Survivors

Chapter 8: Ghosts, Demons and Dora the Explorer

The blonde sat on the sofa, Kal sleeping beside her, wondering what she ever did to deserve this destiny. She appreciated all the Danvers had done for her, she owed them her life for all intents and purposes. If not for Alex and her parents, Kara knew she would be hiding in the wild, struggling to feed and care for Kal, sleeping under trees and in caves. Regardless, those circumstances may have been preferable when compared with the humiliation she was forced to endure now.

"Whats up Kara? Enjoying the show?" Alex asked, hopping down next to the alien. Kara gave her a sharp look indicating she was not amused.

"Don't be upset. Kal likes them. They are really going to help you out. If you are tired of Dora the Explorer you can watch Sesame Street. I know Kal loves Big Bird and I think you have a secret little crush on Kermit."

"Those of my house who are in Rao's light would cry if they could see me now. I am shaming my ancestors by watching this nonsense. Are these the tools I will have to teach my cousin?." she asked her only friend.

"Thats the spirit." Alex encouraged. "Keep working on shapes and colors. We can work on the alphabet later. Mom is going through some of the preschool learners I picked up this morning. Are you hungry?"

"No." Kara lied, watching Swiper attempt to take another's possessions. Normally Kara would be appalled but by his appearance it was obvious he was not indigenous to this planet like her, so he had to do what needed to be done for survival. This Dora was obviously his enemy.

"Yes you are. You are always hungry. C'mon, I bet we can talk Mom into making a pie, maybe something you haven't had before?"

Pie. That was a word Alex had used often but Kara had yet to see an example. Pie would be a welcome change and give her a reason to stay away from these awful shows, with the strange creatures, the caricatures of humans and the obnoxious colors.

"Pie?"

"Yep, yummy pie. You will like it, I promise. C'mon, Kal can continue his nap. He will be fine out of your sight for five minutes."

Kara looked carefully at her charge. She realized she may be a bit obsessive in keeping him near at all times but they did not understand, they did not have her mission. Kara's path, her responsibility given to her by her parents was to protect Kal at all costs. His life mattered in her mind much more than hers. She had no illusions about why she was alive. Her parents sent her to care and protect the last son of the House of El. The entire year prior to their departure had been about preparing Kara to be his mother. They knew then, they knew as far back as a year and said nothing. They built the ship for two, not a task that could be done in secret quickly, and made her his primary caregiver yet never said anything about why. Why hadn't her mother told her? Instead she woke the girl up in the middle of a quake, gave her the final instructions and rocketed them off. Why could Kara be trusted with Kal's safety but not with the knowledge of what was happening to Krypton or the plans her parent's had for her? Why had they packed food for him and only crystals for her? Because she needed those crystals to teach him. While the blonde was not sure how to access the knowledge inside, Kara knew the crystals on Krypton held much knowledge and power. Her life was not hers. She stayed alive to protect Kal, she stayed hidden to protect Kal. Her job, her destiny was to be his bodyguard, mother and teacher.

"Earth to Kara? You with me?"

Kara shook her head and followed Alex to the kitchen. Eliza was there of course, a large smile gracing her face. It warmed her heart to see the relationship Alex had with her mother and father. They seemed more open with each other. There were no formalities in their conversations. Alex at times called her mother, Mom, Momma, it was never the same. She also expressed dissatisfaction and was not reprimanded for it. She had lied to her parents for Kara and had not been punished. Alex and her father seemed in sync with one another, joking often, laughing often. They had also been extremely kind to Kara and Eliza seemed to not mind changing diapers. The parents looked as if they enjoyed having the two around and were not worried.