The cold water ran down my back, washing away the sweat and tension, the lingering heat that still hadn't fully left my body even now. As I stood there longer than I needed to, one hand pressed against the tile, letting the water hit my face as my thoughts spiraled.
Debbie said I got my Viltrumite powers, but why, how? After all this time?
I had already accepted that it wasn't happening for me. Mark got his powers early, while I got was my Tactile telekinesis. Not that I'm complaining at all. It makes me stronger, especially with my Amazonian heritage. So I be lying if I said I wasn't dangerous, I could basically imitate the powers of a Viltrumite and even imitate heat vision and more.
But it wasn't the Viltrumite abilities with the smart atoms. It didn't matter how powerful I am if a fist or knife hand, cuts or pierces through my body like it's nothing. A Viltrumite signature move.
So why now after everything, after I stopped expecting them?
I exhaled slowly, letting the water run over my face again. Debbie said it like it was obvious. Like it made sense, but to me it didn't. Well not fully, and If anyone could explain it, it would be people like Batman or John Stewart (Green Lantern). People who understood biology, or access to a power ring to that information.
Debbie understood what I'm going through considering she lived with Mark and Nolan. I just don't know if she has the whole picture. But it's certainly more then I know. And right now, she was the only one willing to actually talk to me.
I shut the water off and stepped out the shower, grabbing a towel and drying off quickly. My mind drifted again, not to the powers, but to her.
Debbie. After everything that happened… The two of us didn't talk to one another, not that we did to begin with. But Alfred had been the one to bring her into my life again.
One Thanksgiving was all it took. I was getting used to cooking on my own especially after what Diana cooked for me one time. So I decided to host a very small thanksgiving at my place. Diana, Donna, and Dick all showed up.
So did Alfred with Debbie. I was shocked to see her come especially after everything. I had no resentment towards her. I heard through Alfred and Dick that Cecil got her to hear what Nolan thought of her. The whole Pet thing, and I bet hearing your husband and son were murdering people and seeing it didn't help. And she heard what Mark thought of her as well.
Surprisingly she didn't side with them, broken hearted and all she stayed on the side of Earth. When we all sat at the table, it awkward at first. Everyone could feel it in the air. Two people who were tied together by loss neither of us knew how to fully process.
She admitted it that night that she blamed me at first. Blamed me for surviving and being here, while her family was gone. But then… she realized she was really angry at herself. For not seeing the signs.
And for not noticing what was happening with Nolan… and with Mark. And for not seeing how much I was hurting. I had lost everything too and I was just a kid, and I was being blamed for the sins of her Husband and son.
After that… things changed. She moved from Baltimore to Gotham, and she rented out her old place. And s tarted working under my mom's company, which was now mine to run. She worked in the real estate department, and played a part in our interior design. I made sure she had better pay, which from what I understand she was never hurting for money.
But more than that… She stayed for me, and became something I didn't realize I needed. Family.
She would check in on me, and even stayed over sometimes for a few days or weeks. We cooked, ate dinner together, and talked. She became my emergency contact next to Alfred. She was the reason I didn't completely feel alone this house that felt too big most nights.
Diana came by too. She acted like my aunt… but honestly? She felt more like a big sister. She came for Sunday dinners mostly which became like our traditions. But she was banned from my kitchen. Forever.
I snorted lightly at that thought as I got dressed. I should ask her more about my mom background. I always told myself I would so many times, but I never did.
Even after everything. Even after… all of this, a part of me felt scared that I wouldn't like what I hear. After I saw the footage of me from that day I was scared that sometimes I was the monster they treated me like.
Then a sudden knock pulled me out of my thoughts.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Debbie stepped in. She was in her sleepwear, her hair falling just shy of her shoulders, she was calm but observant like always.
"Oh, good. You're up," she said softly. "Do you want to talk about everything?"
I nodded immediately. "Yeah… I do."
A few minutes later, we sat at the kitchen counter with coffee in our hands. The morning still hadn't fully come in, and the house was quiet, with the dim light spilling across the counters.
Debbie took a sip, then looked at me. " So. Where do you want me to start?"
I didn't hesitate. "From the beginning."
She smiled faintly. "Fair enough." She stared into her coffee for a second before speaking.
"Right after Mark awakened his powers… he started acting different. At first, I thought it was just puberty," she said. "And… well… it kind of was."
I leaned forward slightly.
She paused, then added casually, "I walked in on him having sex with two girls from his school."
I blinked.
"…Wait. What?"
She nodded like she was talking about the weather. "Yep. One blonde, one black girl. Both named Amber. Imagine that"
I stared at her. "…You're joking right."
"Nope. That was there names, and they were sweet girls to."
I dragged a hand down my face. So both ambers exist in this world, well isn't that funny and he got with both of them. Well Mark, I can respect game.
"That must've been… traumatic."
"You have no idea," she said dryly. "And when I told Nolan… he just said, 'I guess I should've talked to him about his pheromones to him.'"
I froze. "…His what?"
"Pheromones sweety."
I blinked again." I don't know what you mean by that but I also don't like where this is going."
Debbie nodded. "Neither did I."
She leaned back slightly. "According to Nolan… when Viltrumite hybrids awaken their powers… they release pheromones."
My stomach dropped a little. "…You're serious."
She nodded. "They're meant to attract compatible mates," she continued. "The best possible partners to produce strong offspring."
I stared at her. "…So you're telling me… awakening equals… a hard on?"
She nodded. " Yup. That's your people's version of puberty. Don't ask me about the female version of it, Nolan didn't even know."
I leaned back in my chair. "…That's insane."
She shrugged. "I didn't design it."
I let out a slow breath. "So what… it just makes people lose control?"
"No," she said quickly. "It heightens attraction. Intensifies desire. It doesn't remove choice."
I nodded slowly. That… made it slightly better, but only slightly.
"But," she added, "you cannot try to relieve it the normal way."
I blinked. "…Excuse me?"
She gave me a look. "Mark tried. It made it worse. Nolan had to explain it as basically giving yourself Blue balls and having to let it pass or relieve with a woman, even if she is not your actual partner."
I stared at her. "…You're way too calm about this."
She shrugged again. " I knew what I signed up for when I married and had a baby with a alien. At this point my bar for 'weird' is very high."
I couldn't help it, I laughed. "…Fair."
She smiled softly. "Your father probably didn't think you'd need the talk. Since your powers didn't awaken."
I looked down at my coffee. "…Yeah."
"But now you, sorry its a few years to late," she said gently.
I nodded. "Yeah… but it's fine."
There was a brief silence, then she leaned forward slightly. "So," she said, eyes narrowing just a bit, "why were Barbara and M'gann here… with that girl who had the same symbol as superman. Was that his sidekick? And why was your coffee table full surveillance devices?"
I chuckled. "…Yeah… about that." I took a sip of coffee." You might want to sit back for this one."
She folded her arms. "I'm listening."
A Few Hours Earlier
High above the Earth, a blue streak cut through the freezing atmosphere. Supergirl flew faster than most aircraft could, but slower than she normally would. This was on purpose. The cold air bit against her skin, rushing past her face and hair.
She needed it. Her body still felt… hot and wrong. Her emotions felt heightened and she felt more sensitive. She was too focused on Caius and she couldn't understand why.
She shook her head, pushing the thought away. "Get it together Kara," she muttered as the Fortress came into view ahead. A massive crystalline structure rising from the Arctic like a frozen cathedral.
The Fortress of Solitude.
She slowed her speed, landing gently as the structure opened and responded instantly. "Welcome back, Kara Zor-El," a voice echoed as the entrance opened.
She stepped inside and the interior expanded around her, crystalline walls, alien architecture, advanced Kryptonian systems humming quietly in the background.
In the distance, she saw the botanical chamber with preserved ecosystems, and the massive memorial statues of Kal-El's parents.
Then a drone approached. "Welcome back, Kara Zor-El."
"Hey, Kelex, just the robot I was looking for. I need a favor."
"How may I be of assistance?"
"I need a full biological scan," she said. "Something happened."
Kara the nexplained her run in with Caius and the strange feeling over her body.
Kelex paused. " Understood. Please hold still."
A soft light scanned across her body. Kara crossed her arms, waiting impatiently. After a moment, "Scan complete."
She looked at the robot. "And?"
"You are in perfect health Kara Zor-El."
She blinked. "…Then why do I feel like this?"
Kelex processed for a moment. "Because your body has entered a reproductive phase known to humans as ovulation."
Kara froze."…Excuse me?"
She frowned."That doesn't make sense. Kryptonians, "
"Primarily reproduce through cloning," Kelex interrupted. "Biological reproduction became secondary and largely a dormant biological function."
Kara's expression shifted.
"…So?"
"Your biological reproductive response has been reactivated."
She stared at him. "…By what, how?"
" Through your contact with the Viltrumite hybrid and his pheromones."
Then silence. Kara's face slowly turned red.
"…You're kidding."
"I am not."
She dragged a hand down her face. "So you're telling me… just being around him… triggered this?"
"Yes."
Kara groaned louder. "You've got to be kidding me."
"
I am not kidding you Kara Zor-El. But the effects can diminish over time," Kelex added.
Kara's eyes widened. " Really. How much time?"
"Approximately twenty Earth years."
She went completely still her smile immediately vanishing. "…What."
"The intensity will lessen," Kelex clarified. "But residual effects may remain."
Kara turned away, pacing. "So I'm just supposed to… what? Ignore it for twenty years?!"
"That would be advisable unless you plan on mating with the hybrid. Which could preferable for the Kryptonian species. "
She stopped, clenching her fists. " No. This is insane. This insane I don't even know the guy, and I already want him like. I would be lying if I said he wasn't handsome. But I haven't been with even ever. I don't know how all down there works. "
"I have learning material should you need reference on positions for mating rituals and how to maximize the overall enjoyment for both parties. And since he is a Viltrumite you will not need to hold in fear of hurting your partner. "
She sighed heavily. " No thanks Kelex…Is there anything else I can do?"
"A solar recharge may help stabilize your system."
She exhaled slowly. "Whish you had just started with that.…Fine I'm heading to the Solar chamber."
She turned, walking toward it.
"…Now I know why mom said to be careful around hybrids back then."
The chamber doors opened. As golden sunlight flooded in. She hesitated for just a second, and one thought slipped through again. Caius.
Her jaw tightened. "…This is going to be a long twenty years."