In precinct 22 every day was similar to the last. It was a bustling influx of men and women some happy, most rather unhappy. A sort of grand central on a small scale. The oddest thing about those coming and going was the disparity in their demeanor. Those in black with gold badges were calm, serene and focused. While those in street clothes, mangy hair, endless peircings, tattoos and loaded with narcotics were often excited and outraged yelling obscenities and arguing with loud voices as if to impress their innocence upon an arresting officer.

But this morning would be a little different. The main left door, made of solid glass with stainless steel lining swung open and Supergirl strode in almost casually.

It took only moments for an entranced hush to fall over the entire room. Heads turned and conversations stopped. The bustle and irritation in the room settled down. She scanned the back rooms finding the door she wanted. But a short burst of x-ray vision revealed that the police chief's office was empty.

Supergirl made her way over to a female officer restraining a much taller man. The woman was African American and she held a fairly bulky Asian man with cuffs binding his arms behind his back.

The activity in the room slowly began to pick up and several arguments resumed. But most eyes remained on Supergirl. She was a dazzling spectacle of femininity. A perfect blend of confidence and finesse, charm and control! The entire atmosphere seemed to brighten in the presence of Krypton's last daughter.

"Excuse me." She said politely to the officer she approached. "I was hoping to speak to the police chief; do you know where he is?"

The Asian man jerked sharply taking advantage of the distraction but his eyes continually glided over Supergirl's body. The officer retained her grip on the cuffs and yanked on them returning a sharp punitive pain. The man hissed. "He's not in his office, Supergirl? Well, I know he's here. I just came in but Samantha would probably know."

Samantha popped her head up from behind a desk. Supergirl saw her but decided something else needed her attention first. She snapped her head up to the bulky Asian man who had been all but drooling since she'd entered.

"Like what you see big guy?" She asked innocently. Her eyes large and round peering back at his. Her tone seductive but also leading.

The man dropped his chin in a half-nod and raised his eyebrows as if he might manage to heighten the intrigue.

Before he could even blink, Supergirl shot her right arm out and fixed her hand tightly around the man's neck. Then slowly, she began to raise the restrained man above the ground, straightening him until he could barely stand on his toes. "Then I have some helpful advice for you." She pulled him closer and leaned in. Her eyebrows formed a sharp 'v' shape and her voice now anything but sultry. Her eyes began to burn with a red glow like churning lava. The man only moments ago brimming with confidence had totally  shifted. The glowing Kryptonian only meant one thing. He felt like he might wet himself.

The heat from her eyes was beginning to singe his face and he fought hard to turn away even slightly. "Why don't you try treating a girl with the respect and dignity she deserves."

"Ya - ya. Ok. Yah. I understand. I do." He stammered as the searing heat finally peaked and then died down.

"Don't let me catch you looking at me or anyone like  that again."

"I understand. I understand!" He squealed. “I promise!”

With that, she released him. From that moment on, he was docile and respectful - a welcomed change.

The entire room seemed to pick up her drift. Supergirl wasn't stupid and she wasn't as naive as she used to be. She knew how she dressed. True, there was a practical reason for her outfit being what it was. In fact, there were many practical reasons. But she knew her body was alluring and her clothes certainly didn't hide her shape. Practical reasons aside, this was the kind of attention she really didn't mind. Yesterday evening it was different. Today, the fear and respect and awe in the room was simply there because of who she was and what she could do but also present was the 'why she did it.'

She could bend a steel i-beam into a pretzel. She could melt a car. She could throw a man into space. She had the body of a supermodel and an unwavering sense of justice. Every criminal that room felt what she stood for. A wholesome goodness. A upward leading life. It's what she represented. It's what she was. And they hated her for it.

Supergirl was a force for good and being a beautiful 20-something blond made it worse for the criminal company there. She stood for selflessness and sacrifice. She stood for the common good. They stood for themselves. Invisibly it cheapened the humanity of those who understood and still resorted to crimes to get what they wanted. Others however were more broken and they simply resented anything that stood in their way. They despised her for what she did. What she stood for and knowing that she'd be there to stop them if she could.

Supergirl had seen this done before. Walk into the station, show a little muscle, make sure people know you're not a pushover and the entire building comes around to be more humane. The floor was quieter, more calm and more ... cooperative than before. Several officers quietly thanked her for it as they passed by.

Supergirl made her way to Samantha, a secretary who remained in the office during the day. "You in for chief Richardson, right?" Samantha confirmed. The activity in the room had returned to normal, but calmer now.

"Yes." Supergirl replied.

"He just stepped out to speak with a detective. He should be back -"

"Sam!?" Came a voice yelling from down the hallway. "Give Marcello the files on that department store break-in on 5th. I want to talk to him and Stevens this afternoon, got it?"

"Yes sir." She replied turning to see if he was actually looking at her. He was instead staring down at a writing pad.

"Sir?" Sam asked.

"What!?" the chief looked up in irritation. "Oh."

“Can I have a word with you, sir?” Supergirl asked politely.

“Yeah, sure. Uh, my office is right down here.” He said leading the way.

All eyes watched the long flowing red cape trailed behind the most powerful woman in the world. She was no ordinary woman; no one doubted that.





Julia sat in a chair facing Angel. She shivered as she felt Angel's soulless eyes cutting into her. This being the first time she was sitting so close and staring intently at the ghastly girl across from her.

Angel peered back calmly, collectively and studiously. It was as if she were reading or maybe daydreaming. It was hard to tell with eyes like hers. Her eyes were like black pits behind their lids. When she turned just right in the light, a faint high-light would show up giving evidence to the surface of a spherical form underneath. But when such light wasn’t visible, only a large black almond shape remained.

“You’re supposed to be playing with me.” Angel said in a half present tone.

“I don’t … understand.” Julia said fearfully. She turned to Roche who stood against the wall. “What do you want to play? Do you have dolls? Or cards or something?”

“Look at me!” Angel yelled.

Julia snapped back in her chair. She could hardly believe that terrifying voice came from such a small girl! “Whaaat … do you want… to play?” She stammered.

“There is so little inside of her.” Angel said distantly. “I wish she was more fun.”

“Ok, Angel.” Roche said. “Here. Let’s try something simple, right?” Roche had assumed his professional physician tone. “Why don’t you give her … a ring! How about that?”

“She has five.” Angel responded not even needing to look at Julia’s hands. “But … if that's what you want ... ok.”

Julia felt her left pinky tingle. She turned her hand over and then suddenly the tingling feeling disappeared. Seconds later a small golden band seemed to materialize out of nothing around her finger! It seemed to flicker in and out of existence for just a moment but then finally Angel settled a bit.

“Oh my god!” Julia screamed holding out her hand and examining the new gold band. “How did –“

“Quiet.” Roche demanded. Julia bit her lip but couldn’t take her eyes off the simple golden ring around her finger.

Angel exhaled. The room became quiet. Then Angel turned to Roche and said, “Do we have to have them watching?” She turned to see Antonio, Alana, Rebecca and Tammy standing nearby. Two guards were also near the door blankly staring forward like the furniture they were.

“Unfortunately, we do, Angel.” Roche replied. “There’s something I’d like to do with you today and other people are going to be watching. You need to learn how to focus even if other people are paying attention to what you’re doing.”

“Will it be fun?” Angel asked excitedly.

“I'm sure it will. But you still need to be fast and you need to learn how to make big things ‘stick’ - much bigger things than that ring. That’s why we practice?”

“I like doing big things. But it’s so hard!” Then she turned towards Julia. “She’s empty. There’s nothing in her. I can’t do big things with her! She's empty.”

“Most people are, Angel. But I need you to try, anyways.” Roche said with an affirming voice. “Can you try for me? Please? Remember we talked about ‘feeding’ before?”

“Yes. But there’s nothing there!” She was growing upset and her voice became shrill, heavy … terrifying. “I can’t do something with nothing.”

“Yes there is something there.” Roche responded calmly. “You can find it. Find it and feed it, Angel. C’mon now. You can do it.”

“Ok. I will.” She decided growing determined with Roche’s paternal confidence.

Angel turned back to Julia and a queer silence crept over the room. Julia felt the need to itch her leg or scratch her back but she decided against moving. Angel seemed to be concentrating.

Julia straightened in the chair not knowing what to expect. She spread her fingers on the table so each was in clear sight as she stared across the small square table and into the eyes of the hellish ‘Angel’ on the other side.

A few moments passed. Then there came an explosion of sound and light. A tumultuous grinding sound followed quickly by a deafening thud.

“Holy Shit!” Antonio screamed. Alana curled her face into his chest and covered her head.

A giant cylindrical shaped column had smashed into the small table. The column had punched through the floor from the ceiling which now bore a five foot wide hole. Dust and debris were everywhere and the room began to resound with coughing. Sunlight poured in diffusing in the thickening dust and heavy smoke in the smallish room.

Julia had thrown herself backwards tipping the chair over and hitting her head hard on the solid floor.

Coughing.

Something wasn’t right. Alana's sharp mind sensed it. But she couldn’t quite pin it down in her mind. She heard Tammy coughing. Antonio was cursing when he had a clear windpipe. Rebecca was on the verge of losing her mind; her voice was brittle and audible between her coughs. The two sentinels were covering their mouths and noses in their jackets but still coughing from the thick dust. She turned and looked at Angel who stood as still as ever. Her hands now placed comfortably on her legs as the table was now splintered and fragments of it splayed in every direction. She sat as if nothing had changed at all. And behind her … Roche stood tall and still breathing normally, completely unaffected. It was as if the dust wasn't even there to them.

Then, as suddenly as the giant column-like shape had appeared, it vanished. The dust dissipated, the fragments of ceiling vanished, the splintered table and shattered floor followed out of existence as well. In the span of a heartbeat the room looked like it had before.

Alana straightened. The ceiling was perfectly in tact, the dust was gone and the table was restored. Alana gave a final cough as if prompted by her disbelieving throat. But there were no traces the dusty drywall particles in her wind pipe any more and the cough felt forced. It was as if an incredibly intense hallucination had just struck the entire room! Well – most of it. Julia was still lying on her back partly in the over turned chair dazed, confused and panting heavily.

Angel turned sideways in her chair as if to turn away from Julia but also not face Roche. “I told you.” She said crossing her arms. “There’s nothing there. And I don’t understand her obsession with shapes like that either. She wouldn't tell me.”

“Well done, Angel.” Roche said coming forward and patting her gently. “Well done.”

“Really?” She said excitedly thinking he’d be angry.

Roche knew Angel had been telling the truth and Angel knew what Roche wanted. She felt like she hadn't delivered but Roche didn't see it that way.

Alana looked at Julia now attempting to get back to her feet. A small golden band remained wrapped around the frightened girl's pinky finger. The band was new and it didn’t snap out of existence. Alana stared on in awe for a moment and then turned back to Roche. She began to put the pieces together more-so than anyone else in the room.

“Let’s go.” Roche commanded. “It’s time for a small field test.”






“I understand what you’re trying to do Supergirl and I appreciate it. I still don’t know how you get information like this.”

“It’s not that hard, sir.” She replied sitting straight in the armless chair facing the chief’s desk. “I have sources, just like … anyone who does what I do. Besides, this would give me the perfect excuse to stay in New York and visit for a few days.”

“You have a funny idea of a vacation, Supergirl.”

“Helping people is what I do. Police officers are people too.” She said.

The chief nodded thinking how he was going to deal with this new ‘offer’ for help. It wasn’t every day that someone with x-ray vision and the strength to move a skyscraper waltzed into his office offering help. If things did get ugly and she was around, he might not have to make any of those ‘Sometimes … in the line of duty …’ speeches to sobbing widows.

Supergirl had offered to aid him in a situation that had been brewing in New York for the last few months. Although the city had an infamous history of gangs, mobs and drugs there was certainly something unique about this growing crisis. New York was a notorious city for gang warfare had its usual highs and lows but this one was different. The NYPD knew full well that these new matters didn’t just evolve from escalation. There was something behind it. Distribution, financing, even development were all aspects that sub-level gangs shouldn't be able to coordinate. Yet they were.

The concern about various NYPD precincts was the growing efficiency and weaponry being used in the name of ‘gang warfare’.

Investigations and under cover detectives had found some details that seemed to prove the suspicions, but no one had come close to the source. It was one thing for gangs to be using automatic weapons and even grenades. But OICW cloned rifles? Under-carriage RPG launchers? Armor piercing rounds? Laser-sighting? Some of world’s most advanced infantry weapons were now being used in the streets of New York. How? Why?

How did street thugs get their hands on weapons like these? The NYPD had gotten a hold of some and so far nothing could be traced. Nothing was formally or recognizably U.S. Military, and although that didn’t rule out illegal arms sales from the U.S. Military, it did get the CIA interested in potential suppliers outside the United States. Weapons like the OICN were future options to replace the standard m4 rifle used in military ground forces. It didn’t seem possible that enough were manufactured where street thugs in New York could possibly get their hands on one and yet they had several.

But while the CIA looked abroad and the FBI searched at home, bank robberies, muggings and gang-to-gang warfare was now more dangerous than ever before. Honest cops might as well have been carrying bows and arrows against weaponry like that. And police chiefs didn’t like to hear that their people weren’t equipped to deal with situations they expected to encounter. Richardson might have said 'par for the course' a few months ago, but the level of escalation was indeed frightening.

Although some of the thugs had been picked up and their weapons confiscated, there was no way to track where their armament was coming from. The guns were manufactured without serial numbers and there were no identifying markings of any kind on the shells or weapons. It was a mystery that had many officers on edge.

If the NYPD were to pull someone over for speeding, was there an automatic in their lap too? Even more surprising, the gangs themselves had no real way of helping the investigation. They answered simply “We got a call; it told us where to find the guns.” “There was a note.” “There was an e-mail.” “No payment, whoever it was, just left them and told us where to find the guns.”

And Supergirl had heard about this situation from her home outside of Washington DC. The fundraiser had been the reason she’d come up here, but now that she was here. Perhaps getting to the bottom of a case like this is exactly what she needed. It truly was a perfect excuse to extend her 'vacation' and not feel guilty about it either.

“Alright Supergirl. Look. No offense to you, but if these gangs are gonna get trigger happy for someone sniffing around – I’d rather it was you than any of my people.”

Supergirl giggled. “I’m glad you feel that way actually, Chief. Being bullet proof does have it's advantages.”

“Well, unfortunately, you know about everything I know on this matter.” He scratched his chin and then continued. “The FBI has tightened up heavily on ships entering the city. We know the CIA is looking there too.”

“If someone’s moving this kind of firepower it’s not likely they’re going to be porting it directly into the city they’re distributing to.” She said.

“You’re right. And both the FBI and the NYPD are looking into ground transportation too. McDonald’s trucks, Walmarts, Targets, Groceries … if these things are coming from out of the country they’ve gotta be moving around by truck or possibly train.”

“Ok - I’ll get to the bottom of this Chief.” The lovely blond responded recognizing that their meeting was closing.

“Thank you for your help, Supergirl.” He said extending his hand.

“I know a lot of police officers don’t care for your type, but I have a feeling, by the end of this, many of them are going to appreciate you a lot more.”

She pondered a moment and then responded. “Like them, I can’t sit by and do nothing … not when I have the power to help. And like them … I am sometimes hated for it too.”

The chief nodded as they approached the door. But just as the chief reached down the door flew open and an exasperated officer stood in the entry. “Fire. Chief … Big one.”

Supergirl was there before the first fire engine arrived. A massive tower of billowing black smoke funneled into the air overhead. She descended amidst a crowd of onlookers awing and talking on cell phones. Sirens wove their way towards the tremendous flaming apartment building in the distance.

Supergirl ordered the bystanders to back away then she flew into the building like a missile.

From several buildings down the block a gaunt pale girl in a white dress inhaled sharply. She stood near the window facing the building now virtually engulfed in flames.

"What is it Angel?" Roche said in a curious tone.

"Who ... is that?" Angel asked with a trembling voice.

"Supergirl." Alana said drawing closer to Angel.

The young girl seemed to squirm in her skin. "I ... want ... to play with her." Angel said slowly. A twisted greediness present in her voice.

"We're done here." Roche said turning and passing Angel.

"Wait!?" Angel said suddenly like a young child having a beloved toy taken away. "I wanna play with her!" She said louder as if Roche might not have heard.

"No, Angel. Supergirl is off limits." Came a firm reply.

Angel looked back as Supergirl exited the building with two full grown adults, one under each arm. "Please ..." she whispered softly.

Roche stiffened his back facing Angel.

"Please ..." she said again. "She's ... special." Alana heard the barely audible conversation taking place.

Roche didn't respond. Angel's face tightened and bizarrely a tear formed in her right eye.

Alana stepped forward and put a hand on Angel's shoulder. The wirey haired porcelain skinned girl looked up at the towering brunette.

"Do it." Alana mouth gestured to the distrought young girl.

At first, Angel seemed confused. As if the concept of disobeying Roche was like asking her to take her throw herself on a sword.

Alana nodded gently while looking down at Angel a certain sisterly affection immediately connected them. Alana mouthed the temptation again. "Do it, Angel."

Angel deliberated while staring deep into Alana's eyes. A connection. A woman. A temptation. A supporter ... a spark.

Supergirl delivered another oxygen starved resident of the apartment building to a nearby firefighter. More police and rescue vehicles were arriving now but the blaze had clearly caught everyone off guard and it was now a raging conflagration which seemed to be fueled by an unearthly power.

Although the Girl of Steel didn't have much time to think about it, the flames did seem to grow faster than usual. She turned back towards the building and just as she lifted off the ground there was a sudden blast of light.

The air all around her was suctioned in towards the flame and then, in a deafening roar it exploded outward in a massive flaming gust sending Supergirl flying backwards into a building across the street.

Cars, both police and civilian, were lifted off the ground and rolled several times in the air; some of them even smashing into second and third story floors of neighboring buildings. Ambulances and fire trucks flipped. Some landing on other cars. A lamp post buckled and folded nearly in half as a white honda civic impacted it like a ball in a glove.






"Angel!!" Roche yelled as he picked himself up and brushed the shards of glass and dust off his suit.

"Let's go! NOW!" He yelled fuming and burning hotly.

Silently his entourage followed giving no protest. Angel, however, couldn't burry the smile on her lips and she was more than content to make sure that Alana saw it too. She looked like a child who was about to get away with some devious sin she knew she couldn't be punished for. Alana was right. What would Roche do to her? It was a new sensation for Angel. She caught Alana's wink as she fell in line behind Roche.

Alana's mind was reeling. She felt thrilled, excited and strangely empowered. It was like the hints of a dream she'd never imagined becoming real suddenly falling into place. She had to play this carefully but she couldn't stop herself even if she had wanted to ... she couldn't stop. She was intoxicated with even the chance that this might work. She began thinking about her plans to move forward. With Angel this whole thing might just work.

She stopped and peered over her shoulder through the busted windows that once shielded them. Supergirl was no where to be seen but Alana would have loved to see the girl of steel face at that moment. She set her sights on such a chance in the future and she relished in the fantasy while existing behind the sentinels.






Her own cough revived her from a head spinning daze. Supergirl fell forward and collapsed on all fours leaving a large round crater in the cement wall behind her.

Debris and scattered flames, crushed metal and broken glass lay everywhere. The blast had smashed all windows in the vacinity. The first hundred feet was devoid of cars and people.

Her senses were suddenly sharp and she knew she had to help. She darted over to an overturned fire truck and pulled it back onto it's wheels. There several motionless body's beneath the truck but one man struggled to move breathing heavily. She scooped him up and flew towards an oncoming ambulance.

People all around were hurt or dead. To her right a police officer was scaling down a building where his car had become a part of the wall above the second floor. The apartment building to her right was completely obliterated as if it had been struck by a small yield nuclear weapon.

How ... could this have happened? Where did a blast like that come from? There wasn't a natural substance on the earth that could have been responsible for that!

"Over here!" one of the rescue personel said exiting the ambulance. The woman opened the back of the ambulance and quicly pulled a stretcher from the interior. Supergirl laid the man down on the stretcher.

"Are you alright?" The medic asked Supergirl.

"Hmm?" The Girl of Steel turned lost in thought. "Yes, I'm ..."

The medic motioned for the heroine's shoulder.

Supergirl looked down to see her entire left shoulder covered in blood and her costume torn back from the oozing wound. The realization sent shoots of pain up and down her arm. She stood there dumbfounded staring at the wound as if she'd never seen such a thing before.

"Here, let me ..."

"There's no time." Supergirl said as she lifted off the ground again.

"Can you hear me Supergirl?" came a voice. Supergirl froze while floated about a dozen feet in the air and her hyper sensitive hearing had picked up the faint voice coming from nearby.

"Over here." The voice came again.

Supergirl saw a female figure clothed in a white body suit sitting ontop of a custom painted Hyabusa motorcycle. The woman sealed the reflective visor on her helmet and leaned forward onto the super charged bike. "Who'd have thought a blast like that could hurt the mighty Supergirl?" The woman gave a short throaty laugh as she gunned the Hyabusa in first gear. The rubber spun screaming loudly against the asfault as the rider pulled into a sharp turn and then straightened out on a frightfully accelerated pace.

"Hey!" Supergirl screamed hardly having time to think. To say there was something odd about the rider would be an understatement. She had shown up or was perhaps watching the blast in an outfit that could not possibly be considered standard riding gear. The custom white leather outfit, helmet and motorcycle at the site of a mysterious fire and explosion was too much not to look into. Supergirl turnd back to see the emergency personel working as fast as possible to help those injured. Police were arriving and civilians had also come forth to help with the wounded.

Then she turned back to rider now banking through a red light and heading north. Without time for another thought Supergirl burst forth in chase after the white Hyabusa streaking through the city.

The rider was dazzling. If there were street races between real cars she would be second to none. Her ability to maunuver through cars with stunning precision was awe inspiring. Supergirl closed the gap as the rider blazzed through a red light narrowly missing a black camery passing the other way. Her speed was nearly 110 mph.

Supergirl braced herself as the rider cut through another red light slowing enough to climb onto the sidewalk and bank right down a side street deeper into an industrial district. The girl of steel, with renewed determination, charged closer now only a few dozen feet behind the freakishly talented motorcyclist.

The rider glanced over her left shoulder spotting Supergirl. It appeared that she wasn't expecting the Maid of Might to be so close. She ducked down closer to the bike and rolled the throttle completely open. The Hyabusa screamed as she darted forward. Another sharp bank to the left threw Supergirl off as she cut in front of a mid-length truck and then took a side street. Once again she banked to the right. Supergirl had to catch the rider soon. Someone was going to get killed!

Supergirl summoned her strength and shot up to within a few feet of the bike when she saw a heavy metal door opening up ahead. It was a vertical raising door large enough for a truck. The rider was still accelerating towards the black void inside.

It was time to end this Supergirl concluded and with a final burst of speed she slammed into the rider from behind grabbing the woman around her waist and lifting her off the Hyabusa. The pair of entangled ladies flew into the darkened space and immediately afterwards the door began to close.

Supergirl's slowed her momentum as rapidly as she could pulling the rider from the vehicle which was also full on breaks skidding forward and angling to the side. The wheels had totally locked and the motorcycle collapsed on it's left side skidding into the dark space shooting yellow sparks in every direction.

Try as she could the rider's weight seemed to increase exponentially. Supergirl held the woman off the ground and continued with all her effort to slow down but she couldn't keep herself afloat! There was no way to avoid it! The pair impacted the ground and immediately separated, the rider rolling in a much more controlled form with her arms pressed tightly against her chest and drawn together.

Supergirl wasn't expecting an impact with the ground however and her wounded shoulder took the bone crushing hit sending her reeling off in the darkness in an uncontrolled tumble.

After a minute she stirred but with a strange sensation throughout her body. She was aching everywhere! It was a terrible sensation but to her it was all the more terrifying as she was normally impervious to pain. Something had happened to her. She lay there face down in the darkness and with great effort she reached out with her arms and lifted her body up.

Her elbows felt like they were going to buckle beneath her. The muscles in her back, arms and back felt like they were made of jelly. It felt like ... like Kryptonite but without the painful burning radiation.

Then she felt something press up against her side. With a sharp gesture the rider rolled Supergirl onto her back. The Girl of Steel had no strength to fight back. Every effort to move or resist was met with paralizing pain. She may as well have been in bonds.

So there, laying on her back the rider stared down at Supergirl. The woman removed the damaged helmet and then kneeling down she place her left knee on Supergirl's chest and set her weight down hard.

The rider said in a soft voice with her face hovering over Supergirl's. "He wanted to meet you. So he will." The rider pressed down hard with her knee and Supergirl felt the woman's left hand wrap around her neck. She squeezed firmly but only enough to direct Supergirl's head not cut off her air. Supergirl's breathing was strained but she looked up in the dim light, her eyes adjusting to see the slender face of the rider.

"If anything happens to him ... I will kill you." With that she released Supergirl's throat and rose off her chest. Supergirl breathed in deeply and the sharp pains in her body were beginning to subside now but she could still barely move. She could hear the boots of the rider moving away. There was the sound of a door opening and closing. A heavy sliding lock and then there was nothing.

Supergirl couldn't focus; couldn't think. She simply lay there drifting in and out of consciousness without the strength to fight it.