The Search for Kal-El

© The Elves of Alterverse

Chapter 3: The Hidden Hands

A small coffee shop, San Francisco, Our Earth, March 2002

The young woman chatted with two teenagers in the back of the crowded shop.  She smiled across the table towards the young raven-haired girl.

“So, how do you like my home town so far?”

The girl pondered. 

“Compared to where I’ve spent the last half of my life?”  She brightened.  “This sure looks like heaven to me!”

Their server returned.  Enthusiastically, she queried the trio.

“Can I get you anything else?  Tell you what!  I’ve got a bit of the gypsy in me.  I’ll be happy to read your tea leaves.”

The woman smiled back.

“Sure!  This should be fun.”  She handed the server her cup.

“This is odd!”  The server concentrated on the cup.  “Your leaves say that not even death can separate you from the closest of your relatives.  There is some odd kind of power tied to you.  It’s got kind of a green feeling to it.”  The server handed her back her cup.  The woman grimaced.  The server picked up the cup in front of the raven-haired girl.

“Wow!  You are an extraordinary young woman.  You are brilliant and extremely disciplined.  You have suffered great losses and those losses drive you.  You balance your losses with faith in the few you can trust.  Your trust must be earned.  On the bright side, the most important friendship of your life has already begun.  It has reclaimed you from your blackest night.  It will stave off the darkness for all the many, many years of your life.”

“This is odd.  You have a much stronger tie to the green power, but not all green things are kind to you.  You are not who you think you are, not at all.  Something is blocking me from reading any more.  I can tell you that the dog was truly meant for you.  And there is a word that sticks out.  ‘Starchild’ – You are the Starchild.”  The server frowned.  “Very odd.”  She brightened.  “Gee – I guess you’re going to grow up to be an astronaut.  Young lady, I do wish you well.”

The second teenager slowly sipped her tea.

“Sorry!”  She smiled.  “Still working on it.”

Other customers distracted the server.  The woman and her companions finished their tea and paid their bill.  They left a good tip. 

The server returned to pick up their cups.  She thought briefly of the little brown haired, brown-eyed teenager.  Curious, she picked up the cup.  She inspected the unique pattern of the leaves.

The server screamed.

Three blocks away

Sandy Scott guided her cousin and their friend through the crowd. 

“Linda, that was a little too close.  She’s the genuine article.  We do have a few around.  I’m glad we got out of there before she read your tealeaves.  We won’t go back there.”

Linda Kyle shrugged.

“What’s so wrong with that?  Might be fun to find out what’s in my future.”  She grinned mischievously.

“Linda,” Helena Wayne answered, “she knew far too much about me.  She knew far too much about Sandy.  This world doesn’t have metas.  That’s why Alan thought it would be a good hiding place for me.  Can you imagine what would happen if someone actually discovered you?

“You people are no fun.”  Linda fussed at her cousins.  She stuck her tongue out at them.

Alterverse, The Rock of Eternity, 28 December 2006

(Elf note:  The Alterverse calendar is four years and nine months ahead of our real time).

Kent Nelson and Dr. Fate examined an unconscious Bruce Wayne.  The Sentinel and Wonder Woman watched the examination.

“I’ll say this for Linda.”  Kent grimaced.  “She doesn’t waste my time on simple puzzles.  I see what she saw – a really nasty multi-part spell.  It was cast all at once, but it operated like a Boa Constrictor.”

“Kent?”  Diana asked.

“In the beginning, it just addled him.” Kent groused.  “Then it slowly tightened its hold on his mind.”

Dr. Fate removed his helm.

“This is the same mystic signature we found on Kal-El’s rocket.”  (Elf note:  Terra’s Revenge - Chapter 9).  “Ares has been plotting his moves very carefully.  Very carefully.”

Kent looked up from Bruce Wayne.

“That was some brilliant detective work, Alan.  You guessed and Linda knew what to follow up.  None of the rest of us would even have considered it.”

“I wish I had thought of this before.”  Alan frowned.  “We could have helped him if we’d known to look.  As it is, we still can’t put his family back together.  Our best strategist is still in Ares’ hands.”

“Not to mention a galaxy class meta.”  Diana groused.  “And let us not forget Barbara Gordon.  She’s the real innocent in this mess.”

Alan sighed.

“I think I see what happened.  Ares eventually tracked down the family of the Bat.  And Selina was right.  Her choice to become Batgirl doomed them.  He found them not long after Selina’s parents died.  He knew Selina had received half of the key.  His problem was that he did not know where the other half had gone.  Nobody else did, either.  Selina had never met her Uncle Edmund.  Her family had carefully destroyed any image with his likeness.”

“So Ares attacked Bruce Wayne and made it seem that Bruce had gone mad in his quest for vengeance.  He assumed that Selina would seek out her relatives for support and assistance.  But Ares underestimated Selina Kyle.  With a mad Bruce Wayne after her, Selina would never endanger her family, even if she had known who they were.  That left Ares playing a waiting game.”

Diana took up the tale.

“In the mean time, Molly Scott had already found and decided to keep Edmund Kyle.  She understood the very real danger of the key.  They hid from the Resistance to conceal his identity, not hers.  Very few people ever saw Edmund Kyle.  No one but Molly knew who he really was.  Alanna did not even know her father’s name.  She knew she had received something when her father died, but had no clues what it meant.  Alanna did not know about Linda’s birth, although it was an open secret in the Resistance.  Molly laid the false trail to Linda while keeping Alanna safe.”

Kent noted Alan’s look of displeasure.  He laughed grimly.

“Jeffrey and I knew as soon as Hades left last night.  I saw Linda’s funny look and I knew Hades’ reputation.  Jeffrey and I discussed that and a few other too obvious clues.  Then we confronted Diana.”  He smiled lightly.  “Don’t worry. Ares has no ears here.  If it’s not Green Flame, Lightning, Nabu, or my personal vision of Heaven, it’s not coming through.”

Diana smiled.  Curious, Alan queried.

“What clues?”

Kent grinned.

“What unborn mortal child could both receive the key and share a womb with the life force of the Phoenix?”  He looked down to Bruce.  “Don’t worry; we won’t share that part of the secret.  It offers too much protection to both Alanna and Helena.  If the Resistance and the Shantar believe there is a twin, Ares will do exactly what we want him to do - spend his time chasing more Red Herrings.”

“You know,” Alan spoke thoughtfully, “the more I find out about my family, the more impressed I become.  I barely knew Molly and I never met Edmund, but I’ve come to understand what they sacrificed to protect this world.  Edmund’s final acts saved all of us.  Poor Molly.  The guilt she must have felt for what she had to do.”

Jeffrey sighed.

“If not for Shantar technology, we would all still be safe.  The first time Linda walked through the Base in human form, it captured her DNA.”  Jeffrey grimaced.  “No, I won’t blame the technology.  That makes a good thing seem bad.  She found her home because Alan Scott believed in her.  It is the single most profound event in her life and it still awes her.  Then Alanna claimed her for family.  The two of you knew who she was.  You didn’t have to be told.  The test only confirmed what you already knew in your hearts.”

“The problem emerged when Selina became the first human to learn the rest of Linda’s heritage.  She decided to keep her tie to Linda hidden. She might have succeeded except that she had immediately prepared for war with Ares.  That attracted Ares’ attention.  The arrival of the second Batgirl made the attack inevitable.”

Jeffrey grimaced.

“If you thought the Birds of Prey were solely a response to Barbara Gordon’s arrival, think again.  Selina had already planned it all out.  She only had two goals – the protection of Helena and Linda from Ares.  In her eyes, they were the children of the Bat to be protected.  She had counted on an opportunity to end her own life.  She didn’t get it.”

“Garja and I knew about her tie to your children, but nothing about the key.  We knew there was something lurking in the background, but only Selina knew what it was.  We had to trust her judgment or force her to reveal a secret that might have endangered others.  We apologize.  We made the wrong choice.”

Alan looked to Jeffrey.

“I can’t fault your choice.  We all hold dangerous secrets that we choose not to reveal.  A few more than we let on.  Right, Kent?”

“Yes, old friend.  It’s time.”

“What?”  Diana and Jeffrey chimed together.  Alan Scott’s green flame lifted the unconscious Bruce Wayne and carried him through the castle into the void.

“Watch and learn.”  Kent smiled.  “Ares is a dangerous adversary.  He laid a series of trip mines in Bruce Wayne’s mind.  We could spend years finding them all.  Alan and I are going to take a more direct approach.”

Kent followed Alan Scott into the void.  Diana and Jeffrey followed. Kent pointed to Bruce Wayne’s unconscious form.

“This is a dirty little trick that would not work to save any of the four of us.  It will work for Bruce Wayne.  It will work because Bruce Wayne has no mystic signature.  We’ve already unwoven the more powerful parts of the spell affecting him.  Now, we’ll simply let the remainder explode.”  Kent floated beside Alan.  Alan generated a coffin of green flame.  Kent reinforced the coffin.  Then they shielded the area around their little group.

“Now!”  Kent yelled.  Bruce Wayne disappeared.  The spell that had been attached to Bruce Wayne exploded against the outside of the coffin and their shield.  Its remnants faded out of existence.

“If you can’t take the spell from the victim, take the victim from the spell.”  Kent smiled.  “Works real well if the victim has no native magic and you’ve got the power to pull it off.”

The coffin opened.  Bruce Wayne looked around.

“Green Lantern?  You’ve been dead for years!  Wonder Woman?  What are you doing here?”  He looked down at himself.  “Where’s my family?  Where’s my wife?  Where’s my little girl?”

Kent whispered to Jeffrey.

“Now comes the hard part.”

Sentinel’s Lair Command Center – Four Hours Later

“Are you sure about this?”  Elise followed Alan and Bruce into the Command Center.

“Nope.”  Alan answered honestly.  “But that’s never stopped me before.”

Bruce Wayne walked up to the Oracle’s console.  He looked for thirty seconds.  Then he smiled.

“Good girl, Selina!”  Bruce’s fingers attacked the console.  “Everything’s right where I knew she’d put it.”  He smiled grimly.  “Selina is still almost the best.  Almost.”  Fingers flew.  “I’ve spent the last five years chasing down Kayzik with a robot?  Can’t think of a bigger waste of time.  Why would I ever want to attract that kind of attention?”  He looked up.  “Leave me.”

Alan and Elise left him to the Oracle’s chamber.

“Now I’m sure.”  Alan walked out of the Command Center.

Three hours later

Bruce Wayne pounded at the keys.

Alan Scott is either a fool or a genius to allow me this access.  I’ve even accessed my robot through his systems.  I’ve seen Selina’s logs.  She trusted him as much as she has ever trusted anyone.  With that curse, I understand her cynicism.  Now it’s stolen her and cheated my daughter of her childhood. 

Alan’s daughter Alanna seems as dark as Selina and I.  No wonder Selina liked her so much.  The other child was a mystery, even to Selina.  Strange life.  Odd that Selina would trust her with Helena so easily.

Alan Scott has assembled quite a team: Dr. Fate, Wonder Woman, the Shantar, the Flash, Captain Marvel, the missing Supergirl, and many others.  He orchestrates a difficult dance.  He fights the menace on other worlds while hiding on his occupied home world.  No, this man is no fool.

He heard Diana enter the Command Center.

“Is she coming?”  Diana asked Garja Jenna. 

“She just dropped out of Hyperspace.  Should just be a minute or two.  She sounded like she’s had a good day.”

“I’m pleased.  She has certainly earned it.”  Diana walked up to the entrance of the Command Center.

Bruce smiled slightly.  That woman is as bouncy as a ten year old.  She’s up to something.  He turned back to his work.

“Little Goddess, how was your trip?”  Bruce could feel the fondness in Diana’s voice.

“Goddess?”  Bruce heard a chipper young voice.  “Gee, that’s a new one, Diana.” 

“Welcome home, Sweetheart.”  Garja Jenna greeted her warmly.

“Thanks!”  He heard the chipper voice again.  “We got Helena settled in.  She’s in great hands.  Dad made a great choice.  She’ll be safe!”  He heard light footsteps walk towards him.  He looked over to see a friendly green face peering over the console.  “Hi!  I’m Linda Kyle.  I belong to Alan Scott.  Welcome back to the world of the living.” She stretched to reach a hand up to him.

Despite himself, Bruce Wayne smiled.  He stood and reached down to take the extended hand.  He noticed the glowing ring.

“Power ring.” She smiled.  “I use it to get myself thrown out of the Shantar Senate.”  Linda grinned.  “Looks like you’re a lot better at that console than I am.  I’m lucky I got lots of people to help me out.”

Not that you really needed help.  I know what Selina thought of you.  But there’s only one thing I can say now.  He stood.

“I’m very honored to meet you, Linda.  I thank you for everything you’ve done for my family.”  He nodded grimly.  “Including keeping them safe from me.”

Linda grimaced.

“I only wish I had been here when Ares attacked.  I respect Selina.  She took the time to teach me.  But I adored the Helena I knew.  I miss her so much!”  He could not miss the sadness in Linda’s eyes.  “I love and will protect the Helena I found, but it’s not the same.”  She breathed in slowly.  “I’m sorry.  I know it’s so much worse for you.  You don’t need to hear my self-absorbed complaining.”

Bruce felt his emotions wash over him.  Yes I do.  It helps to know my family found a true home.  He spoke slowly.

“You are right. It is difficult for me.  But I want to hear you tell me about my family.  Please come by a little later this evening.  I would like to talk to you when you have some time.”

Linda smiled.

“I will.  Thank you.”   She walked back into the main room.  Diana found her.

“Little Goddess, may I have a moment?”

“What’s this Goddess, stuff?  I’m just Linda Kyle.  I’ve got funny colored skin, I can’t swing a sword worth a damn, and I’m not very smart.”

Diana gave her a sharp look.

“You find yourself challenged by the near-impossible.  That does not mean you’re not smart.” She smiled slightly. “Trust me.” 

“Okaaayyy, now that’s the Diana I know.  What’s up?”

Diana gently guided Linda out of the room.  Bruce watched them go.  So that’s the younger daughter?  No wonder Helena adores her.

Down the hall

Linda looked up to the towering Amazon.

“Diana, you look like the cat that swallowed the canary.”

Diana smiled.

“Meow, little Goddess.  I’ve had to do a lot of thinking over the last several days.  I’ve made some decisions about my future.  Selina started me on this path, but our battle with Ares has forced me to think it through.”

Diana crouched to be level with Linda.

“I want you to know that I’ve thought long and hard about our battle with Ares.  I watched what you did.  I watched how you did it.  I owe you an apology, little Goddess.”

“Diana, why are you calling me ‘little Goddess’?  I’m just a Meta.  And why would you owe me an apology?”

Diana smiled.  Because I enjoy teasing you, little Miss Shirley Temple.  And it makes a point.

“I watched Gaea defend you.  She believes you are more than mortal and she knows you have a soul.  I simply choose not to disagree with her.”

Linda sighed.

“I think I’ll go back to the Imperium.  They just think I’m a troublemaker.”

Diana scowled.

“Oh, no! You’re not!  That’s part of what I’ve come to realize.  I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what you’ve really accomplished.  You’d always been so damned perky that I wondered if Gaea staged everything just to make you look good.  I saw you as the Shirley Temple of the superhero set.”

“Who?”  Linda asked.

Diana chuckled.

“Never mind.  The point is that I’ve failed to take you seriously.  I’ve discounted how important all of your work really is and how hard you really try.  And I’m not the only one.”

Linda frowned.  She lifted her eyebrows, but stilled her tongue.  Diana continued. 

 “You see, the Guardians sent you to the Imperium as their mascot.  They needed someone with a respected name to bring attention to their agenda in the halls of the Senate.  That was all they expected from you.  They knew that the Shantar Military would ensure you could navigate the bureaucracy.  High Command respects your warrior’s instincts and the courage you’ve shown in battle.  The Guardians would then have time to develop a more permanent strategy.”

“The Guardians sent you as a full Senator simply because there was no reason not to.  You would advance the Guardian’s cause until they could choose a more permanent team.  In the meantime, you would receive well-deserved recognition just by having been a Senator.”

“It was a simple public relations ploy by the Guardians.  Your real interest was to protect your friends in the Corps.  You would ensure that their military campaigns made sense.  All in all, a situation where everyone wins.”

Linda’s frown intensified.

“I know I kinda screwed that up.  But I did what I had to do.  I couldn’t just let the Gingee die.  I couldn’t just walk away!”

Diana grinned.

 “And that’s why I owe you an apology.  I have never understood that part of you.  I do now.”  Diana flashed a smile.  “And so do the Guardians and most of the Empire.”

“You fought the battle that mattered and you didn’t even use your powers to do it.  It was a simple act of personal courage.  You walked away from your reputation and your hard-fought place in the universe to rescue a planet full of creatures you didn’t even know.  And that act of personal courage brought the Empire to its knees.” (Elf note:  The Imperium – Chapters 1 and 2).

Linda protested.

“But that was…”

Diana grinned.

“Never something you intended.  It might not have happened for anyone else.  But you aren’t anyone else.  You’re Linda Lee Danvers, decorated hero of the Green Lantern Corps.  You are Jade, the spawn of the Starheart.  And you are Jade Zoldar, the adopted daughter of Elise Zoldar.  Your mother is a member of one of the most powerful families in Shantar society.  You gave them the warning they needed to coordinate their response to Tarnet’s despicable act.  That’s why there was a full Warlord on the floor of the Senate when you presented your evidence.  The Warlord knew what was going to happen.  And he had the backing of High Command to refuse Tarnet’s order.  Then the other members of the Senate communicated what they’d seen.  That started the Empire-wide maelstrom.”

“Little Goddess, I shall never underestimate your mother or her family again.  But they will not forget that you proved yourself worthy of their support.  You proved that Jade is a real woman of personal courage, integrity, honor, and compassion.  She walked away from everything she wanted because it was the right thing to do.  And it broke her heart.  And she did it anyway.  And that, my dear, is what legends are made of.”

Linda grinned.

“Frankly, Diana, this speech is doing wonders for my ego, but it’s a little much.”

Diana smiled kindly. 

“But it’s my speech and I want to give it.  I want you to understand the implications of what you’ve done.”

Linda crossed her arms.  She sighed.

Diana continued.

“For millennia, the Empire has seen the Oans as little blue men who might send help during a natural disaster.  Now the citizens of the Empire see the Guardians of Oa as so much more.  At great personal consequence, one Oan Senator stood alone to protect the defenseless Gingee.  You did that without hesitation, without regret, and without remorse.  The peoples of the Empire will never forget that.  More, they witnessed the immediate reaction from the Guardians, the Military, and so many governments when you were silenced.  That was unprecedented.  Those citizens now believe in the promise of the Guardians.  They know that a true representative of the Guardians sits in that seat: someone who won’t just turn them away:  someone who will stand up for them:  someone who will be listened to.  Overnight, Oa has achieved the stature it’s always craved.  Now, the Guardians must prove that perception is not a fluke.”

Linda frowned.

“Diana, what are you suggesting?  I mean, I don’t have the skills to be a real Senator.  I understand that now.  But I want to learn.  If I really can’t do the job, then I’ll really quit.  But the Guardians tell me they really want me to be their Senator.”

Diana chuckled.

“I’ll bet they do!”

“I saw the little speech you made when you returned to the Senate.  It was brilliant in its simplicity.  You thanked the Empire for letting you help.  You asked for nothing else.  And they all knew your message was real.  Every single last one of them.   They believe you.  They don’t believe in the Guardians’ promise because of what the Guardians preach.  They believe in the Guardians’ promise because you made it a reality.  Now I’m going to help you make sure it stays that way!”

Linda warmed to the sincere look in Diana’s eyes.  She smiled.

Diana shifted position.  She smiled back at Linda.

“Your father is right.  The war cannot be won here.   Not this time.  It must be fought on two fronts.  Yes, we must fight the military battles we all prepare for.  But the far more important battle is elsewhere.  It is the battle for the resources of the Empire and it must be fought in the Senate.  Little Goddess, you are the first to take on that most important battle for the Guardians and for our planet.  You have done more than anyone could have hoped.  But you are right.  You don’t have the tools or skills you need to do the job.  Not yet.”  Diana grinned.  “But we’re going to do something about that.”

 “You see, the Guardians don’t understand the politics of running a Senate office – they never have and they never will.  But I was trained for exactly that task.  I ran my peoples’ Embassy before the Kayzik attacked.  I planned and organized our people to advance our agenda in the world of Man.  So, let me do what you can’t.  I can organize your staff and I can help you to achieve your goals.  I can help you to protect our world.  My people were created to serve the gods, and little Goddess, I claim that right.”

“Diana, are you sure this is what…”

Diana grinned widely.

“I want my life to have meaning and this is the most important thing I could ever do.  Please, let me honor the memory of my people and of the Guardians who no longer live.  Let me be the one to convince the Shantar that a Terran really can swing a Xentronium sword in battle.  And let me teach you how to be the effective and efficient politician you are going to have to be.  As long as you remember who you are, you will not fall into the corruption that claims so many.  You will not win every battle, but you will win the ones that count.  I’ll see to that.”

Linda relaxed visibly.  She smiled again.

Diana put her hand on Linda’s shoulder.

“You are legend born of legend.  Your shared legend is both of power and of character.”

Linda blushed.

Diana chuckled.  She spoke warmly.

“Little Goddess, be the legend.  Shine your bright light across the dark skies of so many worlds.  Let the people of the Empire know that you are there for them.  But let’s really be there for them!  Let’s put real teeth behind that hard fought legend!  Let’s do this right!  Let’s help the Guardians of the Universe guard the universe.  That’s what you charged them with and that’s what they need your help to do.”

Linda grinned sheepishly.  She teased.

“Umm, I’m not getting out of this, am I?”

“No, little Goddess, you’re not.”  Diana smiled confidently.  “And you’ve always known that.”

Linda smiled warmly.

“I know.  I do thank you so much for your kind offer.  I feel guilty about taking you away from Kent, but I’m sure glad to have your help.  I try hard, but I really don’t know what I’m doing.  That’s not good for us or the Peoples of the Empire.  I need to be the best Senator I can be, and I sure could use your help to make that happen.”

Then she smiled mischievously. 

“Gee, I hope Dad gives you a bigger allowance than he gives me!”  Linda teased.

Diana shook her head.

“I’ll have to work on him, little Goddess.”  Diana teased back.  “I’ll be happy to pick him up by his ankles and see how many credits fall out of his pockets!”

Linda laughed.

Observation Deck – just below the command center –several hours later

Bruce Wayne walked down the steps.  Even I can only stare at a computer screen for so long.  Selina had the right idea –strengthen our ties to the Resistance.  I’ll move that silly Batbot to where it can protect them.  Maybe if it stops killing Kayzik, they’ll reduce their presence on this world.

What’s Alan Scott doing down here?  He doesn’t strike me as someone who would just sit by the window staring at the stars.  Yet, he does seem perfectly content to be here.  Well, maybe he has time to tell me about Selina.

Bruce walked to around to the front of Alan’s couch.  Alan smiled up to him.  Bruce understood immediately.  There, nestled in his arms, Linda slept peacefully.  Krypto watched from beside him.

“I never have enough time with her.”  Alan watched her breathe.  “I let the universe come between us, and I shouldn’t.  She may be a legend in her own right, but she’s still my little girl.  Though I haven’t had her very long, I couldn’t imagine life without her.”

Alan moved a stray hair from her face.

“She’s been through so much.  Her early years were so hard.  And as much as I want to, there’s nothing I can do to change that.  All I can do is to guide her from here.”  He shifted his position slightly.  “I’m sorry.  I know it’s so much worse for you.  You don’t need to hear my self-absorbed complaining.”  Linda’s deep sleep continued, uninterrupted.

Bruce sat down in the chair beside him.

“Alan, I want to see Helena.”

Alan nodded.

“I do understand.  Linda plans to take you tomorrow.  We have Helena in a safe place that only Linda or I could take you to.”

They heard another set of feet on the stairs.  Command Assassin Elise Zoldar walked to join them.  She spied Alan’s bundle and smiled brightly into his eyes.  Quietly, and without jostling the couch, she sat not far from Alan.  She lightly touched his arm. She looked up to Bruce Wayne.

“Let me tell you of my friend Selina.   Let me tell you of one of the few people I’ve ever truly respected.  And let me tell you of Helena, the apple of my daughter’s eye.”

Bruce listened.

Daxam  - 29 December

“I’m sorry, Targan.”  Mary floated in front of him.  “We still don’t know what happened.  We don’t know where or when Kira is.”

He cursed.

“It’s hard enough to go through losing her once.  It’s not fair to have to do it again!”

Mary touched his shoulder.

“Don’t give up hope.  We haven’t.   We never do.”

He growled.

“So what are you doing to find her?”

Mary looked at him firmly.

“A lot more than you might think.”

Another place – the Castles of the Gods

Jay Garrick ran.  He looked in and out of every door he could find.  Where doors did not exist, he vibrated through the walls.  Aware of the time, he ran back to where he had entered this place.  The portal opened.

The Rock of Eternity

Jay emerged.

“I have to admit, Kent, this is frustrating.  I feel like I’m on a wild goose chase.”

Kent Nelson nodded.

“I know.  Running through the endless castles of the Gods is a lousy strategy, but it’s the best we can do right now.”

Diana walked over with a tray of food.

“It is better than you know.  Jay, you are the only one of us not to carry a strong mystic signature.  Ares can’t track you, not like he could any of the rest of us.  Our only other alternative would be to send the Shantar or Alanna.  The Shantar would not escape detection for long.”

Jay grimaced.

“And sending Alanna would be dumber than dumb.  Talk about giving Ares what he wants!”   

He chowed down on the proffered food.  He looked up.

“Diana, you seem much more yourself these days.  This is much more the Wonder Woman I remember.”

Kent laughed.

“She’s decided to stop trying to fix this world.  She’s set her sights on the universe instead!”

Diana walked over to Kent and effortlessly picked him up with one hand.  She held him a foot off the ground.

“But I still look up to you, dear.”

Kent looked down, dumbfounded.  He wiggled his feet.  Jay howled with laughter.

Our Earth – above San Francisco

“Interesting world, isn’t it?” Jade entered the atmosphere with Bruce Wayne.  “This is what our world might have become.”  She flew down to an apartment in San Francisco.  “Please be kind.  She’s had a rough time.”

Jade landed in the hallway just outside the apartment door.  She hid her natural green pigment.  She knocked on the door.  It opened.

“Linda?”  Helena Wayne peered out.  “Sweetheart, you didn’t have to…”  She looked up to the man standing behind Linda.  “Daddy?”

Jade vanished.

The Pacific Ocean

This world is so full of life!  Jade flew above the ocean.  I’ll be a good girl.  I know all the rules.  She kept herself invisible.  What are those things?  She followed two very high-speed aircraft.  Maybe they have some kind of communications.  Linda let the green flame interpret for her. 

“Think they’ll see us coming?”  The pilot of one craft asked the pilot of the other craft.

“Nope!”  The other pilot answered.  “Nothing moves as fast as we do!”

Nothing?  Jade grinned.  Slowpoke!   She flew towards the aircraft.  She caught up to them easily.

She touched the plane.  Then she flew up to the cockpit.  She turned visible long enough to stick her tongue out at the pilot.  She waved.  Then she smiled.  Then, she vanished again.

NORAD – Several hours later

“Another report of little green men on a farm?”

“No sir!  This is from one of our own flight crews on an Air Force mission.  It’s very unusual.”

“What’s so unusual?”

“Well sir, apparently this was a little green woman.  The crew was quite insistent that we follow up.  They want anything we’ve got on her people.”

“They want to make sure it doesn’t happen again?”

“No sir!  They want to know where to go to propose.  Apparently, she had quite a sense of humor.”

“Put it in the Bozo file.  They’re playing with us again.”

San Francisco – two hours later

“I’m sorry.”  Jade spoke to Bruce Wayne.  “We have to go back.  We have to make our world safe for her.”  Helena walked up to her and hugged her tightly.

Bruce Wayne watched the embrace with envy.  I see how my daughter believes in her.  I wonder if she will ever believe in me?  I will do my best to give her reasons to.  The name of the Bat will once again bring fear to the dark things of our world.  Our world will become safe for you, dear Helena.

“Come back soon?”  Helena let her go.

“As soon as I can.”  Jade smiled sincerely.  “Just think!  Pretty soon you’ll be terrorizing the best warriors in the universe.  Just a little over a week before I have to head back to the Senate.  Diana’s coming with us!”

“I’ll look forward to that.”  Then Helena frowned.  “Do you think we’ll find my Mom?  Can we help her?”

Jade darkened.

“We’re doing what we can.  It will take time.  I’m sorry.”  She brightened.  “But don’t give up.  We won’t!”

Helena hugged them both.  She watched them vanish.

Alterverse - The Rock of Eternity – 30 December

“Another wasted run.”  Jay gratefully accepted the meal Kent laid out.  “There must be something we can do to make this move more quickly.”

“There certainly is, Jay.”  Alan Scott walked in, followed by several others.  “We have forgotten how many friends we really have.”

Diana smiled.  Three Green Lanterns stood beside Alan.

“Koriand’r. Kilowog.  Kryssma.  Welcome!”

K’ryssma spoke for them.

“Thank you for your greeting.  We understand you have a problem that requires a non-mystic solution.”

“Dat,” Kilowog grinned, “and I’ll take any excuse I can get ta come out here.”

“Koriand’r.”  Kent smiled.  “Naturally immune to most mind control.  A living solar battery.  And not a lick of a mystic signature.  You are a sight for sore eyes!”

“Down, boy!”  Diana teased.

Kent grinned sheepishly.

“I can use all of you.  It’s just that Kori doesn’t need the Lantern energy to fly.  I need someone who can do that.  Ladies and Gentlemen, things just got a whole lot easier.  Here’s what I’d like to do.”

Our Earth – California Route 101, North of San Francisco

Sandy Scott drove her old Volkswagon Beetle south towards home.  She smiled at the girl sitting beside her.

“Skimming through another book?”

“No,” Helena answered, “I’m reading it.  Almost through it.  Kind of light reading, but seems more silly than anything else.”  She closed the book.  “Best line in the whole book was ‘They’re shooting at me! Me, whom everybody loves!’  I can relate to that!”

Sandy frowned.  She read through War and Peace?  I smell a rat.

“Sandy?  Why is there so much stuff in the sky?  How can we see anything through all the junk?”

Five miles from Sandy’s apartment – at a stoplight.

“Oh my God, Sandy!  Do you see that house?  It’s on fire!  There are children inside!  We’ve go to help!”  Helena ran out of the car.  Sandy parked it and grabbed her black bag.  She lost sight of Helena.

Sandy ran up to the flaming house.  An older man stood outside with two young children.

“Did you see that girl?  She ran so fast.  She pulled both of these children from that house.  Now she’s gone back in for the third.”

A little boy looked up to her. 

“My brother played with matches.  He didn’t mean to cause a problem.  He played near the window.  The drapes blew over the match and caught fire.  Is he going to be all right?”

“I hope so.”  Come on, Helena!  Get out of there!  You know better! Uh oh!   “Something’s wrong!  Everybody hit the dirt!”  Sandy hit the ground hard.

The gas lines caught fire.  The house exploded.  Fragments of glass, wood, and metal flew through the air. 

Oh, God.  Poor Helena.  Uncle Len sent me the girl to protect and I got her killed. I won’t ever forgive myself for this.  Sandy shook herself off.  She began to force herself to stand.

“Sandy?  Are you all right?”  Helena stood above her.  She held a very frightened little boy in her arms.  The shreds of her clothing hung from her back. The little boy had several small cuts and bruises.  Helena set him down.  He ran off to his family.

“Sandy?”

She’s about to collapse from the pain!  Her back must be nothing but shreds of skin!  What do I do now?  Helena doesn’t legally exist in this world!  How can I get her into a hospital?  She has no ID!

Sandy steeled herself to face the inevitable.  She inspected Helena’s back.  Her eyes widened.  Quickly, Sandy put her own coat around Helena’s shoulders.  Before the people at the fire realized they were leaving, she walked Helena away from the house and back to her car.  She drove Helena back to the apartment. 

Two hours later – above San Francisco

Jade rocketed towards Sandy’s apartment.  She landed on the deck and phased in through the door.  She heard the radio as she phased though the door.  Sandy and Helena listened intently.

“In the news today, authorities are puzzled by the disappearance of a mystery angel who saved three children from a burning house.  Onlookers reported that she simply vanished after saving the children’s lives.” 

Helena frowned.  Sandy smiled comfortingly.

“No regrets.  No remorse.  Understand?”

Helena nodded.  She relaxed just slightly.

 Jade ended her invisibility.

“Tada!  Miss me?”  Jade grinned.  Visibly upset, Helena still looked miserable.

“Helena?”  Jade moved towards her.  “Honey, what’s wrong?”

“She’s not Helena.”  Sandy shook her head sadly.  “We don’t know who she is, but she isn’t Helena Wayne.  She’s not the heir to the key.” 

Sandy smiled wistfully. 

“But I must say this: she’s still one hell of a hero.”

Jade spun a web of Green Flame.  She passed it over Helena.  Helena wavered slightly, then recovered.  Jade finished her examination.  She grumbled.  Green Flame passed over Helena again.  Jade concentrated.  She seemed to focus inside herself.  After a few moments, Sandy heard a popping noise.  Jade brightened.

“How do you feel, Helena?”

“I feel better than I’ve ever felt before.  What did you do?”

“I wrecked the spell that kept you from your birthright.”  Jade scowled.  “Ares is a nasty bastard.” 

“What birthright?”  Helena questioned.

“I’ll show you as soon as we get off this planet.”  Jade answered. “Trust me! See, Ares screwed up with you.  He screwed with nature and created himself a problem.”

Jade chuckled softly.

“Oh, this is so funny!  Ares screwed up big time!”  Jade let her slight smile fade.  “I’m sorry.  I don’t know what poor soul was in that cage with you, but it probably wasn’t Selina.  You probably weren’t really there very long, either.”  She turned to Sandy.

“You’ve got good instincts, Cousin Sandy.”  Jade smiled wryly.  “She can’t stay here.  I’ll get her home.”  She walked over to Sandy and hugged her.  “I’ll bet Krypto’s gonna be one happy puppy!” 

“I know he is!”  Sandy smiled wistfully.  “And I bet I know why!”

Jade nodded solemnly.

“You take care of her!”  Sandy advocated.  “She might not be little Helena Wayne, but she’s still a very special person.  She saved lives today without thought of her own.  Sure reminds me of someone else I know!”

Jade blushed.  She reached out to Helena.

“Still friends?”

Sandy saw the spark light in Helena’s eyes.

“But I’m not the real Helena Wayne!  The real one is out there somewhere.”

Jade shrugged.

“And when we find her, we’ll get her home, too.”  She grabbed Helena’s hands.  “See, I’m not much on philosophy.  There’s lots I don’t understand.  But what I do understand is that you’re my friend and you care about me.   If you are still willing to keep me as a friend, I’d love to keep you as one of mine.  The rest can sort itself out later.”

Helena beamed with relief. 

Jade waved to Sandy Scott.  Then she vanished with Helena.

Sandy watched the Green Flame fade.  I don’t know how she does that.  She makes the complicated seem so simple.  I guess that’s part of her magic.

Alterverse, outside the orbit of Pluto

They floated together in the emptiness of space.

“Jade, why are we here?  I can almost feel the cold, even through your force field.”

“Helena, you’re not in my force field.  You haven’t been since we left Sandy’s Earth.  You don’t need it.  Not under a yellow sun.”

Surprised, Helena felt herself stop in mid-flight.  She looked down at herself with realization.

“You hit me with Kryptonite, didn’t you, Jade?  That’s why I felt so weak for a second.  That’s how you knew.”

“Sorry about that.”  Jade lost her smile.  “Listen, I want you to know that you got a home.  It doesn’t matter how this stuff sorts out, you still got a home and you got friends.  I know what it’s like to find out that you’re not what you think you are.  It’s still what’s inside you that’s the most important.  That’s what keeps you going.”

“See Helena, this is what I figure happened.  Ares decided to clone Kryptonians to use as bodies.  Just for grins, he took pieces of Helena and pieces of Kira and mixed ‘em together.  You got that same funny little gene that Kira has that gives her immunity to the Kayzik critters.  You got Kira’s Kryptonian legacy, but you’re Helena Wayne in every way that’s important.  You got her will, her drive, and her quick mind.  I think Ares tried to wipe your mind and couldn’t do it, so he cut your powers back.  He contented himself by playing with you.  We’d never have realized what you were if Dad hadn’t decided to protect you in a non-magical universe.”

Helena understood.

“The magic couldn’t completely restrain me on Sandy’s world.  That explains why I read those books so quickly.  That also explains how I got out of that building without a scratch.”

Jade smiled.

“Yep.  The lack of magic doesn’t bother me all that much, because my power’s fairly constant wherever I go.  I don’t cast spells; I manipulate Gaea’s mystic power.  You’re a mortal, so Ares used a regular magic spell on you.  Once you left our universe, that spell lost a lot of its strength.  That’s why I was able to bust it so easily without hurting you.”

“See, when I go to that world, I lose the mystic edge I have, but so does every other mystic.  Dr. Fate would have almost no power there at all.  If my power were solely magic, I’d be in a world of hurt.  But it’s not just magic; it’s mystic power.  That means that I can function pretty much anywhere, but I get an added kick out of my juice in a mystic universe.  So does Dad.”  (Elf note:  See the Original Otherverse: Amber Shards - Chapter 7 for why this matters.)

Jade grew serious.

“But always remember why you were in the building in the first place.  You got into the building because you’re Helena Wayne.  You got guts.” 

Jade pointed to an area between Mars and Jupiter. 

“Before we go back we gotta work on your control a little.  I don’t want you to take out the Lair by accident.  I know Kira had a few problems with her heat vision when she first got to Earth.”  She grinned.  “So, how long since you’ve played catch… with asteroids?”

An hour later – Sentinel’s Lair observation deck

Helena and Linda sat near the window with Alan Scott and Bruce Wayne.  Helena faced Bruce Wayne.

“Dad, I still haven’t begun to sort this out.  This is so screwed up.  I shouldn’t even exist.  I’m not even really human.”

“Been there.” Linda piped up.  “Done that!  Got the T-Shirt!  Got green skin for all my trouble!”

Helena grinned.

“I know.  That’s what keeps me hanging on.  The coffee shop server was not wrong.”

“Coffee shop server?”  Alan inquired.

“Long story.  I have made some decisions, though.  I don’t have a claim on the name ‘Helena Wayne.’”

“But that’s who you are!”  Bruce Wayne protested.  “You’re my daughter!”

“I know, and it matters to me that you believe that, Dad.  But the real Helena Wayne is only seven years old, and she is out there somewhere.  We have to get her back.”

“Your mind seems made up.”  Alan smiled kindly.  “What name have you chosen?”

Helena flashed a grin. 

“Krystal, with a ‘K’.  It has a lot of meaning to me.”

Linda nodded appreciatively.

“Sounds special.  What’s it mean?”

Helena stood up.  She walked towards the window.

“The ‘K’ ‘R’ ‘Y’ is a reminder of Krypton.  That’s where I derive my power.”

Curious, Bruce asked.

“Still, why Krystal?  I must admit it is a beautiful name.”

Helena looked out the window.  She spoke very slowly.

“Because Jade is a precious piece of Crystal.  It reminds me of the best friend I ever had: the girl who saved more than my life.”

Krystal left the room.

The Rock of Eternity

“This is getting frustrating.”  Jay Garrick and Koriand’r chowed down on the food in front of them.  “There must be a way for us to search more quickly.”

“I’ve brought you someone who wants to help.”  Alan Scott.  He walked towards them with the Waynes and Linda.

Kent snorted.

“Jade of the three mystic signatures and two mortals.”  He lightened his tone of voice.  “Not that I don’t appreciate the good intentions.  But unless you know someone with almost no mystic signature who can fly through the portal and use X-ray vision to map the place, you’re not going to be able to add much to this adventure.”

Linda giggled.  Alan smirked.  Bruce rolled his eyes.  Krystal shrugged.  She flew through the portal.

Alan laughed at Kent’s startled expression. 

“Kent, I tried to explain to Linda that there was no way to solve this problem.”  Alan snorted.  “As usual, she didn’t listen.  Sorry, old man!”

“Now I know why the last Shazam Wizard went nuts!”  Kent glowered.

“What?”  Alan asked.  “Did I miss something?”

“Hmm?  Don’t know what you’re talking about.”  Kent went back to his maps.

Outside the Sentinel’s Lair

Elise walked Krypto through the snow covered forest.  Well fella, it looks like you’ll get some real exercise soon.  I can move pretty quickly, but you’ll need Krystal to take you for a real run.  Krystal – hard to say that.  She’s right, though.  The original Helena Wayne does have a right to her name, if we do find her.

Krystal is so different from Kira.  She’s much more focused and much more driven.  She has a lot more sense of who she is.  Kira always seemed a little lost. Krystal, like Alanna and Linda, is clearly the child of the Bat.  Maybe she can give Kira a sense of direction.

It’s always amazed me.  Alanna is Alan’s clone, but Linda is so much more like him in personality.  Maybe that’s the effect of the Green Flame on both of them. 

Krypto stopped to inspect a tree.

I’ll have to say this:  Jor-El was a thoughtful father.  A pre-neutered dog:  the perfect companion for any Kryptonian child or adolescent.  Poor critter, it must have terrified him to see Helena torn away.  He’s been accepting of Krystal.  Krystal – I have to admit there’s a certain amount of class to that name.  I think I’ll paint her.  I’ll update my Jade portrait, too. 

If Alan thought his family tree was convoluted before, wait until he realizes that he’s now related to Jor-El of Krypton!  Elise laughed.  Really, it’s Alanna and Linda who are related to Helena and Krystal Wayne.  Krystal’s genetics come from the Waynes and the house of ‘El’, although I doubt she’d ever wear the symbol.  She’d be more likely to wear the Bat or Alan’s starburst.

What’s this?

Elise walked into a clearing.  She found an overhang that protected an old fashioned still.  I’ve seen these things before.  This critter is bubbling away.  Someone is making more booze than a single person could consume.  Wonder who it belongs to?  The Shantar don’t get drunk like Terrans.  We’re capable of a slight buzz and that’s it.  We wouldn’t drink this shit.  Probably not Alan or Linda.  They wouldn’t need a still.  Alan can’t get drunk.  I doubt Linda could.  Even if she tried, Gaea would probably wipe it out of her system.  The Guardian’s Angel’s Guardian Angel!  Elise chuckled.  Not Jay, either.  I know what his metabolism would do to it.  I’ll have to ask around.  Probably no real harm done.

Several hours later - A Hallway – The Sentinel’s Lair

“Alan?”  Krystal called him as he turned a corner.  “Do you have a second?”

He turned and waited for her.

“Sure!  How goes the search?” 

She caught up to him.

“It’s taking longer than we hoped.  There’s a lot my X-Ray vision can’t see through.  But Kent seems pleased.  Now Kori and Jay only have to inspect the places I can’t see.  Shouldn’t take too much longer – I hope.”

She smiled sincerely.

“I wanted to say ‘Thank You’.  Thank you for the example you’ve set for Linda:  the one she always seems to follow.  I’ve always looked up to her.  She’s certainly been my Rock of Gibraltar. ”

Alan returned her smile.

“I wish I could take the credit for that.  She’s always had her own sense of what’s right and wrong.  I’ve come to realize that’s her greatest gift of all.  She always follows her heart and things just work out the way they were meant to.  That’s not the gift of the Phoenix or the Starheart, that’s just who she is.”

Krystal’s eyebrows furrowed.

“I don’t understand her, Alan.  I wish I did.  I do know that even if we find Mom and Helena and if there is no place in the Wayne family for me, I’ll still have a place in this world.  She’s given me that.  The coffee shop server on Sandra’s Earth said I would always have her friendship.” She smiled sincerely.  “I guess Linda really is the rock of my existence.  She accepted me so easily, even after she learned that the real Helena is still out there, somewhere.  She sets the example I hope I can live up to.”

Alan nodded with a smile.

“In a lot of other universes, the Kryptonians lead the superhero communities.  They set the example for all to follow.  Somehow, that just didn’t happen here.  Kira has always seemed to drift.  She doesn’t have firm roots.  If anyone should be adrift, it’s Linda.  Yet, she’s always the one who comes through.”

Krystal frowned.

“Somehow, I think we’re both missing something.  Something so obvious, we’ll laugh at ourselves once we find it.  It’s like a hidden hand that is only obvious if you know to look.”

Alan chuckled.

“If we asked, she’d just tell us that she’s a simple farm girl from Leesburg, Virginia.”  He frowned.  “She doesn’t like talking about her childhood.  There’s a lot she hasn’t told us.  Alexander won’t tell us either.  But I do know this.  There is something nasty she’s hiding.  There’s a trauma that even she has trouble confronting.”

Krystal’s brow furrowed with concern.

“Are you sure there’s nothing we can do?  And why do you suspect a single trauma?  Her whole life has been nothing but a continuous trauma.”

He sighed.

“Krys, all I know is that she had a conversation with Hallie Jordan before Hallie was killed.  Hallie wasn’t normally a serious person.  When I saw the look of worry in Hallie’s eyes, I knew that something was really wrong.  But she wouldn’t tell me either.”

Alan pointed down the hall.

“Well, let’s stop just talking about it.  Let’s go spend some time with her instead.  I think I saw her heading towards the observation deck.”

The Observation Deck

They found Linda staring out the window.  She looked towards the west.  Her normal chipper demeanor had deserted her.  Her thoughts were elsewhere.  She shook her head sadly.

“I miss them so much.  I can’t believe it’s been a year since I’ve seen them.  I still can’t believe that they’re gone.”

“Honey, who?” Alan tried to reassure her.  “The Danvers are still alive and well in Leesburg, Virginia.  They’re still on the farm where you grew up.”

Linda looked up at him sadly.

“I didn’t grow up in Leesburg.  They’ve only had that farm for a year.  I sure wasn’t there very long.  If I’d had my choice, they would have moved back to Leesburg without me.”  He put his hand on her shoulder.  She stared back into the darkness.

“I was a lucky little girl.  I never realized how lucky at the time.  The Resistance moved us far away from Virginia to keep me from being an easy target.  My folks had a nice farm.  They were okay, I guess, until my brother came along.  I don’t know.  As time went by, I spent less and less time with them.”

“See, there was this nice older woman on a neighboring farm.  She took a shine to me.  I called her ‘Aunt Mary’.  She and her husband kind of took me in.  The Danvers might not have cared much about me, but Aunt Mary and Uncle John sure did.”

She smiled dreamily. 

“After a while, they kept a room for me.  And I sure used it.  I’d go weeks at a time without even seeing the Danvers.”  She sighed.  “I remember my Aunt Mary.  I remember how simple she could make even the most complicated things seem.  She was the one that taught me that if it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.”

Linda looked back out the window.

“She used to spend hours rocking on that porch swing.  She’d let me sit in her lap.  She’d let me just talk.”  Linda looked to the two of them.  “She spent all that time to help a little girl sort out so many things.  See, that’s where I learned what love is all about.  I would’ve been so happy to spend the rest of my life with them.”

She smiled at her memories.

“Those were happy times.  We had kind of a little school where they tried to teach us stuff like history.  I know it wasn’t a real school, but it was what we had.  Uncle John would always help me with my lessons.  That’s where I learned to read and write.  Not too many people get a chance to do that any more!” 

Linda frowned.

“Hallie told me that they died not long after we moved back to Leesburg.  I heard they died of a broken heart.  I know I almost did.”

Her eyes shone red with rage.

“See, that’s the one thing I’ll never forgive the Danvers for.  They took Aunt Mary and Uncle John from me!  You rescued me from the mess they tried to drown me in, but I still lost the two people who cared the most about me.”

Linda looked up with fierce pride in her eyes.

“But no matter what, I’ll know I’ll always have my memories of them.  Aunt Mary and Uncle John taught me everything I know about how to be a person.  I like to think I learned well.  I couldn’t have asked for better teachers.”

Even here.  Alan realized with a start.  Even here, it’s their hidden hands that create the legend.  It’s not Jor-El of Krypton.  It’s not the Sentinel.  It’s not the Guardians.  It’s them.  Even here.  No wonder poor Kira never stood a chance.  She wasn’t the one.  Not here.  He held Linda.  The tiny body relaxed.  She melted into him while she spoke.

“What hurts the most is that I don’t even know how to get back to their farm.  I got friends in the Resistance.  I keep telling myself that I’m going to go find out where the farm is, but I never do.  I think I’m afraid of being there all alone.”

Alan nodded.

“I’ve been there.  I’ll take you tomorrow.  I’d like to share your memories of those two special people.”

Linda smiled brightly.

“You really mean it?  You’ll take me!  Wow!  That would mean so much to me!”

Krystal spoke with hesitation.

“I’d like to come, too.  I’d like to understand.”

Linda squealed with delight.

“This is wonderful!”  She hugged them both.  She glowed as she phased through the Observation Lounge window and flew into the night.

Krystal looked at Alan.

“I don’t understand what I just saw.  How do you know who the people were?  How do you know where the farm is?”

Alan smiled.

“You know, so many things make sense to me now.  The hidden hands – the glue that holds it all together.”

“Alan?”

He watched the green firefly glow in the distance.

“I had so hoped that Kira would find Kal-El, the Superman from Krypton. I had this image of him in my mind.  He’d be the shining example who would inspire us all.” 

He laughed at himself.

“Oh, how could I have been so stupid?”  He frowned.  “Don’t answer that – I’ll do it for you!”

Krystal stared.  And he thought my father was off HIS rocker? 

He lost himself in a memory.

“Well, we just found him.  We found the living legend.  We found the child of John and Mary Kent of Smallville, Kansas.  In at least one other universe, they raised the very first Superman, Kal-L of Krypton.  In this universe, there was no Kal-L.  So they gave their gift to a tiny waif who really needed it.  I wonder if they know what they’ve done.”

He smiled.

“You know, I did meet Hallie Jordan on that farm.  I thought it was an unfortunate coincidence.  If the Kayzik had not hit Kal-El’s rocket, the Kents might have raised Kal-El.  I walked over to the graves and thought about what might have been.  I paid my respects for a moment and then flew back into my life.  I never guessed that I was only days away from the greatest gift they had to give.”  (Elf note:  Alan first visited the Kent farm in Funeral for a Friend – Part 1.  He first met Linda in the Guardian Gambit – Chapter 1.).

“And they did give us their gift.  Even here.  The Kayzik swarm couldn’t stop them.  Ares couldn’t stop them.  They still did it!  They still created the legend.  We may take credit for it, but they spawned it.  The Starheart, the Phoenix, and the Guardians gave her the power.  But the Kents made that power count.”

He put his hands on Krystal’s shoulders.

“And now I know why you’re here!  You, my dear, are the other half of the legend!”

Krystal smiled.  He may be taking me for a ride, but I’m enjoying the trip!

Alan continued.

“You see, Superman’s cousin was the second half of the legend.  Sometimes she was called Supergirl and sometimes she was called Power Girl.  In either case, her home had ceased to exist.  He made her a place, but she took the legend and made it her own.  Sound familiar, daughter of the Bat?”

She turned away and walked towards the window.  For a few moments, she seemed to look into forever.  Then she turned back to him.  She crossed her arms in friendly challenge.

“And what else do you know about me, oh great keeper of the mystic flame?” 

He ran his Green Flame across her.  Curious!  I see someone’s handiwork: the handiwork of tiny green hands.

“I see that your cousin loves you more than you know.”  He smiled.  “Linda ripped Ares’ spell to shreds.  You certainly have the full range of Kryptonian abilities.”

Krystal smiled back.

“That’s good to know.”  She looked back out the window.  “A farm girl from Smallville, Kansas.  I wish I understood her better.  Perhaps through her, I can learn the lessons of the Kents.”

Alan smiled quietly.

“I think we’re all learning their lessons, a little at a time.  Sometimes when we least expect to.”

Krystal chuckled.

“Excuse me.”  She yawned politely.  “If you don’t mind, this has been a hard day.  I need a little time to myself.  I’ll look forward to our trip tomorrow.  In a way, I guess I’ll be visiting family.”

Alan waved thoughtfully. 

“Good night!  Sleep well.”

Krystal nodded. 

“Good night!”  Then she walked out.

Alan Scott watched Krystal go.

You are going to do us proud, young lady.  Helena Wayne or not, I see a touch of the Kents in you, too. 

Linda didn’t lie to you.  She shredded Ares’ spell.  But she added a touch of her own before she trashed it and your full invulnerability could manifest.  Ares is in for a nasty surprise when he tries to take you out again.

Sweet little Jade.  And so the legend grows.  But at last I really know why.

The following day – 31 December 2006, the Kent farm, Smallville, Kansas

Jade, the Sentinel, and Krystal landed at the Kent farm.  Alan found the two graves with wooden crosses.  He called forth the elements of the Earth to create a tombstone.  He placed a Starburst at the top and fashioned an epitaph.

Here lie John and Mary Kent

Beloved Parents

Gentle Souls

Saviors of the Universe

Epilogue – The Sentinel’s Lair Command Center – 1 January 2007

Bruce Wayne sat at the Oracle’s console.  Krystal Wayne and Alan Scott looked at his display.   Krypto slept at her feet.

“Not much happening right now.”  Bruce guided the Batbot around Resistance headquarters.

Alanna Scott walked by.

“Have you seen Mary?  We’re supposed to head out in a few minutes.”

Alan shrugged.

“I haven’t seen her all morning.  If you can’t find her, let us know.”

Alanna frowned.

“No, I think I can find her.  I’ll call back if I can’t.”  She faded into the wall.

Linda walked into the Command Center.  Alan watched her pass.  She walked towards the Command Center opening to the outside world.  She stood at the opening and smiled.  He joined her.  She looked up at him, smiling radiantly.

“You know, Dad, I was just thinking.  We got all these problems and we don’t know how we’re going to fix ‘em.  But we’ll do our best.  And that’s what’s important.  And I know something else!”

He smiled down to her.

“And what’s that?”

“Today is a beautiful day to be alive!” 

He felt her simple joy sweep over him.  For a moment, they looked into forever together.

Her power ring interrupted their reverie.

“Jade, this is K’ryssma.  We have a situation.  One of our Green Lanterns has been caught behind the lines.  He has been boxed in, but he has not yet been detected.   His ring has developed a problem.  We believe that the area of space he is in is disrupting the charge in his ring.  Can you investigate?  If we send another Green Lantern, we are likely to have twice the problem.”

Linda shrugged.  She signaled a silent apology to Alan.

“Got it, K’ryssma.  Give me the particulars.  I’m heading through the atmosphere now.”  Her left hand glowed.  She rose from the Command Center into the sky.

Alan walked back to where the Waynes worked at the Console.

Krystal is so reserved.  She’s very difficult to get to know.  It’s hard to understand what she really feels or what she really stands for.  I hope she won’t drift like poor Kira.

Krystal spoke quietly with her father.  She seemed to be staring at the ceiling.

“Kent is working through what we’ve charted.  It will be a while before he needs us again.  I’d love to spend the day at a computer terminal and read through the data banks.”

Bruce raised his eyebrow.

“Then why don’t you?”

“Because Alan Scott may not be as silly as I thought.”  She smiled at Alan, but he could not help notice her distraction.

“That’s a relief.”  Alan smiled.  “What brought that on?”

Krystal looked away.

“I thought about what you said about the legend.  It sounds so silly.  It really does.  It sounds more like a fairy tale that wants to become a legend.”

She sighed.

“I still don’t really know what’s real and what’s not.  So much of my life is missing.  I may be nothing more than Helena Wayne’s memories placed in an empty shell.”  Tentatively, she looked at Bruce Wayne.  “I may not be entitled to a place here with you, Father.  I hope you have it in your heart to accept me.  I want to know that I really do have a place in your life.  I hope we can work that out.”

“Helena,” Bruce protested before she cut him off.

“Krystal.  I’m not Helena.  I wish I were.  I really do.”  Her darkness faded.  “But then I would not have the future that I do.  And I do have a future.”

Krystal smiled.  The distracted look returned.

“Linda is so funny.  She believes that silly legend, Alan.  She really does.  She believes that we’re meant to go save the universe together.  She thinks that we’re going to spend the rest of our lives on so many worlds helping to set things right.  She has it all planned out.  What a silly little girl.”  Krystal grinned.

“And do you know what’s even sillier?”  Krystal smiled radiantly.  Her eyes still looked into the distance.  Then she looked straight into Alan’s eyes.  Her eyes burned with the pure force of her superhuman will.  “By the time we are done, I promise you that no one will ever laugh at her or her beliefs again!  We will make that legend come true.  And we will do more!”

 “I will make my life count.  It doesn’t matter where I came from, only what I do from here.  She gave me that.  If I was a mistake, then I’m going to be the worst mistake Ares ever made.   We are going to rescue our family and we are going to end his threat.”

Krystal’s look of distraction returned.

 “I see her up there.  She’s waiting for me.  She’s waiting because she believes in me.  And I am going to give her every reason to hold on to that belief!  And I know that she is right about something else.   Today is a beautiful day to be alive!”

They felt the rush of wind.  They gaped at empty air.

“Whoa!”  Alan smiled with wonder.  “So this is awe!”

Bruce grinned.

“Must be.  Can’t be anything else!”  He laughed.

Above the planetary plane

“What kept you?”  Jade smiled at Krystal’s approach.  Krypto flew just behind her.

“I was telling Alan how silly you were.”  Krystal stuck her tongue out.  “I told him about all of your silly ideas.”

“They are not silly!”  Jade protested.

Krystal smiled.

“And then I told him you were right.”

She entered Hyperspace.

And when Helena grows up, there’s going to be two of them!  Jade giggled.  She scratched Krypto’s ears.  They followed Krystal into Hyperspace.

-- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2002 by Eldric

-- and may not be reprinted without permission. 

-- Otherverse and Dark Earth, as depicted in the Continuum Worlds,

-- are original creations of Dylan Clearbrook

-- Alterverse and Shadowverse, as depicted in the Continuum Worlds,

-- are original creations of Eldric and Jason G respectively.

-- Some characters in Continuum Worlds stories are original

-- creations of Dylan Clearbrook, Michael Liebhart,

-- Jake H., Jason Froikin, Eldric, Jason G, or Andrew Shields and may not

-- be used without express permission of the respective author

-- Supergirl, Lar Gand and other DC characters are property of D.C. Comics

-- Rogue, Jennifer Walters and other Marvel characters are property of Marvel Comics