Chapter 11: Blood Bonds and a Growing Trust
The new year had dawned, but for Kara, it brought not fresh starts, but deeper entanglements. The revelation of Astra and Non's true intentions, their grand plan for Myriad, hung heavy in the air, a suffocating blanket of familial betrayal and existential threat. Kara was torn, her loyalty split between her biological family and the world she had grown to love. Adam watched her from his desk at CatCo, seeing the conflict etched on her face, the way her shoulders seemed to carry the weight of two worlds.
He found her in the breakroom, staring out the window, a half-eaten bagel forgotten on the counter.
"Rough start to the year, huh?" Adam said, leaning against the doorway, a mug of suspiciously strong coffee in his hand. "I hear family reunions can be a real pain. Especially when your family is trying to terraform the planet, or, you know, mind-control everyone."
Kara sighed, a sound that held the weariness of ages. "It's… it's complicated, Adam. They think they're doing what's right. For Krypton. For Earth. But it's not right. It can't be."
Adam nodded, his usual sarcastic demeanor softened by genuine empathy. "Yeah, family drama is always the worst. Especially when it involves alien invasions and mind control. My family arguments usually just revolved around who got the last slice of pizza. Much less apocalyptic." He paused, then continued, his voice low and steady. "Look, Kara. You don't have to agree with them just because they're family. You get to choose who you are. And you've chosen to be a hero. You've chosen to protect this world. That's a bond that runs deeper than blood, sometimes."
Kara looked at him, her eyes searching his. She saw no judgment, only understanding. Adam wasn't trying to sway her, just to ground her, to remind her of her own moral compass. "He gets it," she thought, a wave of relief washing over her. "He understands the impossible choices, the weight of it all." She increasingly trusted him with her deepest fears and vulnerabilities regarding her family, a trust she rarely extended beyond Alex.
"It's just… Non," Kara whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "He's so… cold. And Astra… she was my aunt. She was supposed to protect me."
"People change, Kara," Adam said gently. "Or maybe they reveal who they always were. Either way, you're not responsible for their choices. Only for yours. And your choices have always led you to do what's right. Don't let them convince you otherwise."
Later, Adam found Winn looking utterly perplexed, staring at a holographic display of Kryptonian technology. "It's Non's communication network," Winn explained, running a hand through his hair. "It's so advanced, we can barely get a read on it. We need to track them, but their tech is just… impenetrable."
Adam leaned over the console, feigning intense concentration. "Hmm, Kryptonian tech, huh? Always with the fancy stuff. You know, I was reading this really obscure article the other day – probably written by some conspiracy theorist, but it had some interesting ideas – about how even the most advanced networks can have a subtle flaw. Like, a specific frequency that, if you hit it just right, can cause a temporary disruption in their comms. Or maybe a hidden backdoor for maintenance. Like a 'reset button' for alien overlords. Just a thought."
Winn's eyes lit up. "A disruptive frequency? A hidden backdoor? But why would they build that in?"
"Ego, probably," Adam said with a shrug. "Or maybe they just liked the idea of being able to fix things remotely. Who knows? Alien logic is weird. But hey, if it helps you track the guy who wants to mind-control the planet, it's worth a shot, right?"
Winn was already typing furiously, his fingers flying across the keyboard. "Adam, you're a genius! Or you've just read way too many sci-fi novels!"
"Both, probably," Adam quipped. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go make sure Cat Grant hasn't fired anyone for breathing too loudly."
As the D.E.O. worked to gain an edge on Non's network, Adam found a moment of mischievous inspiration. He knew Astra and Non were being held in D.E.O. cells. He managed to print out a brightly colored brochure with the title "Family Therapy: Bridging the Intergalactic Divide." Underneath, he drew a crude picture of two aliens with angry eyebrows, glaring at each other. He then discreetly slipped it under the door of what he assumed was Astra's cell. "Maybe a little humor will help. Or maybe they'll just try to mind-control me. Worth the risk."
Later, Kara found him by the coffee machine, a quiet smile on her face. "Winn found a way to get a better read on Non's network," she said softly. "He said it was because of your 'obscure article' idea. You really are… surprisingly helpful."
Adam grinned. "Just trying to make the world a safer place for my coffee breaks. And you know, for people who don't want their minds controlled. It's a niche market, but I'm dedicated." He looked at her, his smile softening. "Seriously though, Kara. You're doing great. Don't let them get to you. You're stronger than all of them, even when you don't feel like it."
Kara leaned against the counter, a comfortable silence settling between them. Their bond had deepened, becoming a solid foundation of mutual reliance. She trusted him, truly trusted him, with the weight of her world. He was her anchor in the storm of alien invasions and family betrayals.
"He's always there," she thought, a warmth spreading through her chest. "Always ready with a joke, or a surprisingly profound insight. He sees me, all of me, and he still believes."
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