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Teaser

“Wow.”

Kara’s comment was soft. She spoke under her breath as she looked around.

Alex fully agreed with her assessment, but kept her expression straight. She, at least, had known about the plans for the new base, even if it was her first time seeing it. They hadn’t gone further than the command center, hadn’t explored the rest of the building, and it was already vastly different than the desert base.

There were windows, for example. Large ones that made up the entire wall and let the sun fill the room with light.

Light that shot through Alex’s eyes and pierced into her brain. She squinted behind the pink tinted glasses designed to help her migraines.

“Welcome to city base command,” J’onn said.

“It’s…wow,” Kara repeated, stepping up to a circular table that stood in the center of the room. “Not that I’m complaining, but why do we have a second base?”

“For faster response time to events in the city,” J’onn replied.

Kara raised an eyebrow.

“They’re your backup,” Lucy said. She stepped up next to Alex.

A grin erupted on Kara’s face.

“No,” Alex said.

“You’re my backup,” Kara laughed.

“We are not,” Alex said. “It’s a tactically sound decision that was in the works before Supergirl.”

It had really not been anything more than a concept thrown around every year or so. It hadn’t gotten any footing until Supergirl’s appearance had caused an increase in operations within National City itself. Neither were facts Kara needed to know.

“I’m sure Winn could make you a new uniform,” Kara continued. “Something perfect for my sidekick.”

“I’m not your sidekick.”

“You basically are.”

“I can kick your ass.”

“Bring it.”

“Enough,” J’onn cut in.

Alex bit her lip, ducked her head slightly to keep her amusement down. She glanced over at Lucy.

Who was smirking at her.

“While assisting Supergirl will be one of the tasks assigned to teams at city base, it is far from the only one,” J’onn told Kara.

Alex looked up to see Kara tilting her head in confusion.

“This location will be used to contain lower security prisoners as well as any in temporary custody. It has a full trauma center dedicated to agents injured on missions,” J’onn said.

“About a third of the research division is moving here,” Alex added.

“And,” Lucy jumped in. “With the new NCPD liaison starting soon, it works as a better meeting place than the desert. Along with any future political visits, like the president tomorrow.”

Kara nodded. “Wow,” she said. She smirked at Alex. “I just can’t believe you’re going to officially be my backup.”

Alex narrowed her eyes. She turned to glare at Lucy.

“See what you did.”

Lucy grinned at her. “Just told the truth.”

J’onn groaned. “Alright. Let’s go check the rest of the base.”

He gestured towards the stairs that led up to the next level.

Lucy slid up next to Alex as they walked.

“Sidekick outfits should be skimpier than the hero’s, right?” she asked.

Alex furrowed her brow. “What?”

“The sidekick suit? The one Winn could design for you? I’m feeling a mini-skirt.”

Alex rolled her eyes. “You’re not funny.”

Lucy glanced up to where Kara and J’onn were climbing up the last step.

“But I got Kara to laugh.”

Alex took a deep breath.

It had been a rough two weeks since Myriad. Especially for Kara.

The high of saving the world had quickly faded upon learning the impact Myriad had truly had on not just National City, but the entire country, upon hearing how many had died. Alex was sure she could count on one hand the amount of times she had heard Kara laugh since the number had been totaled.

“Yeah,” she murmured. “You did.” She shook her head lightly. “You ready to take over desert base?” she asked.

Lucy’s eyebrow twitched, noting the change in topic, but she didn’t comment on it. “You say that as if I wasn’t in charge the entire time you two were gone.”

“True.”

Alex looked around the new level.

Research. For the more sensitive research, directly related to current missions. There were labs spread throughout the skyscraper, under false companies, for the rest.

Alex peeked into each lab they passed, rolling her head every now and then to fight off the tightness in her neck.

“How was it?” she asked. “While we were gone?”

“Not bad. There was definitely some resentment from the ranks, a lot because of who my father is, but I learned to ignore those comments years ago.”

“Being a general’s daughter not always as cracked up as it seems?”

Lucy let out a short laugh. “Not really.”

They passed the last few labs in silence before reaching a stairwell. Alex held the door open for Lucy.

“How’re the logistics for the memorial service going?” Alex asked.

“As you are not an agent not involved in the operation, I’m not sure I can divulge specifics,” Lucy said.

Alex rolled her eyes.

“Just because I’m not on the field team doesn’t mean I can’t know anything.”

“Maybe, but too much information at once might overload that bruised brain of yours.”

“I’m glad you can joke about my brain damage.”

“We all have brain damage, Danvers, but you’re the one who flew directly towards the source.”

Alex shrugged, not able to argue.

If Kara’s pod hadn’t had any sort of shields on it, she would have died before she had gotten as close as she had. As it was, she was left with worse symptoms than the agents who had stayed in the base.

Like the near constant migraines.

Doctors had been hesitant to call the remnant damage from Myriad concussions, but the symptoms were similar enough all agents had been put on concussion protocol. Those with the worst symptoms had been benched.

Including Alex.

She would do it again to save Kara if she had to.

“Speaking of your head, how’s it feeling?” Lucy asked.

Alex shrugged again. “It’s been worse.”

Lucy scoffed.

The exited the stairwell. That floor and the one above were agent quarters, if Alex remembered the building plan correctly.

“It’s fine, Lane, really,” Alex said. “I took some meds before we came over, and the glasses really help.”

Sure, there was some pain. A decent amount of pain, really, but it was better than it had been a few days ago. No nausea at the moment, that was definitely a plus. No vertigo, either. All in all, not too bad.

A headache, but not a migraine.

Yet.

Kara looked back at them. Alex waved her off.

She didn’t want Kara any more worried about her than she already was.

“You’ll let us know if it gets worse before we’re done?” Lucy asked.

Alex watched her for a moment, searching for anything beyond concern, but found nothing. She nodded.

“I will.”