THE MAID OF STEEL # 30

Everything had ground to a stop and the air in the sub-basement of Phillip Decker’s compound outside of Midway City was filled with tension and fear.

What kind of monster could create a monster like that? Supergirl wondered, moving protectively in front of her mother and father—just released from the containment cells that Phillip Decker’s men had put them in.

High above them, on the upper platform of the sub-basement’s lab a massive monster, tentacled and green towered—making horrible high-pitched sounds that could only be some sort of scream or exclamation of shock and anger.

“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY BROTHER?!” It repeated.

Supergirl looked at Phillip Decker, frozen as the concrete statue Miss America had turned him and his men into.

“Do we answer it?” Miss America whispered.

“I don’t know.” Supergirl replied flatly.

“What the Hell is it?” Miss America asked.

“Phillip Decker’s sister.” Supergirl replied coolly, “Dr. Murder experimented on her during World War II and… now she’s… whatever the Hell she is now.”

“OH MY GOD! PHILLIP!” A sound came from the nightmarish creature that Supergirl thought might be sobbing.

“Your brother is fine.” Miss America called up to it. “He’s just been turned to concrete temporarily. The transmutation will wear off and he’ll be fine.”

“WHY? WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT DO HIM?!” It began to shriek and the sound was miserable to hear.

Supergirl tried to remind herself that once upon a time that thing had been a human girl, barely twelve, when the Nazi’s had taken her family hostage and began to experiment on them. Creating that out of an innocent girl named Giselda Dietelhelm.

But, it was difficult to remember that. Whatever Giselda had been, she was now not really human and that horror up there had consumed the life she’d once had.

“I think she’s momentarily distracted.” Supergirl said to Miss America. “We need to take advantage of that.”

“Agreed.” Miss America replied.

“Mom, Dad…” Supergirl said, looking at her parents. “I want you to get over to that platform and get the hell out of here.”

“What about Mattie, Dick, and Cutter?” Fred asked, looking over his shoulder in distress at the cylinders still unopened.

“We’ll worry about those. You folks just get to safety.” Miss America said pleasantly, even though the creature above them was shrieking in rage.

Derek Trevor pulled the technician to his feet.

“We got some more people to release young man.” Derek said sternly in the voice he’d used as an Admiral.

The technician nodded numbly, although his eyes did not leave the green tentacled creature thirty feet above.

Derek and the technician moved to the next two cylinders—Derek working on Dick Malverne, while the technician worked on releasing Craig.

“Can’t we just rip them out of those things?” Miss America asked, her eyes going from the people still in containment, to Phillip Decker and Baron Blitzkrieg, and up to Phillip’s sister Giselda.

“Wouldn’t want to risk it. Those kind of cylinders normally put people in a state of suspended animation. Not bringing someone out of that state properly could be lethal.” Supergirl said, her eyes following her parents as they reached the small lift elevator.

Fred Danvers punched a button, bringing the elevator from the top. In the time since Supergirl had seized the technician, the rest of the technicians and Decker Corp employees had fled. She wondered what had happened to Decker’s armed guards. Had they too fled in fear once she’d knocked both Phillip and the Baron over the railing so easily?

High above, with a wet sound, the creature lifted itself over the platform, throwing it’s self down toward the spot where Supergirl and the others stood.

“INCOMING!” Supergirl screamed. The flames exploded from her back and eyes, even as the elevator reached the bottom. Fred and Sylvia Danvers scrambled on. A look of utter horror filled Sylvia’s eyes.

Supergirl and Miss America took defensive stances as the monster Giselda landed in front of them.

Behind them Derek and the technician freed Dick Malverne.

“Free the next person.” Derek Trevor said, pushing the technician toward the container housing Craig Morris. As Dick Malverne stumbled out of the cylinder, Derek grabbed him and pulled him back and away. They were only a few feet away from Supergirl, Miss America, and Giselda. A few feet behind them Baron Blitzkrieg and Phillip Decker were still concrete statues.

“What the hell is that?!” Dick Malverne gasped as his vision began to clear.

“God only knows.” Derek Trevor said. He was acutely aware that that monster was blocking the narrow pathway between the cylinders and to the little open elevator. He also knew that Miss America’s transmutation of Decker and the Baron wouldn’t last much longer. They were trapped. “Stay here kid.”

Derek pushed Dick Malverne into the small space between the cylinders and then went past the technician who worked on Craig Morris’s cylinder and began working on the cylinder housing Mattie Harcourt.

“So, how do you think we should fight that thing?” Miss America asked, the energy arcs glittering around her hands. “I am not sure how it will react to transmutation. You know, if typical transmutation rules apply.”

“I’m not sure.” Supergirl replied coolly, even though flames danced all around her—sprouting from her eyes and her back. “But, I think we have a pretty good chance.”

“What have you done to my brother?!” Giselda’s beak-like mouth opened and closed, the hard brittle bone like material of it making a sound like steel on steel as it clicked together. Beneath the writhing green tentacles, two arms hung from the mutated torso, lifeless and unmoving. They appeared to be boneless and little more than flaps of flesh and tissue. One of the tentacles, coated in a slimy substance and riddled with suction cup indentions, wriggled in their direction—pointing at them in accusation.

“Nothing the bastard didn’t have coming.” Supergirl said.

“Stop where you are.” Derek Trevor felt a cold metal barrel press against his temple, just as smoke began to leak from the pipes at the bottom of the cylinder holding Mattie Harcourt. “Turn slowly.”

Derek Trevor turned to face Phillip Decker, who’s ice cold eyes meet his. The cold barrel of the handgun did not leave Derek’s temple.

“You should put that gun down and face me like a man.” Derek said quietly.

Phillip Decker smiled coldly. “That’s not going to happen.”

A bolt of psionic energy slammed into Derek Trevor, knocking him down. Phillip Decker looked at the empty space beside the gun’s barrel—where Derek’s head had been scant seconds before.

“Excellent Baron.” He said, as Baron Blitzkrieg came up beside him. In the Baron’s hand, he held the unconscious technician.

They both turned toward where Supergirl and Miss America stood, Giselda on the other side.

“Don’t worry Giselda.” Phillip called to her. “I’m fine.”

Miss America and Supergirl turned sideways to behold Baron Blitzkrieg and Phillip Decker. Miss America’s eyes went to Derek Trevor’s limp form where he was slumped against the ground.

“Phillip! Thank God you’re OK!” Giselda called in that weird metallic voice.

“If you’ve hurt my husband, I’ll make sure that you pay scum-bag.” Miss America said, leveling her gaze at Phillip Decker.

Mattie Harcourt stumbled out of the cylinder, coughing as her vision cleared.

Phillip Decker grabbed her, pushing the gun against her temple and meeting Supergirl’s eyes. Mattie screamed.

Supergirl tried to calm her racing thoughts. Things were going from bad to worse. She looked up to the upper level. There was no sign of her parents.

Then, as if on cue, at the railing where Giselda had stood only moments before Fred and Sylvia Danvers came into sight, surrounded on all sides by Decker’s security forces. His New Reich soldiers.

“So, more or less, we are back where we started Supergirl.” Phillip Decker smiled darkly, “Or should I say Linda?”

Everything was a mess. Craig and Cutter were still in those cylinders. Mattie had a gun to her temple. Derek Trevor was unconscious. Her mom and dad were captives of those guards. And, there was a big slimy tentacled monster in the room.

Her eyes went to the empty cylinder where Dick Malverne had been. Where was Dick?

“What do you want Phillip?” Supergirl asked, her voice weary. “You want revenge? You want to make me suffer. Fine. Make me suffer. Let my friends and family go.”

“Why don’t you get it?” Phillip asked, his eyes filled with maniacal anger. “WHY DON’T YOU GET IT?! The only way I can soothe the burning hate I have for you is to see your face as your friends and family suffer and die. Just as my family suffered and died. Just as my sister continues to suffer each day she is forced to live as some THING!!”

Supergirl turned to Miss America, in a very low voice she asked, “Can you make the gun go away?”

Miss America still had her hands in front of her, looking like a stage magician about to perform an incantation.

“I can try.” Miss America said, just beneath her breath. “But, they are a little bit further away. It will take several seconds for the transmutation to reach them from me. That’s enough time for him to snap the trigger.”

“What about the bullets.” Supergirl asked. “Can you change the bullets? He won’t notice them being changed. And then once they’ve changed I will take him out.”

“What about Baron Blitzkrieg and Decker’s ugly sister?” Miss America asked.

“You can bag the Nazi and if I hold Decker hostage I’m sure ugly sister will stay back.” Supergirl replied.

“What’s all the whispering?” Phillip Decker asked, his eyes crazed.

“Nothing. We were just exchanging cookie recipes.” Miss America smiled.

“If either of you try anything, Miss Harcourt here gets it.” Phillip Decker grinned.

“That’s Ms. Harcourt.” Mattie said, her voice far more timid than she had expected.

“Bullets to soap bubbles.” Miss America said pleasantly to Supergirl.

Supergirl nodded, noticing the faint sparkle around Miss America’s hands.

Several moments passed; everyone in the room felt the tension.

“So, are you going to surrender to me Supergirl? Are you going to give up?” Phillip Decker’s eyes glittered.

“If I give up, you aren’t going to let my family and friends go. You said you were going to torture them and make them suffer right before my eyes.” Supergirl said quietly. “What do I have to gain by surrendering? If you’re going to hurt them and kill them, why surrender? Why not go out fighting?”

“Excellent point.” Phillip said, smiling. “OK. If you surrender, I’ll let your mother go. She can live.”

“Don’t do it!” Sylvia Danvers cried from above.

“Shut her up!” Phillip called.

One of the security guards clamped a hand over Sylvia’s mouth.

Supergirl looked at Sylvia Danvers. She loved her mother. Things had been so complicated and difficult for them for so many years. And, then when the merge had first happened—when Matrix/Supergirl and Linda had become one picking up the Earthbound Angel of Fire along the way, Sylvia had not accepted it immediately. It had taken her a little time to adapt and come to accept her. The entire time Sylvia, Supergirl had loved her fiercely and with all of her heart. But, she couldn’t chose her mom over everyone else.

But, at least you can guarantee her safety. Supergirl thought quietly and calmly in her head. You would know that she will not be in danger.

“How can I be sure you will not harm her.” Supergirl said, her voice calm even as brimstone and fire danced just beneath the surface. “How can you promise that? How can I trust you?”

“Supergirl!” Miss America gasped, “You can’t seriously be considering it?”

“Bullets to soap bubbles.” Supergirl repeatedly quietly. Her eyes meeting Miss America’s through the domino mask.

“I have a better idea.” Miss America replied. “Once I make my move, you make yours. I can take care of everyone but that freak show sister of his.”

Supergirl nodded. Her mind ran through everything that could go wrong. What if they weren’t fast enough? She was fast. In speed, only Superman, the Flash, Wonder Woman, and Power Girl were faster. But, it would take one of those heroes to beat every bullet in this room. Either that or the ability to stop time. Something she sorely felt she was lacking.

The glittering arcs of energy around Miss America’s hands flared out and in an instance the gun in Phillip Decker’s hand turned into a light green smoke, floating up and out of hand.

“NOW!” Miss America shouted.

Supergirl moved faster than she ever had before, knocking Phillip Decker over and scooping Mattie up into her hands. She flew up and away, sweeping past her parents on the upper deck—grabbing them in her arms then shooting straight up to the ceiling of the underground lab nearly a hundred feet above them. Once she reached the top of the room, her head just an inch below the ceiling, Supergirl called upon her shunting power.

For Mattie and the Danvers, the trip was chaotic. The blur of reality shifting around them, turning their stomachs on end. They found themselves in the parking lot of a 24-hour gas station just outside of Midway City.

She set her parents and Mattie down, releasing her grasp on them. Supergirl took deep ragged breaths. She had never moved so fast.

“I think I’m going to throw up.” Mattie commented, her hands grasping her queasy stomach.

“It’ll pass.” Supergirl replied, “I’ve never tried to shunt with people before. I wasn’t entirely sure it would work. Are you all OK?”

“Like Mattie said, just a little sick to my stomach.” Fred Danvers said.

Sylvia Danvers threw herself on her daughter, clinging to her fiercely, hugging her with all of her might.

“Dad, go into that store and call the police.” Supergirl said quietly, “And ambulances. There are going to be some injuries on Phillip Decker’s side.”

“Linda…” Mattie said, haltingly. “Don’t put yourself down on their level. Don’t hurt them too bad.”

Supergirl looked at her friend, smiling without an trace of humor—only grim resignation. “They know who I am. They know who my friends and family are when I’m not in this suit. I don’t know if I can not hurt them too badly. Otherwise none of you may ever be safe.”

Fred Danvers looked at his daughter, realizing the truth she spoke—even though he didn’t like it.

“Maybe you could just publicly reveal your identity. People do that in this day and age.” Fred said cautiously. “Wonder Woman doesn’t even have a secret identity.”

“And her friends have paid the price over and over during the years. Super-villain after super-villain have attacked those she loves most. And, I’m a link to Superman. Someone might use me and you guys to get to Superman. I can’t put him in that position.” Supergirl replied bitterly. “They can do whatever the want to me. But, no one hurts my family.”

“I love you.” Sylvia whispered quietly. She pulled away, tears streaking from her eyes, trailing down her cheeks. “Be careful. I can’t lose another child.”

Supergirl nodded.

“I love you guys.” Supergirl said unable to meet their eyes. “I’ll be back with Cutter,” She said pointedly to Mattie.

And then she was gone in the night.

Phillip Decker didn’t know what hit him. As he pulled himself to his feet, dazed, vaguely remembering his hand (which had only seconds before held a gun) close around nothing and then he was sliding across the floor on his face. The side of his face throbbed dully, and he was quite certain he had lost several layers of skin.

He stood up, to see the room empty save Miss America, Dick Malverne, Cutter Sharp, Craig Morris, and Derek Trevor. And, of course his sister. The men were making their way to the elevator.

“Where is the Baron and my men?” Phillip groaned, looking toward the ceiling. There was a hole in it, and dancing around the hole were dozens of helium filled balloons. His mind put two and two together—remembering Miss America’s powers. “Those bitches were good. I underestimated them.” He whispered quietly, dragging himself toward the console at the far end of the lower level of the basement lab. He crept quietly along the wall, watching as Miss America attempted to fight off his sister. The woman was having a hard time of it.

Phillip Decker smiled darkly. Miss America was probably having a hard time transmuting his sister because Giselda was an unknown creature. From what little they understood about Miss America’s transmutation powers (which was very little), they were only limited by her own mind and body. If her mind couldn’t comprehend what Giselda truly was now, she couldn’t truly transmute her into something else.

Instead, she was transmuting the air around her—trying to create a cage that could contain her. The cages of various materials were being easily broken by Giselda. But, that spoke more to Miss America’s fatigue than Giselda’s strength.

He reached the console, he typed in the emergency sequence. It would bring all of his men running. Supergirl might have gotten Mattie Harcourt and her parents out of here, but she wouldn’t get anyone else out. And, now that he knew who she really was—none of them would ever be safe. Just as his hand went to hit the final number of the emergency sequence, a hand closed around his wrist. Keeping him from touching that final key.

He looked over to find Supergirl standing beside him. Her fist was closed tightly his wrist. He could tell just by the tension (or lack thereof) in her fingers that she was barely exerting any force. Those hellish flames danced from her eyes.

“I don’t think so Mr. Decker.” Supergirl said, her voice cold even as the fire danced all around her.

Again things moved faster than Decker could watch. His brain was unable to comprehend completely Supergirl shoving him back—using the grip she had on his wrist as leverage. He could barely register more than the surprise of the pain that popped and exploded as she broke his wrist and popped his arm out of the socket. And, when he slammed into a metal wall, the various gears and levels pocking out of it cutting rough oddly shaped scratched into his back and smacking the back of his head so hard he saw wave after wave of stars spinning in light flaring in and out in his vision—Phillip Decker still hadn’t processed anything going on. There were a series of images—like snap shots flashing before his eyes. But, he couldn’t make sense of them. It was happening all too fast.

He groaned.

Supergirl smashed the console into a thousand pieces. A small explosion destroying the sensitive components and gears inside and smoke began to pour from it as various processors and wiring caught fire.

Supergirl walked toward Miss America.

Miss America’s body was filled with tension—the weight of so many transmutations in such short a time—and many of them involving living beings had took their toll on the woman. She wasn’t going to last much longer. And, soon, the men that Miss America had transformed—Baron Blitzkrieg and the rest of Phillip Decker’s people would be turning back soon. Supergirl looked up at the ceiling above, where they all floated as helium balloons. It was going to be one hell of a fall.

“Let me take care of that thing.” Supergirl said.

Supergirl threw herself toward the monster.

Giselda roared.

“YOU WILL DIE!” Giselda screamed.

“Do you always talk in villain cliché?” Supergirl asked, her hands grabbing onto the slimy tentacled horror from Dr. Murder’s labs.

Supergirl closed her eyes, hoping she had it in her to shunt again. She rarely used the shunting power—it took a lot out of her. And she didn’t entirely understand how it worked. She doubted she ever would. So many of her angel powers were foreign and unknown—completely outside of the realm of science and therefore difficult to gage and categorize. She normally avoided them for that reason—except in dire times like these.

Again the world blurred away. It felt much like being hurled at light speed from a sling shot. She could hear Giselda screaming even as the creature flailed it’s slimy green tentacles.

They found themselves on the moon. The Justice League’s Watchtower was visible in the distance—glittering like it was made of diamonds and stars as sunlight fell across it.

Supergirl found the cold airless space above the cold white-gray rock comforting in some way. The quiet of an airless vacuum—the stars spread out across the black tapestry of space. Something about it always filled her with comfort. She remembered when she’d been only Matrix—when she had screwed up and nearly hurt the Kents and Lana Lang. She’d banished herself to space. She had not been lonely at first—only mesmerized and enthralled with the space around her.

Such a long and strange life I’ve lived. Supergirl thought. At least I’m designed for the vacuum of space.

Supergirl looked over at Giselda. Had Dr. Murder designed this monstrous creature to survive the cold vacuum of space? Did it even need oxygen?

Apparently it did. Within minutes the green slimy creature collapsed to the surface of the moon, landing against the hard rock.

Supergirl went over to the massive monster, kicking. The creature rocketed away, streaking off toward the depths of space. Even if Giselda was somehow able to survive the ravages of space—she wouldn’t be back on earth any time soon.

Supergirl didn’t know if she had another shunt in her—and she didn’t want to risk it. She wasn’t sure what would happen if she lost control in the middle of a shunt. And she didn’t plan to find out. She was still fast enough that she could make it back to Phillip Decker’s underground lab in less than five minutes.

“Joan?”

Miss America looked up at her husband, standing on the platform above her.

“Yes?”

“Are you coming? Or are you just going to stand there?” Derek Trevor asked.

Behind him Dick Malverne, Cutter Sharp, and Craig Morris waited for the elevator to arrive.

Miss America looked at the balloons hovering above them, bumping against the ceiling. All of Decker’s guards and soldiers… when they reverted to their true form they would fall like rocks. And, the only one who even had a chance of surviving such a long fall was Baron Blitzkrieg. She had not been thinking clearly when she’d transmuted them. She had just acted—turning them into something that would get them out of the way so she could deal with the horror of Giselda.

“I’m trying to figure out how to save them.” Miss America said, pointing toward the helium balloons.

“Don’t worry about it. They were going to kill us. The only good Nazi is a dead Nazi.” Derek said glibly.

“Derek!” Miss America gasped. “You know that kind of thinking makes us no better than them.”

“They know Supergirl’s secret identity.” Derek replied. “You know that none of us are safe as long as they know that.”

Miss America frowned, “Derek… I… I know that. But, I still can’t just let them die.”

A hole exploded from the ceiling as Supergirl streaked into the room. Several of the balloons popped from debris and the force of her entrance.

She landed beside Miss America. Looking at Miss America, her voice cold and hard, Supergirl said, “Leave them.”

“Supergirl?” Miss America’s eyes widened in shock and surprise. “Linda?”

“There is no way you can save them.” Supergirl said quietly. “You don’t have another transmutation in you. Or you would have already changed them to leaves so they could drift harmlessly to the ground. I’ll take care of them.”

Miss America blinked. The coldness in Supergirl’s voice sent shivers down her spines. She didn’t necessarily think that Supergirl was going to help them in a way that would enable them to keep their lives.

“Just go.” Supergirl said, “Get the others and go.”

Miss America made her way up to the upper level without another word. Only now did her exhaustion and weariness begin to make themselves known.

Miss America afforded one final look over her shoulder, only to see Supergirl towering over Phillip Decker—who still lay unconscious on the floor where he had landed after Supergirl had slammed him into the wall earlier. Miss America turned away, unable to look. Supergirl’s posture was so angry and tense. The fire dancing from her eyes and back cast hellish shadows and light across the lowest levels of the sub-basement lab.

It looks like Hell. Miss America thought.

“Joan.” Derek said as he threw his arms around her wife, just as the elevator doors popped open.

“Let’s get out of here.” Joan said, taking her husband’s hand and dragging him toward the elevator as Cutter Sharp and Craig Morris piled on.

The doors closed almost immediately after Joan and Derek Trevor were on board—and only after she realized that Dick Malverne had not gotten on the elevator with them.

“Where’s Dick?” Miss America asked.

“He decided to stay behind and wait for Supergirl.” Cutter said.

Miss America nodded, “Perhaps he will help her remember reason and compassion. Where her heart and mind are now, she needs some one who loves her there for her.”

“I hope so.” Cutter replied.

“So… Linda Danvers is Supergirl.” Craig Morrison said in awe.

Everyone turned and looked at him.

“I’d recommend keeping quiet about that.” Cutter Sharp said, his expression grim as his thoughts went to Supergirl—still back there with Phillip Decker. He hoped she didn’t do anything she’d regret later. Or anything she couldn’t live with later when emotions calmed.

They all fell into an uneasy and troubled silenced as the elevator took them up and away from the sub-basement lab.

Phillip Decker’s eyes fluttered opened only to find Supergirl standing above him.

The fire dancing from her eyes obscured them so that Phillip couldn’t make eye-contact. His entire body hurt, although his arm wailed out in excruciating pain. He could tell from the odd angle his hand and wrist had taken that they were broken.

“It’s just you and I.” Supergirl said quietly. “You’re men are floating at the ceiling as balloons. My friends have escaped. I kicked your sister into deep space after she passed out from lack of oxygen on the Moon.”

“It would appear you have me at a distinct disadvantage.” Phillip Decker said, trying to bring himself to a sitting position. Laying here on his back left him particularly vulnerable. “My men will all die when Miss America’s transmutation ends and they fall to the metal floor down here. Such wanton bloodshed must trouble you.”

“Normally.” Supergirl replied, “But, your men floating around up there know my secret identity and who my friends and family are. If your men live, my family will never know peace. I will never know peace.”

“You’re willing to let all of those people die, just so your friends and family will be safe?” Phillip Decker asked. He tasted blood in his mouth.

“You gambled on how much they meant to me to use them as ransom for your vengeance against me.” Supergirl asked, “How can you be surprised at such a reaction from me?”

“Heroes don’t kill.” Phillip Decker said, his voice fringed with nervousness.

“I killed. During World War II. I had to kill Nazi soldiers. In their planes. In their tanks. In battle.” Supergirl said quietly. “I found myself becoming more violent, more likely to take a life toward the end of my time in the past.”

“But that was war. War is different.” Phillip Decker grasped for straws, hoping to trigger the normal morale code Supergirl was guided by.

“This is war. You plan on launching your New Reich. You want to dominate the world. Take it over. Convert it. Control it. Pervert it.” Supergirl said, the fire of her wings and in her eyes danced brighter and higher. “Have you ever been at a dinner party, Mr. Decker, where some one brings up the hypothetically question: If you could go back in time and kill Hilter, would you? Have you ever played that game?”

“No.” Phillip Decker whispered.

“I would. I went back in time. I would have killed Hitler. But, I couldn’t. He had the Spear of Destiny and it’s influence extended through most of Europe, keeping any super-hero out.” Supergirl said, “Even though killing him would have changed the future irrevocably and left me in a place where I probably couldn’t have come back to my proper time—because my proper time would have never existed. But, all of the people killed in the Holocaust would have lived. And, your family would have lived.”

“But, you believe in truth, justice, and the American way.” Phillip muttered, growing desperate.

“The American way?” Supergirl asked with a lifted eyebrow. “I believe in truth and justice and freedom. I also am an agent in the fight against evil as an Earthbound Angel. And, while my angel aspect is mostly unknown even too me—the flames have the power to destroy anyone consumed by evil. Burn them to a crisp.”

Phillip’s eyes grew wide.

“What do you think my flames would do to you Mr. Decker? Are you so sure that you are in the right? That you are not evil? That my flames would leave you untouched?” Supergirl lowered herself, moving closer to Phillip Decker.

The heat against Phillip Decker’s cheek was terrific—causing the skin to instantly pink.

“Heroes don’t kill.” Phillip Decker said, sweat pouring from his face.

“Who are you trying to convince? Me? Or you?” Supergirl asked.

“You.” Phillip Decker said.

“You kill Mr. Decker. Are you saying you are not a hero? Are you saying that you are wicked evil man?” Supergirl asked.

“Yes. I’m evil. I’m wicked. I’m twisted by madness. I am consumed with hate.” Phillip Decker was beginning to cry as his face began to blister.

In the air above them, the balloons began to shimmer as Miss America’s transmutations began to revert.

“You take a few moments to think about that. I have to save your men.” Supergirl said. In a blur so fast that Phillip Decker couldn’t follow her movements, Supergirl saved them—each and every one. As each balloon reverted to one of Decker’s soldier’s Supergirl caught them, setting them down safely before streaking up to rescue the next one. Once they were all save, including Baron Blitzkrieg, Supergirl landed, jerking Phillip Decker to his feet by the collar.

“We need to come to an understanding Mr. Decker.” Supergirl said quietly. “I need to know that my friends and family are safe. I need to not spend my days and nights afraid for them. Because when I’m afraid of something, I am more prone to react badly.”

Twin bolts of sizzling angel fire exploded from Supergirl’s eyes—slamming into Phillip Decker’s chest.

He screamed in agony.

“Like that.” Supergirl said.

Phillip Decker quickly stripped his flaming shirt off. A blazing red circle smoked in the center of his chest.

“Do you feel that?” Supergirl asked. “Imagine that all over. You wouldn’t be dead. But, you wish that you were.”

“STAY AWAY FROM HIM!” Baron Blitzkrieg screamed, moving to rush Supergirl.

“Stand back.” Supergirl said, not looking at him. “You will not reach me before I roast your boss. And, you will not withstand the flames very well yourself. You’ll cook quickly with all that metal armor to keep the steam in.”

Baron Blitzkrieg skidded to a stop, considering Supergirl’s words.

“Just stand down Baron.” Phillip Decker said, gritting his teeth against the pain.

“So, Mr. Decker. You are a gazillionaire businessman. You obviously recognize the Art of the Deal. You want to grow your New Reich. As disgusting as I find such a prospect, I am willing to give you some room to breath.” Supergirl said, her voice calm.

“Continue.” Phillip Decker said.

“You will leave Midway City. I recognize you have legitimate business dealings here that don’t necessarily connect to your New Reich activity, so you can have an office here. You, however, will keep a small staff here. They will keep you appraised of the situation. But, you will not under any circumstances set foot in Midway City. You will not even fly through Midway City on a lay-over. You will chart flights AROUND Midway City. And, violation of this clause and I will turn over all my knowledge of what you are really up doing to the appropriate agencies. Or I’ll just tell the Justice League.” Supergirl smiled darkly.

Phillip Decker did not reply for several minutes. Then finally, “Agreed. What else?”

“You will leave me, my family, and my friends alone. You and your organization will keep my secret identity secret. If it leaks out or any of them come to harm because of you, I will kill you. You may have eternal youth, but that big red burn on your chest and the blisters on your face indicate that even you would succumb to my angel fire.” Supergirl said, crossing her arms tightly. The flames dancing in her eyes danced to a stop, cooling and dying out to reveal her stark blue eyes.

“Anything else?”

“You will release a press release clearing me of any wrong doing in relation to attacking you at the party last night. You will say you were being controlled by him—“ Supergirl gestured to Baron Blitzkrieg. “And, that I helped free you.”

“I suppose that’s all you want.” Phillip Decker could not keep the bitterness from his voice.

“Yeah. That’s it.” Supergirl nodded. “I realize if you leave Midway City tonight it will leave many difficult questions and problems. So, you have three days.”

“OK.” Phillip Decker sighed.

“Oh, and one other thing.” Supergirl said, going over to the console next to the console she’d destroyed earlier to stop Phillip Decker from entering the emergency sequence into earlier.

“What is that?” Phillip Decker asked.

“Is this big red button a self-destruct button for this complex?”

Phillip’s heart stopped in his chest.

“Yes.” He said.

“What a villain cliché.” Supergirl shook her head, her lips nearly curling in an amused smile. “How long does one have to get out of the building once the destruct sequence has started?” Supergirl asked.

“Twenty minutes.” Phillip’s horror filled his facial expression.

“I’d recommend that you guys start heading for the exit.” Supergirl smiled darkly, slamming her fist into the console. The self-destruct sequence initiated even as she destroyed the console. “And, next time, I’d suggest that you have better security procedures for a self-destruct button. Anyone could have bumped into that during all the fighting earlier.”

“Supergirl!”

Supergirl turned her head toward the top level, near the elevators, where Dick Malverne stood waving.

“What are you still doing here?” Supergirl asked, flying up to him.

“I wanted to wait for you—I wanted to be here in case you had to do something… bad to Phillip Decker and needed someone to be there for you after.” Dick said.

“Thank you.” Supergirl said, taking his hand and gripping it tightly.

“Now, let’s get out of here. This place is going to blow up.” Supergirl said. Scooping him into her arms, Supergirl flew from the room—using the hole she’d burrowed down through the building and layers of ground to burst through into the sub-basement earlier.

Once they were free of the sub-basement and flying through the crisp cool evening, a tremendous sense of relief flooded Supergirl. It had been a long and difficult night.

“Linda?” Dick asked from where he hung on beside her.

“Yes?”

“I love you.” He said, his eyes meeting hers.

Pausing there in the sky, with stars spread out above them, Supergirl replied, “I love you too.”

Embracing, they kissed with the light of the moon shining down on them.

Epilogue I:

Dick Malverne had fallen into a deep sleep on the couch, snoring loudly.

Linda looked over at him affectionately.

“Is that Dick snoring?” Mattie asked across the phone line.

“Yeah. He’s passed out. He told me he loved me last night when we were escaping from Decker’s headquarters.”

“Oh my God, Linda! That’s so awesome.”

“I know.” Linda replied. “How are you and Cutter? Mostly OK?”

“Yeah. We’re fine. Cutter is still feeling a little paranoid. I don’t think he trusts that Decker will keep his part of the bargain. He keeps saying you can’t trust super-villians.”

“I’m not sure how much faith I have in Phillip Decker myself. He’s crazy. And you can only trust crazy people to listen to reason for so long.” Linda replied, “But, I think for the moment we are safe. And, it buys us time to figure out a more long-term way of dealing with Phillip Decker. I just didn’t relish the concept of killing him and all of his guards and employees. I know they are sort of Nazis, but I still don’t like taking life when I can avoid it.”

“You did the right thing.” Mattie replied. “Him forcing you to reveal your secret identity leaves you slightly blackmailed.”

“I know.” Linda said, bushing chestnut bangs from her eyes. She walked through the apartment, pushing the door to Kara of Argo City’s room. It still remained as Kara had left it—waiting for the girl to return. “I wanted to kill him. I really did. There isn’t much I wouldn’t do for the people I love.”

Except deal with the Time Trapper and defy Rip Hunter. Linda thought, considering Kara—lost somewhere in time.

“Well, for now, I think we have a little time to figure something out. What does your dad think?”

“My dad wants to crucify him. He wants me to publicly reveal my secret identity and go public. That way Decker has nothing over me.” Linda grimaced, “But that opens us all up to being targets for Lex Luthor, Brainiac, the Paraside, or anyone with a beef against Superman.”

“Superman isn’t your third cousin Ralph is he?” Mattie said, all of the sudden.

“What? Of course not! Why would you think that? Ralph wears glasses and is a completely nerdy weakling.” Linda laughed.

“Well, you look nothing like Supergirl.”

“Well, I started as a protoplasmic artificial life form from another Universe. I’m Superman’s adopted cousin.” Linda shook her head. “How many times am I going to have to explain that?”

“Until it makes sense.” Mattie quipped.

“It makes perfect sense. Sort of.” Linda frowned. She crossed the room, picking up the framed photo of Linda and Kara. Kara was wearing the stupid brown pig-tailed wig she had hated for her disguise as Karrie Danvers. They were both smiling. It seemed so long ago. For a little while there, life had been full of promise. She wasn’t sure now. Phillip Decker and his organization loomed like a dark cloud.

“If you say so. How is your Mom and Dad?”

“Dad is fine. He to work this morning. He kind of hates it that he can’t go after Phillip Decker and Baron Blitzkrieg.” Linda said, putting the framed photo down. “Mom is just annoyed that we had to delay our appearance on that stupid ‘Other Side With Selena Moonstone’ show.”

“Does your Dad not know about that yet?” Mattie asked.

“Not yet.” Linda thought about her dream. The one with that weird Duela Dent person and Miss America’s daughter Lyta. They had told her to avoid the Time Trapper’s deal. That if she was going to rescue Kara of Argo City, she needed to use Chryseis’s staff.

Rip Hunter had told her not to try to rescue Kara. That it would endanger time. Duela and Lyta had told her to rescue Kara with the staff. Duela and Lyta were good guys. Duela had been a Teen Titan, sort of. Lyta used to be a member of Infinity Inc.

“Linda? Are you still there?”

“Oh, yeah. Sorry Mattie.” Linda said, “I was just lost in thought for a moment there.”

Epilogue 2:

Phillip Decker watched Midway City fall away beneath him as his private jet. The pressure in the cabin as made the burn on his chest throb dully. A deep frown burrowed into his face, causing wrinkles to become more pronounced. His broken wrist was deeply entrenched in a white plaster cast.

These were not good days for Decker.

He’d lost over a hundred million just from the destruction of his headquarters outside of the city. Not to mention the employees he’d lost and the blow the New Reich had taken. Many of his followers and true believers now thought him weak—and ill-suited to rule. Baron Blitzkrieg had defected, taking several dozen members with him—going to who knew where.

His sister was most likely dead. Supergirl had left her somewhere in deep space. Even if she did somehow survive the vacuum and suffocating, how would she get back to Earth?

And, to add to that in the days since his confrontation with Supergirl, Phillip Decker had begun to age. The elixir he’d found in Dr. Murder’s labs—the one that had given him youth and vigor all of these years, appeared to have worn off somehow. In his mind, he somehow knew that Supergirl’s angel fire was somehow responsible.

Still, he had enough left to loose to not consider breaking his deal with Supergirl.

At least not yet.

“I will find away…” Phillip Decker whispered as the jet reached cruising altitude. “And I will make sure that you pay. One way or another.”

THE END