Chapter 1
"So," Director Henshaw drawled. "We're supposed to believe she's... you."
"But from the future," Kara finished. She flushed slightly as she looked at the disbelieving expressions on his and Alex's faces before turning back to the woman sitting calmly on the other side of the glass. "Look, I know it's hard to believe -"
"Because it's crazy, Kara!" Alex interrupted. "Clearly she's up to something."
"Then why would she immediately ask to be brought here in fluent Kryptonian?" Kara asked. "Look at her, Alex, she looks exactly like me!"
Alex looked between her sister and the other woman. The other Kara's hair was shorter, having been cut into a bob that reached just past her chin, and she was dressed in a zipped up, dark red leather jacket, loose pants, with combat boots - something she could never imagine her pastel-loving sister wearing, but when she looked beyond the superficial, she couldn't help but admit that Kara was right. Everything, from the shimmering blue eyes and crinkled brow to the sharp jawline was identical. As if she could tell she was being watched, the other Kara turned her head and looked at them right through the window, making Alex shiver, knowing she likely could see them.
Kara did the same next to her. "So that's what that feels like," she muttered, and Alex smiled slightly.
"We gain nothing from just standing here," Hank declared, bringing an end to Alex's observation. "Agent Danvers, find out what she knows."
"Yes, sir," Alex replied. She left the observation room and walked down the hall, taking a deep breath to center herself. The other Kara was already looking at her when she opened the door, likely having followed her with her x-ray vision the entire way. Her expression was filled with something that could only be described as longing, and Alex suddenly felt incredibly exposed.
"Alex," she said softly. Her voice was deeper and had a rasp to it that Alex's Kara didn't.
"The voice needs a little work if you're trying to impersonate Supergirl," Alex quipped. The other Kara smiled ruefully and raised her hands, making Alex twitch in spite of the kryptonite restraints around her wrists, only to grab the zipper of her jacket and give it a slight tug, exposing her throat and the long stripe of scar tissue that covered it.
"What happened?" She asked. She didn't mean to sound so concerned, but seeing her sister injured, even an imposter, made her chest constrict painfully.
"You did warn me that I wasn't invincible," the other Kara said, a rueful smile on her face.
"So, we're sticking to the time travel story, then?" Alex said, forcing herself to stay focused on the task at hand.
"I don't have another one to tell," the other Kara replied.
"Prove it," Alex drawled skeptically.
The other Kara took a deep breath and sighed. "I'm assuming the whole 'daughter of a ruined planet sent to protect her cousin' isn't going to be enough?"
"Not for me."
"In that case... just tell Director Henshaw that I know about Peru."
Alex raised an eyebrow and glanced towards the interrogation room. The two of them sat in silence as the other Kara presumably watched something happening on the other side of the wall. A moment later the door and the director joined them with Kara floating behind him to peak over his shoulder before he shut it in her pouting face.
"You know I can just see through the door!" Her muffled voice shouted from the hall way.
"Then feel free to do so," Henshaw replied before turning to the other Kara. "As for you, how is it you know about that? The only other people who could are dead."
"Not as much as you think," the other Kara replied. "The man who led that mission is most likely still alive. As for how I know: I was told, by a version of you in the future."
"Director, what is she talking about?" Alex asked.
"That's classified, Agent," Henshaw muttered, not looking away from the woman across from them.
Alex scowled, setting that aside for the moment. "So, let's say we believe you are from the future. If that's the case, why are you here?"
"Because in about four years, a being known as Darkseid is going to invade. Superman and a few others will repel him, but that will only make him more determined. He'll come back, and when he does, Earth - and a thousand other worlds - will burn."
"Darkseid?" Alex asked, her tone skepical.
The other Kara nodded gravely. "On Krypton, we thought he was a myth. A story told to scare children, but he's very real. He's what's called a New God and rules over the planet Apokolips. He's a plague. He conquers planets, strips them for resources, and enslaves those he doesn't kill. Despotism made manifest."
"And you're here to stop him?" Alex asked. She had grown accustomed to the idea that Kara and her cousin weren't necessarily the strongest things on the planet, but the idea of a being powerful enough to defeat them as well as the many other heroes defending Earth sent a chill down her spine.
"I'm here to help," the other Kara. "That starts with clearing the speed bumps along the way, like Fort Rozz. Two Kryptonians have to be better than one."
Director Henshaw was silent for several moments thinking over her proposal. Eventually he took a deep breath and sighed in resignation. "Very well. Do you have something you'd like us to call you? I can't help but notice the lack of cape."
The other Kara smiled sadly and looked down at her leather jacket. "Yeah, the skirt and cape aren't really great for active warzones. In any case, my title is Flamebird."
Alex raised an eyebrow at that. She had a vague memory of Kara telling her stories about someone with that name from back on Krypton. She'd have to ask her sister later. "And when you're not in the field?" She asked. "I get the feeling calling you both Kara is going to get confusing pretty quickly."
That prompted a husky laugh from the other woman. "That's fair. This is her time anyway, she shouldn't have to give up her name for me." She paused and thought about it for a moment. "How about you just call me El? That way I can keep a connection to Krypton, and it'll be easier for any documentation you have to create."
"El it is," Henshaw declared. He held a hand out for her to shake. "We look forward to working with you, Flamebird."
She nodded and the three of them stood up and left the interrogation room where Alex's sister was waiting impatiently, her hands clasped behind her back.
"So," Kara drawled. "I... like your hair."
El smiled. "Thanks. I was moping about a girl and had blown out my powers after a nasty fight, so Alex and Winn offered to give me a makeover. I ended up liking it so much that I decided to keep it."
Kara's eyes widened. "Wait. What do you mean blew out your powers?"
"You wouldn't have had to worry about it before now," El explained. "But now that you're out there, pushing yourself to the limit, you're gonna run into situations where you use up all of your stored solar energy."
"I can't imagine not having my powers," Kara muttered.
"They come back," El offered consolingly. "All it takes is sunlight and a little jolt of adrenaline and we come back better than ever. Besides, Alex doesn't have any powers, you don't see her complaining."
"That's because Alex is a badass super secret agent," Kara replied, seemingly without thought, and Alex fought not to preen.
"And we're going to train you so that you're even better," Alex said. "Don't worry."
"Which reminds me," Director Henshaw said. "I want you to report here tomorrow morning so we can properly test out your abilities. We might as well get started on your training then as well."
Kara pouted before glancing at her future self and steeling her expression. "Yes, sir."
Alex raised an eyebrow, impressed. If nothing else, it seemed El was going to help her sister take this whole superhero thing more seriously. Then again, it was hard to stay flippant in the face of a time traveling version of yourself bearing warnings about Armageddon.
She was looking between both versions of her sister when a sudden thought came to her making her throw her head back and groan.
"What's up, Alex?" Kara asked.
"What are we gonna tell Mom?"