The next morning at Titans Tower was surprisingly peaceful.
Sunlight spilled through the massive windows overlooking the ocean, casting gold reflections across the polished floors of the Tower kitchen. The sound of waves crashing softly against the support pillars beneath the Tower echoed faintly in the background.
So far there were no alarms, or summons from the League, an no big crime that the local law enforcement couldn't handle. Just the smell of breakfast filling the air.
I stood near the stove wearing black sweatpants and a navy blue tank top that hugged my body, as I cooked. Several steaks sizzled in a pan while over-easy eggs cooked beside them. Avocados sat sliced neatly on a cutting board, and green tea steamed quietly nearby.
Honestly cooking helped. It gave my mind something simple to focus on. The heat. Timing. Ingredients and control. After everything lately, I needed that.
I flipped the steak with ease and thought back to my old life for a moment. Cooking had been one of the few things that kept me sane sometimes. Made me think of my grandma, who guided my hands on how to cut, and how to season correctly.
It's been so long since I thought about my old family. Now that I think about I wonder if they miss me. I don't even know if I'm dead back home or if my bodies is in a hospital somewhere and I'm in a coma.
Well nothing I can do about that, pondering on my past life won't do me any good.
That's when the kitchen doors slid open, and the atmosphere shifted immediately. As Kara walked in.
The moment our eyes met, both of us visibly stiffened.
I felt it instantly. That strange pull.
Like my body reacted before my brain had permission to process anything. Kara froze too. Her blue eyes widened slightly before narrowing almost defensively.
The silence lasted maybe two seconds too long. I forced myself to stay calm.
"...Good morning, Supergirl," I said carefully.
Kara crossed her arms immediately like she was physically bracing herself.
"Morning."
I gestured slightly toward the stove. "Want some breakfast?"
Kara looked at the food for half a second. Then immediately looked away. Her face tightened slightly. "No thanks, I lost my appetite.."
I blinked once.
Okay. Not that I blame her. Last thing I want to do is eat when I'm horny too.
Before I could say anything else, Kara turned slightly toward me again, clearly forcing herself to say something she had probably rehearsed in her head.
"Look, I'm not going to sleep with you, okay?"
I stared at her. Then slowly raised an eyebrow. "...Okay?" I said in genuine confusion.
Kara's face flushed slightly red, though whether from embarrassment or irritation I couldn't tell. She pointed at me accusingly.
"Just because your pheromones think I'm a good match to have babies with doesn't mean I'm helping your people build some superpowered alien army."
I stared at her another second. Then realization hit me. Right. Nightwing told the Tower about Viltrumites.
I sighed softly rubbing the bridge of my nose. "Supergirl…"
" Just call me Kara," she corrected automatically.
I blinked once.
"Kara," I repeated. "You're cute and all, but I'm fine."
That clearly caught her off guard.
"I'm not trying to sleep with you or anything. Pheromones or not."
Kara narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "How many times have you said that before?"
I turned back toward the counter and started plating the food calmly. "It'll be the first time."
Kara's posture shifted slightly.
I picked up my tea before continuing casually. "The pheromone thing only happened with you."
That made her freeze slightly.
Then I added...."Plus, I'm a virgin, so it's not like I've slept with anyone."
Then complete silence followed. And Kara's eyes widened immediately. I walked past her carrying my plate.
Meanwhile my mind quietly drifted inward. It really wasn't complicated. Having an adult mind while growing up again made dating feel… weird no wrong. Especially during high school. Then after my parents disappeared, I spent years depressed, isolated, angry, and emotionally exhausted.
Love or Lust just never happened. And honestly?
Finding someone like my mom felt impossible. Someone whose strong. Confident. Reserved. Intelligent, and still feminine despite how powerful she was. Women like that weren't exactly common.
I kept walking toward the dining area. While behind me Kara still looked completely stunned. Then suddenly....
"Let's just avoid each other unless it's training or missions!"
I glanced back slightly while continuing to walk. "Works for me."
I waved one hand casually without turning fully around. Kara stared after me as I disappeared down the hallway.
Her heartbeat was racing again. And somehow that annoyed her even more.
Later….
After breakfast and a shower, I was back in my room organizing a few things when someone knocked on the door.
"Come in."
The door slid open and Eve stepped inside. She wore a loose hoodie and shorts, red hair pulled casually back while holding her phone in one hand.
"Hey, Cai."
I smiled slightly. "Hey yourself."
Eve leaned lightly against the doorway. "I know we exchanged numbers already, but since you're literally right down the hall, I figured knocking worked too."
I smiled. "There's nothing wrong with that."
She stepped fully inside. "So," I said, sitting down near the desk. "What'd you want to talk about?"
Eve hesitated slightly. "It's about your mom actua...."
"Sorry, Eve."
Conner suddenly appeared in the doorway behind her.
Eve blinked. "Jesus, do you people just teleport now?"
Conner shrugged. "Super speed entrances are cool."
Then he looked toward me. "Cyborg needs us."
I raised an eyebrow. "Us?"
"Me, you, and Supergirl."
Eve looked between us. "Everything okay?"
Conner nodded. "Yeah. Cyborg thinks it'd be good if we started getting used to space travel."
I blinked once. "...Space."
Conner pointed finger guns at me. "Yep."
Eve laughed softly.
I stood up. "Fair enough."
Then I looked back toward Eve. "How about we talk later over dinner tonight? We can talk about my mom then. And I'll answer whatever questions you've got."
Her eyebrows rose slightly and she smiled.
"Yeah. That works."
Conner nodded approvingly. "Cool. Now come on before Cyborg starts giving safety lectures."
A little while later…
The ocean wind blew hard across the massive rooftop landing platform of Titans Tower. Cyborg stood near one of the equipment terminals while Conner, Kara, and I stood nearby.
The sky above us stretched clear and blue. Far overhead, the moon faintly lingered in daylight.
Cyborg crossed his arms. "Okay, from what we understand, you three along with Miss Martian are currently the only Titans who can reliably survive deep-space travel without a ship."
He pointed toward Kara first. "Kryptonian."
Then Conner. "Half Kryptonian hybrid."
Then toward me. "And newly awakened Viltrumite hybrid."
I raised a hand slightly. "Still feels weird hearing that out loud."
Cyborg ignored me.
"Now according to the data we've gathered, your bodies can all survive vacuum exposure without exploding, freezing, or suffocating immediately."
"That's comforting," Conner muttered.
Cyborg continued.
"Conner and Caius should also theoretically be able to use tactile telekinesis to create micro-pressure fields around themselves to allow oxygen."
Conner scratched his head. "Yeah… except I've never actually done that."
I pointed at him immediately. "Neither have I. Plus I haven't even BEEN to space."
Kara stood slightly farther away from me with her arms crossed tightly. She was still avoiding eye contact. She probably didn't think it would be so soon that she was forced to be around me.
She was still annoyed and seemed very aware of me anyway.
Cyborg nodded. "That's exactly why we're practicing today."
He pointed upward toward the sky. "How about we start simple?"
Conner narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "When you say simple, what do you mean?"
" That's easy Superboy. You three are going to fly to the moon and back."
Silence followed that statement as we stared at him.
"You said that way too casually. Besides making it to the moon, how are we gonna know where the Tower is from the high up. We could get lost by a few thousand miles." I said
Cyborg shrugged. " Don't worry I thought of that. Miss Martian's already waiting in the Bioship just beyond the atmosphere. She'll be monitor everything. So if you get lost she will help you out."
Conner looked upward. "The moon's literally right there…"
"That's because space is horrifyingly huge," I muttered.
Cyborg grinned. "Relax. You'll be fine."
I looked at the sky again, and then sighed. "Okay…"
Kara took a breath and Conner rolled his shoulders. Then all three of us launched upward simultaneously.
The three of us moved with great force. The sky blurred instantly from how fast we were going. The higher we flew, the colder the air became, then thinner.
The clouds rushed past us. And my ears popped hard as the atmosphere thinned further and further.
Then suddenly....Silence. Complete silence.
There was no wind, no sound....Nothing but space. The Earth stretched beneath us impossibly huge and beautiful. Blue oceans. White cloud systems. Sunlight reflecting off entire continents.
I slowed instinctively, stunned for half a second by the sight.
It's real. Even with memories from another life… Actually seeing Earth from space felt unreal. Ahead of us, Kara moved fastest effortlessly cutting through space like she belonged there.
Conner stayed slightly closer to me. The moon rapidly grew larger until finally....We landed.
Moon dust kicked outward beneath our feet. The low gravity felt strange immediately. I looked back toward Earth again. And honestly?
It was beautiful, and being up hear in the quiet was peaceful. For a few seconds I completely forgot about everything else.
Conner tapped my shoulder suddenly.
I looked toward him.
He started making gestures. I blinked.
"What?"
Conner pointed at his head. Then toward me. Then made more gestures.
I stared at him blankly.
Meanwhile… Inside the Bioship floating farther away nearby, Miss Martian frowned slightly.
"I can't make the link with Caius." She said through the psychic comms.
Kara looked toward her. "What do you mean?"
M'gann's eyes narrowed. "It's like… something is blocking my telepathy around him. This is like last time."
Conner looked toward me again. Meanwhile I finally realized something. They're using psychic communication. And I wasn't included.
Weird.
Maybe my TTK field interfered with telepathy somehow? Or maybe my Viltrumite biology did. No that makes no sense because Conner is linked, and psychic attacks work on Viltrumites.
Then I notice Kara pointed back toward Earth. Clearly ready to leave already.
Then she launched first.
Conner followed immediately.
I took one last look at Earth before flying after them. Reentry happened much faster than I expected.
The moment we hit atmosphere again. Fire exploded around us. Heat roared across my body.
The air screamed. Then suddenly I realized something horrifying. I have absolutely no idea how to stop properly.
"Oh shit."
Conner looked toward me instantly. I could hear him now speaking .
"USE YOUR TTK TO CONTROL YOUR MOMENTUM."
"HOW?!"
"FEEL THE FORCE AROUND YOU. PUSH AGAINST YOUR OWN MOVEMENT."
Easy for him to say. Not that I would die or get seriously hurt from the this if I crashed, but I don't want to make a habit of it.
The ocean below rushed closer fast. I cold see Titans Tower appear in the distance. I was still coming in too fast and I needed to stop. I focused desperately.
Golden TTK flared around my body, as the force around me shifted. I grabbed my own momentum with the field instinctively, and then stop immediately just above the ocean. A massive shockwave exploded outward following my sudden deceleration.
Water erupted upward into a giant wave. And directly below. Bumblebee and Omen sat near the shoreline deck area in bikinis enjoying the sun.
The wave crashed over both of them completely.
Then Silence.
Then Karen slowly wiped water from her face. "You got my hair wet."
I hovered awkwardly above the water. "...Sorry?"
Conner landed nearby laughing hard. "Oh no. You're definitely dead."
Omen suddenly looked downward. Then back upward at me. Then immediately burst out laughing.
Karen followed her gaze. Then she started laughing too.
I blinked. "What?"
Omen pointed. "Your pants."
I looked down. Half my pants had burned away during reentry. And unfortunately. My body apparently reacted to Kara being around me still, even in these life or death situations.
"Oh come on. I'm running out of my favorite brand clothes. They don't make this stuff anymore."
I immediately covered myself while both women laughed harder.
Karen pointed accusingly. "Don't worry, Mr. Big Shower. We won't saying anything."
Omen snorted. "We'll get you back for this later. Thanks for the show."
Conner nearly collapsed laughing beside me. "This is the greatest day of my life."
"Shut up, Conner."
Supergirl just flew away her face flushed red.
Later that evening…
After changing, and continuing training, and surviving endless jokes from Wally and Conner… I stood outside Eve's room carrying takeout bags.
I knocked lightly. A moment later the door slid opened.
Eve blinked once. She saw the logo on the bags and smiled. "You actually brought Motte?"
I raised an eyebrow. "You know the place?"
Eve looked offended. "Caius. I'm from Gotham too you know."
I smirked. "Fair point."
I stepped inside and when I noticed her room it felt lived in. Plants near the windows. Books stacked everywhere. Art supplies scattered near one desk. It actually looked warm compared to mine.
We sat down on the floor near the low table while unpacking the food. The smell immediately filled the room.
Eve practically looked emotional seeing the Korean fried chicken. "I missed this place."
I smirked slightly. " I made a good choice then."
She looked toward me after a moment. "So…About earlier."
I nodded slightly. "You wanted to ask about my mom."
Eve's expression softened immediately. "Yeah."
She sat cross-legged while studying me carefully. "The program kids knew your mom disappeared, but nobody ever explained what actually happened. The she was declared dead, so if it's not to much I would like to know what happened."
I looked down quietly for a second. Then slowly explained everything.
The Watchtower, and the Phantom Zone projector. My parents disappearing.
Eve's stayed completely silent while listening. And when I finished....She looked genuinely heartbroken for me.
"Caius…"
"I know," I said quietly.
"That's horrible."
I gave a small tired smile. "Yeah."
Eve leaned back slightly. " You been alone for so long. But if the League's been trying for years…" She looked toward me carefully. "They haven't given up."
I stared down at the food for a moment before nodding slightly.
"No." Then after a pause...." I won't either."
Eve smiled softly at that. And for the next couple hours… We talked. For the first time in a long while…Things almost felt normal.
Just about life. Growing up. School. Her childhood in Gotham. Our stupidest college professors. It was nice. And then she told me something that surprised me. I found out why her file was so redacted.
The Samantha Wilkins of this world was a child created by Cadmus. She managed to escape when she was a child and was on the run for a while. It was when she was doing a street performance for some money with her powers.
That's when my mom found her and after hearing her story. Mom gave her two options. Themyscira or the her program. Eve chose the program and the rest is history.
She reminded me of one more thing I need to take care of in this world. Cadmus and Waller.