Chapter 5

"Who do you work for?"

Maxwell scoffs at her, "Wouldn't you like to know."

"Yes," Alex responds calmly. "I would." She takes a step forward and his back hits the back of his cage in his efforts to get away from her. "So either you tell me now, or you find out exactly what I can do to make you talk."

Maxwell pales and stumbles over, sitting on the bed. "Okay, okay. It was CADMUS."

J'onn and Alex frown and exchange a look. They have never heard of the organization, and it's not on any of their lists of known enemies, at least that they can think of. Alex makes a mental note to talk to Winn after she and Kara talk to their parents.

"Who is the leader of CADMUS?" Alex asks.

Maxwell vigorously shakes his head, looking even more terrified. Alex is almost insulted that there's someone he fears more than her. "I won't tell you, I can't. She'll kill me."

So a woman leads it? Alex makes a mental note of that as well.

"Why does CADMUS want Kara and me dead?" Alex asks.

"You and your family are pro-alien," he states like that explains it all. "You've gone as far as allowing them to live among you, to give them ." Maxwell spits out, his lip curling up in disgust. His eyes go to Kara and he sneers at her. "Though now I understand why. You have your own pet alien."

Alex's jaw clenches and she resists the urge to burst in there and punch him. That's her sister he's talking about.

"I suggest you keep your xenophobia to yourself if you want to survive." J'onn says lowly. "You're only here until we have no more use for you. Then we will send you to a high security prison. And in the Danvers Kingdom, we don't segregate our prisons so you will be put in with aliens and humans alike."

His words make Maxwell blanch and Alex enjoys the horror on his face.

They're stopped from asking any more questions by Vasquez, who walks in hastily. "Ma'ams, the Queen wants to talk to you both. J'onn, she says you're welcome to come."

J'onn nods and they walk out of the room. He gives orders to Vasquez before they leave the DEO to keep an eye on the prisoners. They head to the castle's main entrance, none of them bothering to greet any guards as they hurry to throne room.

They slow down as they near it and Alex silently prays to whatever deity that her mom won't yell at her, even though she knows it's more than likely.

"Alexandra Danvers," her mother's voice booms, echoing loudly.

Alex winces and Kara puts a hand on her back, smiling at her sister comfortingly. She can see the disapproving look from here and it gets worse as they get closer, especially when Alex sees the concern on her father's face. She fidgets nervously with the sleeve of her armor.

"What happened?" Jeremiah asks worriedly from his throne.

Kara and Alex explain with J'onn standing stoically by their side.

"Kara, you revealed yourself." Eliza sighs, leaning back.

"I know, I just couldn't let Alex..." She trails off, looking at the ground in front of her.

"Kara, I would've been fine." Alex tells her quietly. "I'm wearing my armor, it wouldn't have hurt me."

"No Alex, you wouldn't have been." Kara says, her voice wavering slightly.

"What do you mean?" Alex asks.

"They aimed at your head, not your armor. Alex, if I hadn't stepped in, you would be..."

Kara swallows and blinks rapidly against the tears in her eyes. Alex reacts immediately and pulls her sister into her arms, holding her while she lets some of the tears fall.

"I never did thank you for saving my life." Alex murmurs in her ear.

Kara lets out a watery laugh, "I'm just glad you're okay."

Eliza lets out a quiet sigh as the sisters break apart but keeps holding each other's hand as a silent comfort.

"We need to figure out what we're going to do next," she says. "This is not something that will just go away. We should release something so that the rumors and speculation doesn't get out of hand."

Kara's eyes light up, "You mean-"

"Oh, my ears are burning." A voice drawls from behind them, the confident click of heels getting closer and closer.

Kara lets go of Alex's hand and launches herself at the visitor with a happy squeal. She hugs an amused Cat Grant, who to Alex's surprise, actually hugs back. She knew they were on good terms and like each other (which is shocking in and of itself because Cat Grant likes very few people), but she didn't expect the hugging. They pull apart and Kara walks alongside her towards the thrones.

"Cat! You're here!" Kara says excitedly, practically bouncing up and down.

"Of course I'm here," Cat says like it's obvious but smiles at her. "You just revealed yourself to the public as an alien."

"Thank you for coming, Miss Grant." Eliza says formally. "We hope you can listen to us and print the truth to minimize the backlash."

"I always print the truth," Cat remarks. "Now Kara, feel free to let me know if there is anything you say that you don't want me to put in the article. Speaking of which, Your Majesty, would it be alright if I stay here while I write it?"

"Of course." Eliza waves her hand at a guard, who rushes off to prepare Cat's preferred guest room. "And I trust you will allow us to read over it before you print it?"

"Yes, and I will make whatever changes are needed." Cat bows her head before turning to Kara. "So Kara..."

***

Kara relays her story about Krypton and everything that's happened while Cat takes extensive notes. Which is about as boring and tedious as it sounds. But Alex stays for Kara, sitting on her throne because there's no way she's standing for hours listening to that. J'onn stays as well and they refrain from speaking, even though Alex wants to know what the plan is, what they're going to do next.

"This is more than enough for an entire newspaper," Cat says happily when Kara's done talking. "One last thing, Kara. Any plans to become a hero like your cousin?"

The room falls silent and Alex's brain screeches to a halt. Kara, becoming a superhero? She's been told her entire time here to hide her powers, to work in the shadows despite wanting to help people.

"I would like to," Kara admits. "But I would want to do it like Kal-El, by having a superhero name and a suit or something. It's something we'll all have to discuss, though. Um, if you wouldn't mind not putting that in until we decide something that would be great."

"Of course," Cat nods. "I'll get started in my room and let you all talk about this."

Eliza waits until Cat is out of sight until she speaks. "Kara, no. It's too dangerous, just today people tried to kill you and your sister."

"But I'll be able to help people," Kara protests. "Just like Kal, I-I want to do it."

"She can work with the DEO," Alex suggests.

Kara nods and gives Alex a grateful look. Jeremiah is looking at his adoptive daughter thoughtfully while Eliza frowns.

"Pardon me for interrupting," J'onn says and all eyes are trained on him. "Ultimately, it is Kara's choice. I know this is something she has wanted and something you two have fought against. However, her secret is out. There is no point in her hiding who she is anymore. Knowing Kara, it does not matter if you forbid her from doing this. This is something she feels strongly about and will do anyways. It is safer for you to concede and allow her to work with us."

"I'm alright with it," Jeremiah says. "It's up to you, sweetie. Just promise you'll try to be safe."

"I will," Kara beams at him.

"Very well," Eliza sighs after a few minutes of silence. "I can't stop you, I know that. And I think a suit is a wonderful idea. You should go to Winn, that boy is a magnificent craftsman. I'm sure he would happy to make it. We can tell Miss Grant while you do that."

"Thank you!" Kara hugs Eliza and Jeremiah.

"Alex and I will join you. We need to speak to Winn as well." J'onn says.

Kara nods and practically skips towards where Winn works in the castle. He is their head nerd, in Alex's words. He researches aliens, among other things and is Kara's best friend.

"Winn?" Kara calls as she pulls open the door to his office, which is connected to the library (something he insisted on).

"Kara!"

Winn's head comes out from behind the many large stacks of books and papers on his desk. It's gotten so bad that he has a second desk where he has space to actually work.

"Hey! Have you heard what happened?" Kara asks.

"Yeah, I'm glad you're both okay. So what are you all here for?"

Alex gestures for Kara to go first. "I want you to make me a Supersuit."

Winn's mouth drops open and he stares at her in shock. "You... You want me to make you a Supersuit?" He lets out a breath and beams at Kara. "Man that is awesome! Do you have any ideas on what it should look like?"

"Nope," Kara says cheerfully. "I'm giving you creative freedom! Just nothing skimpy."

"Who even says skimpy anymore?" Winn teases, making Kara laugh and playfully punch his arm. "Alright, I've got an idea. I'm guessing you want a skirt?"

"Yeah!"

Winn sketches and speaks without looking up at them. "So Alex, J'onn, what do you want?"

"Tell us about CADMUS," Alex says.

And there's Winn and Cat in one chapter! Next chapter, we will finally see Maggie! Thank you all for reading and for your amazing comments! Stay awesome!