tushanshu | video;

[ Kara spends some time familiarizing herself with her surroundings before trying to send a message. It's all very strange, very alien, but no more so than Earth is. Once she feels collected enough to do so she turns her attention to the console. It isn’t quite like anything she’s ever used before, but the technology is close enough to what she’s used to on Krypton that after a bit of fiddling around she manages to get the video feed on and recording. She takes a deep breath and addresses the network. ]

I’m told that people are brought here from all over the place. If that’s true, and you can all understand me… [ She doesn’t really get how that works, but she sincerely hopes that it does. Otherwise, she’s on her own. Again. ]

I need to know. How many of you know the planet Krypton? And what do you know about it?

[ She almost adds a ‘please’, because if nobody here has answers for her then she won’t know anything until she returns home. If she returns home. But instead she clenches her jaw and turns off the feed. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

More or less.

[Lois is of the opinion Jonathan and Martha are more superheroes than Jor-El and Lara. They saved Kal, but the Kents raised Clark--raised Superman.

The world could have been much different without them.]

I probably can't tell you anything new about Krypton, but I've seen how hard this mess is on you--especially dealing with Superman. If you need to talk about anything [obviously meaning Kal] come find me.

I can't promise my answers will be helpful, but you'll get them.

Thank you, but I think those answers are ones I have to find for myself. [ Maybe eventually she'll reconcile the Kal of her memory with Superman, but it will take time. ]

I hope you'll come talk soon anyway. He and I go way back--you're both practically family in some ways.

[And as Kal will probably explain the secret identity to her, she'll understand what Lois means by 'in some ways' once they've talked.]

I already have a family. [ And she doesn't want a new one. That would feel too much like admitting that her real family is dead. ]

[Well, Lois didn't expect that to sting her quite so much--Clark, absolutely, but...]

Yeah. I just like knowing you guys are okay. Kon, too.

[ 'Kon'. It's going to take a lot of adjustment to not hear that as an insult. ]

It's sweet of you to worry, but I can take care of myself. I'll be alright.

I get that from him all the time. [She rolls her eyes.] Usually right before he walks into something he's not prepared for.

I'm not doing anything, I'm just settling in to a new home.

[ What could possibly go wrong? ]

[Dryly:] And that always goes well. [Considering what she told Zatanna...]

Nobody is going to attack me here, are they?

[Lois almost says something snarky.

But then she closes her mouth, lips thinning.]

There's a man. Bald, arrogant, and you've mentioned you're from Krypton. His name's Lex Luthor.

He has a special hatred for aliens in general, especially Kryptonians and most particularly Superman. Be careful of him, okay? I don't know if he's got kryptonite or not, but if he's got it, he'll use it.

[ It never ends, does it? She huffs. ]

I will, thank you. I don't ever want to see Kryptonite again in my life.

[For the House of El, or any superhero? Never.]

I hope you don't have to, here--but in your life?

[She seems noticeably irritated, almost like it's personal.] Not with the way so many know it'll hurt you guys.

But why? I haven't done anything! [ Except to the Worldkillers, but they came after her first. Just. Like everyone else. ]

Some people because just because you're different--on Earth, alien, literally. We don't get many non-Terrans. And our sun gives you all those powers. As many people as see you three in action, see all the good you do, there are those who fear that. Some out there can't believe you wouldn't use it to dominate the planet--because it's what they would do. Or else they're just insanely paranoid and-or prejudiced.

And... Superman was one the first superheroes we saw. [She smiles softly.] He can't stop himself from helping and protecting the innocent, and his ethics aren't for sale. It puts him squarely in the way of what some particularly nasty types want--people like Luthor. Then, too, criminals and the larger supervillains end up carrying grudges because he stopped them from hurting others.

So they want to hurt him. And because people like to generalize, and because all three of you keep helping, you're in the cross-hairs too.

It isn't fair. I never asked for any of this.

[ But if what Lois says is true, it doesn't matter. People are either afraid of her or they hate her for no fault of her own. 'Unfair' is sort of the definition here.

She just wants so badly to go home. There's nothing else she can say. ]

I know. [For a moment Lois actually looks tired.] Things aren't much different here. Some kedan hate the foreigners on the same principle.

Besides, apparently we were drawn here by a spell to protect... something. I was hoping for a vacation too, but it doesn't seem likely.

How are we supposed to protect something if we don't know what it is?

I think it's to protect the turtle, or the people on it. Probably.

That would make sense. The kedan seem nice enough, in general. [ Protecting them from say, insane alien invaders bent on destruction might not be so bad. ]

For the most part they're not murderous. Anyway, if the turtle's in trouble, it's self-preservation at this point, too.

I don't know how I could help a turtle if it was in trouble. I barely even know what a turtle is.

I'd say 'if something's attacking it, punch it' is a good place to start.

I'm sure you've got good instincts, though. It'll come.

What would attack a giant turtle covered in people?

Off-hand? Alien invaders. Or maybe a giant shark would be looking for a snack.

video - 30% encryption

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