Chapter 32 : For the Girl Who Has Everything - Part 2
July 2016 — DEO Desert Facility — Perimeter
The Kryptonians came like falling stars.
Twelve of them—soldiers in black tactical gear, eyes glowing with the promise of heat vision. They landed in formation outside the DEO's perimeter fence, radiating the kind of confidence that came from knowing nothing on Earth could hurt them.
Non was with them.
I recognized him from the intelligence files: Astra's husband, her most devoted lieutenant, the tactical mind behind Fort Rozz's military operations. He moved to the front of the formation, studying the DEO compound like an architect examining a structure he planned to demolish.
His eyes found me standing at the fence line.
"The human pet." His voice carried across the distance without effort. "I wondered if you'd be brave enough to face us, or if you'd hide behind Supergirl's cape."
"Supergirl's not available right now." I kept my voice steady, powers humming beneath my skin. "You'll have to settle for me."
"Settle?" He laughed—a cold, metallic sound. "You're not a settlement, human. You're barely an appetizer."
"Funny. That's what Vartox said." I smiled, remembering how that first Fort Rozz battle had gone. "Right before Supergirl destroyed his axe using intel I provided."
Non's expression flickered. "You think you're clever. You think your little tricks will save you."
"I think you're attacking a fortified position with limited forces while your primary target is temporarily incapacitated. I think that suggests desperation." I tilted my head. "What's wrong, Non? Running out of soldiers? Or just running out of time?"
He moved.
Kryptonian speed made him a blur—one moment at the fence, the next directly in front of me, fist already swinging toward my head. A normal human would have died before they registered the attack.
I wasn't normal anymore.
Vector manipulation activated instinctively, redirecting Non's punch away from my skull. His own momentum carried him past me, staggering him with the sudden shift in force. I spun with the deflection, driving a Vector Punch into his kidney region.
The impact actually moved him.
"Impossible." Non's eyes widened as he straightened. "You're human. You can't—"
"I'm Vector." I fell into a fighting stance, powers thrumming through every nerve. "And you're about to find out what that means."
The fight that followed was the hardest of my life.
Non wasn't like the Kryptonian soldiers I'd faced during the Blood Bonds rescue—he was faster, stronger, more experienced. Every attack I deflected came with follow-ups I could barely track. Every Vector Punch I landed was answered with three counterstrikes I barely survived.
But I didn't have to win.
I just had to survive long enough for Kara to wake up.
"Your technique is impressive," Non admitted, circling me after a particularly vicious exchange. "Almost Kryptonian in its efficiency."
"I learned from watching Supergirl." I wiped blood from a cut on my lip. "She's the best fighter I know."
"She's a child playing at war." He launched another assault—punch, kick, heat vision. I deflected the physical attacks, dove under the eye beams, came up with an electricity-charged palm strike that made him flinch. "Astra tried to train her, once. Before the house of El turned her into just another Kryptonian supremacist."
"Kara's not a supremacist." I backed toward the facility, drawing him away from his soldiers. "She believes in protecting people. All people."
"She believes in maintaining the status quo. In keeping humanity dependent on alien saviors instead of learning to save themselves." Non matched my retreat, patient and predatory. "Myriad will change that."
Myriad. Maxwell Lord mentioned something about Myriad.
"Mind control," I said. "That's your endgame? Force humanity to accept your 'help'?"
"Humanity will be improved. United. Given purpose beyond their petty tribal conflicts." His eyes gleamed with zealot's certainty. "When Myriad activates, every human mind on this planet will be joined in perfect harmony. Working together. Thinking together. Finally at peace."
"You're insane."
"I'm visionary." He attacked again—faster, harder. "And you're delaying the inevitable."
He was right. My powers were flagging. Each deflection cost more than the last. My body couldn't sustain this intensity much longer.
Behind me, I heard the sounds of battle—DEO agents engaging the other Kryptonians, weapons fire and screams and the crack of breaking concrete. The perimeter was falling.
Kara, please. Wake up.
Non's next punch broke through my defenses.
The impact sent me crashing into a concrete barrier, ribs screaming in protest. I tried to stand and my legs refused. Tried to raise my hands and my arms trembled too badly to hold steady.
"Brave." Non loomed over me, preparing the killing blow. "Futile, but brave. I'll remember you, human. When I rewrite your species' destiny, I'll remember the one who tried to stop me."
His fist descended.
And stopped.
A hand gripped his wrist—a hand attached to a woman in red and blue, her eyes burning with fury and solar fire.
"Get away from him."
Kara.
The battle ended quickly after that.
Supergirl fought like I'd never seen her fight—no hesitation, no restraint, pure Kryptonian wrath unleashed on the forces that had tried to trap her in false dreams while threatening everyone she loved. Non retreated within minutes, his soldiers following, unwilling to face her at full power.
The DEO was damaged but standing. The medical bay was intact. Alex and J'onn were emerging from their psychic journey, exhausted but alive.
And I was lying in rubble, pretty sure I had cracked ribs and definitely sure I'd pushed my powers past their safe limits.
Kara landed beside me.
"You fought Kryptonians." Her voice was hoarse, shaking. "You fought Non. For me."
"I told you." I managed a weak smile despite the pain. "I'd fight anything for you."
She didn't say anything else. Just gathered me in her arms—gentle, so gentle, aware of my injuries—and held on like I might disappear.
I held her back.
We stayed that way until the medics came.
Author's Note / Promotion:
Your Reviews and Power Stones are the best way to show support. They help me know what you're enjoying and bring in new readers!
You don't have to. Get instant access to more content by supporting me on Patreon. I have three options so you can pick how far ahead you want to be:
🪙 Silver Tier ($6): Read 10 chapters ahead of the public site.
👑 Gold Tier ($9): Get 15-20 chapters ahead of the public site.
💎 Platinum Tier ($15): The ultimate experience. Get new chapters the second I finish them . No waiting for weekly drops, just pure, instant access.
Your support helps me write more .
👉 Find it all at patreon.com/fanficwriter1