Chapter 33 : Calm Before the Storm
July 2016 — DEO Desert Facility — Training Room
The training dummy exploded.
I stared at the wreckage—synthetic materials scattered across the floor, the metal frame twisted by forces I'd applied without conscious thought. Three weeks ago, destroying a dummy like that would have required direct contact and deliberate focus.
Now I'd done it from four feet away, powered by instinct alone.
"Phase 3 progression confirmed." J'onn's voice came from the observation deck. "Your vector field now extends approximately one inch from your skin. The semi-automatic deflection is developing faster than our projections."
"It's not enough."
"It's remarkable progress for a human—"
"It's not enough for Myriad." I turned to face him. "Non is planning something that will affect every mind on the planet. My ability to deflect bullets won't help against that."
J'onn descended to the training floor. "You're not responsible for stopping Myriad alone. That's what teams are for."
"Our team just barely survived an attack that Non launched while Kara was unconscious. When he activates his real plan..." I shook my head. "We need more. Better intelligence. Better defenses. Something."
"That's actually why I'm here." J'onn produced a tablet. "We have a potential ally. One with resources and information we need."
The face on the screen made my stomach turn.
"Maxwell Lord."
"He's been released from custody. Conditional pardon in exchange for cooperation against the Kryptonian threat." J'onn's expression suggested he found the arrangement as distasteful as I did. "He claims to have intelligence on Myriad. Wants to discuss partnership."
I remembered Bizarro—the woman Lord had created from human subjects, the seven people who'd died during his experiments. Jane Doe #47, who still floated in our stasis chamber because we hadn't found a way to help her.
"He's a monster."
"He's a useful monster. Sometimes that's the best we can hope for."
Maxwell Lord Technologies — Private Office
Lord looked different out of prison.
Same expensive suit. Same calculated confidence. But there was something in his eyes that hadn't been there before—a wariness, maybe. An awareness that his usual manipulations might not work the way they used to.
"Vector." He didn't extend his hand for shaking. Smart man. "I watched the footage of your fight with Non. Impressive use of physics in a combat context."
"I didn't come here for compliments."
"No, you came here because you're scared." He gestured to a chair. I remained standing. "Myriad terrifies you. It should. The technology is Kryptonian, designed to unite planetary consciousness through forced neural synchronization. When it activates, every human mind in broadcast range will become... compliant."
"How do you know so much about it?"
"Because I've been tracking Kryptonian technology since I first confirmed their presence on Earth." He pulled up holographic displays—schematics, energy readings, orbital projections. "I may be many things, but I'm not naive. An alien species with our extinction capabilities demands study. Understanding. Preparation."
"And Bizarro was part of that preparation?"
His expression didn't change, but something flickered behind his eyes. "Project Bizarro was a mistake. I won't pretend otherwise. My methods were... extreme."
"Your methods killed six people and turned the seventh into a weapon."
"Yes. They did." He met my gaze steadily. "I'm not asking for forgiveness. I'm offering information that might help you stop something far worse than anything I've done."
I wanted to refuse. Wanted to walk out and never look back.
But I thought about Kara trapped in that Black Mercy dream. About Non's soldiers breaching the DEO perimeter. About what Myriad would do to billions of human minds.
"Talk," I said. "I'm listening."
Kara's Apartment — Rooftop — That Evening
The city lights spread below us like scattered stars.
Kara had brought takeout—Chinese food from the place we'd discovered during our first official patrol together. We ate in comfortable silence, watching the sunset paint the sky in shades of orange and gold.
"Lord gave us useful intel," I said eventually. "Myriad operates through a specific frequency that Non is amplifying through broadcast infrastructure. If we can disrupt the signal source..."
"We can stop it before it fully activates." Kara nodded. "Alex already started working on countermeasures."
"Lord also warned that Non will accelerate his timeline. He knows we're preparing. He'll move soon."
"Let him." She set down her chopsticks. "We'll be ready."
"Will we?"
She turned to face me fully. The dying light caught her features, making her look simultaneously ancient and impossibly young.
"I remember the dream," she said quietly. "The Black Mercy showed me Krypton. My parents. My whole world, intact and beautiful. Everything I lost, restored."
"That sounds..."
"Perfect. It was perfect." Her voice dropped. "And I gave it up. Because Alex came for me. Because you were fighting for me. Because the real world—this world, with all its pain and loss—is worth more than any fantasy."
I didn't know what to say.
"Whatever happens tomorrow," Kara continued, "I want you to know that. The dream showed me everything I ever wanted. And I chose this instead. I chose National City. I chose the mission." She took my hand. "I chose you."
The words hung in the air between us. Not quite a confession, but close enough to feel like one.
"I'm glad it's you beside me," she finished. "More than you know."
I squeezed her hand. Didn't trust myself to speak.
We sat together until the stars came out, watching over the city we'd sworn to protect.
Tomorrow, Non would make his move.
Tomorrow, everything would change.
Tonight, we had this.
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