The Earth-38 team get their guy, Kara and Oliver solve their problem on Argo, I'm ship teasing again, there's the calm, and then there's the storm.

Enjoy!

***

"Any leads on tracking the gun owner?" James asked as he, Lucy, and Max walked into the D.E.O.

"Listen, we were only able to identify, like, ten percent of the people that actually purchased the Heel-14, and that is with state-of-the-art tracking," Winn sighed.

"Better some than none," Lucy mumbled.

"So, what's the next move?" James asked.

"Old-fashioned police line-up," J'onn answered. "We need you to look at some photos, James, see if you recognize the guy who bought the gun." James nodded in agreement, straightening up. "Winn, let's start with the guys that purchased more than one weapon."

"OK," Winn nodded, pulling the images up on the main screens.

James surveyed them all, then walked around the console and pointed. "That's him," he said. "Bottom right corner, Arthur Willis."

"OK, Arthur Willis," Winn pulled up his file, then blinked. "Are you sure? 'Cause this says that he passed his instant background check at the gun show. He has no history of mental health issues. I mean, he doesn't seem like a threat."

"I don't forget a face," James shook his head.

"Never make assumptions," Slade narrowed his eye.

"Because assumption is the mother of all failures," Alex finished for him, and when Slade looked at her in surprise, she blushed. "It's good advice!" she defended herself. "I like it!"

Max eyed the two of them before clearing his throat. "How many guns did he buy?"

"Uh, let's see," Winn checked, drawing Slade and Alex's attention back to him. "Four that I can see."

"Get a strike team together," J'onn ordered Alex.

Before James could utter a word, it was Slade who frowned. "You want to pit these exact guns against this man?"

"What do you want me to do, Slade?" J'onn asked in exasperation.

"The only thing that's going to happen if you take men out there with these weapons, it's going to turn into a war zone," he answered. "This isn't an alien, J'onn, this is a human being. Bringing these guns to a fight like this is going to be as bad for you as it is for him."

"I need my guys to be armed to defend themselves, and protect the public," J'onn argued.

Slade raised an eyebrow. "The armor I use as Deathstroke protects me just fine, which allows me to use only a sidearm for a gun," he pointed out. "This is one man, J'onn. We're not going to fight World War III here. I'm not saying don't bring weapons, but don't bring these weapons out there. All that gunfire, and if you miss? That's a hell of a lot of damage that can't be blamed on Willis. That's on you and your men."

J'onn frowned, considering, then Winn cleared his throat. "Uh, I'm so sorry to interrupt, but I have just been perusing Arthur's social media and he just posted what looks like a manifesto."

He projected it on the main screen, and J'onn squinted, reading. "'To whom it concerns, so you understand why. For those who ruined my life, for the partners of Vang and Morales who spit on me when they fired me.'"

"Vang and Morales," Lucy narrowed her eyes. "I know that name, it's a law firm."

James's eyes widened. "It's in the same business plaza as the bank where the cops spotted him. He wasn't robbing the bank."

"He's going back to his office," J'onn nodded. When Slade gave him a look, J'onn sighed. "Pull Mon-El from sweeping the city," he called to Alex, who looked up from where she was tapping on a tablet. "It's him, you, me, Guardian, and Deathstroke going out there. Lane, take a squad with you to talk to the lawyers. Let's find him."

***

"He threatened to file a lawsuit for wrongful termination, but he had outburst after outburst," the woman Lucy interviewed explained.

"Did the firm offer mental health counseling?" Lucy asked.

"Of course," she nodded. "But he refused."

"We're gonna find him," Lucy promised.

"All the entrances are secure," J'onn said as he walked in.

"Did you check the cellar?" the woman asked. "There's a back way into the loading dock, but there's no cameras on that door."

"Where is it?" Lucy asked.

"South side of the building."

"I'm on it," J'onn nodded.

***

When J'onn reached that side of the building, Mon-El was already there. "He's inside," he reported.

"Has he done anything yet?" J'onn asked.

"Other than load that thing? No," Mon-El shook his head.

"Let me talk to him first," J'onn said, hearing Slade and Alex's bikes rumble up outside.

"You're the boss," Mon-El nodded, stepping back for J'onn to head in.

J'onn slowly walked inside, seeing Arthur looking down at one of the rifles with a strange look on his face. "Arthur?" he asked.

He spun around and aimed the rifle, stopping J'onn in his tracks. "Don't move!"

"I'm unarmed," J'onn held up his hands.

"Who are you?" Arthur narrowed his eyes.

"Just someone who wants to talk," J'onn promised.

Arthur scoffed. "Yeah, well, it's too late for that now. No one wanted to listen to me before, but they are gonna listen to me now. This is the only way for me to be heard."

"Arthur, if you pull that trigger, no one's gonna listen to a thing you have to say," J'onn told him.

"They took everything from me!" Arthur snarled. "My wife left me because I was always working, then they just kept passing me over for my partner. They lied to me!"

J'onn took a deep breath. "Look, I know you feel like they took everything from you, like you got nothing left," he said, seeing Slade's mask and the metallic piping of Alex's suit out the window. "Trust me, I know how it feels to lose everything."

"They never respected me," Arthur hissed.

"You think that gun gives you respect?" J'onn frowned. "It has no power. It's just a tool for spreading fear, and fear is not respect." He walked further into the room, and Arthur backed up, still aiming at him. "Look, Arthur, I know you've been bullied, but that doesn't give you the right to bully back. You got something loud and ugly there. You think that's gonna make people hear you?"

"I shot at a cop!" Arthur barked. "My life is over no matter what!"

"Your live doesn't have to end like this," J'onn said. "You can go on, you can change, you can . . . you can begin something new if you just put down that gun."

"No!" Arthur hissed. "I need it!"

"You don't need it, Arthur," J'onn shook his head. "None of us do." He extended his hand. "Give me the gun." Arthur whimpered, and out of the corner of his eye, J'onn saw Slade and Alex with their guns pointed through the window, just in case. "Come on," he urged.

Maybe he spent a second too long looking, because in the next second, Arthur spun around, aiming wildly with the gun. J'onn heard the shot the split second before he sped forward, Mon-El surging forward from the door entrance, James lunging from the hallway.

Glass shattered and J'onn heard Alex's startled yelp before Arthur was tackled by the red-suited Daxamite, and D.E.O. agents ran into the room. "Are you OK?" Lucy ran in, too, sidearm drawn and ready.

"We're fine," J'onn nodded, picking up the Heel-14 and looking down as Arthur sobbed.

"J'onn!" Alex's startled cry came from outside, making his head shoot up. "Out here!"

J'onn left Lucy to secure Arthur while he, James, and Mon-El headed outside. He found Slade against the wall, one hand pressing against the shoulder of his suit, wincing as Alex frantically checked him over. "You were hit?" J'onn moved forward quickly.

"Punctured one side of my armor, didn't come out the other," Slade nodded, grimacing as he removed his hand and showed the blood staining his glove. "Armor's stronger than I thought."

"Not strong enough from the front," Mon-El tilted his head.

Slade's snort and next words sent a chill down J'onn's spine. "Stronger than Alex's would've been."

***

Kara had always loved the stars. In Midvale, she constantly looked up to see if she could point out where Krypton used to be.

She also loved nature, which was how she found herself in the large greenhouse in Argo. She swept through the plants and flowers, a soft smile on her face as she examined buds and petals. The skirt of her loose dress billowed with her steps, the two slits making it easy for her to walk along and feel at ease.

When Oliver and William found her, Oliver stopped in his tracks, his breath catching in his throat as he watched Kara smile up at one of the trees. It was one of the few times he had seen Kara with her hair straight as a pin, and one of the times part of her back was bared because of the thin-strap tie at the top. When she turned, he could easily see his arrowhead necklace resting against her skin, the V of her neckline almost going to the tightened waistline of her dress.

If she wasn't beautiful enough, the brilliant smile she sent them when she saw them made her the angel Oliver called her. "Kara!" William ran across the bridge to hug her.

Kara laughed and hugged him, seeing both father and son were wearing the same color scheme as her: loose white shirts and khaki pants. "How has your time with my mom been?" she asked.

"She's awesome," William grinned at her.

"I agree," Kara winked.

Oliver chuckled as he joined them. "Speaking of your mom, she told us we might find you here." He held out his hand, helping Kara straighten. "Are you OK?"

Kara sighed, taking his hand and accepting the arm he held out, tucking her hand into his elbow. "I don't know," she admitted, stepping closer into his side and putting her other hand in William's, the three of them walking along the path. "Argo survived, my mom's alive, this place is beautiful . . . it's perfect."

William looked up at her. "But?" he prompted.

Kara sighed. "You're too observant."

"Have you met my dad?"

Oliver threw back his head and laughed, making Kara smile up at her fiancé. In a totally carefree environment and surrounded by his family, he looked gorgeous. The fact that he could also stand on what remained of Krypton with her, the ring she had received from her father still hanging around his neck, just like his arrowhead to her remained around hers . . . that meant more than she could say. "That's my boy."

William beamed proudly, and Kara squeezed William's hand. "Something's off," she elaborated. "My mom thinks it's because I've had to be on guard my whole life. She thinks I need more time to decompress."

"Well," Oliver tilted his head side to side, "considering everything that's happened in the past year, that may be part of it."

"Yeah, I agree," Kara agreed. "But I just feel disconnected in other ways. Thara . . . when we were young, we were so similar, we could predict each other's thoughts. And now . . . "

Oliver smirked. "She's governed by the Kryptonian version of feng shui?"

Kara snickered. "Basically, yeah." She sighed, leaning her head on Oliver's shoulder. "I do envy her, though. I want that happiness for myself. And even though it's not that far away, it still feels light-years away." She stopped in her tracks, turning the two most important people in her life to her. "And I know that it means the multiverse to me that both of you are here," she whispered. "So, thank you."

"Nowhere else I'd rather be," William hugged her.

Kara rubbed his back, and Oliver raised her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles. "Kara, you could lead me to the ruins of Krypton or whatever hell you have," he told her. "I'd follow you anywhere. Wherever you are, I'm right there with you."

"And you're not going anywhere without me," William said stubbornly.

Kara blushed, reaching up and kissing Oliver. "I have the best boys ever," she declared.

"Well, we have the best girl ever," Oliver grinned.

"Evelyn, too," William piped up.

"Yes, let's not forget the girl who's basically adopted you as her little brother," Kara agreed with a chuckle.

Oliver tilted his head. "That's not a bad idea, actually."

Kara snorted. "I'm not sure my loft has enough room for all four of us now."

Oliver looked at her, then cleared his throat. "Actually, speaking of that . . . "

An eerie hum made William suddenly peer past Oliver, and his eyes widened. "Dad! Mom!"

Both Oliver and Kara spun around, and Oliver shoved Kara and William to the side. "Get down!"

Kara grabbed William and yanked him behind one of the trees as a glowing red Kelex droid flew towards them at a high speed. "Come on!" Kara tugged William to her side and wove through the gardens, William covering his head protectively.

The Kelex droid veered to follow Kara, its target clear. It completely missed Oliver running from the opposite direction, a gun pulled from somewhere. He fired three quick shots, and the Kelex droid destructed upon impact.

Kara stared at the remains of the robot, panting heavily, then whipped around, putting herself between William and the exit to the gardens. She looked through the foliage, then saw a flash of grey so dark it was almost black, which quickly vanished. "Oliver!" she shouted, taking off at a run.

Her fiancé rushed down another path, disappearing as Kara raced after their attacker. The woman had nearly reached the exit when William suddenly darted into her path, making her stumble and back up. Kara grabbed her by the shoulders, stopping her in her tracks, and when Oliver arrived, he tossed her hood back as Thara arrived with Peace Officers.

And Felra glared at them, ice and defiance in her eyes.

***

"I defended you the other night!" Thara glared knives at Felra outside the gardens. "And now you try to kill the daughter of the House of El? After everything Alura and Zor-El have done for the survival of this city? How could you betray that?"

Felra looked past her to smirk at Kara, who stood with Oliver, her arms tight around William. "We are the daughters of the night," she declared. "Children of Juru, the deliverance of all Krypton, and Selena is our high priestess."

"Selena?" Kara parroted.

"Wasn't she the one who greeted us when we arrived here?" Oliver asked.

"Yeah, and she helped us defeat Reign," Kara nodded.

Felra just smirked wider. "Nothing is as it seems."

Thara was distracted by her communicator, which lit up with a message. "It's your mother," she told Kara, rushing off. "We have to go."

Kara gave Felra one last dirty look before she, Oliver, and William followed Thara.

***

"You are so lucky you're fine," Alex scowled as she finished examining the wound left by the bullet in Slade's shoulder. "You won't even have to miss time in the field."

"God only knows what trouble everyone will get into if I miss a single minute," Slade smirked.

He hissed in pain when Alex poured an alcohol solution onto the wound. "Good," Alex seethed, rubbing the mixture in. "You deserved that."

Slade frowned, giving her a concerned look, seeing she was completely focused on her work and refusing to look elsewhere. She didn't even check to make sure she picked up the correct strips to cover the burn and slight bleeding. "Why do I get the feeling that's not regarding the sarcastic statement I just said?" he asked.

Alex looked down, then chewed on her lip. "You don't have to put yourself in front of a bullet for me."

Slade raised an eyebrow. "Alex, if I hadn't done that, we wouldn't be having this conversation. I'd be having one with your sister about why she's coming back to a dead maid of honor." Alex flinched violently at that. "Trust me, I would do that again in a heartbeat if it means you're breathing down my neck about being more careful."

Alex exhaled violently, shaking her head in annoyance. "You stupid . . . idiotic . . . " She struggled for another word to say, then slumped. "Don't do that again," she said in a small voice.

"Hey," Slade reached out and tilted her chin up so she was looking at him. "You just said it yourself. I'm fine."

"I also said you're lucky," Alex argued.

"I'm that, too," Slade conceded. "I'm lucky Oliver gave me a second chance. I'm lucky Kara took a chance with me, too. And I'm lucky I've met everyone I have here in this universe. You are all family, and I protect my family. That includes you when you're about to be killed by a bullet that would rip through you like a hot knife through butter. Understand?"

Fear flashed in Alex's eyes at the vehemence in his tone, and she swallowed hard, nodding. "Understood," she whispered, voice breaking a little. Slade adjusted his position on the medical bed and patted the spot next to him. Alex plopped down next to him and curled into his side, and he put his uninjured arm around her. "Kara was right," she sniffed. "We do get into trouble when it's just us."

Slade's laughter rang out in the medbay, and despite herself, Alex grinned. It was nice to hear him laugh after the horrible last few weeks they'd had.

***

"Ninety-nine percent sure," Winn eyed J'onn as they walked out into the D.E.O. "Dude, that is as sure as you're allowed to be in science. Are you sure you can do this?"

J'onn took a deep breath. "I am," he nodded. Winn nodded in support, and J'onn walked up onto the staircase. "All right, everybody, gather around. I have an important announcement to make." When the agents in the room had crowded around, he cleared his throat. "Today, we had to deal with a crisis, which sadly has become all too common in our country. Normally, this would not fall onto the purview of the D.E.O., but because of the decisions I've made about how we choose to protect ourselves, we played a role. But I must make a stand today and do something I should've done a long time ago. Your safety is my number one priority, but so is the safety of those we protect and serve." He looked out over everyone. "A third party has reminded me that sometimes, not only do we face alien lifeforms, but we face humans as well. We should respond appropriately in those times. I have decided that effective immediately, unless further force is necessary, sidearms are all our task forces will arm themselves with." Murmurs started around the D.E.O., and J'onn held up his hand. "Should we be called to a crisis where more force is necessary, we will arm ourselves appropriately," he said. "But twenty aliens as strong as Kryptonians with intent to destroy all life is vastly different than one, scared human who simply needs to be given a second chance." The murmurs were more accepting this time around. "The greatest strength in the universe lies not in war, but in peace," he declared. "We are agents of peace, but I will not deny that unfortunately, there are times where peace is not always reached. Only then is when we will use the force needed to make sure we can enforce peace once again." He looked around, then nodded decisively. "Dismissed."

Winn gave him two thumbs up, and James smiled at J'onn as he walked down the steps. "I heard what you said about strength and peace, and I believe in that," he said. "Though, I hope Slade doesn't fault me if the only weapon I need is a shield."

J'onn smiled. "Well, it defended against a bullet that could have killed him or Alex," he said. "Sometimes, everyone has their own way of finding a way to keep the peace. What I spoke about is something my father taught me a long time ago. I owe you and Slade for helping me remember that."

James nodded and shook J'onn's outstretched hand.

***

"What is it with you and Kryptonite?" Lucy frowned, watching Max stare intently at the black rock on his table.

"Black Kryptonite," Max tried out before making a disgusted look. "Nah. Harun-El has a better ring to it."

"That's because someone else named it before you did."

"Eh, maybe."

"Just warn me ahead of time if you plan on experimenting with something you shouldn't?" Lucy raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, I learned the hard way with Red Kryptonite and your father about what happens if I mess with something I know squat about," Max waved her concern off.

"But?" Lucy prompted.

Max huffed. "I hate how well you can read me sometimes."

"Pot, meet kettle," Lucy countered. "Spill, Max. what is it?"

"Well, since Lena's helping another team on Earth-1 with some problem, I've been working on duplicating this Harun-El for Argo," Max gestured absently to the rock. "And the data I've collected from it . . . " He looked at Lucy like he was an eager scientist. "Lucy, I don't think this is just a biolistic delivery system. This stuff . . . it could be revolutionary."

"How revolutionary?" Lucy asked, curious despite herself.

Max shook his head, looking at the rock. "I have no idea. And that's terrifying . . . and exciting."

***

J'onn timidly walked into the living room where his father was resting on the couch, staring straight ahead. He took a deep breath, then sat next to him. "I'm sorry I wasn't ready before," he said quietly. "But I am now."

M'yrnn turned to look at him. "Are you sure?" he asked.

J'onn nodded in agreement.

***

"What, did you think I wouldn't be watched at the D.E.O.?" Slade snorted as he walked into Alex's apartment.

"No," Alex snorted right back. "I know you would sneak out the moment someone turned their back. So you are staying where I can keep an eye on you and know if and when your shoulder acts up."

Slade held his hands up in mock defeat. "Yes, dear."

Alex ignored the flush she felt when he said that. "Good," was all she said instead, dropping her belongings on the chair.

Slade had placed his duffel on the couch by the time she sat at her counter. He paused, watching her stare into space and drum her fingers on the marble. "Penny for your thoughts?" he finally asked.

Alex chewed her lip, looking down. "It's nothing," she tried to brush off as she pulled her laptop out of her bag.

"Nothing," Slade repeated dubiously.

"Nothing at all," Alex lied through her teeth, looking intently at her screen as it powered on.

She heard Slade scoff, but pointedly ignored him as he walked around the counter and watched her not look anywhere except her laptop, where she was pulling up D.E.O. reports. He finally tilted his head. "Drink?" he finally asked.

"God, yes, please," she let out in a rush, dropping her head onto her arms.

It said something about how many times they had done this when Slade knew exactly where the glass tumblers were and what drink Alex preferred. "Do I need to get shot again if it means you'll tell me what's going on?" he asked.

"Don't you dare," Alex glared up at him.

"I was only half-kidding," he held up his hand in placation, pouring both of them three fingers of scotch. "Alex, I won't pry if you don't want to tell me anything. I just want to know if I can help."

Alex closed her eyes. "I appreciate it," she said quietly. "It's just . . . it's what Maggie and I separated over."

Slade frowned, thinking back. "It had to do with kids, didn't it?"

"Yeah," Alex nodded. "Being a mom is something I've always wanted. Everything my mom had with me and Kara, I want that some day. Maggie . . . she never wanted that. I thought at one point, I could push what I wanted aside because I loved her so much."

"But you couldn't," Slade finished gently.

"No," Alex shook her head, tears stinging her eyes. "And she asked me if I wanted to give up on something real and cling to some notion."

Slade narrowed his eye. "I'm never going to win father of the year or romantic partner of the year, Alex, but what Oliver and Kara have together is one in a million chances. Their relationship is real. Having William, and even Evelyn, isn't some notion. That's as real as real can get. As in flesh and blood, punch in the face real. I can turn my back on the relationship I had with my wife, but even though Joe's on a wayward path and I don't know where Grant is, I am still a father. That is a feeling I don't regret at all." He hesitated. "If I can be brutally honest?"

"Like you aren't being that already," Alex deadpanned as she tossed back a drink.

"Touché," Slade tilted his glass her way with a chuckle. "If Maggie wanted you to give up something you've always wanted to be, I think you made the right choice. Oliver can attest that some relationships can go sideways, and some are the diamonds in the rough, but what you have in your children is what you'll have the rest of your life. Maybe you'll find someone like Maggie again in your lifetime, and maybe this time it'll be someone who has the same dream as you. But if your dream of being a mother is your priority, then I say you know exactly what you should aim for."

Alex smiled bashfully. "Thank you. I needed to hear that."

"Anytime, Alex," Slade tipped his glass to her, taking a drink. "And just my opinion?" Alex raised an eyebrow invitingly. "With how you've done with the four teenagers recently, I think you will be an excellent mother."

Alex blushed red. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Slade nodded. He tilted his head when Alex abruptly pushed her drink aside and tapped furiously on her keyboard. "What did an agent mess up?" he asked.

"Oh, most of that work is finished," Alex shook her head. "I'm looking at something else now."

"Top secret?" Slade guessed, moving around the counter to leave her be.

"Not exactly," Alex shook her head, debating on telling him. She finally spun around. "Adoption agencies."

Slade paused in his tracks, then gave her a smile. "You go, Alex."

She grinned widely and turned around to continue searching. For some reason, the opinion of another vigilante – a vigilante who had been one longer than her – someone in a previous relationship and a parent – a single parent, she thought for some reason – meant a lot to her. Oliver was away, so she couldn't have asked his, Malcolm was on Earth-1 and hadn't had the best relationships with his children, and no offense to Rene, but she didn't trust the man like she trusted Slade. For him to say that even though he didn't know where his children were, and despite their possible wayward allegiances, he thought being a parent was worth everything, that was the push she needed.

It was only when she was scrolling through the National City Adoption Agency page that she realized just how much she was leaning on Slade recently, and the thought froze her in her tracks. She liked him, she trusted him, he was someone she knew she could rely on, and that honest to God fear she had felt when he had been shot that she hadn't felt compared to the other members of her team or Team Arrow . . .

She must have made some kind of noise because Slade looked up from where he had been finishing off his drink. "Alex?" he asked in concern. "Are you all right?"

And God, when did she suddenly really like his accent? "Yeah," she cleared her throat, nodding. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Internally, however, she found herself panicking. What the hell was she suddenly feeling?

***

Sam's viewing of Singin' in the Rain was interrupted by a kernel of popcorn thrown in her face. She blinked, going cross-eyed as she watched the kernel bounce off her nose, then another followed suit.

She playfully glared at her daughter, then tossed multiple popcorn pieces at her. Ruby responded with a handful, and Sam laughed as more popcorn ended up all over their couch instead of in their mouths. She grabbed her water glass to refill it, and with a smile, Ruby turned back to the screen.

Barely a few seconds went by before glass shattering made her spin around on the couch. "Mom?" she asked in concern.

Sam just looked up from the glass she had just dropped, and the sudden fear in her eyes made Ruby gulp.

***

Alura's message directed them past the city, and Kara had a bad feeling in her gut as soon as they passed the house. Sure enough, they found Alura outside in an empty field . . . which had not been empty once they had arrived from Earth. "Where's the ship?" she demanded.

"It's gone," Alura gestured in a frustrated manner towards the field.

Oliver stepped past her, surveying the grass, and he tensed. "Kara? The mark!"

Kara hurried past Alura, and though William couldn't see it all, he could see the overall five-sided diamond crest burnt into the grass. "Oh, my God." Kara swallowed hard, refraining from saying the same thing.

Burned into the grass was the crest of the Worldkillers.

***

The crystal in Thomas Coville's hand glowed brilliantly blue as he whispered, his eyes gleaming with madness as the stolen ship landed on the ground. Selena strode down the ramp, black cloak clinging to her, hood shadowing her face. She outstretched her hand, taking it from Coville. With a smirk, she turned and drove it into the ground.

Her two sisters turned to watch the energy of the crystal rush outwards, and before them, the rocks and spires of the Fortress of Sanctuary rose towards the sky once more.

***

Well, that's an interesting development on the Kara and William front. Poor Queen-Danvers family - they seem to get everything figured out only for all hell to break loose on them again.

Gee, you'd think their lives were part of a TV show or something.

I started this book in 2018, and guess what? Only one episode to go! Keep an eye out, because you all can bet I want to get "Make It Reign" done and the next book published.

Let's rumble!