The Last Daughter of Krypton - IC

[ChasNicollette]

Chloe (pre-departure)

Chloe digested all this information as quickly as she could.

Which, hey, it was a lot of information, much of it out of left field.

"This is amazing," she breathed. "What a world we live in. The world of 'the crazy and the I-can't-believe-this-is-happening.' I didn't even know The Blackbird had a horsefeathered cousin, but look at that thing."

Quickly, she memorised the GPS co-ordinates, though she was grateful that an alternate set was being sent to her phone.

(Rose eeped softly, in the living room, as the phone vibrated in her pocket.)

"Again, I can't thank you enough, Ms. Greystone," Chloe murmured quickly, "both you and Odin. I can't tell you any final decisions on this, but it may well come to pass that we make use of this transport, and very shortly.

"As for your internship," she replied, these words slower and more measured, more careful, "I am very much flattered by the opportunity, but I have to tell you at least a provisional 'no,' for three reasons: 1) my heart and my head will always be in journalism, it's a destiny I couldn't escape even if I wanted to; 2) with that destiny in mind, your brother has offered me exclusive biographical rights to the story of his survival, and to accept gifts from someone so close to a story's source would be an ethical compromise and a conflict of interest; 3) my father has strongly cautioned me against accepting anything in life that I haven't properly earned. Perhaps someday, I will have earned it. I hate to risk offending you, but I need to stand by my values and my vision, and I'm sure that you can understand that viewpoint."

She smiled softly. "I will, however, if it's still okay with you, extend your offer to Doctor Hamilton. (For what that's worth.)"

 

[AmenRa]

Jones shook Alfred's hand as he entered the Wayne Manor threshold. He turned back to see Kyle coming in behind him and offerred the young man his hand.

He then made his way to the room where Watchtower worked.

He stood silent for a moment, observing Chloe and her father, and as a smile of contentment was forming, he spoke.

"Status report, please," he said.

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Rebecca Greystone (pre-departure)

"Those are all very good, solid reasons. But keep the file with the package anyway. You have already impressed me tonight, and I will be keeping abreast of your work. Also, please be careful with what you reveal about Kyle. He is pretty mature for his age, but he's still learning just how cutthroat the real world is. I am trusting you to keep his powers to yourself.

I will have the jet prepped for flight in twenty minutes. Just tell Odin and you have your transport."

She sighed then, looking more than a little frustrated.

"Watch out for my little brother, he's all the family I have left, and he's a cocky little shit."

 

[TearsoftheWorld]

Learn to Fly

Kara couldn't help but feel a little caught up in the hype to get started, preparing for their departure to a land where nothing was familiar. China was a country with a little over a billion people living their, and it was home to some of the deadliest humans ever known to have walked the earth.

But Kara had no need to fear them.

She was going to reclaim what was rightfully hers.

Chloe was busy working out the finer details, and Rose had a few emotional moments with her family.

In her heart, Kara missed her own family terribly. She wanted to run back home and tell Jonathan and Martha that she was alright, and that she had some important things to take care of. But most importantly she wanted to let them know that she'd be coming back.

Summoning up a little courage, Kara walked over to Rose and her father, smiling as warmly as she could.

"We'll be back before you know it," Kara said, trying to offer just a little bit more reassurance.

 

[ChasNicollette]

Pete, Chloe, Jamie, Ceri, and Gabe (post-departure) with Alfred

As J'onn stood silent for a moment, the kitchen door out to the backyard swung open, and Pete came in through, tugging his NVGs off of his face.

And when J'onn requested a status report, Pete tugged Water out of his pocket and tossed it to The Man from Mars with a flick of his wrist.

"Gotya 'status report' right here," he grinned, incorrigible. "We took us some hits from their offensive line, but we brought us home the semis, and we're on to the finals."

"You've been having fun," Chloe grinned, though the grin was a little terser than her usual.

"Damn right," Pete fired back, eyes flaring. "I just checked out Rich White Dude's backyard with the NVG's Doc Tennylson gave me, an' I still got a car to take for a spin 'fore this night is through."

"This has been a pretty dark cloud, Pete," Chloe noted, unsurprised, "but I think you've successfully found the silver lining."

Hands in his pockets and tie retied and eyes weary, Jamie smiled faintly as he walked up to J'onzz.

"They're on their way," he murmured. "On their way to the other side of the world."

"James," Ceri murmured softly, and she was asking for a status report of her own. Two at once, really.

"It's funny," Jamie murmured, meeting Ceri's gaze, "here I was just two days ago writing a notebook full of things to help Rosy be brave, and she's the one walking off into combat with her head held high while I'm standing here quaking in my boots on her behalf."

Ceri really had no words for him, no encouragement. Simply, she touched her forehead to Jamie's, a not-quite-kiss, and they both closed their eyes.

Ceri laughed faintly, oh-so-faintly, and said again: "James."

And that was all she needed to say, and he smiled a wobbly smile.

Alfred hurried briskly into the kitchen.

"Peter?" he requested, businesslike, and Pete looked away from Chloe for long enough to glance at Alfred.

"The kit, sa', if you will," Alfred explained, holding out his hands for a catch.

"Yeah, o'course," Pete mumbled, unstrapping the kit and tossing it across the kitchen to Alfred, who snagged it easily from the air. "(Ain't nobody called me 'Peter' in like a hundred years. Not even Mom.)"

Alfred grinned at him, and then retreated to the foyer, kit in hand.

Gabe, too, stood at The Martian's side. "They were talking about just... carrying on. Can we do that? Act like nothing's happened, like nothing's still happening? Can we? ...should we?"

 

[ChasNicollette]

Alfred (post-departure)

J'onn had shaken Alfred's hand, and then had shaken Kyle's, and then proceeded on to the kitchen.

Alfred got the impression that this indeed was a man on a mission, no matter what planet he was on, and Heaven help the ones who would impede this man's progress.

The Gentleman did, however, impede Kyle's progress, stopping him gently with a hand on his shoulder, gently but firmly.

"Young sa'," he murmured, "it seems to me I've seen that walk before. Granted, I'm not a doctor of any kind, but I carried out a stint as a combat medic before becoming an officer's batman, and more recently I served as a doctor's gentleman for a good many years. You may still need X-Rays. But it appears to me you've got a cracked rib or two, and I would be happy to tape these up for you, if you've the inclination to put aside self-reliance for a mo' or two."

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

"Young sa'," he murmured, "it seems to me I've seen that walk before. Granted, I'm not a doctor of any kind, but I carried out a stint as a combat medic before becoming an officer's batman, and more recently I served as a doctor's gentleman for a good many years. You may still need X-Rays. But it appears to me you've got a cracked rib or two, and I would be happy to tape these up for you, if you've the inclination to put aside self-reliance for a mo' or two."

I looked over at Alfred. I was wondering who I was going to get to tape me up, and thank God he stepped up.

"Actually, your help would be greatly appreciated. If we can locate that kit Pete had it has a air cast for my right arm as well, along with some painkillers I could definitely use. Leave the hypo's alone tho. There is enough serum for maybe two more doses, and we have people in the field that may need them worse than me."

And with that I sank down into a comfy chair in the foyer with a grimace and a sigh.

 

[ChasNicollette]

Jamie and Rose (pre-departure) with Chloe

"We'll be back before you know it," Kara said, trying to offer just a little bit more reassurance.

Jamie blinked as he realised just who it was who had stepped up as The Last Daughter: the kind girl from The Kents, always put others before herself. (Then again, it might have been the other girl, the one with the raven-dark hair... but on the other hand, first blush, quick glance? The dark-haired girl had no markings on her silversteel bracelets, but Kara's burnished gold bracelets had upon them a Symbol Jamie recognised from The Cave and, topsy-turvy, from The Tablet.)

"You say that, Kara," he murmured, "but back before I know it? I can know things pretty quickly when I put me mind to it."

Rose frowned sadly, worriedly at Kara. Rose had just gotten a chance to say quick goodbyes to her father, if not her mum, but Kara hadn't been able to do so with either of her parents. Ah! But she had Chloe's cellphone, and she reached for her pocket--

--and then eeped, softly, as the phone vibrated in her pocket. "Agh!" she blinked. "Feels like Chloe just got a text."

She tugged the phone out, and glanced quickly at Chloe's inbox, but then offered the phone to Kara with a soft expression in her eyes.

"Did you want to call your folks?" she mumbled fretfully. "I left them a little message in ice, but it was a little oblique and maybe hearing it straight from you would be more, um. Useful. To both parties?"

Quickly, thoughtfully, Jamie extracted Ceri's well-worn little prepaid out of his pocket and offered this to Diana. "How about you, Miss? Someone you need to call? I haven't checked the lady's balance in a bit, but she usually keeps it plenty stocked."

...at this, Chloe walked in, walked up to them. "You can let them both use my phone if you want," she pointed out with a weary chuckle. "My dad has us on an unlimited family plan. It's expensive, but he gets a discount through work. (Also, we have a closer option than California for the superspeeders among us. How does Texas sound?)"

 

[ChasNicollette]

Chloe (pre-departure)

"I will be the very soul of discretion," Chloe promised, with utter seriousness. "Believe you me, I know what it's like to keep a secret. (This a good town for it, I've heard.) But I also know what it's like to need desperately to tell your side in the face of a disbelieving world, and I intend to give Kyle that opportunity."

She hesitated, took a deep breath.

"Thank you, again," she murmured, "on more levels than I can express. We will keep you apprised. And we will participate thoroughly in the time-honoured tradition of the getting of backs. Your brother's included."

With that, she disengaged the sunglasses, and departed the computer, and rejoined the girls in the living-room.

Rose was offering Chloe's phone to Kara for use in contacting loved ones, and Jamie, apparently, was doing the same for the new girl.

"You can let them both use my phone if you want," she pointed out with a weary chuckle. "My dad has us on an unlimited family plan. It's expensive, but he gets a discount through work. (Also, we have a closer option than California for the superspeeders among us. How does Texas sound?)"

 

[ChasNicollette]

Alfred and Pete (post-departure)

Alfred nodded firmly, patting Kyle on the shoulder as he sank into that chair-- normally reserved for removing boots encrusted with mud or with snow before visiting them upon the hardwood floors and Persian rugs further up and further in --and then he hurried briskly to the kitchen.

"Peter?" he requested, businesslike, and Pete looked away from Chloe for long enough to glance at Alfred.

"The kit, sa', if you will," Alfred explained, holding out his hands for a catch.

"Yeah, o'course," Pete mumbled, unstrapping the kit and tossing it across the kitchen to Alfred, who snagged it easily from the air. "(Ain't nobody called me 'Peter' in like a hundred years. Not even Mom.)"

Alfred grinned at him, and then retreated to the foyer, kit in hand.

"All right, no time to be bashful," he suggested brusquely. "Let's have your shirt. We'll tape up your ribs, and then I'll 'ave a look at that arm, see if it doesn't need setting."

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Kyle (post departure)

Taking off my shirt was pure torture!

I had been still long enough that I was starting to stiffen up, and my right arm was screaming. I know I gasped a few times, but eventually I got my shirt off.

Damn! I was a mass of bruises.

"Alfred, maybe I should have just given Zod a wedgie and shifted away? what do you think?"

 

[ChasNicollette]

Alfred (post-departure)

Alfred waited patiently, tolerantly, helpfully, as Kyle fought his way out of that t-shirt, and while he did so Alfred examined the vials in the kit. He found a combination painkiller and anti-inflammatory, and, having loaded this, carefully blurted the jet-injector's contents into a relatively unbruised spot on Kyle's arm.

He set down the jet-injector, and retrieved the tape.

(The poor lad was a veritable landscape of purples and brackish, swollen lumps. Thank God he didn't seem to have taken such blows to his head.)

"If you're asking for my professional opinion, young sa'," Alfred remarked, with the air of a sage discoursing on topics of great wisdom, "I have often found it efficacious to wait until the enemy is sleeping, slip into his camp, and place his hand in a cup of nice, warm water."

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Kyle (post Departure & before the drugs kick in)

"That is a classic. But never, NEVER saran wrap your older sisters toilet & vasaline the doorknob on the inside! Once she gets out the atomic wedgie is a killer!"

The hypo hurt, but soon the hammering all over my body started to fade.

"OK, I think I can handle being taped up now, drugs are kicking in. And the right arm is definately broke, I got a shot of the serum but my body killed it. Did set the arm first though."

 

[ChasNicollette]

Alfred (post-departure)

"Neva' had a sister, meself," Alfred mused, winding the tape smoothly, carefully, around Kyle's upper body, movements rusty but coming back to him.

Keeping his voice even he tried to help keep the lad's mind occupied, distract him from the pain, while at the same time enjoying his own memories: "However, it's common knowledge that the female is decidedly the deadlier of the species, when it comes to embarrassing circumstance. This, above all, has caused me to inflict the great majority of my April Foolery upon members of my own unfair sex. For instance, my boys' school had this headmaster, a right devil of a man. The day after our Higher School Certificates came back, we disassembled his beloved Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost piece by piece, as we had some genius mechanics in our year, and reassembled it on the top floor of his house."

Alfred paused to consider this, and shook his head sadly. "Poor motorcar never did quite run the same again, as I suspect our 'geniuses' might have left some bits out by mistake. But the look on the man's face was bloody priceless, and it vexed him to no end that the school closed ranks about us, preventing him from ever discovering the culprits.

"I believe the term is 'double-edged sword?'" he mused. "Very much like your abilities, young sa'. Hindering sometimes as much as helping."

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Kyle (post departure)

"They can be. I have actually been shot by the person I protected before because they were more scared of me than a mugger. May be a moot point now, seems teleportation that is not under my control doesn't agree with me. I am as normal as you right now."

I then looked into his eyes with my blue ones. "Time will tell if I get my powers back. Until then I am going to get taped up with your help ( and I am very grateful for that help!), go eat some of that mexican food that Merick brought back, and maybe get some sleep for the first time in over a year."

 

[ChasNicollette]

Alfred (post-departure)

Gingerly, Alfred tied off the tape in a figure-eight pattern, eyed the work for a moment, and then went back for the Aircast.

This was an arm immobiliser, thankfully enough, and again gingerly, Alfred helped the lad into this, positioning the abduction pillow to offload weight and strain.

Having done this, Alfred met the young man's gaze. "It seems you have decided to count your blessings, and I applaud you for this. Certain youths under my guidance-- mentioning no names, but his initials are Bruce Anthony Thomas Wayne --seem to have taken it upon themselves to become as invincible as possible and to take not nearly enough time enjoying the sheer luxury of being human."

Patting the lad gently on both shoulders before straightening, Alfred regarded Kyle with a quiet sort of sternness. A paternal expression, just as before, on the front porch.

"Perhaps this, God willing," he murmured, "is a phase he will grow out of. And perhaps, God willing, it is a phase to which you yourself shall not need to return. (Though, promise me, if your powers do not resurface in a timely manner to restore you, that you shall check yourself into Smallville Medical Centre and have those injuries looked at by a proper medical practitioner.)"

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Kyle

" i'm sorry sir, but I don't make promises I can't keep, and that one I can't. I'm not sure what they would see once they did the bloodwork. If it gets any worse I'll have Bekka evac me to her place. We have a doctor on staff that can be trusted."

I stood up, a little wobbly but I got there under my own power.

"I thank you sir. Now, i am off to grab some food. (I hope Merick grabbed some cholula with the food.)"


I slowly made my way into the kitchen (which was kinda crowded) where the rest of the team was hanging out.

"Hi guys, any of that food leftover for me?"

 

[Lunaramblings]

Dale Tennylson was weary. He had been through a lot in a short period of time. He had spent a good long time keeping the force inside him in check. He had practiced a form of meditation, almost like self-hypnosis. By which he had achieved a sort of victory over that other-self.

Dale silently reflecked on his past. He had done many things he felt sorry for in the light of day. However, he had done them willingly. He couldn't blame anyone but himself for the things he had done. He had taken the lives of people. Men, women, but never children.

In the end that is what had caused the problems with Edmund. He loved his father. He followed him into the life he led. He enjoyed working with him. The work was dirty. But then, it was also a much needed evil in a world so wrong. Dale had been a killer since he was 16. Not much older than Merick. He trained hard. He worked at every form he could. Hand, Knife, Gun. It wouldn't matter. He was nearly as good as his father.

Then there was Opal City.

Dale had just started college. Edmund called him. Gave him the job. There was a woman. She was somehow causing problems for all the wrong people. Dale was standing on a building across from her apartment. Watching through a long distance sniper scope. He had her clearly in his sites. She was amazing. Blonde, tall, gorgeous, and there was something about her... she was just... amazing. He watched her change from her day clothes, jeans and a tee, to an outfit worthy of a hooker or pornstar. He looked at her with dismay. He hated hookers. Then, out of the blue she walked into another room. She opened the door and there was a man. Older. He was holding a little girl. No more than a couple years old, but clearly the daughter of this woman. The woman took the baby, cradling her in her arms.

Dale froze. He couldn't take the shot. She was a mother. She may be a good many things. But he could see the joy on her and the childs faces. He packed up and left. That was the last job he ever took. Him and Edmund never saw eye to eye again.

 

[ChasNicollette]

Alfred (post-departure)

Alfred watched the young man go, nodding a little bit gladly. Really, the promise had not been solely confined to the good people at SMC, this had been a promise of Kyle seeking medical assistance. And he had, essentially, promised this.

The Pennyworth Gentleman felt awfully tired, then. After another long look at the sitting room, where Bruce and Damian still nattered, Alfred moved back out to the front porch to continue keeping watch, shotgun and nine-iron at his side.

"'For I have promises to keep,'" he murmured softly, "'and miles to go before I sleep.'"

 

[ChasNicollette]

Pete

"Hi guys, any of that food leftover for me?"

Pete glanced up from the microwave, extricating a warm plate piled high with assorted goodies. (He hadn't been able to find any cling-wrap, and he didn't want one of the chicken enchiladas to explode all over the inside of Bruce Wayne's pristine mike, so he'd improvised with paper towels.)

But when Kyle entered looking like he'd been dragged a hundred miles down a fifty-mile stretch of road, Pete glanced down at his plate and made a little face.

Then he grinned, and whipped the paper towel off like a gourmet waiter presenting a feast to an excited epicure, strode over to Kyle and sank to one knee before him, head bowed and plate aloft with both hands.

"Hail the conquering bad-ass," he proclaimed. "Dude who dies with the most stones wins, right? Went toe-to-toe with The General and lived. ('Course, Elephant Man here hadda save your ass with a forcefield, but that ain't no shame.)"

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Kyle

"Well, the next time I decide to be that stupid I hope mrs. McCrimmon kicks me in the back of the head first. Should have just given him a atomic wedgie and stayed incorporal."

I chuckled lightly at the mental image of Zod gettinga atomic wedgie, then sat down, t shirt in my lap (I hurt too much to try and struggle with it to put it back on. Maybe Bruce would loan me a button-up shirt.)

I reached over and grabbed some food, ribs wincing in protest, but not as bad as they were. YES!

"Merick you are a savior!" Is said as I picked up a small handful of cholula packets.

"It's not good tex-mex unless you have the right sauce!"

 

[Lunaramblings]

Merick grinned at Pete. As tired and worried as he was, Pete still made him smile.

"Elephant Man? Well, I guess I have been called worse."

Merick began following Pete's example, piling food on plates and zapping them.

"Y'Okay Kyle? You took some mean hits. I was just glad I got to you in time."

"From what I remember son, you all fought like heroes. Kyle, it was stupid what you did. Running off like that is just gonna get you killed one day. Trust me, making life shattering mistakes is no fun. Relax. You seem to be a smart resourceful kid, use that. You have nothing to prove to anyone here. And if I know Rosy, which I kinda do, she might just kick your ass for things like that." Dale grinned as he stood and patted Merick on the back.

 

[AmenRa]

The Martian Manhunter reached out and plucked the Crystal from the air as Pete had tossed it.

He took it and held it close to his face, using Martian vision to scan it in its perfection. His hands trembled at the Crystal's resonated power. He nodded at Pete Ross, the brave human who had bested the minions of evil Zod and retrieved it.

"I will return this to its rightful master," he said to them, "as soon as Miss Sullivan brings me up to speed on her team's current whereabouts."

He then turned and placed a strong hand on Chloe's father's shoulder.

"We shall carry on, my friend," he told Gabe. "'We shall endeavor to persevere'".

 

[TearsoftheWorld]

Bound for China

Looking out through the window, all Kara Zor-El could see was a great sea of clouds.

"You know, I don't think humans were meant to ride with the clouds between their knees," Kara said with a smile. She was, of course, joking, but it was an interesting thought. If they were destined for flight, you would think they would have been given wings.

Rose and Diana were sitting nearby, and their plane bound for China was making pretty good time.

Kara began to wonder what they would expect once arriving. Would they get lost? Would they run into Zod?

A sort of uneasiness settled over Kara, and she began to fear that their mission wouldn't be successful. But then she remembered what her father had told her: that she should trust in her own abilities and that she had been given the gift to help people, and her fear subsided.

Everything would alright in the end. If things weren't okay, then it wasn't the end.

"I spy with my little eye... something white," Kara said with a smile as she continued to stare out the window.

 

[ChasNicollette]

Chloe, Pete, Gabe, Ceri, and Jamie

"The Team," Chloe murmured, fingers flourishing upon the keys like she was a master pianista and this was her favourite set of ivories, "(as we're apparently calling them,) is currently aboard an advanced Gen-Tech private jet and is already almost to The Pacific. The LuthorCorp jet bound for the same location is a good ways ahead, though our girls are gaining. As predicted, they may actually make landfall pretty much simultaneously. Which, I was kind of hoping they could be there and gone again before LuthorCorp touched down, because it looks like The BRAINIAC's hitching a ride on Luthor's wings."

Chloe ran her tongue over her teeth.

"Let's hope the in-flight movie isn't 'Turbulence' or any of those 'Airport' classics," she murmured. "I bet those three girls're tense enough as it is. (God knows I'm working on an ulcer even as we speak.)"

Pete shot J'onn a thumbs-up and a grin in response to that respectful nod. Getting props from the alien bruiser, that was pretty sweet. (Good to know the man was okay, he'd been pretty messed up. 'Course, anyone else tangled with eyebeams that hot, they'd be in even worse shape.)

"'We shall endeavour to persevere,'" Gabe murmured. "Seems to me I've heard that one before somewhere."

He smiled a tired little smile. "What should we do? I mean, it's a school night. Some of these kids will have to get on the bus in the morning. If this is supposed to be a secret sort of thing, we can't have all of them be absent the same day."

Ceri frowned softly. "Yeh can't expect this lot to go back to books and papers after having gone through what they've gone through? Not everyone has training with compartmentalising."

"We may not have a choice," Jamie mused, cleaning his glasses on a handkerchief he'd produced from a pocket. "Granted, the superintendent might close the schools, given the damage wrought by the meteorites, a lot of kids are going to have to stay home and help parents and families effect repairs. On the other hand, if the school stayed open after the fire alarms on Wednesday and the fracas with the principal, that's a good indicator that the school's'll stay open tomorrow, too, even if they have to bring in generators for power. Good Oul' Midwestern American stubborn pluck."

He shrugged a bit. "I'm going in, if they're open. See if I can't offer me services. (Beats staying at home and twiddling me thumbs and worrying me head off about Rosy.)"

Ceri smiled faintly. "Fair enough. Though there's some as should stay home for other reasons."

...and at this she gave Kyle a very pointed look, suggesting that he should keep his arse home. Sure, they could explain the bruised-up torso and the cut lip as goings-on related to the shower, but those black eyes were less easily explained. What did the meteors do, punch him in the face?

"Speaking of worrying heads off," Chloe supplied, "shouldn't Kyle be checking in with his sister? I mean, Odin's probably already reported you hale and hearty, but I'm sure she'd love to hear from you directly. She's very... imperious. But she's concerned for your well-being. (She's a good sister.)"