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It started with a bang.
A loud scraping of metal against metal that rocked the ship, throwing everyone around in their seats. J’onn had warned of turbulence but this seemed… excessive. And the ship agreed. A second later a blaring red alert was flashing across Lena’s computer, showing the hull of the ship.
“That last spot of turbulence did a number on us.” Brainy said, frantically typing on his console. “Looks like we have a breach in the hull.”
J’onn looked towards him briefly, then back to the main console. The timer quickly counting down their allowed time in the phantom zone. Every minute going by felt like a stab to the Luthors’ heart. One minute closer to failing. To never seeing Kara again. To never feeling the sun of her smile, or the warmth of her skin.
“The shields should contain the breach for now. We have to keep pushing forward.” The Martian said, breaking Lena out of her downward spiral.
Shaking her head, she unbuckles her seats restraints quickly. No time to think about that. Clearly Alex already was, her agitated pacing continuing the second they were out of rougher space. Kelly standing nearby, watching, supporting her without crowding.
“I’ll go check on it, should be an easy fix for a Luthor.” Lena says, laughing uncomfortably and starting to walk towards the exit doors when Nia hops up quickly, offering to join her.
“Ya know, just in case you need a little,” she gestures using her powers with her hands before awkwardly stopping. “Not to insinuate that you aren’t fully capable of taking care of yourself or doing your job without powers I just want to keep you safe and-“
Lena grabs one of her flailing hands gently, cutting off her endearing rambling. “Another pair of hands is always appreciated, Nia.”
A soft understanding smile passes between the two of them. Their talk earlier about their mothers had really meant something to the genius. Luthors aren’t big on talking about their emotions, but it felt nice to let someone, besides Kara, in. Felt like… keeping a memory alive.
J’onn nods over his shoulder at the duo. “Be quick you too.” Then quickly returns his attention back to the monitor showing their progress. His tone was even and calm, but the ram rod straightness of his back and the stiffness of his shoulders said otherwise. He was worried, but he had to be the rock or else everyone would fall into choppy waters around him.
Brainy sends a soft, “Be safe.” After them as the duo leaves the cockpit. No more little boxes.
The walk to the hull is quiet, the occasional sound of pipes or something hitting the outside of the ship. The drone of the motors a constant hum in the background.
They walk quietly past the door leading into the cage room, not wanting to agitate the phantom they know is trapped in there.
“I’ve decided I don’t like the phantom zone.” Nia says, breaking their silence further down the hallway. Making Lena scoff playfully towards the girl.
“Oh? You've just decided that now.”
Nia shrugs, moving to shoulder open the door to the staircase leading to the hull. “I tried to give it a chance but I can’t say I’m having a great time right now. Besides the company, of course.”
This gets a barking laugh out of Lena as she moves past the hero to start heading down the stairs.
“Ah yes, everyone’s favorite pastime. Being trapped in a slowly deteriorating space ship with a Luthor.”
There’s a pregnant pause as they continue down the staircase, the joking mood dissipating. Lena can almost feel Nia’s eyes on her from the few steps above. They’ve finally reached the landing, reaching towards the door handle, when Nia speaks again.
“Do you blame yourself for Kara’s fate?”
Lena freezes. Guilt racking through her body almost immediately. Chest tightening. She takes a deep breath and turns around, looking Nia in the eye. But there’s something…. off about her. Instead of the kind, accepting eyes of her friend they’re… cold and accusing. So different from the Nia that she has come to know. Looking at her… like she would look at a villain.
“Do you think that it’s your fault Lex got as far as he did? That if you had just forgiven your ‘friend’ instead of holding onto hatred like a scorned lover, no one would be in this situation?”
Lena feels the breath escape her, guilt pressing against her chest once again. It was her fault, it’s always been her fault. She could feel her thoughts spiraling as Nia cocks her head to the side.
“I guess scorned lover wouldn’t be the right term seeing as you’d never have the guts to tell-”
Whatever she was going to say is cut off as another loud bang echoes through the ship. Coming from the other side of the door. Lena looks to the door, then back at Nia again. Her eyes seem to be back to normal once again, her accusatory tone dropped to her usual cadence.
“That didn’t sound good, we should hurry.” The hero says, pushing past the rattled Luthor to open the door. Lena shakes her head a few times and turns to follow the girl. Maybe she had just hallucinated that exchange? Stress can do strange things to a person's head. Yeah. That must be it. Nia would never.
The duo step into the hull, looking around to see that yes, in fact, there was a breach in the ship. A human sized breach. The shields have sealed the hole temporarily, but that solution will only last so long.
Their eyes start to follow the trajectory of whatever flew into the ship, when an energy beam blasts from the corner of the room. Striking Nia straight in the chest, sending her flying to the other side of the room. The sound of the girl colliding against the wall reverberates through the room, and she tumbles to the floor. Out cold.
Lena froze again, but instead of out of guilt. This was fear. Defenseless against whatever had careened itself onto the ship. She slowly moved her gaze to where the blast came from and felt the wind knocked out of her.
Kneeling on the ground in front of a body was a familiar green suit of armor.
“Good job getting her out of the phantom zone. I really did want to do this myself.” The disguised voice of the suit says, smug hatred in their voice. They move to stand, back still towards her.
Blond hair and a red cape spill out from behind the figure. Unmoving. Not breathing. Familiar blue eyes left open, staring lifelessly through Lena. As though, even in death, she’s blaming her.
The suit turns, visor down. Carelessly tossing a shard of kryptonite in her direction. It crashes to the ground, clinking as it comes skittering to a stop against her boot. It’s covered in blood. Kara’s blood. Lena’s eyes cloud with tears, the edges of her vision seeing red.
“Lex?! What did you do.” Lena is nearing hysterics now, barely looking at Lex. Just staring back at the cold lifeless eyes of Kara. Her undefeatable champion. Her unwavering rock. Taken down by her psychopathic brother.
The figure stills for a moment, before breaking into a smug laugh. The voice modulation of the suit making it sound static and tinny.
“Don’t give credit where credit isn’t due, dear.”
The figure draws Lena’s attention as they reach up, press a button by their temple and the helmet folds down into the back of the suit. Revealing the face of… Lena Luthor.
“Looks like all those simulations from last year paid off.” A vicious grin spreading across her face. Luthor takes a step closer to Lena, chuckling when she scrambles back a step in response.
“No… no. This can’t be. I would never.” Lena says, stumbling over her words in fear. She couldn’t become this, she wouldn’t.
“You would never? You loved those simulations. I know you remember, because I remember. What’s to say you wouldn’t enjoy the real thing? ” Luthor asks, a condescending smugness to her voice. “Deep down you know this is what you want. You’re a Luthor through and through.”
Lena shakes her head, closing her eyes to try to block her out. This must be a bad dream. Maybe one of those phantom visions J’onn warned them about. Kara’s not dead. She couldn’t be dead. But it doesn’t make her doubles words hurt any less. Wake up. Wake up!
“You enjoyed the time spent in those simulations. In the time working with your brother, fighting supergirl. Winning.” Luthors eyes flare with mad glee as she continues, stepping closer to Lena with each sentence.
Luthor leans down towards Lenas feet, picking up the discarded kryptonite. Blood still shining across the unnaturally green crystal.
“You wouldn’t even need this from how weak the phantom zone made her. Vulnerable. You could have done it with your bare hands… just like your simulations.” Luthor chuckles dryly, tossing the crystal carelessly behind her towards Kara.
“Too late now I suppose. Just admit it. This is how it’s meant to be. Another Luthor to stand against the alien threat. To protect humanity from scum like this.” Luthor points back at Kara’s body.
“This is inevitable.”
Lenas head snaps back up to Luthor, who’s made it in front of her.
“No.” Lena says.
“No?”
“No.” Lena’s eyes lock with Luthors. “I refuse to become like you. I refuse to…”
Lena pauses, gathering the courage to finish her thought. Admit to what she’s been hiding all these years.
“I refuse to hurt the woman I love any longer.”
The sentence hangs in the air, like a prayer in confession. Before a cruel laugh splits through the air again.
“Love?” Luthor spits out at her. “What do you know about love? All the Luthors know is hate. And you’re not better than us.”
Lena straightens her back, her eyes steel as she takes a step forward. Causing Luthor to take her own step back.
“You’re right.” Lena starts, looking Luthor dead in the eye. “I am no better than you.”
“Then why do you fight it? Just accept you’ll never be more than a Luthor.”
“Because I am more than just a Luthor. I’m also a friend. She thinks of Nia. And a confidant. She thinks of Sam. I’m a shoulder to cry on. Brainy. I am a moon to the sun. Kara. So I may never be more than a Luthor… but this Luthor has decided they deserve more.”
Luthor blinks in shock at her words, speechless for the first time since her arrival.
Lena blinks too.
And she’s back in the cockpit of the ship.
She takes a deep breath, quietly wiping away the tear that was tracking down her face.
Lena gets up from her console, turning to her friends...her family.
“Let’s go save Kara.”