Captive Of A Red Sun 5

Some of these kids had really strange names. Cosmic Boy for example. What did "cosmic" have to do with magnetism?

Oh well, Supergirl thought. He DID come from another planet. Just like her. Just like all of these Legionnaires. So maybe "cosmic" had a different meaning where he came from. One that would fit a boy with magnetic powers. Or, it now being the 30th Century, the word "cosmic" might have had a new meaning added to it during the past one thousand years. It ultimately didn't matter. What did matter was Cosmic Boy was a nice kid. They all were. And 30th Century Metropolis was so much like Kandor. Which meant that it was so much like Krypton. Although Argo City and Kandor was the closest she ever got to Krypton. The planet did blow up before she was even born.

Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl and Brainiac 5 approached her.

"Uh, Supergirl?" Cosmic Boy asked rather shyly. "This is going to seem like a silly question."

"I'm told there are no silly questions." Supergirl replied.

"Oh, believe me, there are." Brainiac 5 replied. He was smiling at her. The green skinned boy was smitten with her.

Supergirl smiled back and then, "What's your question, Cos?"

Saturn Girl chuckled. "'Cos.' I like that."

"Cos" cleared his throat and, "Is it true, your first day on Earth, Superman plopped a wig on you and left you at an orphanage?"

Supergirl gave him a strange look.

"Cosmic Boy is a bit of a historian." Saturn Girl said. "A lot of historical data was lost or became corrupted over the centuries."

"Among the lost data is the details about your arrival to Earth." Cosmic Boy added.

"Oh." Supergirl then laughed. "No. He didn't do that. But the wig and orphanage did come later. After I was trained in the use of my powers and learned the ways of Earth I picked out a new secret identity for myself. Linda Lee. 'Linda' because it had the same Kryptonian meaning as 'Kara,' my real name. And 'Lee' which was 'El' spelled backwards with an extra 'e' added to it. Which made a kind of sense when you consider I now had an EXTRA identity. He sent me to the orphanage as a test to see if I could pass myself off as an Earth girl."

"I'm relieved to hear that." Said Brainiac 5. "The idea that Superman would place a newcomer to Earth, with powers in which she's had no experience or training, among the helpless natives of that world would have been the utmost in irresponsibility."

"Trust me." Supergirl said. "Superman was VERY responsible with me."

"So," Asked Cos, "Can you tell us how you came to Earth? what did happen on your first day?"

Supergirl told the story of Argo City, Krypton's first floating city, and how it was hurled into space when the planet exploded. How she was sent to Earth when the domed city was destroyed by a meteor swarm. She told of how she met her cousin when her ship crashed and what happened after he found out they were related....

"He nearly crushed me in a bear hug. He was SO happy to have family again. We collected the wreckage and flew to his Fortress Of Solitude. Inside he gave me the grand tour...."


They passed the Hall Of Heroes. Inside were statues Superman had made. On one side was a scary looking cloaked man. A boy with a cape. Another man and boy holding bows and arrows. On the other side was yet another man and boy. A Woman with a lasso hanging from her hip. And, finally, a green man wearing a high collar cape.


"Cousin? Why are some of them wearing masks?"

"You ever hear the story of the Nightwing?"

Kara's face lit up. "The old legend of the prince who wanted to be a knight? It's one of my favorites."

Superman smiled and, "His father, the King, forbad him. So the Prince created another identity. He named himself after the Nightwing, a fierce bird of prey. Whenever there was injustice, or whenever the kingdom was threatened, he would don his custom made armor and go forth to fight. Though he wasn't a santioned knight he was still considered the greatest in the realm. He set the standard for others
to follow."

"Like the young squire who would join him." Kara added. "Also naming himself after a bird of prey. The Flamebird."

"Yes. And, in a way, these people are like the Nightwing and Flamebird of Earth. Batman and Robin, Green Arrow and Speedy, Aquaman and Aqualad, Wonder Woman, the Martian Manhunter, me in this outfit, we are all like Nightwing and Flamebird. Fighting for truth, justice and the protection of the innocent."

"Kal-El? Ca-can I be your Flamebird? Supergirl to your Superman? Your squire?"

Superman placed his hands on her small shoulders and gave them a gentle squeeze. "Kara, I'd be lying if said the idea did not appeal to me. But I must warn you. This is not a romantic lifestyle like in those old stories. It can be dangerous and very lonely. You HAVE to be sure."

"Cousin. What else can I do on this planet? I have these powers and to not use them is such a waste."

"There is another option, Kara. Follow me."

He led her to a room where in the center was a big bottle on a pedistal. Inside it was what looked like a model of a Kryptonian city.

"A model of Kandor?"

"Take a closer look. Think microscopic."

She did and jumped back, gasping. "There-there's PEOPLE in there! REAL LIVING PEOPLE!"

"That's not a model. That actually is Kandor." Superman then told her the story of Brainiac. And when finished...

"You now have a choice, Kara. Stay here with me on an alien world very different than what you're used to. Or go live in Kandor. A culture and civilization you ARE used to. Where you can live a normal and hopefully a full and happy life."

Kara gazed at Kandor for the longest while. Then she looked up to him. "Kal-El I spent my entire life living under a dome. I don't want to spend the rest of it under another. I want to stay out here, with you."

He hugged her. "And I'm glad to have you."

Then, "Okay first we master your new powers. Then you learn all there is to know about Earth."

"And then I'm Supergirl?"

He chuckled. "No. Then you will begin training to be Supergirl."




Supergirl returned to reality and she wasn't happy about it. The last thing she remembered was Luthor beating the crap out of her and then knocking her out with that damned glove-taser. She was cold. She was sore. And when she opened her eyes she found out she was staked out in the middle of nowhere. Not for the first time in her career did she wonder if should have choosen Kandor over Earth.

Commission for thanks for the commission.