THE MAID OF STEEL # 26

The parade was in full swing, with dozens of massive floats going by. All of them had giant S-Shields and various depictions of Supergirl in a variety of different costumes. Some of the costumes she'd never even worn.

From where she sat on the last float, on a throne with the various girls who had entered themselves in the Supergirl look-alike contest, and the winner of the Miss Supergirl Pageant, Supergirl wondered what the Hell she had gotten herself into when she had agreed to this.

Of course, when she had agreed to this, it had been at Cutter's insistence and Kara had still been around. Kara had been what had convinced her. Kara had thought it was a great idea and has pushed her to accept and attend.

"I've never seen a parade before." Kara had said exuberantly. Now with Kara gone, it just seemed silly and indulgent.

It's only been a month since she disappeared, Supergirl reminded herself. She still hadn't packed up any of Kara's things. She had called Genoa Park High School and told them that Karrie Danvers had gone home to be with her sick mother who was on her death bed.

Part of her knew that Kara would be back, regardless of what Rip Hunter had told her, no matter if the Time Trapper was offering a deal she didn't dare take. And she wasn't going to give the girl's things away or unenroll her from school. But, if she was to believe Rip that Kara wouldn't ever come back to the present, then she should donate Kara's things to a charity, making sure the brown wig went to one of the charities that helped girls with cancer who had lost their hair due to chemotherapy. She just couldn't bring herself to believe that. In the few months that Kara had lived with Linda, Linda had come to think of her as a little sister and had grown to care about her deeply. Seeing her as a chance to return the favor that Clark and the Kents had given her when she'd come as Matrix to this Universe.

"Supergirl!" The shouts came from all sides as people called her name and snapped photos. There were video cameras trained on her and everyone was just busy adoring her. Supergirl frowned, feeling not only overwhelmed by the attention but also uncomfortable under the glare of public scrutiny. Sitting up here on a float smiling and waving was completely different than fighting a super-villain.

"It's like they're worshipping me." She whispered.

"Did you say something?" Alisa Perez, the winner of the Miss Supergirl Pageant, asked. Her overly teased and sprayed hair was doing an excellent job of keeping the rhinestone encrusted tiara in place. The tiara had a giant rhinestone S-shield in the middle. It was the height of bad taste.

"Not really." Supergirl smiled. The girl had won a four year scholarship to Midway City University as part of being crowned Miss Supergirl. Supergirl figured that she should have entered the contest as Linda Danvers. A four-year paid scholarship would fix her biggest worries about money. The red tape she was trying to cut through to get grants and scholarships was giving her constant headaches. She qualified for special financial aid as a survivor of Leesburg, but that would only cover some of college. And she still hadn't found a job since getting fired from Midway City Museum; it was beginning to look like she was going to have to start working at Taco Whiz.

"What are you going to school for?" Supergirl asked the girl.

"I want to be a lawyer." Alisa smiled brightly, revealing perfect teeth that had probably never known braces. The girl looked flawless and her dark almond colored eyes had a light in them that said she had never known any real hardship. "Well, officially I want to be a lawyer. Secretly I've always wished I had some sort of super-power so I could save the world like you do. That's why it was important to me to win Miss Supergirl."

"Being a super-hero isn't all it's cracked up to be." Supergirl replied, "You have to save the world, and often you end up carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Everyone else's problems become yours, and often you have to do things you wish you didn't and accept things you don't like to save the universe."

"Wow. You sound jaded." Alisa said, wrinkling her nose.

"Not jaded Alisa. Realistic." Supergirl smiled, "Don't get me wrong. The world is basically a good place and most of the people in it only mean well. There are just a few bad apples that ruin it for the rest of us."

"If you weren't a super-hero, what would you be?" Alisa asked.

"I would be an artist." Supergirl grinned.

"Really?" Alisa wrinkled her nose again, "You don't seem like the artist type. You seem like you'd be a cop or something. Even if you didn't have powers, you would be out there helping people."

"I don't know about that. I do what I do because I have these powers and with my powers come responsibilities. But, if I didn't have them... I think I'd just be a college student somewhere painting in my spare time and worrying about boys."

"That's almost shallow."

Supergirl laughed heartily, "After all the stuff I've been through and seen, it sounds like Heaven."

From the packed sidewalk, Craig Morris and Jocelyn Rogers watched the parade float go by.

"Wow. Supergirl." Craig said.

"I think she's overrated." Jocelyn sniffed, "I mean in a lot of ways, she's a total menace. Villains just follow her around."

"I seem to recall her saving me and you both from that Chryseis madwoman a few months back." Craig replied. "She was nice too. She comes by the Museum sometimes. She and Linda are friends from Leesburg. "

"And that's supposed to make me like her? Linda Danvers was a flake and one of the worst employees we ever had at Midway City Museum. She was worse than the old Museum director—Carter Hall. At least he turned out later to be Hawkman. Which explained why he so often neglected his duties and would just disappear for weeks on end." Jocelyn said, the lust and desire in her eyes as she looked at Craig unmistakable to anyone and everyone but Craig.

"Supergirl saved me from that gunshot wound and rescued me from wherever it was Chryseis sent us."

"And how did the twit do that?" Jocelyn smirked. She had nursed feelings for Craig since the moment she'd hired him over several more qualified but less attractive people late last year. When he had asked her if she wanted to go to the parade with him, she had hoped that it was him asking her on a date. His adoration for Supergirl clearly nipped that idea.

"She used that spear that Chryseis used to send us away." Craig replied.

"That spear we have hanging up in the Museum?" Jocelyn asked.

"Yep. She used it to heal me." Craig said, watching as the float carrying Supergirl as it went further and further down the street. "She's so cool. I wonder if she's dating anyone. I should ask Linda to introduce us."

"I don't think that someone like Supergirl would date someone like you." Jocelyn's face was turning a peculiar shade of purple.

"Why not? She's just as normal as the rest of us." Craig said.

"Hardly. I've heard Superman is an alien. And everyone knows that she's Superman's cousin. She's probably not even really human. She probably looks like some awful green thing with antennae. And that hair and bod are just some sort of alien generated illusion." Jocelyn said.

Craig looked at Jocelyn, shaking his head. "Jocelyn... you are so petty and catty sometimes. It's like you can't be nice to other women."

With that Craig disappeared into the milling crowds, leaving Jocelyn fuming behind. The woman clenched her fists as her mouth opened and closed soundlessly.

It was a warm day as Joan Dale Trevor worked in her garden. The sky above was bright and blue and it wasn't too warm. She suspected the summer with it's unbearable humidity and heat would be upon them earlier this year than normal.

Pausing for a moment, Joan looked down at the flowers she had just transplanted from smaller pots that had been on the back patio. They were bright and yellow. She hoped she hadn't waited too long to transplant them, but it couldn't be helped. She and Derek had only recently returned from Trevor Island, and the plants couldn't plant themselves. While they had a full staff here at the mansion, she had never hired a gardener. There was a landscaper who was paid to water, mow, and weed, but she'd never paid anyone to plant the flowers. She considered that her personal duty; and it was something she enjoyed immensely. Although right now, with the flowers being at risk of not surviving the transplant, she wondered if her pride was getting in the way.

Joan looked up at the sky, knowing that she should head back to the house. Derek would be getting antsy by this point, and lunch was several hours overdue. He had been antsy to get back to the manor, talking about it their last few weeks on Trevor Island so much that it had ruined the end of their yearly jaunt to the island during the colder months. Now, he was going to be getting antsy because they were back here and he missed the island. Joan sighed, knowing that it wasn't the island or the manor that had her husband jumpy and irritable these days. It was Lyta. Every since their daughter had disappeared off the face of the planet, Derek just hadn't been the same. Her occasional visits in their dreams never seemed to be enough for him. And, even those had been infrequent lately. Her husband Hector's return and lack of knowledge of Lyta's whereabouts only made Derek more antsy. Although she wouldn't admit it, Hector's lack of knowledge deeply troubled Joan as well.

Joan stood, wondering how she had gone from a girl reporter during World War II from a poor working-class family from New Jersey to being a rich society housewife in Virginia.

Ah, blame the Justice Society and being Miss America. She thought. That was what had done it. Getting those transmutation powers and becoming a costumed mystery woman during World War II had led her to this point. She would have never met Admiral Derek Trevor otherwise, nor would they have ended up with Lyta for a daughter. Joan had gotten her husband from Wonder Woman, and her daughter from Fury.

Joan made her way into the house, hearing Derek in the family room talking to the television. She smiled. It was one of his more endearing qualities these days. She went into the family room.

"What's on television?" Joan asked pleasantly.

"It's some conservative jerk-wad arguing with some liberal commie. They're arguing over whose problem it is that this country is going to Hell." Derek groaned, "I remember back when we were all Americans and it was all of our problem."

"It was never quite that black and white dear." Joan laughed lightly, rubbing his shoulders. "It just seems like it was."

"I disagree." Derek said.

"You always do." Joan said.

The scene on television changed as Derek angrily flipped the channel.

"Oh, look, there's Supergirl. It looks like they're giving a parade in her honor." Derek said.

Joan smiled, "I suppose she's back from her jaunt in the past. Odd to think something that happened so long ago for me is only a few days ago for her. Too bad she didn't keep the Glory name. It would have been nice to have my own protégé in this day and age. To be remembered more than a footnote in the Justice Society or Hippolyta's World War II adventures. Even Lyta never took my name."

"Lyta had her own destiny to follow." Derek replied.

"Don't do that." Joan said a bit more harshly than she probably meant it to be.

"What?"

"Talk about her like she's dead."

"Joanie... I think she probably is. We haven't heard from her in nearly a year." Derek said.

"If she were dead, we'd know." Joan said, getting defensive.

The doorbell rang at that moment interrupting the argument.

Joan frowned, "Who could that be?"

"I don't know. Let Dimitrius get it."

A crashing sound came from the front hall.

Derek and Joan looked at each other before rushing out of the family room. When they reached the front hall, they found their butler Dimitrius unconscious on the floor, with four men dressed all in black towering above him. The front door was ajar, and a man stepped through it.

"Greetings Joan Dale Trevor, Derek Trevor." The man said, nodding to both of them.

"Who the Hell are you?" Derek demanded, "And what are you doing in our home?"

"Honey," Joan said, her eyes trained on the man who had just stepped through the door as she sized him up. "I think you should get behind me."

"Joanie... you aren't Miss America anymore. Your powers went away years ago." Derek said.

"Uh... about that." Joan said, "I may have fudged the truth a little there."

"What?!"

"Well, after your hang-ups about women with powers who were stronger than you due to Hippolyta and that whole Red Scare non-sense," Joan shrugged not finishing the sentence. "Beside the fact, I can make short work of those men and their boss...who looks like an old friend."

"I'm pleased to see that you remember me Joan Trevor." The man said, energy dancing from his hands. "It has been a long time since 1946."

"I agree. And, I know for a fact that the original Baron Blitzkreig is long dead. And my daughter and Troia defeated the new Baron Blitzkreig just a few years ago. So, I'm not sure who you are under that helmet. And really I don't care. You're in my home. You've attacked our butler. And you're wearing a swastika." Joan put her hands out in front of her, "As far as I'm concerned you're history."

The air around Baron Blitzkreig and his goons began to sparkle and they were promptly replaced with a pile of books.

"You've been lying to me all of these years?" Derek asked flabbergasted.

"Yes. We can discuss it later." Joan said rushing over to Dimitrius, "Help me carry him out to the car so we can get out of here. That transmutation won't last long since they're living beings and I'm out of practice, and then we're going to have one mad-as-hell Nazi and four Nazi goons."

"I can't believe you lied." Derek said as they carried Dimitrius out of the house. They were halfway across the massive front yard when Baron Blitzkreig and his goons burst out of the house, heading toward them.

"Great." Joan said.

"This doesn't look good." Derek said.

"Derek, forgive me for what I'm about to do." Joan said.

"What are you talking about?" Derek asked as Joan dropped Dimitrius.

The sparkle returned and Derek and Dimitrius were both replaced by small lightly colored pebbles laying in the grass. Joan picked both of the pebbles up and tossed them with all of her might into the lush forest on the right side of the manor's front yard.

"Hopefully you won't hate me too much for that one." Joan said watching after the spot the two pebbles had disappeared into.

"Freeze." Baron Blitzkreig said, pointing a pistol at Joan. "You should be quite tapped out by now."

"And you don't have a German accent. And, the real Baron Blitzkreig actually had super-powers and would have never relied on a pistol." Joan said, "Who are you really? And why are you pretending to be Baron Blitzkreig."

"That I cannot answer." The Baron said, "This isn't going to hurt much."

From the end of the pistol a bright flash of light exploded, knocking Joan unconscious.

"This is pretty awesome." Cutter said to Mattie as he handed her cotton candy and a soda. "Mayor Weisinger went all out."

"Of course he did." Mattie replied, "From what I hear, this city had been on a downward spiral since he took over. Crime has gotten worse. Supergirl moves here and crime drops. Criminals are afraid of her and they stop. It's not a bad deal. And, an event like this shows that he likes having Supergirl in his city, and in his mind it will generate incredible goodwill toward him, softening voters opinions of him."

"Your polly-sci classes are showing." Cutter chuckled.

"I never took polly-sci." Mattie sipped at her soda. "One of the other doctors was talking about it at lunch the other day. When Weisinger moved into the Mayor's Mansion four years ago this city was doing well, and the economy went to Hell right after. Plus there hasn't been a hero here since the first Hawkman left. They've been needing something like Supergirl for years."

"Still," Cutter said gesturing toward the small carnival set up in River Side Park, in front of Main Street where the parade went streaming by. There were people everywhere enjoying themselves. Both children and adults enjoyed the vast array of carnival rides. Toward the back were vending booths and games. All around there were balloons and banners with Supergirl's image and the s-shield emblazoned on them. "This is pretty cool. And pretty fun. And a good deal for Supergirl. Her merchandizing royalty check from this shindig is going to be sweet. Hopefully it will help Linda with her financial woes. She is still not having any luck finding a job."

"How exactly can a royalty check cut to Supergirl help Linda?" Mattie asked, "That money just goes into a savings account you set up back in the day for Supergirl's expenses. And seeing how Supergirl doesn't need to pay rent or buy clothes or food.. well, it's not like that money is going anywhere."

"I'm going to offer Linda a job at Supergirl Enterprises." Cutter grinned widely, "Despite my job at Channel 8, I'm still Supergirl's manager and PR agent."

"Why don't we just tell Linda that we know her secret identity? Wouldn't that be easier?" Mattie groaned, "We've been putting this off way too long."

"If she wanted us to know, she would tell us. She needs to tell us when she's ready to tell us. We can't just out her as Supergirl." Cutter said.

"You seem pretty knowledgeable about this."

"Wanda Five did a show last week about Meta-Human Outings. It can ruin a person's life if you out them as a meta before they're ready to share it." Cutter replied.

"Wanda Five? You actually watch that crap? Next you'll tell me that you're watching The Other Side with Selena Moonstone." Mattie rolled her eyes.

"I work at Channel 8, where both of those shows are filmed. I've met both Wanda Five and Selena Moonstone. They're perfectly nice. And they both have highly rated shows." Cutter winked at Mattie, "Maybe one of them will need an assistant so I don't have to work with that jerk Johnny Drew."

"You should just quit. Go back to being Supergirl's manager and PR agent." Mattie said, "It may not pay as well, but it isn't going to drive you crazy like Johnny Drew does. I don't know how you put up with him."

"Because television is where it's at." Cutter replied, "And, one day I'm going to run that station."

"Hey guys." Dick Malverne greeted them, walking up with a stuffed bear in his arms.

"Did you win that for Linda?" Mattie asked, "She's going to love that!"

"Yeah." Dick said sheepishly.

"You are seriously whipped my friend." Cutter said clapping Dick on the back.

"Really?" Mattie said, turning to Cutter. "Whipped? I wish you would do nice things like that for me."

"Mattie, I got you that uh... that CD last week." Cutter grinned sheepishly.

"I don't even like that band. You like that band." Mattie retorted.

"So, where's Linda?" Cutter said.

"Nice job changing the subject." Mattie told him.

"Oh, she's around. I'm sure she'll pop back up." Dick shrugged.

Cutter looked toward the street where the float with Supergirl pulled into view.

"Oh, I'm sure she will. She is—"

The sound of screaming cut Cutter Sharp off.

"Oh no. Not today." Mattie groaned. "Why? Can't we go one day without some sort of super-villain? We're cursed I tell you. Cursed."

They turned to the sound of the ruckus, watching as people ran in all directions. Standing in front of the float holding Supergirl and the contestants in the Miss Supergirl Pageant was a woman in form-fitting silver, a long tail dancing behind her, pink energy sparkling at it's tip.

On top of the float, Supergirl stood.

"If you'll excuse me ladies," She said, "You should probably find somewhere safe to wait until I've dealt with this."

"And who are you?" Supergirl asked sweetly, making her way down the float.

"I'm the Silver Scorpion." The woman said, her dark brown eyes peering out from a silver mask. A red gem between her eyes glowed malevolently. "And I'm here to destroy you Supergirl."

"Any relation to the Blue Beetle?" Supergirl asked.

A ray of hot pink energy exploded from the Silver Scorpion's tail slamming into Supergirl.

Supergirl gasped as the energy knocked the breath out of her knocking her backwards—sending her flying through the s-shield on platforms of the float, destroying it's tiered top constructed of plywood, crepe paper, and flowers. The contestant and contest-winner below, covered their heads and fled from the top of the float as debris crashed down.

Supergirl landed on the street behind the ruined float, slamming into the street.

"Ooh.. that hurt." She groaned.

All around her people had backed up. Some had fled, however, a healthy number of them had remained behind to watch the fight.

"Vultures." Supergirl grumbled beneath her breath, pulling herself to her feet.

"I heard you were tough." The Silver Scorpion said, "But you'll find that I'm tougher."

Supergirl looked at the woman, sizing her up. She was wearing a skintight suit of some silver alloy, and the mechanical tail she wore was attached separately. The gem between her eyes on the mask was flashing.

She probably doesn't have natural powers, or else she wouldn't have blasted me with her tail. Supergirl thought, which probably means it's all in the suit. There doesn't seem to be any electronics in her hands, in fact she isn't wearing gloves or anything. Meaning that flashing gem probably controls the whole shebang.

Another ray of pink energy fired from the Silver Scorpion's tail. Supergirl avoided this one easily. Several more shots fired from the Scorpion's tail. Supergirl avoided each of them effortlessly.

"You aren't a very good shot." Supergirl said, hovering in the air above the Silver Scorpion, "You just got lucky with your first shot. Considering you would have had to be blind and firing backwards to miss me on that one I wouldn't' start counting your victories yet."

Supergirl swooped down, grabbing the Silver Scorpion by the wrists and lifting up into the air with her. She flew high up into the sky, way above the city. The Silver Scorpion screamed out in terror, her eyes trained on the ground beneath her.

"I'm not sure who you are under that mask. But, I'm going to give you some advice that you'll do well to remember in the future." Supergirl told her, flying in high flying circles, that left the Silver Scorpion's stomach twisting and turning, her lunch threatening to come back up. "I'm Supergirl. Not to sound like I've got a big head or anything, but I'm pretty powerful. There's a reason I'm called Supergirl. To take me on, you should be of a certain level—"

The Silver Scorpion threw up.

"GROSS!" Supergirl said, avoiding the puke just barely.

"Where was I?" Supergirl asked. "Oh yeah, if you're going to take on Supergirl, you should be on my level or at the very least a challenge. I mean, if this is your first super-crime, you should be taking on someone more on your level. You're wasting my time. You ruined my day. You ruined a perfectly nice parade and carnival. It's just not—"

"PUT ME DOWN!!!" The Silver Scorpion screamed.

"As you wish." Supergirl said, letting go of the Silver Scorpion.

The Silver Scorpion screamed.

Supergirl hovered in place for several moments.

"Oh, I suppose I shouldn't let her splat."

Supergirl flew down after the Silver Scorpion catching her just as she was coming near to the tops of the skyscrapers.

"Miss me?" Supergirl asked.

"I want down! I want down!" The Silver Scorpion screamed.

"Why do people always say that and then freak out when I drop them?" Supergirl asked.

"PUT ME DOWN!" The Silver Scorpion shrieked. "I didn't mean drop me! Please don't drop me again! Please, please, please."

"As you wish." Supergirl said, "And since you said please about a million times."

As soon as Supergirl landed, she set the Silver Scorpion down, smashing her tail. A puff of smoke rose from the damaged mechanics of it, drifting to the sky.

The Silver Scorpion was crying hysterically and clutching the pavement of the street beneath her as though it were going to go away.

Supergirl was standing back, watching as the Silver Scorpion, stripped of the remains of her tail attachment and her mask, was put into the back of a MSCU van.

Fred Danvers walked up to Supergirl, having been reassigned last week to the day shift of the MSCU.

Supergirl asked, "Any idea who she is?"

"Just some minor league member of the Slow Demons." Fred Danvers said, "She has a rap sheet a mile long. Her name is Jolene Prescott."

"Where does a member of the Slow Demons get hardware like that suit?"

"The suit has a STAR Labs patent on it. It matches a couple of prototype suits stolen from STAR Labs not long ago." Fred replied, "STAR Labs thinks it was stolen by a former intern who is currently serving time for a possession bust. They lost quite a few prototypes and first shot production items at the same time. He probably traded it for drugs and it made it's way to Ms. Prescott thru those channels. I'm sure she'll have plenty to say once we get her downtown for questioning. They always do. It's not like she's looking at a lot of charges. She'll be out by next week anyway."

"What? Why so soon?" Supergirl asked.

"Well, Supergirl, all we're going to be able to charge her with is public nuisance, damaging public property, reckless endangerment, and assault for attacking you. Possession of stolen property. Those are charges she can plead out and post bail and maybe get probation. If she gets any jail time, it won't be more than a few months. Even with her rap sheet."

"But..." Supergirl stammered.

"Unfortunately honey she's not the Joker and she isn't a real threat." Fred said, shaking his head.

At that point a gruff man walked up.

"Are you going to stand here gabbing with the vigilante all day?" The man asked.

"I'm sorry Lt. Jacobs, but with my recent transfer to the MSCU, I figured speaking to Supergirl was probably a good idea, since we'll be working with her on a regular basis." Fred Danvers said to the angry man.

"If I had my way, we'd be cuffing her too and taking her in." Lt. Jacobs said, glaring at Supergirl. "You, young lady, are a public nuisance and operating illegally, might I add."

"Well, obviously you didn't pay attention to the ceremony earlier today." Supergirl smiled sweetly, "There was that whole part where Mayor Weisinger presented me with a key to the city and deputized me as an official representative of the law here in Midway City."

"The Mayor is a fool. And, when he's voted out in the next election, we can only hope that someone gets voted in who isn't busy with stars in their eyes, acting like you're doing us a favor by being here." Lt. Jacobs snapped at her.

"My, aren't you a ray of sunshine." Supergirl grumbled, "And ever so polite."

"I'm not here to play nice with vigilantes. Let's go Danvers." Lt. Jacobs turned and stomped off.

Fred Danvers offered Supergirl an apologetic smile and a shrug, trailing after Lt. Jacobs toward the car the Silver Scorpion had been put into. As soon as they were gone, Supergirl found herself surrounded by people requesting autographs.

Smiling, Supergirl was only to willing to oblige them.

As they neared the car, Lt. Damian Jacobs looked at Fred Danvers, "I know that you and Supergirl are friends of some sort going back to Leesburg. I read your file. I realize there might be some allegiance to her based on that, but here it's different. We don't need vigilantes making bigger trouble for us here. Half of the criminals they capture never do any real time because they don't unmask to give testimony. Half of the criminals only cause trouble to settle imagined grudges against those super-powered meddlers."

"I tend to disagree Lt." Fred Danvers replied calmly. "Supergirl was an asset to Leesburg, and she's been an asset to Midway City. Even the Mayor recognizes that."

"Like I said Danvers, the Mayor is a fool." Lt. Jacobs shook his head as they reached the police car, he looked at Fred Danvers, meeting the man's eyes straight on. "I spent time working in Gateway City when Wonder Woman was there. She caused more problems than she solved. These meta-humans are a menace and in the end, they're going to be what get us all killed."

"Well, as Supergirl mentioned, the Mayor deputized her today. Like it or not, Supergirl has a license to operate here. Meaning we have to work with her." Fred Danvers said, keeping his cool. "And, in the future don't talk to me like a subordinate. We're both of the same rank, and I don't answer to you."

Lt. Jacobs narrowed his eyes at Fred Danvers, "Be stubborn if you must Danvers. Wait for salvation from Supergirl and her Super-friends. They're all going to be the death of us all. Mark my words."

With that Lt. Jacobs stomped off, just as several MSCU officers came running up to Fred for direction.

Fred glanced over his shoulder, watching as Supergirl continued signing autographs, taking time to smile and chat with each of her fans.

In her apartment, Ellen Dalton sipped whisky from a tumbler watching the news coverage of the Silver Scorpion's defeat and capture today during the Supergirl Day Parade and Carnival.

"Oh, this is so perfect." Ellen laughed, watching as those TV airheads Johnny Drew and Joan Raymond discussed Jolene Prescott, who had been arrested as the Silver Scorpion today. They showed a horrible mug shot of Jolene, and detailed her life of crime.

"She showed how common a criminal she was today," Joan quipped, "Supergirl made short work of her."

"Indeed she did, Joan." Johnny Drew laughed warmly. "When Supergirl was questioned about the wannabe super-villain, the Maid of Steel had this to say—"

They cut to a scene of Supergirl, "Well, obviously this girl has some problems she needs to work through. Hopefully she gets the help she needs. At the very least, maybe she'll learn the lesson that if you're going to try to be a super-villain, you should know what you're doing."

"Ouch." Johnny Drew laughed as the camera cut back to him and Joan in the studio.

"Wow." Joan giggled, "Supergirl really tells it like it is."

Ellen Dalton stood, walking over to the set and turning it off. She looked over at the Silver Scorpion costume she had on a hanger.

When Brains had picked her for taking care of Supergirl, she had told Ellen that they were going to get Jolene to attack Supergirl in the Silver Scorpion costume first. Brains had explained that Supergirl would make short work of Jolene, who just wasn't very bright and could not handle herself in a fight. Brains had made arrangements, Jolene would be out of jail by tomorrow. And within the next week, after Jolene was hidden away somewhere, the Silver Scorpion would strike again.

Of course, Supergirl wouldn't be prepared for what she was dealing with this time. Ellen lifted the silver gloves that Brains had give her, studying the circuitry barely concealed within. She smiled brightly.

"You won't find me as easily defeated Supergirl." Ellen said, sighing heavily, imagining the glory that would be hers within the Slow Demons once she'd off-ed Supergirl.

His cell phone rang.

"Yes?" Phillip Decker answered.

"Mr. Decker. They've captured Derek Trevor and the Trevor's bulter. They are on a jet flight to Midway City now. You were right about Miss America's transmutation not lasting long. We waited and found them attempting to escape into the forest around Trevor Hall."

"Very good. Is everything set for the charity fundraiser Friday night?" Phillip asked, "I am expected Linda Danvers."

"Yes, Mr. Decker. The Baron and his squad will arrive in Midway City tomorrow and begin to set up their operations."

"Very good. Keep my apprised of Derek Trevor's progress and alert me once the Baron and his men had checked in." Phillip Decker ended the call, looking down at where Miss America slept in statis. The doctors had already begun testing her to see what the secret to her youth was. And, she would make perfect bait for Linda Danvers.

"Linda Danvers..." Phillip whispered. He couldn't wait until he had Linda Danvers in his clutches and could ask her why she had given up the name and mantle of Glory, why she had created such an elaborate illusion of her background all of these years. And, then he would take his vengeance on her.

"You will suffer Linda Danvers. As my family suffered." Phillip swore, looking down at Miss America. Finally, after all of these long years, they would all pay.

THE END

NEXT ISSUE: "Vengeance" begins! Linda Danvers and friends walk into a trap laid by Phillip Decker—leaving Linda trying to figure out how to save the day without revealing her double-identity.

The DC Universe of characters, which includes 90% of all the ones written about on this site, their images and logos are all legally copyrighted to DC Comics and it's parent company of Time/Warner. We make absolutely no claim that they belong to us. We're just a bunch of fans with over active imaginations and a love of writing.