length, blue eyes, extremely beautiful, and also with a furious look on her face. She cultivated a large makeshift blade and stabbed it straight into the chest of one of the prisoners. The blade stabbed the second prisoner.
The woman turned to Kay and Kay half expected to be next on this woman's stabbing spreed list. The woman's eyes raked over Kay's face for a good long minute.
"My name is after Faora. Come with me if you want to live."
Faora, the name rang a bell.
"You're in danger. I know you are. The scavengers are after your pod."
"We have to go back...hey!"
Faora grabbed Kay by the hand and dragged her off. If Phantom Zone prisoners got their hands on the powerful technology upon her pod, then Kay shuddered to think what may happen.
"You'll be safe here."
"Kara?"
Kay looked up and she came face to face, with Astra In-Ze. Alura's twin sister, and her birth mother. The scar from a battle with a dangerous subversive terrorist had distinguished the two sisters.
"Mother, you're here, in...the Council sent you here?" Kay asked.
Astra greeted her daughter with a hug and then looked very grim.
"Did you get sent here due to the crime of being my daughter?"
"No," Kay replied. "It's just, well Aunt Alura intended to send me to Earth. Although with Kara and Kal-El...that's Jor-El's son, and Lara's, and well something from the explosion knocked my ship off course, and I'm here."
The three continued to rock. With Kay's explanation, Astra's expression, if possible, grew slightly more whim. The party made their way to a lab area, and they met a stunningly beautiful blonde woman.
"Raya?"
"Hello, Kara In-Ze. It is unfortunate you're here."
Jor-El's assistant acknowledged Kay's presence with a smile and the trio joined her as they stepped inside of the lab. Kay did have one question for Raya.
"How did you get here?"
"Jor-El sent me here. He figured I would be more useful here."
Kay just frowned. She had been really, really confused.
"Why didn't he sent you to Earth? No offense, but you were born to serve the House of El."
Raya just responded with a misty smile. She had not inquired. She knew her purpose, although there were parts of it where she could not share with Astra and Faora even.
"Jor-El has his reasons," Raya said.
"Yes," Astra agreed. "He's does. And he's always been a bit peculiar. Genius, but he's strange."
"We're back," Faora said.
"And no matter what, we cannot let anyone get their hands on anything from Kara's ship," Astra said. "When it's safe, we can repair it and send her back to Earth."
"We left the ship out there,' Kay said.
Astra smiled and lightly stroked her daughter's cheek. Kay relaxed, ever so slightly underneath this touch. Something was calming about it.
"We realize that. Now that you're safe. Faora and I will go and get it. We should be back."
"Are you going to be okay?"
Astra stroked her daughter's hair, reassuring.
"Oh, yes, they've learned to fear me in here."
The young teenager would be safe here, while Faora and Astra went and acquired her ship.
Quite a lot of time passed. Precisely how much time, well, it had been hard to say. Inside of the Phantom Zone, time had not been passed. The good news is Kay's ship had been repaired.
The bad news, and there was always bad news in a situation like this, they were still trapped in the Phantom Zone. Raya and Astra had a conversation bout that.
"You know the only gateway out of here is the one accessed by one who has the blood of Jor-El," Raya said. "Given enough time, I can figure out a way to bypass it butā¦."
"I wouldn't advise it," Astra interjected.
Off in the distance, Faora taught Kay a hold. Kay found herself struggling to grasp it. And more importantly struggling to escape Faora's grasp.
"It's simple, effective, and with a little strength, you can cut off an enemy's air supply. And they're helpless."
Kay felt very light headed as Faora finally released the hold. She tried to put the hold on Faora. And Faora released it.
"Kara, there's a technique," Astra said. "You have to lock your fingers at the precise moment. Too soon, and it's sloppy. Too late, and you'll give your opponent ample opportunity to escape. It's all about timing."
To demonstrate, Astra grabbed Faora and put her in the hold. No matter how many times Faora had sparred with Astra, the result had been the same every single time. She had been rendered helpless within seconds.
"You make it look as easy as breathing," Kay sighed.
"To a true skilled hand, it can be. And it is."
Astra practiced her daughter's hand to hand combat, and critiqued her along the way. Her handling of a blade also had been practiced, due to the blades they forged being very effective against the Phantom Zone. Faora would also teach Kay how to use other weapons, although guns had been sparse in the Phantom Zone. Astra thought guns were a hindrance to her and preferred to use other means to take down her enemy's.
They had been oddly successful.
Kay wondered privately how much time had passed. Did she want to know? It seemed, well it seemed insane to know she could be in here for years, without much time passing over on Earth. Or maybe with a fair amount of time passing on Earth. The time passage in the Phantom Zone had been very peculiar to say the least.
Regardless, with her ship prepared, all Kay had to wait for was Raya to figure out a way to safely get her out. She dreaded and anticipated that moment. She did not want to leave her mother behind.
"KARA! UP!"
Kay almost tangled her way through the sheets. Astra grabbed her and pulled her out of bed. Raya had entered the room.
"My scanners indicated a small rift had opened within the Phantom Zone. The energy is comparable to that made from one of the stones of power. They're on Earth, and this might be your ticket to head out of the Phantom Zone and reach your destination to Earth."
"To Earth?" Kay asked. "Butā¦.what about you?"
"We'll be fine," Faora told her.
Somehow, that did not reassure Kay. At all. Astra put her hand on Kay's shoulder and tried to reassure her.
"We need to make sure that nothing else other than your ship goes through. Thankfully though, the rift will be open for only a short amount of time."
"It has stirred up the Phantoms," Raya said. "If they break through the gatewayā¦"
"We have to hurry."
For the second time in as long as she could remember, Kay had been saying goodbye to a family member. She had been lead onto a pod, very shaky as she looked off into the distance.
"The ship will take you to the location of wherever the stone is."
Kay took Raya's word for it. She felt a combination of emotions when preparing to head home.
"You need to take this."
Kay had been handed a small sphere-like device.
"In case the Phantoms cannot have this. The Omegahedron."
"Theā¦."
"Not only a mouthful to say, but extremely dangerous. Now be safe. And we will meet again."
Astra said this with such confidence that Kay believed it. She did not know how, she did not know why. However, the ship closed. Raya just gave her an encouraging smile and Faora mouthed "good luck." Kay found herself on the fast track to Earth.
Hopefully, this time.
Oh, the landing could less rough on her and she was very disoriented. Hopefully this time, she reached Earth. The door opened and Kay found herself face to face with two women and a man with the most brilliant green eyes Kay ever saw in her life.
The device Astra put her hand had been clutched tight, through an extremely shaky hand.
"Don't be afraid."
Training with Astra and Faora left Kay a bit on edge.
"Mom! Oh, thank God you're back! You're not going to believe this."
The threshold of the things Eliza Danvers would believe had been very high, given all of the time she spent im Smallville. However, what she saw, did give Eliza great pause. She saw a traumatized teenager, looking about fifteen or so years of age. She had been very shaky.
"Come on, honey. Let's get you inside. Harry can youā¦."
"I'm on it. I'll send her ship into the Pocket Dimension."
Kay watched as her escape pod had just vanished in a flicker of an eye. She kept a weary eye on the man who just did it. Sorcerer, and that might not be the best thing for her right now. On Earth, Kryptonians were as vulnerable to magic as anyone else. Despite the extraordinary powers they would get from the yellow sunlight.
"Come in."
The three women and the sorcerer called Harry escorted Kay inside. She had been too rocked for this thing.
"Who are you?"
This blunt question had caught Kay off guard.
"My name is Kara In-Zeā¦"
"And you're a survivor of the Planet Krypton," Harry said. "This is Chloe Sullivan, Alex Danvers, her mother Eliza, and my name is Harry Kent. Although you might be familiar with my birth name, Kal-El."
Kay's mouth almost hung open. Kal-El, Kal-El was just a little baby when she left. And now he was this, handsome man. And she could not stop gawking at him, she could not escape the magnetic pull which was his brilliant green eyes. Kay's heart beat a little bit faster and more of a pulse pounded in the back of her head.
"I must have been there for a very long time," Kay said.
"Where?" the girl, Chloe asked.
"The Phantom Zone," Kay said.
"It's a dimension for some of the worst criminals in the universe."
The question of how a teenager ended up in the Phantom Zone could wait for another time. Harry silenced Chloe with a single look and she fell back into line.
The object in the younger Kryptonian's hand caught Harry's attention. It had been given off a strange amount of energy. And also her fingers clutched around it, unable to let it go.
"Listen, my older cousin, Kara is sheā¦."
"Yes, she's here," Harry said. "I'll go and get her. She'll be happy to see you, Kara."
"Call me, Kay, it cuts down a whole lot on the confusion when you talk with both of us," Kay said. "Twin sisters, just had to name their daughter the same thing."
Harry kept his eyes focused on the object clasped firmly in Kay's hand. Oh, he was getting some strong vibes on her.
"Watch after her," Harry murmured to Alex. "And keep your eyes on that object. I don't know what it is."
Alex understood that Harry not knowing what something is was a cause for grave concern. He kissed her goodbye and disappeared to retrieve Kara.
Harry popped in outside of Kara's dorm room. He knocked on the door. Seconds later, an attractive brunette, Kara's roommate, answered the door.
"Can I help you?"
There was something hopeful in her voice which to be honest, Harry had heard in the voices of many women who looked at him.
"I'm here for Kara Kent. She's my cousin."
"Oh, right, she's in the shower. She should be out in a minute."
The brunette woman turned her head down the hallway.
"Kara! There's a guy here to see you."
"Just a minute, Siobhan."
In a flash, Kara came out of the shower, dressed in nothing other than a towel. Oh, and she was not the only one who noticed, for Siobhan's eyes drifted up and down Kara's scantily clad body. She and Harry locked eyes with each other, and then she turned her attention to get a good look at Harry.
"Harry, this is my roommate Siobhan Smythe. Siobhan this is Harry."
"A pleasure to meet you," she said with a big smile on her face.
"I'll be back in a second, I just need to get my clothes on."
Kara dressed quickly, but not too quickly, as if to out her powers.
"Kara's told be a bit about you," Siobhan said. "You're a real lady's man, aren't you? Know how to show a girl a good time."
"That's one way to put it," Harry said.
"It's a pity that Kara's not one of those girls who takes an hour to get ready," Siobhan said. "Otherwise, I'd ask forā¦."
"Harry?"
Siobhan smiled. She hated seeing a man like Harry go, but she really liked watching him leave. And the fact she caught her gorgeous roommate from the backside as well, put a big smile on her face. Kara, now dressed in a blank tank top which showed off her midriff and tight jean shorts which showcased her legs, walked off with Harry.
"Did you find another one?"
"No," Harry said. "Our cousin just crash landed in Alex's backyard."
"Are youā¦.you are...aren't you?"
"Very much," Harry said.
"Siobhan, something came up, Harry needs my help with something," Kara said. 'Family emergency."
"Well hope everything's alright," Siobhan said.
"Nothing major, but it needs to be addressed," Kara said.
Kara put her arms around Harry and the two walked outside the room. The moment they got far away from no one could see them, Harry grabbed Kara's hand and teleported away.
Under most circumstances, Kara would have preferred they flew. But, all things considered, this would be the preferred method of travel.
"Oh, I thought that you died on Krypton. I never thought I would see you again."
Kara hugged Kay, who only came up to Kara's chest. It gave her a nice view which made her a bit flushed in the face.
"So, I escaped the Phantom Zone," Kay remarked. "When Krypton was blown up, Alura, she was still in Argo City. She was...well she and some of the scientists were working on a way to save the city, even though the Council forbid it."
"She didn't succeed, though," a grim Kara said.
"If given just a couple more days, she could have. She was that brilliant."
Kara smiled. Yes she figured as much. She had taken a seat next to Harry with Chloe on the other side of Harry. Kay sat down next to Kara. Alex and Eliza were at the other end of the table.
"This Phantom Zone it sounds like a really terrifying place," Chloe said.
"It's...it is," Kay said. "You can't even trust your own senses in there."
"I'd imagine so," Alex said. "And do you know how long you're in there?"
"I don't know," Kay said. "Felt like months, but obviously some time is passed if Kalā¦.Harry is all grown up."
She was going to have to get used to that name if she was on Earth. And oh, she was in on Earth, although she hoped to be here much sooner.
"I didn't arrive until about a year ago," Kara remarked. "Guess we're always late. But at least Harry turned out just fine all together."
"More than fine,' Kay said.
Kara just smiled. Still a bit too young, but old enough to have the seeds planted. Although, given how much time she had been in stasis, Kay's exact age could not be pinned down. Both of them should be in their late thirties, give or take. Then again, the math was hard for even a brilliant mind give or take.
Not they would ever look it, given the regressed aging.
"Thanks for the meal, Doctor Danvers," Kay said.
"Please, Eliza, if you're going to be a guest at my home, no need to be formal," Eliza said. "We have an extra bed you can sleep in. Get some rest."
"Thank you for everything."
"Do you want me to hold onto that?"
Kay noticed Harry's eyes drifted to the sphere in her hand. It had been almost second nature to Kay to hold onto it. She had been hesitant to give it up, until Kara flashed her a reassuring smile.
"You can trust Harry with it. It's straining you to hold onto it."
It be fair, it had been kind of a relief for Kay to pass it into her hand.
"Guard it with your life," Kay said. "My mother gave it to me. She didn't want it to fall into the wrong hands."
Kara frowned. She wondered why her aunt had such an interesting device. Just another question to add onto the mounting pile of many which had been growing.
"I'll show you to the guest room," Chloe offered.
Kay nodded and she walked off. Alex leaned over to Harry.
"So?"
"I don't know, and that's what worries me," Harry said.
As if finding these stones of power were not enough, Harry held in his hands another Kryptonian artifact which just reeked of power.
"Another beautiful blonde cousin of yours just happens to fall from the sky?"
Lana pretty much just assessed the situation very well. She had joined Chloe and and Harry at Lana's house to hang out. Chloe's father, as always, was working hard, and Chloe needed to drop off some dirty clothes and pick up some fresh ones as she returned to the Danvers residence later that night.
"Yes," Harry said. "One way to say it."
"How long do you think before she's in your bed?" Lana asked.
"Given at least a year she's fifteen," Harry said.
"I about bet if she's anything like Kara, she won't be too happy about that one," Chloe said. 'I can see it in her eyes. She's already hero worshipping you. And will do anything to have you, no matter what."
"I know," Harry said.
"That's the look for any girl around Harry," Lana said.
"True," Chloe admitted. "Butā¦."
Chloe stopped in mid-sentence. A car pulled into the driveway and outside, Lois climbed out. A very official looking man in military garb helped unload Lois's bags from the car. Oh, Chloe felt something was up here and she made her way.
"Lois," Chloe said.
"Hey, Chloe," Lois said with a smile. "The General thought it was time for me to have some stability in my life. And I'm not a good girl like Lucy who gets a fancy European boarding school, so while he's on a super secret mission, he's suggested that I've moved to Smallville to stay with my favorite cousin."
"So you have," Chloe remarked.
"I was going to call you, give you the heads up, but I figured I would surprise you," Lois said. "So, surprise."
"Yes, I'm surprised,' Chloe said.
"You won't know that I'm here half of the time," Lois said.
It was the other half of the time which worried Chloe. Still, she moved Lois into the house.
"So, anything to drink?" Lois asked.
"Your options are soda, water, milk or, juice,' Chloe said. "And those are your only options in this house until you're twenty-one."
The brunette girl stuck out her tongue at her cousin and looked a bit sour. Lois's expression perked up suddenly she noticed Harry in conversation with a dark-haired woman.
"It's nice to see you again!" Lois called out to him.
"Hey, Lois, good to see you too," Harry said. "So, you're coming in for a visit?"
"Well, more than a visit, given I don't know how long the General is going to be out on his super, secret covert mission," Lois responded. "But, it will be nice to get to know you when we're not getting killed. And I want to know you really well. After how much Chloe raved about you."
"Well, behave yourself, Ms. Lane, and you just might," Harry said.
"Well, what if I don't want to be a good girl?"
"Then, I might have to punish you."
Harry moved a bit closer to Lois who smiled.
"Working out a little bit, all of that hard labor makes you pretty strong," Lois said. "You're fit to plow some fields. Plant some seeds. Pretty deep, I think."
Lois licked her lips when looking at Harry.
"I'll show you to your room," Chloe said.
"I'll be seeing you all soon," Lois said. "Got to be get my bearings. I normally wouldn't go for a place like Smallville, but all of the sights aren't that bad. Good seeing you again, Harry."
Lois moved over and briefly introduced herself to Lana. Chloe just shrugged her shoulder.
"If you tie her down and dominate her, I want to be there to watch," Chloe murmured. "Even more so if there's a spanking involved."
Harry just wrapped his arm around Chloe and planted a huge kiss on her. She looked content, smiling at him.
At Horizon, Harry arrived. He almost ran headlong into Tess who had come off of the elevator.
"Harry," Tess said. "Hiā¦.I'm sorry if I'm in a hurry, but I have class in the afternoon. I was just talking to Lena about business. She might have a spot in the company open, but I don't...I'm going to earn it."
"I'm sure a driven woman like yourself will earn it very easily," Harry responded.
"You're not hurt, are you?" Tess asked. "Okay, fine, you wouldn't be hurt."
Harry made sure to step back and allow Tess to go on her way. The stunning redhead shot in a look as Harry stepped into the elevator. Harry moved his way up to the lab, where Lena had been drinking a cup of coffee.
"So, how is your cousin settling in?" Lena asked.
"She's a bit shaken, but given what she's been through, that's quite understandable," Harry said. "This worries me though."
Harry put a large sphere-shaped object on the table. Several of the pieces of Lena's lab equipment began to light up and they started to beep very loudly.
"Well, that's odd," Lena said. "That makes me nervous."
"It does me as well," Harry said. "Kay's mother, she wanted this object out of the Phantom Zone for a reason. There must have been a reason why it was in there in the first place."
Harry took a good look at the great power seeping from the object. Lena moved forward and the news of Lionel's upcoming trial flashed over the news.
"Lex is busy dealing with Luthorcorp business," Lena said. "I don't think this is going to stick. Lionel's not going to stay in prison for long. The rich never do."
Yes, and even someone of Lionel's resources and connections would get luxuries that he did not deserve in the meantime.
"Sounds like you need in a vacation," Harry said.
"And you're about to leave for yours soon," Lena said. "Maybe I should join you and the girls in Europe."
"Yes, the more the merrier. Chloe's cousin and Kara's roommate are joining us on the trip."
"Oh, fresh blood," Lena said with a smile. "You're always actively recruiting new talent."
"Makes me sound like a glorified pimp," Harry joked.
"Well, not too far off of the mark, dear."
"You can ask Tess if she wants to join as well."
Lena just looked far off. While a trip would be a good bonding experience for her and her new sister, it just did not seem to be in the cards.
"She would, I'm sure. If nothing else to get a chance to spend some time with you. But, she has an expedition and after being held captive for so long by Orm, she can't cancel."
A pity, but Harry supposed that it was bound to happen like that. There would be plenty more opportunities to get to know Tess and get to know her well.
In the clutches of dreamland, Kay ran away from some shadowed figures. They all whispered and knew her every move. No matter how many times Kay tried to shake them off ,they were two and three steps ahead of her at all times. Her heart stammered a few beats.
"Give us the Omegahedron!"
"NO! I WON'T!"
Kay clutched the object in her hands. Then suddenly, a figure dressed in black with hazel eyes appeared in front of Kay.
"You are not worthy of holding this power, Kara In-Ze."
"It's too dangerous, no one should wield it!" Kay yelled.
"Oh, I disagree. We will bring about a new order. We will bend all of them to our knees."
Suddenly, a dark haired, dark-skinned woman, who Kay knew from somewhere stalked her. She crooked her hand and the Omegahedron almost slipped from Kay's hand. Kay blocked it suddenly.
"Hand it over. And everything will be over. Your burden will be over, child."
The sorceress the device and the entire world engulfed in darkness. Countless people began to scream as Kay faded into oblivion.
"NO!"
"KAY!"
Kay sat up bolt up out of bed. Her eyes flashed silver for a split second and returned to their normal blue color. Alex had already been in the bedroom and had stood over her, and concerned.
"You were having a nightmare," Alex said. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes," Kay said. "It's...just a bad dream."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Kay shook her head. Oh, she felt like a scared child, and she was supposed to be a teenager. Alex did not relinquish the firm grip she had on Kay's shoulders.
"Do you want me to sit here for a little bit? Until you go back to sleep."
'Thank you."
Alex just smiled and brushed a light strand of hair away from Kay's head.
"Harry still has...the device right? And he wouldn't let anything happen to it, right?"
"Kay, it's fine,' Alex said. "You can trust Harry with anything, including your life."
"What if he can't save it if someone comes after it?" Kay asked.
"You're new," Alex said. "Harry can and will do the impossible, to the point where it's insane. Trust me. Everything was fine."
Alex's statement of reassurance did little to breach the uncertainty which Kay had felt. Oh, her skin was clammy and her eyes, they shifted back.
Please, let everything be fine, she mused. For their sakes. For the sake of the universe. She tried to recall faces and details of the dream, but Kara In-Ze received nothing.
Nothing but more worries. Alex sat with her until Kay drifted back to sleep. Her dreams nothing like the one she woke up from.
"Kal-El, what troubles you?"
Jor-El's usual detached voice had been something that Harry had been used to.
"There must be a reason why you're here, and not searching for the other stones of power," Jor-El said.
"There is."
Harry pulled out the sphere-like object. Jor-El scanned it and he could hear Lara's horrified gasp through the artificial intelligence.
"The Omegahedron," Lara said. "Where did you get that?"
"Kara, the younger Kara, she had it when she arrived on Earth."
"Kay's arrived?" Lara asked. "It is a relief to see that she is here safely, but that raises more questions than it ever will answers."
"Yes," Jor-El interceded. "Given, that the Omegahedron was stolen by Astra In-Ze before she had been banished to the Phantom Zone. And never recovered. She claimed that Brainiac having control of such an artifact was dangerous, and given what Krypton's ultimate fate was, she was not mistaken."
Harry had more questions, although Jor-El just entered lecture mode.
"Some have said the device could given them a power which to rival Rao. Or that the Omegahedron is the source of all Kryptonian magic. Of course, as you know, magic and religion are aspects which enter the realm of fantasy and thus are not backed up by any level of scientific data."
"Yes, I'm aware of your opinion," Harry said.
"And despite this dangerous object being brought to Earth, you should not stop your quest for the Stones of Power. With one, there is only two more and you will have a fortress of knowledge."
"And once the Fortress is built, you will be able to study and secure the Omegahedron and find out what Astra gave the artifact to her daughter," Lara said.
Harry felt like he was holding a very destructive item in the palm of her hand. Astra had thought it would be danger if it remained in the Phantom Zone. Although, the strain of guarding such a powerful object, that could wear on anyone's mind. But, why would Astra give it to her daughter if it had just been strained?
Such power and attempting to access it, would unleash a Pandora's box worth of problems.
"It was unfortunate Astra had been sent to the Phantom Zone," Lara said. "No statement had been given, no trial, despite her years of service to the Kandorian military."
Kara, Harry, and Martha stopped by the Danvers household for Breakfast. Eliza and Alex had just been telling them about Kay's nightmare.
"Well, it's understandable," Kara said. "The end of Krypton caused me some troubled nights. I guess by keeping busy, I dealt with it."
Kara paused, and added, almost as an afterthought.
"Being too tired to remember my dreams helped."
She gave Harry a knowing smile, before they grew serious about the situation.
"I've been through a mere fraction of what Kay was put through," Kara admitted. "And she was in the Phantom Zone. It was meant to drive hardened criminals to the point of hopelessness."
"Which is alarming she had to spend so much time there," Eliza said. "She remembers parts of it, but I'm concerned what what she's suppressing."
"That's unfortunate to hear," Martha said. "Do you think she's got trauma?"
"PTSD, well I can't diagnosis her with that, just based off of a few interactions," Eliza said. "Some time at the Center might help her a little bit. She can cope just like many have and talk to someone about how she's feeling. If she wants to open up."
"Well, wanting and actually doing are two different things,' Harry said.
Harry remembered how hard it was for him to open up to other people in the past life. Stubborn and not admitting anything was wrong. He shouldered the entire weight of the world, many times over.
Kay made her way down the steps.
"Hey, sleeping beauty," Alex said. "Come on, let me introduce you to the joy of Pancakes."
"Oh, Pancakes, are they good?" Kay asked.
"You have no idea," Alex said.
Kay stopped and looked at Harry, very nervously.
"The Omegahedron, do you still have it secured?" Kay asked him.
"It's fine," Harry said. "I'm actually talking with a couple of people who can help me secure it. When I do, you'll be the first to know."
"Thanks."
"And this is my adoptive mother, Martha," Harry said to her.
"Oh, it's nice to meet you," Kay said. "And thank you for everything that you've done."
"It's not a problem, I'm glad to see that another one of Harry's cousins is safe and secure," Martha said. "Why don't you sit down and eat breakfast?
That sounded like a pretty good idea, Kay mused. The group sat around the table, to enjoy their breakfast and settle in, for a nice casual meal.
"I want you to talk with some people," Eliza said. "I think you'll feel like a large burden is off of your shoulders, if you just talk to someone."
Kay opened her mouth, and looked confused.
"It's up to you," Alex said.
"It is," Harry agreed. "But, we all think it would be helpful. Because of the fact you're having nightmares."
Oh, if only it was that simple. Something about the nightmare seemed different than the usual dream. Kay decided to enjoy her pancakes before making a decision. Alex was right, they were wonderful.
Kay arrived the center, with Alex, Eliza, and Harry. She looked a little bit nervous.
"I...I'm afraid there's something really wrong with me," Kay said. "Back on Krypton, problems like mine, there's a stigma for people who have them. We're exiled due to our trauma due to us being unable to perform our roles in Kryptonian society."
"You're not broken," Harry said. "And even if you were, nothing is beyond repair."
"Are you sureā¦."
"You're not," Alex said. "You're a teenager who got sent to a prison dimension where dangerous murderers are. That would be enough to rattle someone."
"It would be enough to rattle most adults," Harry said. "You'll be fine."
Some of the other teenagers made their way into the meeting. Alicia and Tina were among the ones who had showed up. They both smiled and waved at Harry as they stepped inside.
"Share what you feel is necessary," Harry told her. "But nothing leaves that room."
"Seriously?" Kay asked. "Nothing.'
"Seriously," Harry told her. "Just share what you feel is necessary. And unless you want to tell me, after it's done, nothing leaves that room unless you decide to tell me. Go slow as you want, or share as much as you want."
"You'll be fine," Eliza said to her.
Kay walked out. Harry knew nothing was being shared, unless someone confided it in him personally.
From the office, Harry caught sight of Helen Bryce.
"Long morning?" Harry asked her.
"Just a little bit," Helen responded. "I'm going to have to run some blood test samples. One of my patients was getting some really bad stomach aches. And I want to find out if it's just illness and not something spreading among them. Something far worse. You never know in Smallville."
"Well, I'll leave you to it," Harry said.
"Should be done soon, I might catch you later," Helen told him with a tiny flash of a smile.
The session concluded. Kay did not share too much, but she thought that she might someday. She walked out of the room, a confident smile on her face. However, she stopped short, when she realized Harry had been in a conversation with someone. She had dark hair, hazel eyes, and Kay's mind flashed back to the dream.
"How was it?" Harry asked. "How are you feeling?"
"Better, much better," Kay said.
"This is one of my girlfriends, Lana Lang,' Harry said.
"Oh, you must be Kay," Lana said. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Kay hesitated for a moment and shook Lana's hand. She saw a reflection of a similar looking woman chasing her through her dreams.
"Is there something wrong?"
"No, nothing, nothing's wrong," Kay remarked. "You just remind me of someone I used to know from back home. I've got...to go and relax after that. Got a lot to unpack."
Lana frowned and Harry did as well. There was something a lot more to what Kay had been saying. She moved off and said her goodbyes in a hurried manner.
"I hope I didn't...I didn't do anything wrong," Lana said.
"No," Harry said. "You didn't."
Whether or not someone else did though, that was another matter entirely. Without realizing it, Kay gave Harry another piece of this mangled jigsaw puzzle. He just had to put the rest of the pieces together.
Lena had been on the couch watching a press conference. Intent, eyes narrowed slightly, as if she did not quite approved with what she saw on the screen. Harry popped up and sat next to her. Lena scooted a little bit closer to Harry and locked her fingers between his.
"So, why are you looking at that woman on the screen with such burning fury?" Harry asked her.
"She's Genevieve Teague," Lena remarked. "The Luthors and the Teagues, we exist in the same cultural circles. But, they're parasites of the worst kind. Interested in only money and power. But, considering she is the head of several charitable organizations, for some, that makes her look like a saint."
"The children of Smallville deserve a safer place to play, to grow, to be happy," Genevieve commented. "They deserve a good place to grow up, apart from the meteor infected plague which has infected this city. "
Throughout the speech, a dark-skinned woman stood by Genevieve. Extremely attractive and also, very very haughty, with one of those glints in her eyes.
"So, bodyguard or aide or something?" Harry asked.
"Her name is Selena. She's been working with the Teagues as long as she's been here on Earth. I don't know as much about her as I would like."
Well, Harry could tell how this bothered Lena. And it would bother him just as much, if not more.