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THE MAID OF STEEL # 1

Linda Danvers tossed and turned, her lithe form covered in a sheen of sweat. It was late and the storm raged outside, the rain landing with a loud roar on the roof of her apartment building. In the darkness, her many sculptures -- some finished, most not -- looked like hungry monsters, eager for a taste of human flesh.

In Linda's mind, a nightmare raged...She was Supergirl, standing atop a high mountaintop, the wind whipping around her. Her red skirt and her blonde hair blew wildly in the breeze, and she had to squint to see the figure that floated before her. It was a little boy, cute as a button, wearing a small hat and holding a baseball bat over his left shoulder. He looked terribly sad and wise, far beyond his years.

"Wally?! What's going on?"

Wally Johnson -- the boy who had seemed on more than occasion to be God himself -- frowned and shrugged. In that moment, he looked less like an aspect of the Almighty and more like a little boy. "I'm sorry for coming to you like this, Linda...but there's a problem and I need something back from you..."

Supergirl frowned and lifted her into the air, flying out to float near him. "This isn't just a dream is it, Wally? This is real somehow..."

"It's as real as anything else, Linda."

Supergirl nodded, having grown used to cryptic remarks from Wally. She was more concerned with the 'problem' that he mentioned. What kind of problem would warrant this kind of concern from him? "Do you need help, Wally? Just tell me where you are and --"

Wally smiled gently, reaching out with a hand. He laid it on her shoulder and Linda felt herself relax slightly. The wind was still howling but she suddenly felt at peace, even in this strange situation. Wally had that kind of effect on people. "Thanks, Linda. But you can't help me directly right now...but there is something you can do for me, though. Remember when I told you that the Carnivore was coming?"

"Yes..."

"He's closer than I realized, Linda. In this form I'm not exactly omnipotent -- well, I'm close..." Wally smiled that little boy smile again, so full of unnatural wisdom, "...but I do have some drawbacks when I walk amongst people like this."

"What are you getting at, Wally?"

"I need your angelic power, Linda."

Linda blinked. She had never gotten used to the concept of being an 'earth-born angel' but she wasn't sure about giving it up, either. "But why? If you need someone to help..."

Wally stared into her eyes. "Trust me, Linda. That's all I ever ask. Trust in me. I need your power and the power of the other angelic beings on earth -- the Carnivore is coming and I have to prepare. I could give up being Wally and stop him now, but I think I might be able to remain on earth and halt his progress at the same time...but I need your angelic spirit. Your other powers will remain -- and the angel aspect of your abilities will be returned to you when I'm done. Please -- trust in me?"

Supergirl stared into those little boy eyes and knew what was required of her. It was difficult...it was hard...but she had to have faith. "I trust you."

Wally took his hand away and smiled. "Thanks, Linda. You're a pal. You can wake up now."

Linda woke with a start, a crack of thunder making her apartment shake. She ran a hand through her short brown hair and shivered. "Oh God...was that real?"

She rose and walked over to the window, staring out into the storm. Concentrating, she shifted her form into Supergirl's -- several inches taller, the figure fuller, her brown hair becoming long and blonde. Concentrating, she tried to summon her flaming wings...the but nothing happened. It had been real, after all. Sighing, she placed a hand against the window and whispered, "Be careful, Wally..."

EARLY THE NEXT MORNING

Cutter Sharp was one happy guy as he waltzed up to Linda's door. It didn't matter that rain was pouring down in droves, nor did it matter his left calf had hurt like hell all morning following a one-mile run with Mattie Harcourt. Things were looking up -- way up -- and you didn't have to be a genius to recognize where all this good luck was coming from. Supergirl.

He rapped on the door and waited. The door opened slightly and Cutter's smile faltered somewhat. Linda wore a thin robe, but her eyes were bloodshot and her hair was wild and unkempt. "Geez-olla, you look terrible!"

Linda rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Cutter. You sure know how to win a girl's heart. Come on in out of the rain."

Cutter stepped inside and noticed that Linda looked more pale than usual -- she'd never exactly been George Hamilton up til now, but her skin was definitely pastier than normal. "Are you sick, Linda? Mattie says there's a bug going around..." Cutter made sure to stand far, far away from her -- just in case she was contagious.

"No, I'm not sick...it's just...I feel a little less chipper today. I had a rough night. What are you doing here so early anyway?"

Cutter's smile returned. "Check this out!" He held up a large poster, showing Jackson Springs and reading "Coming to Leesburg, Jackson Springs and his outrageous talk-show! Tickets are free and available at the door -- scheduled shows include 'Lesbian Catfights', 'I Slept With Your Mama!' and 'Small-Town Superheroes' with guest-stars Little Boy Blue and Supergirl!'"

Linda's face dropped. "You're kidding..."

"Nope. I haven't sprung it on S-girl yet, but she'll love it. Talk about a forum to advocate change!"

"Cutter...she'll never go on a show like that. It panders to the lowest common denominator!"

Cutter nodded, nonplussed. "Yep."

Linda ran a hand through her hair and sighed. "You know, I don't think this is the sort of thing Supergirl had in mind when she hired you to be her PR person..."

"Hmm. Maybe you're right...well, I'll have to sell her on it then. I mean, the Springs show gets killer ratings -- it's perfect for her to reach a mass audience and try to encourage world peace, love, etc."

Linda sat down heavily in a chair and glanced over at the sculpture she'd been working on lately. It was of a half-man/half-horse being and had a working title "Comet Ascending", in honor of Zed-One, with whom she'd shared both several adventures and a rather torrid, though brief, romance. "And why did you share this particular bit of news with me, Cutter?"

Cutter shrugged. "Well, I already told Mattie and she said that the Springs show was 'vile and disgusting'. I was kinda hoping you'd be more enthused."

"Sorry...Good luck with Supergirl, though."

Cutter nodded. "Yeah, I might need it. Try and get some rest, Linda -- you really do look horrible."

Linda watched him go and sighed. She did feel really bad -- Wally's 'borrowing' of her angelic aspect must have really taken a lot out of her. She yawned and eyed the bed hungrily. Another few hours of sleep couldn't hurt...

Collin Thornton stepped out of his private plane and surveyed the small Leesburg Airport with a sniff of disdain. As the publisher of Newstime Magazine, Thornton rarely made visits to such places, but the thing that brought him here wasn't really the province of Collin Thornton -- it was something that belonged to the realm of Lord Satanus. Thornton's mortal guise was but a sham, a place where the demonic Satanus could find a safe haven until such a time as he could return to his home dimension and remove his sister from power.

"Hello, Mr. Thornton. It's good to have you in Leesburg." The rather pudgy man who was walking towards the elegantly dressed Thornton was named Reeves. He was one of Newstime's many in-the-field reporters and Collin was familiar with his work -- gutsy and no-holds-barred, with a trace of English Major arrogance.

Collin shook his hand and plastered on a false smile. "Ah, Mr. Reeves. I'm a big fan of your work."

Reeves seemed pleased. "I'm honored, Mr. Thornton." The two men walked away from the small plane. "I have the information you requested -- every local article and photograph of Supergirl that's available. I've also interviewed some of the people who've come into contact with her."

Collin took the offered envelope, somewhat surprised by its weight. "It looks like our Supergirl has been busy since leaving Metropolis..."

"Yes sir -- in fact, she's scheduled to appear on the Jackson Springs show in a few days..."

Collin raised an eyebrow at that. "Really? Interesting...Not exactly where I would have expected to find her."

Reeves grunted. "I was surprised too. Some bald guy was hanging up flyers and posters about it this morning. A young punk named Cutter Sharp -- supposed to be her PR guy."

"Well, then...I might have to give Mr. Sharp a call."

Reeves smiled to himself. He could practically smell the bonus money from this one -- if the big man himself wanted the info, he wasn't about to let him down. Reeves had no idea why Thornton wanted the dirt on Supergirl and didn't really care for that matter. All that mattered to him was that Collin Thornton got what he wanted.

THE NEXT DAY

For Supergirl, flying was an exhilirating experience. As she soared over Leesburgh, she felt free and happy. Her beautiful features looked angelic as she smiled, soaring through the air, her long blonde hair and her crimson cape trailing behind her. After spending most of the previous day in bed recovering from her dream encounter with Wally, she felt refreshed today and she had to admit that she liked it here -- even moreso now that she'd begun to feel at home in Linda Danvers' life. Where once she'd been a protomatter being with no real family, now she was merged with a young girl blessed with two wonderful parents and a new lease on life.

The sound of something whistling through the air caught her attention and she whirled about to see Comet hurtling towards her. Instinctively, she threw herself in his path, using her enhanced strength to catch him. She grunted from the effort.

"You okay?" She asked somewhat breathlessly. She was surprised to find that her ever-present attraction to the equine hero was dimmed this time -- and then she remembered that Wally had mentioned taking ALL the angelic aspects on earth. Since Comet had been the Earth-Angel of Love, Linda had found herself swooning for him in the past, but no longer it seemed.

Comet's smooth voice sounded pleasant to her ears. He was a beautiful, delicate shade of white and hauntingly beautiful -- even without his angelic nature. "I'm glad to see you, Supergirl. It's been too long."

Supergirl blushed. Well, maybe not ALL of his appeal was gone..."Yes...It has. So what threw you like that? Or are you just not as graceful in flight as you used to be?"

"There's something...odd down below."

Supergirl couldn't resist a smile. She knew she was flirting, but she didn't care. "Odd? In Leesburg?!" She added a note of sarcasm to her voice.

"I think this qualifies -- Look!" Comet pointed with his oddly-shaped hand (so much like a hoof...).

Supergirl followed his gaze and let loose a gasp. A strange, shimmering being was moving down Main Street. It was tall -- well over ten feet in height -- and was heavily armored. Its red form was covered with metal and a large cannon was mounted on its left shoulder. Supergirl could see the thing's 'eyes' - a dark swath in the middle of the featureless face, with an oscillating red dot in the center.

"What is that?! It looks like something out of a Japanese monster film..."

Comet nodded, loosening himself somewhat regretfully from her grasp. "It appeared out of nowhere while I was on patrol...It seems to be looking for someone named Blank..."

"Blank...? Hmm. I take it that he didn't respond too well to your offer to help?" Supergirl and Comet both flew towards the robot, moving towards him from differing sides.

As they approached, the behemoth locked its gaze on Comet first. It's voice was hollow and cold. "This is Transwarp Retrieveal Unit 375-B seeking the being known as Gerald Blank. Turn him over for sterilization processing or face the penalty..."

Supergirl frowned. She'd never heard of Gerald Blank but she was pretty sure he didn't deserve to be sterilized by this thing... "Can you give us a clue as to why you'd want to ruin Mr. Blank's social life?"

The robot turned to face Supergirl. "If you refuse to turn over Gerald Blank to this unit you are in violation of Transwarp Code 14-C Subsection --"

"I think we get the picture." Supergirl slammed a fist into the robot's head, sending it reeling. She could hear sirens in the distance -- no doubt her dad was with the police. The siren reminded her that this wasn't the place for such a fight though -- there were too many civilians around. She gestured to Comet, "Help me lift him. We can take outside the town!"

Comet nodded, smiling. Together they lifted the robot by its powerful arms. "You are impeding this unit's progress. Justice must be served."

Electricity raked across the robot's surface, causing both Supergirl and Comet to scream in agony. They dropped the robot, who landed with a thud, dropping straight through the street below.

Supergirl shook her head to clear it. "You okay, Comet?"

"Yes...At least I think so."

Supergirl watched as the robot began to climb slowly from the street. "We've got to end this quickly...I was hoping to keep him active until we could find out what's going on but we've got to take him down before someone gets hurt."

"Including us?" Comet smiled at her and Supergirl grinned in return.

"Including us. Stand back..." Supergirl flew straight up and then descended rapidly, pushing her speed to its limit. She wasn't nearly as strong as Superman but she still packed a huge wallop. She collided with the robot, her fists driving deep into its robotic skull. Sparks flew and the robot's droning voice continued to spew forth directives and legal notes at her as she reached inside and pulled its electronic brain free of its housing. She crushed it and tossed it aside.

Comet landed beside her. "That was very impressive."

"Thanks...I wish I knew why he came here though." She pursed her lips in thought...she could always ask her dad to try and find out who this Gerald Blank was. If he had enemies like these, maybe she needed to know more about him...

"I have to go, Supergirl." Comet touched her shoulder softly. "But we'll see other again soon, I hope. Over dinner, perhaps?"

"Um, well..." Supergirl was spared the embarrassment of answering as Comet streaked away laughing, obviously enjoying her discomfort. Linda ran a hand through her hair and sighed. Life was so strange around here...

Collin Thornton stared out the window of his hotel room. Leesburg...such a small little hamlet, so unaware of its greater importance. He could feel the strands of dark power enveloping the city even now with a carnivorous hunger. So much strangeness, so much weirdness, had come to call Leesburg home...and soon there would come a terrible reckoning. A reckoning that would leave Supergirl broken and torn...and ripe for the plucking.

NEXT ISSUE : Supergirl goes on her first talk-show! Little Boy Blue arrives in Leesburg! More on the Transwarp Authority! And the first post-Crisis appearance of the Gang...

AUTHOR'S NOTES

Welcome to the first fanfic issue of Supergirl! You'll notice that we're going to try and stay true to the Peter David series while moving Linda and her friends in new directions as well. We're both fans of Supergirl in all her incarnations so you can expect to see some characters and places from both her Pre-Crisis and Post-Crisis personas.

Let us know how we're doing!

Barry Reese is at mailto:aric_dacia@yahoo.com

and

Kell Carpenter is at mailto:tkc2@hotmail.com