She arrived on Earth in a mysterious Symbio-Ship with false
memories and awesome powers and abilities beyond that of mortal men and women....

Issue #11

How To Lose A Guy In Ten Minutes

Written By Paul Daimler

Beneath the thin layer of darkly colored green silk was heavy duty body armor made of the strongest blend of Kevlar and promethium available. However, the subtle lines of the silk suit and the delicate nature of the fabric did nothing to indicate there was anything beneath of any danger. On the chest was a tiger, embroidered in pale green thread.

She admired her reflection in the mirror, straightening the ends of her tunic, making sure that her belt was tightly cinched. She tilted her head slightly, admiring her reflection and the carefully disguised weaponry concealed within folds and pockets.

Her long glossy black hair was neatly pinned back with two solid jade chopsticks — each one more than mere decoration — they were weapons as well. Sharp and jagged enough to pop an enemy’s eye, slit a jugular, or punch through a chestbone to pierce the heart pounding beneath.

She allowed herself a faint smile, her pink lips striking against her skin tone. Her eyes, dark brown, sparkled malevolently.

She turned her head to look at her laptop, the screen displaying the message from Lady Star-Fyre. It had come through late last night, not filtered through the normal channels. Lady Star-Fyre had cut the rest of the Hate League out of this, enlisting Jade Tiger on a clandestine mission.

Jade Tiger picked her cat-styled face mask up, the one that covered the top half of her face and secured it, before retrieving her katanas, throwing stars, and the small dagger with the solid jade handle.

The jade handle was cool and firm beneath her grasp. This dagger, so important to her for so long now, always made her feel calm and collected. Ready to do anything and take on anyone. She smiled to herself, leaving her private quarters and heading through the dense forest that surrounded her sanctuary—heading toward the clearing half a mile away where her transportation awaited.

“Next stop, Century City.” She purred aloud, the forest swallowing her whole.

“Thanks for dragging me out to lunch.” Karen Starr said to Cheryl Delayre as they left a small Italian restaurant nestled between small trendy boutiques, dry cleaners, and other eateries. “I have had too many subpar lunches at my desk staring at my laptop lately. It’s nice to get away from work for a bit and enjoy a meal.”

“Same here.” Cheryl replied, “And most night’s it’s just me with Chinese take-out or a microwave dinner and whatever crap is on TV for company.”

“Add Thai take-out or a pizza, plus re-runs of Wendy the Werewolf Stalker with my cat at my side, then you’ve got my nights these days.” Karen said.

“How is your monster?” Cheryl asked.

“He’s his usual loving self.” Karen chuckled.

“God. I hate that cat. He’s the most ornery beast I’ve ever met.” Cheryl replied.

“Everyone has that reaction to him. Except the police detective that saved him from the explosion at my hotel a few months back. Creaky was actually curled up in his arms purring.” Karen said, adjusting her glasses.

“And that’s the day Detroit froze over. Again.” Cheryl smiled. “That detective is Ian McLean? The guy you’re going on a date with tonight?”

“That would be the one.” Karen replied. “It’s weird to be going on a date with someone again who has no clue that I’m Power Girl. Usually I am being courted by men who don’t realize I have any life outside of the spandex and cape.”

“That’s probably why you haven’t had a real date in years.” Cheryl replied coolly.

“How are you adjusting to life in Century City with Charles so far away?” Karen asked as they walked down the street, heading back toward Starrware’s offices.

Cheryl had been Karen’s friend since they had lived in the same boarding house while attending Northshore University in Chicago. It was there that Starrware had been born along with their other rooming housemate Johnny O.

Cheryl and Johnny O had been the first friends Karen had as Karen Starr. Andrew Vinson had helped her set up the Karen Starr identity Clark and Bruce had given her. But, Cheryl and Johnny O had been the first friends she’d made as Karen Starr instead of as Power Girl.

Karen missed those days. It had been just before the Crisis and it had been her first time away from Metropolis and the Justice Society. She had fought some villains, but mostly she had just had fun, gone to school, and dated Andrew Vinson. It had all been so normal… or at least what she had imagined normal was like.

When they’d first met in college, Karen had been struck by how beautiful Cheryl was. All these years later, Cheryl was still ravishing. Her dark hair was now in many small tight braids, but other than the change of hair style, Cheryl had not aged a day as far as Karen could tell.

“Life in Century City is a work in progress.” Cheryl shrugged, “I hadn’t realized how much I loved San Francisco until we moved here. I miss my favorite Chinese take-out place. I miss trolley rides. I miss the shopping. I miss my boyfriend. Long distance relationships are hard — even with me flying out to see him twice a month.”

“Any luck on Charles moving out here?” Karen asked.

“I doubt it. He likes working in Berkeley. It’s all he’s ever known and he has no desire to come to Century City University to teach. I don’t think it’s prestigious enough for him.”

“That sucks.” Karen replied, “You know, our original idea of keeping an office in San Francisco could still work. With the internet and communications what they are in this day and age, we could easily run some of the business from there.”

“That’s OK Karen.” Cheryl said evenly as they waited for a light to change. “I’m the one who shot down the idea of keeping a small office in San Francisco. It doesn’t make sense at this point. We have an office in Philadelpia, one in Los Angeles, one in New York. Plus, the London and Tokyo offices. What’s the point of one in San Francisco? I voted for the change to Century City. I elected to remain with the company. I can deal with any ramifications on my personal life.”

“You and Charles have been together since that first year in San Francisco.” Karen said, “It just seems wrong.”

“True. But it’s been over five years. He hasn’t proposed. We weren’t living together. We had never advanced past the stage our relationship reached in the first six months. In some ways our relationship is stagnant.” Cheryl smiled bitterly, “Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be. And, long distance is a good enough reason to end a relationship that’s not working for reasons not good enough to end them when you live in the same city. I often wonder if the only reason we’re still together is because work keeps me too busy to break up with him or realize how bored I’ve become with the relationship.”

“I guess.”

“I think I’m going to break up with him when I fly back at the end of the month.”

“Oh. Cheryl.. I’m sorry.” Karen reached over and squeezed Cheryl’s hand.

“It’s OK. I am OK with this.” Cheryl said, “I have had plenty of time to figure it out. And, things here show potential. I’ve been invited to join the Century City Amsterdam Society, which a very nice organization set up for notable African-American community leaders here in this city. I’ll be one of the few female members. And, the only female executive. So, it’s very exciting. And, I have enrolled in a cooking class at the Century City Culinary Institute. So, I’m keeping busy.”

“That’s all awesome.” Karen replied, “But, I know that even a break-up for the better is never easy. And never fun.”

“Speaking of which, are you nervous about your date? It’s been since forever since you’ve had a proper date. And you haven’t had a real boyfriend since Andrew Vinson. And he’s with America’s Sweetheart Gabrielle Cabrini now.” Cheryl said. “Your brief dalliances with Johnny O and Garth McGarth don’t count, as they were both rebounds. And, I think Garth McGarth is gay.”

“He is.” Karen remarked with a bitter smile, “He realized a week into us dating and told me several weeks later… right before he broke up with me.”

“That’s harsh.” Cheryl said, “I can’t believe you never told me.”

“It wasn’t really my story to tell. He’s pretty open about it these days though, so it’s not that big of a deal. And I think I felt like I was to blame there for a while and as though it was somehow my fault. I didn’t tell anyone for a long time.”

“And you’re still friends with him?”

“Yeah.” Karen replied, “I’m friends with all of my exes.”

“I’ve never managed.” Cheryl said. “At least your police detective has potential. He might even be able to cope with you being Power Girl.”

“Well, that’s getting a little ahead of things. We would have to become really serious for me to reveal my secret identity.” Karen replied. “But, he does have potential. And, with him being a cop, if it ever gets to that point, he’ll probably be more understanding of me having to rush off to save the Universe every so often.”

“If it doesn’t work out with Ian, you should join me at the cooking class. I’m sure there will be single men there.” Cheryl said.

“Me cooking, that’s a scary idea.” Karen laughed. A few moments of silence lapsed between them before Karen continued, “Speaking of scary, what’s up with your new assistant? Victor Church. He’s a little odd.”

Cheryl chuckled, “Intense is probably a better word. He’s a really good assistant. Seems to have an unhealthy obsession with Power Girl. He has endless questions about you. He apparently found out that you once dated Andrew, and recognized Andrew as Power Girl’s old boyfriend. And, then when I mentioned to him that we’d all met Power Girl a couple times over the years…. Well, he just has a lot of questions.”

“Do you think he suspects that Power Girl and Karen Starr are one in the same?” Karen asked nervously.

“I don’t know. It’s possible.” Then sarcastically, Cheryl said, “But, I don’t know how he’d get such an idea. Those glasses and slicked back-hair are a very good disguise.”

“Hey, it’s the best I could do.” Karen shrugged. “It’s kind of hard to hide the height and the… uh…” Karen glanced down at her chest, “You know what I mean.”

“You could try a brown wig.” Cheryl suggested.

“I tried. It looked really dumb.” Karen replied. “Victor sounds like he could be a stalker.”

“Maybe. But, I suspect he’s just lonely. He was an only child. Grew up in the country in a really small town. Graduated in a class of fifteen, then joined the marines. He ended up going to the Middle East for the last war in Qurac before Cheshire nuked it. He barely made it out. Ended up stationed at Fort Darnell, about an hour south of here. After getting discharged he moved to Century City. He’s just a small town boy who’s seen some awful things in Qurac and very socially awkward. I think he will relax after a little while with us.” Cheryl said, shrugging. “He’s a bit weird, I’ll admit. But, just give him time.”

“OK. Just wanted to check with you. He gives me odd vibes.” Karen replied.

“Maybe you’re just weirded out that he is so into Power Girl. Having to keep a secret identity would make me super-suspicious.” Cheryl said.

“Yeah.” Karen nodded. She’d been relieved when Cheryl had revealed that she knew that Karen was Power Girl.* It made life a lot easier. And, it made her feel like less of a heel for lying to her good friend all of these years. Cheryl was her second best-girlfriend — second only to Babs.

*see Power Girl issue 9.

The two women continued on their way back to the office.

Her trial had been fairly quick. And, Anath had to admit that it was fair. She had killed innocents in her quest to assassinate Ambassador Kirkarius. If she had only killed him and the other members of the Hate League, then she suspected the jury wouldn’t have recommended the death penalty. But, innocents had been killed in her bombing of the restaurant. And, she had been labeled a terrorist because of it. She was only lucky she’d been tried by the state courts rather than a Federal court. She might have ended up in Guantanamo Bay if the state and city had not requested jurisdiction. And, for that she was thankful. She might be put to death by lethal injection in a few years, but it was better than rotting away in a dark hole in some horrible hell-hole.

From the very small bullet-proof window in her cell, she could see the city beyond.

The news had come down today that she was finally being moved to the prison where she would spend the rest of her days, waiting for her appointment with the needle.

In the time she’d sat in this jail cell, Anath had contemplated her lot in life. Her childhood had not been bad. She’d grown up poor, her village influenced more by Bialya’s European ancestry rather than the Middle Eastern influence that permeated certain parts of the country, but it had been a nice childhood. Her parents had been loving and kind and had worked hard to give her opportunities they’d never had. But, for some reason fate had intervened and her family had died during one of President Stanlos Papadominos’s scourges to wipe out the rebellion. Only the President’s lust had saved Anath — having her taken to the capitol and added to the President’s harem. Part of her wondered if fate had intervened on her behalf or lain more burden at her feet when Stanlos decide to show extra favor upon her. Perhaps it was on her behalf. Of all of the President’s harem, she was the first not to be executed or sold into slavery. She had been exiled, sent to the West where she’d been given a new identity and background. Some would have taken that opportunity to forge a new life and leave the past behind.

But, Anath had been unable to do that. Her hatred for Stanlos and Kirkarius — the then general who had executed Stanlos’s orders to destroy her village - had only simmered and raged once living in relative freedom in Century City. She had been in the perfect place mentally and emotionally for Lady Star-Fyre to entice her.

How Star-Fyre had known of Anath’s powers---a closely guarded secret she had been careful to never reveal to anyone, was something Anath still didn’t understand. But, she had. She had trained Anath, building her into a perfect assassin. And of course, she had planned on killing Anath afterward—letting Anath take the blame for her own power-play.

Lady Star-Fyre’s sisters had both taken turns ruling Bialya with an iron fist—under the nome de plume Queen Bee. It stood to reason that Star-Fyre herself, had similar aspirations. And, had used Anath as a means to that end — playing upon Anath’s rage and hatred, manipulating her into becoming a killing machine — letting her think that Star-Fyre wanted to overthrow Stanlos for the freedom of all of Bialya. Now, Anath had little doubt that Star-Fyre was merely putting herself in a position to take over Bialya and rule it as a dictatorship.

Anath had made her peace with the fact that she would die. She appreciated justice and could respect the people of Century City demanding her life in exchange for those innocents she had killed in the restaurant bombing. However, part of her wished that she could somehow free herself—and go to Bialya.

While looking out the window, watching the evening settle over Century City and the sky begin to darken, Anath knew that if she were free, she’d be in Bialya, destroying Stanlos and his regime once and for all, and making sure that the world found out the truth about Lady Star-Fyre.

“I swear… if I ever get out of this…” Anath did not finish her vow.

Frowning, Karen Starr nervously pulled her hair back, attempting to make it look different than it did during her time as Karen, but also trying to keep it from looking too much like her Power Girl hair. It wasn’t easy. Her frown deepened, and she looked at the hairpiece sitting on her vanity.

Picking it up, she looked at it, studying its flowing blonde locks. She’d stopped at a wig store on the way home from work today — Cheryl’s comments about a better disguise ringing in her ears. She hadn’t bothered for years considering enriching her secret identity disguise. If anything, she had been slowly but surely spending less time as Karen Starr. Something she was determined to change. The past few months in Century City had pointed out to her that that part of her that was Karen Starr needed more attention.

When she had been facing life without super-powers, her life would have been only as Karen Starr. But, there really hadn’t been much of a life to spend time living. As she had realized very clearly when Ms. Mesmer had hypnotized her into forgetting that she was Power Girl.

The past couple of weeks had been spent figuring out a game plan for enjoying life outside of the cape. Her friend Liz from San Francisco was a Life Coach these days, and while in a lot of ways the concept of a Life Coach seemed really silly, Karen had decided to contract her services. When Liz and Carrie-Joyce flew out next week for Garth McGarth’s latest art show, Liz and Karen were going to have a lunch meeting to outline a game plan for enriching Karen’s life. It would be tricky, since Liz didn’t know that Karen was Power Girl, but it would be worth it in the long run.

Touching the blonde locks of the wig, Karen didn’t know what to do. She’d found a wig that quite nearly matched her real hair, and it was shoulder length. It would be easy enough to convince people it was her real hair—she’d been wearing her hair back in a tight bun for so long now, most people didn’t realize how long or short her hair really was. With a heavy sigh, Karen pulled the wig on over her hair.

Karen regarded her reflection, titling her head to the side. It looked odd ... realistic, but odd. Pulling the wig off, Karen sighed. What did she do? She had neglected her personal life for years, deciding that Power Girl was all she needed. And in doing so, she hadn’t spent much time really preparing a decent disguise. If she had, maybe she’d have worn a mask like so many heroes did. She still wasn’t sure, after all of these years, how Clark did it. The glasses and a suit were pretty weak. Somehow he pulled it off. She had just followed in his footsteps.

Maybe that’s why I’m in this situation, Karen thought. Maybe had I given everything more thought when Clark and Bruce gave me that packet of information setting up my Karen Starr identity I wouldn’t be in this place now.

Of course, wearing a wig wasn’t that great of an idea. It was impractical. This came down to her wanting to look nice for her date, and while the feminist side of her thought she shouldn’t dress to please a man, the realistic part of her knew that how she dressed as Karen Starr wouldn’t make much of an impression on a date.

It made enough of an impression for him to ask me out in the first place. Karen reminded herself.

She thought that most of the world and most of her friends would find her insecurity right now in this moment hilarious, considering the confident secure strong woman image she normally portrayed to the world at large. And, of course, normally she was secure and confident about her looks. It was when she was Power Girl. As Karen Starr she was as susceptible to insecurity over her looks as any other woman. Maybe another reason she had avoided her Karen Starr identity.

“I need a shrink.” Karen mumbled out loud, picking up the cute dark blue cocktail dress she’d picked up for the date yesterday. She even had a matching shawl and shoes.

She picked the wig up, looking at it and then shrugged, “Why the Hell not?”

Just outside of Century City, a small lean jet plane dropped from beneath the cloud cover high above.

From the passenger’s seat, Jade Tiger watched quietly as they hurtled toward the city.

“I’m going to slow our acceleration.” The pilot said. “Shielding and cloaking are still up, so our approach cannot be detected by traditional means. We’ll advance to the drop site, and then in four hours I’ll meet you at the rendezvous point.”

Jade Tiger did not turn toward the woman piloting, she merely said, “Understood” while watching Century City approaching rapidly. The city was a mass of twinkling lights and glittered like a city of multi-hued gems against the smooth blue backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean. Views like this still took her breath away, reminding her of how far she had come since her time as a poor girl on a small island south of Japan.

Thinking of the island, and her childhood there, her expression momentarily hardened and her eyes went cold and dark beneath her green silk cat-face mask.

“Very good.” The pilot replied.

Jade Tiger did not know the pilot’s name, only that she’d been employed by Lady Star-Fyre for at least as long as Jade Tiger had been. On every solo mission Jade Tiger had ever taken on for Lady Star-Fyre, this was the woman who had flown her to and from. All Jade Tiger had been able to determine was that the woman was of Bialyan descent, her dark features and accent betraying that she’d come from that small country that was such an odd combination of the most eastern reaches of Europe and the western most areas of the Middle East.

It was odd. In her personal life, Jade Tiger did not care for politics. Her only desire was to have her own private corner of the world—living in peace and solitude. The irony that she was a paid assassin and used that career to insure she had a quiet and peaceful life was not lost on her. Nor was the fact that the majority of her assassinations and jobs were tied to political struggle. So many of her jobs were on behalf of Lady Star-Fyre and her attempts to overthrow the current regime of Bialya and take control for herself—to eventually take control of the world.

Jade Tiger only briefly allowed herself to wonder what would happen to her quiet and peaceful corner of the world if Lady Star-Fyre succeeded. Would she be allowed to keep it? Probably not. Although she would never admit it out loud, she was pretty sure that Lady Star-Fyre would never succeed in taking over the world. Her attempts to overthrow Bialya would work, surely. Bialya had suffered political upheaval, take-overs, and governmental regimes gaining and losing control since just before the first World War. Then the Nazi’s had taken over during World War II, planning on using it as a strategic base of operations to move into the Soviet Union and Asia and down into the Middle East and Africa. But, once Lady Star-Fyre turned her attention outward, away from Bialya, then she would have to contend with the Justice League and the Global Guardians and the other heroes of the world. She wouldn’t extend any real influence outside of Bialya.

And… if she did? A little voice asked Jade Tiger from the back of her mind.

I take her out. Jade Tiger thought. No one would enslave her to their ideals again.

“We’re here.” The pilot said, turning on the hover controls of the small jet that Lady Star-Fyre’s engineers had custom designed for just these type of missions.

Below them, a small abandoned warehouse just outside of the city limits sat surrounded by chain link fences adored with razory barbed wire tops. Or so it appeared. Inside was a small command center/base of operations that Lady Star-Fyre had set up in the weeks since the Hate League’s disastrous attempt to assassinate Anath — the one where Anath had killed Sahara and Tamaria, where Power Girl had trounced them — even with reduced powers.

As Jade Tiger, Morbid Doll, and Serpentina had been flying back to the Hate League headquarters, they had all known that at some point they’d have to return to Century City. Anath had been taken into custody and eventually they’d have to go back to finish what they started. Kirkarius may have been dead, but Lady Star-Fyre had wanted Anath gone. She’d been enlisted by Lady Star-Fyre only as an assassin to take out Kirkarius and to take the fall. But, she was never meant to survive. If she should live, then she might be persuaded to rat out Lady Star-Fyre — especially when she had time in jail to think about all that had happened and start putting together the fact that Lady Star-Fyre had played her — planning to use her as a pasty.

Jade Tiger made her way from the jet, slipping down a rope, landing on the roof and then heading to the concealed entrance on the far side of the roof, a small door that led to a hallway that led down into the sophisticated headquarters hidden within.

As she entered, Jade Tiger watched the small jet disappear into the night. She would see it again in a few hours at the rendezvous point.

The taxi dropped Karen off at the restaurant she and Ian had agreed upon.

Looking at the restaurant before her, a popular Indian restaurant, Karen wondered if she’d overdressed a bit. Suddenly as people streamed around her in casual wear, her dark blue cocktail dress seemed a bit much. Self-consciously her hand went to the wig on her head, her hair itched slightly under it, but that was only annoying. She tried to put the image of Creaky hissing at her and running and hiding under the couch when she’d come out of her room in the wig out of her mind.

“If only you were better at this.” Karen whispered. She wished that she had someone she could have called, but Cheryl had been in a relationship with the same guy for years and wouldn’t be that much help with first date advice. Liz and Carrie-Joyce were both self-confessed bad at dating. Babs… well, Babs had never been the most successful at relationships. She said that guys were intimidated by her smarts and/or the wheelchair. None of her super-hero girlfriends were very good in the dating department. “I should have called Donna Troy. She understands this dating stuff.”

Of course, she and Donna hadn’t really talked in depth in years, and even then they had been more acquaintances than best girlfriends. A “please help me figure out my dating life” call would be a bit inappropriate.

All around her, the Mayflower District was alive. Once a poorer section of the city, urban development and businesses had transformed it to a trendy hotspot full of boutiques, restaurants, gyms, and over priced studios, condos, and apartments.

Karen’s eyes trailed to Zago’s. It was nearly rebuilt after the bombing several months back. Karen frowned. She had attended Anath’s trial as Power Girl. She’d been a witness for the prosecution. When the jury had brought back the recommendation for the death penalty along with their guilty charge, she had regretted that she’d testified. She just didn’t believe in the death penalty. She knew that put her at odds with some of her friends and associates, but it was just what it was. Perhaps it was because she’d grown up thinking herself a survivor from a dead world, and for that reason all life — even that of those who were evil was precious to her.

She pushed the thoughts away. There was no reason to think about that tonight. She was going on a first date with a good-looking man with a decent job who had met her as both Karen Starr and Power Girl, and had responded to Karen Starr. Why let her thoughts go all deep and philosophical? She needed to concentrate on having a good date with a very promising guy.

The night air was cool, and suggested that Spring was edging closer and closer. That was good. Karen was used to far more temperate winters in San Francisco than she’d experienced so far here. Of course, nothing here was as bad as the bitter grueling mid-west winters she’d known during her time in Chicago.

“Karen?”

Karen turned to see Ian McLean walking up in nice slacks and a button down shirt with blazer. Suddenly her fears about being overdressed for her date evaporated. If she were overdressed for the neighborhood and restaurant, Ian was too.

“Hi.” Karen grinned, taking a few steps toward him. Part of her wondering if she was supposed to hug him hello, and the other part wondered if she was supposed to shake hands. Shake hands? That seemed odd for two people starting a date, but a hug seemed too intimate for two people who had only shared a couple of phone conversations and two very brief in person conversations—one of them involving her blown up hotel room.

“Have you ever eaten here?” Ian asked.

“No.” Karen replied, “I’ve wanted to, though. So when you suggested it, I was excited.” Excited? Was she excited? Was that supposed to be something she’d be excited about? Or did saying that make her sound stupid?

“Me too.” Ian replied, leading her toward the door and opening it for her.

Was it OK for him to open the door for her on a first date? Wasn’t that some sort of sexist thing? Or was it just him being polite? Should she open the door for herself? Or was him being a gentleman OK?

Karen stepped through the door, “How was your day?”

“It was good. We busted a meta-human drug ring today.” Ian said, “So, we got some of them off the street. How was yours?”

“OK. We signed a couple deals with Kerner Brothers Pictures to develop games for some of their classic film properties. I got to look at a rough copy of the ‘Passionate Suburban Housewives’ game we’re producing. The first draft script for a new game that may or not be Space Trek related made its way across my desk. And, I sent a first offer to Minerva Bates for a job offer to join our soon to be R&D Tech department.”

“Space Trek?” Ian’s attention perked.

“Maybe.” Karen grinned. “Space Trek’s contract with Vega Games ends this month. They apparently aren’t interested in renewing. And may or may not have seen and been impressed with us at the Sci-Fi convention and asked us to get a script and some proposals together to see what we could offer the Space Trek brand.”

“Oh my God.” Ian laughed as they approached the Hostess to claim their reservation. “I think I just fell in love with you Ms. Starr.”

Karen smiled to herself. This wasn’t going so bad.

When the door to the Century City parking garage opened into the darkening night, the armored van rolled out, it’s darkly tinted windows keeping anyone outside from looking in.

“We’re leaving the garage now, heading toward the exit to the interstate.” The police officer in the passenger’s side said into his cell phone. “I’ll check in again once we’re successfully on the interstate heading toward Ralston.”

The officer sitting in the back seat of the van, next to their prisoner, turned toward the woman and asked pleasantly, “Must feel good to have all this extra security, eh?”

“I could care less.” Anath replied curtly.

“Just trying to protect you, is all.” The officer replied. His name tag said Johnson. “There have been many threats against your life from Biaylans who support the current regime. You know the regime who’s Ambassador you assassinated. Lucky for you the Feds decided to prosecute you for the murder and your various attempts here in the States, rather than allowing you to be sent back to Bialya, where you would have been publicy beheaded.”

“Yes.” Anath said, turning her eyes toward Officer Johnson with a withering glare. “I’m so pleased to be sent to a meta-human correctional facility to await execution by lethal injection. At least beheading would be faster, rather than drawn out over several years where I get mandatory appeals and have to sit and rot in a tiny prison cell. So much better, thank you.”

“Well, that’s how American justice works.” Officer Johnson sniffed.

“No wonder your country is going down the tubes.” Anath snapped. “Do I really have to speak to you? I mean, can’t we just drive in silence?”

“Have it your way lady.” Officer Johnson replied, looking annoyed. “I was just trying to make your ride more pleasant.”

“Not speaking to me will insure that.” Anath replied coolly. The dampeners on her hands and feet kept her from using her powers and had a side effect of making her feel tired and weak—and mildly cranky.

The officers in the front of the van chuckled.

“Leave her alone Johnson. You aren’t gonna find that one pleasant.” The driver Officer Mancino laughed. “She has a reputation. Thinks she’s better than the rest of the world. It’s pretty common behavior among sociopaths.”

Anath did not reply, she merely shook her head. She was looking forward to being at Ralston, sitting in her little cell, segregated from the other prisoners and able to exist mostly in silence and contemplation. She was thinking how nice the peace and quiet would be just as she heard something thump lightly on the roof of the van.

Anath groaned. It looked like her journey to Ralston wasn’t going to be as uneventful as she’d been promised.

Did you really think Lady Star-Fyre would let you get away so easy? Anath thought grimly. With execution at least five to six years away, that was way too long. Star-Fyre would be concerned that Anath might rat her out. The truth was that Anath had, in fact, considered it. All that had stopped her so far was that she wasn’t sure Lady Star-Fyre taking control of Bialya would be all that bad. It might be better than the current regime. As much as it pained Anath to think such a thing.

“Not to be a pain,” Anath said to Officer Johnson. “But, I think someone just landed on the roof. You might want to call from back-up. Because if someone is coming to kill me that can land on a roof, it’s probably someone you don’t have the capability of stopping.”

“Nice try lady, but we aren’t going to fall for any kind of tri—“ Officer Johnson was cut off, by the katana blade that pierced through the van’s roof.

“Jade Tiger.” Anath whispered, even as the officers in the van began to panic.

It was one thing to be found guilty and sentenced to die by a judge and jury after due process. While Anath had her problems with Americans and their attitudes, she did approve of the concept of their justice system. It might have some flaws, but it was at least, in her opinion, an attempt at actually providing justice to both the victims and the accused. It was probably the best justice system she was aware of. However, all of that aside, she did not care to be filleted by Jade Tiger and her sword.

And it was clear, that the three police officers in the van with her were ill-suited to deal with a threat of the Jade Tiger’s caliber. Why hadn’t they sent metas? Was Power Girl busy doing something else tonight?

“Well, to answer your question,” Ian McLean grinned across the table at Karen, “I ended up becoming a cop because my brain wasn’t scientifically oriented enough to go into the course load I would have needed to become an astronaut. And, my favorite actor Killian Radner was not only Captain Burke on Space Trek, but he was also JR Booker.”

Karen laughed, “Wish fulfillment through your career. Nice.”

“Yeah. How did you end up in software?”

“Well,” Karen started, “I have an the aptitude for science that you claim to be lacking. And in college I was trying to find a career that could help me help people and give me free time to…” Karen paused, couldn’t really say ‘Give me free time to be a super-hero crime fighter.’ “Have a life.” She finished.

“That’s cool. It seems like it might get boring though.” Ian replied. “Seems like the business side of software is probably not that exciting.”

“I guess. But, the accountants handle the serious number crunches and there is an entire business management department that is responsible for the boring details. As CEO, I just make the big decisions and sort of act as liaison between all the other departments.” Karen replied. “And, I have Cheryl as my VP. She’s far more hands on than the average VP.”

“So… we’ve gotten the job stuff out of the way.” Ian grinned. “So, Karen Starr, tell me what are you passionate about? Outside of your career. What makes you feel alive? What gives you that rush?”

“Flying.” Karen said, before she realized it had popped from her mouth.

“Flying?” Ian asked with a raised eyebrow.

Dumb, dumb, dumb, Karen. Karen chided herself. Flying? Great. Why not just say, wearing a skintight uniform with a cut-out in the chest area? Why not just tell him being Power Girl was what she was most passionate about.

“Do you have your pilot’s license?” Ian asked, moving in closer to hear her answer. His clear bright eyes locked on hers and Karen didn’t know how to answer him.

“Not yet.” Karen said cautiously, several seconds later. “I still don’t have enough flight hours. But, I’m working on it, in what little free time I have.” It wasn’t a complete lie. She didn’t have a pilot’s license. But, she’d flown the Justice Society’s plane a couple times back when she was a member and she’d also flown Infinity Inc’s jet a time or two.

“That’s awesome.” Ian said, “I’ve always wanted to learn to fly. Obviously, I guess, considering I wanted to be an astronaut. Maybe we could go some time?”

“Are you asking me out on a second date?” Karen asked, partly to change the subject and partly because she was enjoying herself. Their conversation hadn’t been ground-breaking yet. It hadn’t set her world on fire. But, it had been the awkward first conversation most people had on their first date. The basic getting to know one another questions that had to be gotten out of the way before you could really get to know someone and determine if there was a enough of a spark somewhere in there that a real relationship could be found. However, so far, she found him attractive and was interested in getting to know him better. A second date, at the very least, was warranted.

“Maybe.” Ian grinned sheepishly. Then, “I have to tell you Karen, when you agreed to go out with me I was a little surprised. You aren’t the type of woman who usually is interested in me.”

“And what kind of woman is that?”

“Strong, assertive, attractive, smart.” Ian replied without missing a beat. “I don’t ever seem to strike the fancy of women who have something going for them. I seem to get those girls who are looking for some man to be everything to them and want some man to take care of them. Most of them seem to be borderline psycho-hose beasts.”

“Well, the one thing all those girls have in common are you.” Karen replied, “What are you doing to attract the wrong kind of woman?”

“That’s what I ask myself all the time.” Ian nodded in agreement. “I realized it’s because I don’t ever approach a woman I like. I let them come to me. And, so the kind of woman I want, never usually approaches me.”

“I seem to recall being the one who approached you.” Karen said, her tone teasing.

“Yeah. You did. You gave me your card and told me to call you.” Ian blushed lightly. “So far, it’s the first time a woman I was really interested in approached me.”

His expression became very serious and their eyes locked.

Karen felt a rush of emotions, one she had not legitimately felt since her first interactions with Andrew Vinson.

She opened her mouth to say something when her super-hearing picked up a siren in the distance. She closed her mouth, trying not to frown. She used her super-hearing to isolate the sound, to push through the sounds between her and the siren and concentrate on that siren and the sounds around.

--“Jade Tiger, she’s deadly and not---“

--“shut up lady! Back-up will be here and—“

It was all Karen needed to hear. She was aware that Anath was being moved from Century City Jail tonight to her permanent housing until her execution. She had considered patrolling from the sky tonight, but wanted to go out on her date instead. She briefly considered the fact that this might be karmic justice for shirking her duties to indulge in a good time. However, she quickly jettisoned that line of thinking—considering stuff like this happened no matter what she was doing. She had let her “duty” get in the way of life way too much.

“Will you excuse me?” Karen asked, “I need to go to the restroom.”

“No problem.” Ian said, “I’ll be waiting here for you.” He rose as she stood, not sitting back down until she was heading toward the restrooms.

He didn’t notice that she detoured suddenly and seemed to blur out of sight as she accelerated at super-speed to leave the restaurant. Karen was four blocks away in five seconds — having to go a bit slower after nearly losing her wig. Landing on a building top at one of the places she’d stashed and extra costume, she changed and hid her regular clothes, purse, and stupid wig. Power Girl streaked through the sky to the direction the sirens were coming from.

Back at their table, Ian McLean’s work cell phone went off.

“Not now!” Ian groaned. He answered the phone, “McLean.”

He listened grimly as the news of the attack on Anath’s transport was relayed to him.

“Great. OK. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” He ended the call and looked toward the restrooms. He hated to have to run out like this, but it couldn’t be helped. He was on-call tonight and anything relating to meta-humans fell within his department. This was his to deal with.

He sighed, realizing he couldn’t wait for Karen. He figured he would just miss her. He grabbed their waiter as the man went by.

”Here is a hundred dollars for our dinner tonight. Anything left keep for yourself. Tell the lady I was here with that a police emergency came up and I will call her I the morning. Tell her that I’m sorry.” Ian grimaced, hating having to leave like this. He hoped that Karen would understand. Sometimes duty sucked really bad.

The waiter nodded, “OK.”

Dragging his feet for as long as he could, Ian left, hoping this didn’t hurt his chances of a second date.

The cool night air was cold against her skin at super-speed. Not that it bothered her. Invunerability made extreme cold and heat tolerable. Power Girl had grown to enjoy the feeling of cold air zipping past her, stinging cheeks that could feel no pain.

Super-vision allowed her to peer through buildings and all other obstacles between her and the van entering the highway. She could make out a figure on top of the van, a katana sword in her hand as she stabbed down into the van. It looked like Jade Tiger — one of the members of the Hate League she had faced a few months back. A bit of fine-tuning and focusing of super-vision gave her a good look at the figure—and she was able to determine it was in fact Jade Tiger—green cat-mask and all. Inside the van were three police officers and Anath.

Jade Tiger was hanging down into the van, swiping with her sword.

The van had skid to a stop, slamming into the concrete divider between the westbound and eastbound lanes leading westerly from Century City.

The officer in the back seat of the van with Anath was dead, Jade Tiger’s sword having decapitated him. The two cops in the front were trying to avoid Jade Tiger’s blade, while getting a clear shot at her. Anath had climbed into the front seat, hiding behind one of the cops.

One of Jade Tiger’s swipes had torn through one of the energy dampeners on her wrists. Sparks of electricity danced from the deep gorge in the metal. Anath could feel her super-powers returning, albeit weakly. There were still dampeners on both ankles, the left wrist, and around her neck. However, the right hand was getting some of her powers back… and it would be enough to tear loose some of the other dampeners. And, each one that she tore apart, the more power would return to her.

Power Girl swooped down, hovering just above the van.

“Are you trying to break your friend out of jail? That would be a very poor thing to do.” Power Girl said, “The people have spoken. And, while I may not agree with the death penalty, I do agree with Anath being in prison.”

Jade Tiger looked up, pulling her body from inside the opening she’d sliced through the van’s roof. “I’m here to kill her. I would recommend you stay out of my way Power Girl.”

Power Girl chuckled, “I realize you are a big bad ninja, but I’m Power Girl. I’m super-strong. Invunerable and I kick butt. Your little sword there will just break against my skin.”

Jade Tiger titled her head slightly to the side, then swiped at Power Girl. The tip of the blade caught her, tearing through the flesh in her upper thigh.

Power Girl cried out as the cut sent throbbing pain exploded through her body.

“That hurt?!”

“You have a weakness to magic, I understand.” Jade Tiger purred, coming to a stand on top of the van. She held her sword firmly and close to her, her eyes meeting Power Girl’s through the slits of her mask. “My blade is enchanted. For the average person that doesn’t make a difference. It’s a sharp blade. It slices. It dices. It decapitates with the firmest of strikes. But, for you or anyone with a weakness for magic, there’s a little extra kick.”

Power Girl watched in surprise and mild horror as blood dripped down her leg.

“It’s a shame what passes for banter these days.” Power Girl replied with a sigh. But, then shrugged, “But, hey, I’m game. Your ginsu knife there… it’s gotta go.”

Sizzling rays of ruby shot from Power Girl’s eyes, striking Jade Tiger’s wrists.

Jade Tiger screamed out in pain, losing her grip on her katana. The blade flew from her hand, landing on the pavement of the road below and bouncing away — landing somewhere on the side of the road.

Cars whizzed by them at a frightening pace, several of them coming close to slamming into the van that had skid to a stop — sliding nearly two hundred feet down the concrete divider. Dark streaks of rubber marked the van’s path down the divider.

“Now,” Power Girl said flying closer to Jade Tiger. “We’ve got the banter out of the way. Your magic sword is laying back there somewhere on the side of the road. But, that’s neither here nor there…. I’m gonna have to ask you to step down off the top of the van.”

“I’m afraid not.” Jade Tiger smiled darkly.

She was quick. Power Girl would give her that. Before Power Girl fully grasped what was happening, Jade Tiger had given her a kung-fu kick to the gut and had done a back-flip off the roof of the van, landing on the asphalt.

Traffic had finally screeched to a stop; brilliant headlights caused shadows to flicker oddly across the crashed van.

Power Girl advanced after Jade Tiger, marveling at how quickly the woman had gotten herself to her sword.

Inside the van, the two living officers were on the radio.

“Don’t you think of trying to slip off.” One of the officers said to Anath. “Don’t think I don’t have my eye on you.”

“I wouldn’t think of trying.” Anath lied. Already her entire right arm was pulsing with her super-powers. She was pretty sure she’d be able to access her super-speed long enough to disarm both of the cops here and maybe find a key to release the other dampeners clasped to her. She figured if she put a gun to either of their foreheads, one of them would cough up the key.

Funny how life works, Anath thought. Just a little while ago, she’d been resigned to her fate — accepted that she’d be put to death by the American government. Now, freedom dangled tantalizingly before her eyes. She had a safe house; a place she’d set up many months ago — back when the plan had been to kill Kirkarius and then flee. Back before things had gotten so complicated… there she had access to a new identity she’d set up — one Lady Star-Fyre knew nothing about.

A whole new life. Anath thought, her eyes sparkling even as she felt her right arm beginning to feel normal. She could see the key to the dampeners hanging on the hip of the officer who’d been driving.

Jade Tiger found her katana quickly, spinning in time to ward off Power Girl.

Power Girl backed off, her hand going to the aching wound on her leg that still bled lightly.

“Anath has to die.” Jade Tiger said to Power Girl. “You’re government is going to give her a lethal injection. Why not let me save your tax payers money and prevent endless court delays that only waste resources that could be directed to other criminals?”

“Because you chopping her head off with a sword is a little different than a peaceful death administered by the state.” Power Girl said.

“Really? How? Either way she’s dead. Which is what the people wanted. How is it any different? My way is quicker. Maybe a little messier, but it’s quicker.” Jade Tiger swung at Power Girl. The blade came dangerously close to Power Girl’s arm.

Power Girl pulled back just in time. She had no doubt based on the velocity of the blade and the way the air swished as the blade cut through it that had Jade Tiger’s blade met flesh, she would now be quite armless.

“It’s different because you chopping her head off is illegal.” Power Girl replied coolly. She had to get that sword out of Jade Tiger’s hands.

“The laws of man are not in question here. They are silly regulations men in power place upon society and people to keep control.” Jade Tiger said. “The question is: How is what I plan to do any different than what your government is going to do.”

“I’m not going to have a moral debate with you.” Power Girl replied. “It’s pointless. I follow the law. Even if I don’t like it.”

“STOP OR I’LL SHOOT!”

Both Power Girl and Jade Tiger turned toward the sound of the shouting.

The two officers from the van who pointing their guns forward. Standing in an orange jumpsuit, with her hands and legs free, was Anath.

“Now look what you’ve done.” Power Girl said in disgust to Jade Tiger.

“It will just make it easier for me. And, it will enable me to kill fewer innocent bystanders.” Jade Tiger shrugged.

“As always,” Anath said, blurring by at super-speed, knocking Jade Tiger on her butt and taking her sword, “You’re overconfident.”

Anath came to a stop, holding the katana and looking down at Jade Tiger.

“I take it Lady Star-Fyre sent you to kill me.” Anath said, her eyes cold and hard as she looked down at Jade Tiger. The woman pulled herself to her feet, taking a defensive pose.

“Who else?” Jade Tiger purred.

“When you say Lady Star-Fyre, do you mean the cosmetics lady?” Power Girl asked.

“I guess the cat is out of the bag as to who we work for.” Anath said, looking at Jade Tiger with a wicked smile.

Jade Tiger lunged toward Anath, quickly pulling the razor tipped chopsticks from her hair.

It was a pointless action. Anath had already blurred away.

She stopped beside Power Girl as Jade Tiger spun around.

“Here.” Anath handed the sword to Power Girl. “You might need this.”

Anath then attempted to speed off, but before she could, Power Girl had seized her by the wrist.

“Last time we faced each other, my powers were on the fritz because you shot me with the MS76.” Power Girl said, “My powers are better than ever. And, I’m faster than you.”

Anath attempted to jerk away, but couldn’t.

Jade Tiger took a fighting stance.

“I do not need the sword to defeat you Power Girl.” Jade Tiger purred, “You may have super-powers, but I am a better warrior. I have never had to rely on strength to win. I can win on my own merit.”

“Is that supposed to be a psych-out?” Power Girl asked. “Cause if it is, it’s not very good.”

“As if you have any room to lecture anyone on fight banter.” Jade Tiger said, delivering a round house kick.

She cried out in pain as her foot connected with Power Girl’s jaw.

“Yeah. I’m like steel.” Power Girl said bemused. “Did you forget that? It takes more than a normal human’s strength to hurt me cause I’m like steel. Remember they used to call me the Woman of Steel?”

“I don’t remember anyone calling you that.” Anath said quietly, “They used to call you the Man of Steel’s cousin.”

“Shut up.” Power Girl said.

Jade Tiger jumped up again.

“You defend a killer.” Jade Tiger said, “Why not just let me kill her? Then this can all end.”

“OK. There are several things wrong with that scenario. First: I’m not going to let you kill her. We’ve been over that. Killing people is illegal. And, your way would be cruel and unusual before you use the ‘she’s been sentenced to death’ angle again. Second: That would be helping you. And, you’re a bad guy. I don’t help bad guys. And, third and finally, you’re talking like you’re offering me a deal. I don’t need a deal. I’m not losing here. You are.”

And, with that Power Girl delivered a solid punch to Jade Tiger’s chest, knocking the wind out of her and leaving her breathless on the ground trying to regain her composure.

“Are you so sure?” Jade Tiger asked.

Power Girl looked down, only to see that Jade Tiger had liberated the enchanted katana from her hand.

“How did you do that?” Power Girl asked.

“I have my ways.” Jade Tiger purred, plunging the katana toward Power Girl.

Power Girl screamed out in surprise, attempting to side-step the katana. Her speed saved her from a life-threatening injury, but the sword did stab into her arm—piercing through her costume and into the muscle.

This was followed by a scream of pain. Power Girl had felt pain before;her powers had fluctuated for years—and even when her powers were at full-force she had weaknesses. Kryptonite could make her entire body feel as though it were on fire depending on how potent it was and her body chemistry that day.

Power Girl staggered backward, losing her grip on Anath’s wrist and falling to the ground. Jade Tiger stood above Power Girl, looking down at her—her eyes cold and emotionless as she lifted the sword high into the air.

“NO!” Anath screamed, delivering a round-house kick that knocked the katana from Jade Tiger’s hand.

“You will die for that!” Jade Tiger hissed, turning her attention to Anath.

Her expression suddenly went lax for a moment before she howled out in pain — as Power Girl kicked her solidly in the gut.

Jade Tiger collapsed with a groan.

“That’s two you owe me.” Anath remarked casually, helping Power Girl to her feet. Blood weeping from the wound.

“Don’t let that make you think I’m going to let you go.” Power Girl replied, applying super-powered pressure to her arm to stop the wound from bleeding. She could already feel it beginning to heal.

Quickly Power Girl retrieved the enchanted katana from where it had landed when Anath had kicked it from Jade Tiger’s hand. The katana crackled and hummed with invisible energy in Power Girl’s hand, seemingly whispering that it could hurt her.

Power Girl cocked her head to the side and looked in the direction of downtown Century City — letting her x-ray vision see through the skyscrapers and buildings to the ocean beyond. With a deft toss and careful aim, Power Girl sent the sword hurtling toward the Atlantic Ocean, being swallowed whole once it hit the water and rocketing to the ocean floor where it wedged itself deeply in.

“I need to find somewhere else to toss stuff.” Power Girl muttered to herself. She’d used that as a way to get Giganta out of New Athens back when they’d clashed.

“Now, we need to get you ladies to somewhere safe.” Power Girl turned her attention back to Jade Tiger and Anath, only to find they were both gone.

“Great.” Power Girl groaned. “Way to go Power Girl!” She muttered sarcastically beneath her breath.

A scan of super-vision showed her that there were plenty of police on the way to clean up the mess that Jade Tiger had created on the highway. Traffic was resuming, if still a bit backed up. But, the Century City Police Department and the Highway Patrol seemed to have everything in hand. She turned her attention to the two police who had been transporting Anath.

“Are you guys OK?” She asked.

“Yeah. I think so.” One of them said, even though he was bleeding.

“There is an ambulance almost here.” Power Girl replied. “Do you guys need me to hang around?”

“No. We’re fine.” The other police officer said.

Power Girl frowned, shaking her head as she flew off.

“I can’t believe they got away. I’m slipping. I swear…” She sighed. “Well, that took a little more than ten minutes.”

Power Girl rushed back to where she’d hid her clothes and wig. One quick change later, she rushed into the restaurant she’d left only a few minutes before.

She rushed to her table, only to arrive to find it empty.

“Ian?” She asked, looking around.

He was gone. Her dinner was sitting there, cold and untouched. Ian’s side of the table was empty. Had he gotten tired of waiting? He couldn’t have. She hadn’t been gone that long. Only twelve minutes, give or take. Surely he would have waited before rushing off.

At that moment, the waiter came up to her.

“Your date had to leave.” The waiter said. “Some sort of police emergency. Or something. He paid for the bill and tipped pretty generously.”

“How long ago?” Karen asked, looking at the chicken and pasta dish that had sounded really good earlier when she and Ian had been chatting over the menu. Now, it looked like it was probably the worst tasting thing in the world.

“About ten minutes. More or less.” The waiter shrugged, then looking at Karen he added, “However, if I had to guess, I would say it was probably a bit more about that fright wig you’re wearing. Makes you look like a demented drag queen.”

Did it really look that bad? The waiter trotted off, leaving Karen standing there open-mouthed and shocked at his comment. Did it really look that bad?

At that moment she took her phone out of her pocket, seeing that she had a voice mail waiting for her. Checking the call logs she saw that she’d missed a call from Ian about five minutes ago. She dialed into her voice mail system.

“Karen. It’s Ian. I’m sorry I had to run out. Remember that super-villain terrorist Anath? Well, she was being moved tonight and her van was attacked or she tried to escape or something. I’m not sure which yet. But, something is up. Duty calls and all.” Ian’s voice sounded strained. “I hope this doesn’t hurt my chance at that second date. Again. I’m sorry. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

There were several seconds of dead air, and then Ian added, “I should have known something like this would happen. I was having a really good time.”

Karen grinned, feeling like a teenager. Or what she assumed a teenager would feel like. Saving the message she left the restaurant, slipping around the corner and changing to Power Girl for the flight home.

THE END