A Million Reasons | K. Danvers ✔

[66] Otherworldly Threat

• July 04, 2017 •

Kara preferred to be in complete isolation whenever things got too much for her to handle. Instead of bothering the people around her, she would disappear for a while, cool herself down, sort out her thoughts and then face the situation.

However, finding out that one of her friends was responsible for Zach's near-death encounter and the fact that he would never be able to achieve his dreams again was a blow she couldn't recover from that easily. An entire night of isolation still didn't work just like earlier when she had been disturbed due to Mon's indirect confession.

When it came to Mon, there was something that always troubled her deeper than usual. Perhaps it was the fact that she found him so similar to herself or that she felt he reflected her past therefore his actions made her question herself too. It involuntarily made her think of what she would have done if she had been in a similar position.

And the answer would always confuse her further because if she had been in a similar situation, she might have chosen to do the same. So she couldn't sort out who to blame for her anger or who to deem responsible because deep down she understood Mon's response as well.

A long time had passed since she had left the Mount Justice without even listening to the entire case. The only words she had heard were Mon apologizing to the rest of the team for his negligence being the cause of that explosion.

How, when and why were all questions she hadn't stopped to get the answers to. And knowing only half the truth made her even more frustrated.

She was at the beach by herself, the sun had risen long ago yet she was sitting alone on the spot she used to come to often with Zach. The golden hues had turned to the bright yellow of day but she hadn't moved, head resting on her knees as she pondered over what to do next.

Right then the team must be sorting out what to do with Mon's parents and how to persuade them to not attack further. But she wasn't a part of that discussion because she had walked out herself and hadn't chosen to go back yet.

She felt as if she wasn't ready for any of that. Kryptonian or not, she too deserved a break because just in a span of a few days, all of them had gone through a lot and most of it directly affected her.

She recalled the last time she had ditched everything for a solitary walk and ended up at Zach's place in the morning. He had proved to be such a great help in making her overcome the conflict, his soothing presence making her forget all other worries.

But right then he was in the hospital and definitely not in the state to be burdened with her worries as well. He already had enough to deal with.

So she just didn't know who to seek in that situation. At last with the sun high above the horizon and the clock striking noon, she stood up from the solitary spot.

She didn't want to go anywhere except the hospital and just check on how Zach was doing. She made herself promise not to make him worry about herself but deep down she knew that when it came to her, he had a very astute observation.

He might know in a heartbeat that something was wrong and could ask her about it.

But the desire of seeing Zach overcame all the uncertainties and she made up her mind to visit him anyway. She would deal with the rest of the issues later on.

***

In order to stop the Daxamites from attacking, it was decided that Mon would send them a message and ask his parents to meet him so that they could be sure that he wasn't in any peril on earth. Mon knew it wouldn't work as his parents were stubborn people but he did as they said.

He coded a message but there were complications because he had shattered the orb he had received earlier which could be used to send a message back. So all they could do was send the signals and hope Lar Gand and Rhea would be able to receive them.

It was similar to how Mon had received the first message. Those signals could only be interpreted by someone who knew the Daxamite code. So there was enough probability that it might reach the required destination.

However, Mon knew they would still suspect that he was being forced to send a message in order to lure them into a trap. And as he had suspected, their reply was accompanied with another threatening warning.

They had agreed to meet their son but the condition was that Mon would have to come alone. Considering the current scenario, it could be risky but it was the only option they had.

"I'll go," Mon had spoken up before any of the YJ could interject, "you all have already suffered a lot due to me, I don't want to get you guys involved further."

"But if they try to take you away by force..." Connor tried to object but Mon dismissed it.

"You underestimate me, I won't let that happen. If I go with them it will be my choice and not them forcing me to leave."

"Just a day ago you did not want to leave," Tim mumbled, arms crossed and a slight frown puckering his lips.

He hadn't said it out loud but he didn't want Mon to give himself up so easily either. Tim was the sort of person who did not make friends easily but once he did befriend someone, he would never let them go.

In fact he would cling onto them for eternity, to the point it could be considered annoying.

"I still don't want to. And hey, it's not like I'm leaving already," Mon patted his shoulder, "I'll try my best to negotiate first. See if they get convinced and let me be."

"And if they do not get convinced?"

He sighed, "then we'll see what happens."

"You still shouldn't go all alone," Richard remarked, pondering on how they could tackle the situation, "if they have more Daxamites with them then you might not be able to stand your ground. It would be easier to take you away."

"But if I do not keep up their terms, they will get more convinced that I'm in jeopardy. They will attack and all our efforts will be of no use," Mon reasoned.

The rest of the team was silent until Wally spoke up, "what are the chances of your parents being able to detect a speedster?"

"Wait, what?"

"How about I keep watch over you?" He elaborated and Richard looked up as if considering the suggestion, "and if they try to take you away, I signal the others. We won't be far off."

"Guys... It will not work," Mon shook his head, declining the suggestion, "it would only make things worse."

Artemis exchanged a glance with Meg then spoke up, "I think we should let him go by himself. Surely, he knows his parents better than we do so if he's stressing that not withholding terms would cause more danger, why don't we listen to him?"

Connor shook his head, "I have a bad feeling about this."

"I have already messed up a lot, I don't want to ruin the only chance we have for fixing this," Mon replied, "let me go by myself. You can track me with any of those devices Tim was showing us earlier, but be very cautious. If my parents suspect that I am under watch, then there will be consequences."

At last, it was decided to send Mon with a tracker and mini-cam installed in his wristwatch. The team would continuously be keeping watch over him but they would not be in proximity so that the king and queen of Daxam would not be alarmed.

Mon knew everything depended on him from then onwards and he had to make the best of that situation. He could not afford to keep up his tradition of messing up in that case too.

A lot was at stake and he definitely didn't want to be the indirect cause for any further destruction.

***