SteelCorp

Chapter 15

A few days have passed since the attack at the DEO, Thalia is assisting with repairs and cleaning when Winn approaches with a look of concern on his face.
    “Thalia do you have a moment to talk…in private?” Asks Winn gesturing to one of the empty med bay rooms and fidgeting.
    Thalia frowns, but follows him into the room to hear what he has to say. “Alright what do you need to talk about that’s so private?”
    “Well I managed to take a look at how these little guys worked and found something that I think you might want to see.” Responds Winn handing Thalia one of the deactivated robots.
    Taking the robot and looking closer at what Winn was pointing at, Thalia gasps. “That is an L-Corp branding! I don’t understand, Lena wants nothing more than to help people. Thanks for showing me this Winn, who else knows?”
    “No one, just us.” Replies the short tech genius.
    Tucking the bot in her bag, Thalia responds. “Good. I’d like to keep it that way until I have a chance to talk to Lena about it.”
    “Okay, but just so you know I’m really not good at lying to Kara or Maggie for that matter.” Winn replies wringing his hands nervously.
    Thalia shoots him a quick glare. “Well you’re going to have to think of something then. Use that genius brain of yours and figure it out.”
    Winn’s revelation about L-Corp being responsible the robot attack keeps whirling around in Thalia’s head all morning. She had barely been able to focus on anything and had gradually become more and more agitated.
    Now on her way to L-Corp, Thalia has managed to worry herself into anger. She couldn’t believe that Lena would try to hurt her let alone kill her. Yet the evidence from the Ultra-Link imitations was plain as day, Lena had developed them and made an army.
    Lena had been working hard all morning and was thinking about inviting Thalia to have lunch with her when the door to her office suddenly burst open revealing said brunette. Thalia was followed by Jess as she stormed up to Lena’s desk, anger clearly written across her usually smiling face.
    “What the hell is this Lena?” Demands Thalia angrily, barely managing to keep herself from shouting as she slams the now disabled robot onto Lena’s desk.
    Stunned, Lena merely gapes at her girlfriend having never heard the Tachyan woman curse before. Recovering from the shock, Lena quickly dismisses Jess before turning her attention to Thalia. “Well by the looks of it, I would say this is an Ultra-Link, I think.”
    “Yes, it is one of approximately a hundred imitation Ultra-Links that attacked the DEO three days ago looking for me.” Responds Thalia, clenching her fists so tight that her nails were drawing blood from her palms.

    Surprised Lena replies. “So that’s what happened. I saw you and Supergirl fly out of the city. We didn’t exactly talk about it and I was worried about you. But I don’t understand, why are you here with that thing now?”
    “I’m here because it has L-Corp patenting and programming. Meaning it was developed and created here, so before Supergirl and the DEO arrive, I want to know why you had these built and why you are pretending to care about me when you are clearly trying to kill me.” Answers Thalia, now on the verge of tears at thought that her girlfriend, could very well be just like her ex-fiancée.
    Shocked by Thalia’s statement, Lena reaches for her in an attempt to calm her. “Don’t say that. My feelings for you are real, as real as this room we are standing in. I would never do anything to hurt you, let alone try and kill you, I love you. Please, I need you to believe me, I need you to know that I love you, I need you.”
    “Lena, I love you, you know that better than anyone, but this has made it difficult for me to believe you. You know about Sophie, you now how hard this is for me, I want to believe you more than anything. You have done so much good for the city, for the world, so please tell me why, why did you create these bots? What were you trying to accomplish?” Replies Thalia as tears now flow freely down her cheeks.
    Now holding her tightly, Lena responds. “I created them to help you, there was only ever supposed to be a handful of them. A few weeks ago, the plans were stolen, I have been trying to track them down and stop whoever is responsible.”
    “Why didn’t you tell me about this? You’ve had weeks.” Asks Thalia, hugging Lena back and holding her close.
    Tucking her head under Thalia’s chin, Lena Replies. “They were for your birthday, I wanted it to be a surprise. I designed them to track and follow your Turbo-Energy. They were to help absorb your extra energy in case you were ever separated from Steel during a fight. Your uncle was helping me design them as well as creating docking stations for them around the city.”
    “Alright, I believe you. I’m sorry for barging in here and accusing you of lying like I did.” Says Thalia, placing an apology kiss on the top of the shorter woman’s head.
    Pulling back just enough to look at Thalia’s face, Lena responds. “It’s okay, I understand where you were coming from. You have been betrayed by the person you love before, and it seemed like history was repeating itself. You were scared and upset; I would have been too.”
    “How is it that you are so amazing? I barge in here all but accusing you of attempted murder and you not only take it, you forgive me just like that. I don’t deserve an incredible woman like you.” Replies Thalia, pulling Lena into another hug.
    Lena scoffs lightly at this. “Seriously? If anything, it’s me who doesn’t deserve you. You who not only works to protect the people as an FBI agent, but also as a super hero. You literally put your life on the line every day to help people, while I sit in an office all day doing paper work and trying to right the wrongs caused by my genocidal family. You inspire hope and justice in all who see you, you are the one who is truly amazing.”
    “You’re my favourite.” Responds Thalia, as she gently leans down to kiss Lena.
    Before they can close the gap, Supergirl lands on the balcony startling the couple and making them jump apart. Clearing her throat and blushing up to her ears, Lena turns to greet the Super.
    “Supergirl! What um…what can I do for you?” Stammers Lena, as she attempts to regain her composure.
    Raising a brow and smirking, Supergirl replies. “Sorry, am I interrupting something Miss Luthor?”
    “N-Not at all!” Answers Lena, her blush going from pink to red at the smirk on the Kryptonian’s face.
    Also blushing a deep red, Thalia speaks up. “Um…if I’m not needed here, I’ll…uh…I’m going to head back to work. I’ll submit my report on the investigation later this afternoon.”
    Thalia quickly grabs her bag and the imitation Ultra-Link from Lena’s desk. She gives Lena a quick peck on the cheek then makes her way out of the office and back to the DEO. 
    Arriving at the DEO, Thalia is met with knowing looks and a few raised brows and realises that she is still blushing. Ignoring them, she asks to meet with J’onn, Alex, and Winn in one of the private conference rooms. Once everyone has arrived and taken a seat, Thalia pulls out her N-Tek communicator and calls Berto.
    “What’s up kid?” Asks Berto as he answers almost immediately.
    Thalia pulls out the fake Ultra-Link and places it on the table. “Over one hundred of these imitation Ultra-Links attacked the DEO a few days ago trying to kill me. After speaking with Lena Luthor, I learned that you were helping her develop these to help me.”
    “And I am offended that you think that I could fail! I have linked with three generations of this family and have never failed to absorb the excess energy.” Exclaims Steel indignantly, flying out of Thalia’s bag so he can get right up into the hologram’s face.
    Throwing his hands up, Berto replies. “Whoa hey, it’s not about you failing, it’s about doing something to help Thalia in case the two of you ever get separated. Also, it was Lena’s idea, she wanted to do something to help Thalia.”
    “If they were meant to help, why did a massive swarm of them attack the DEO?” Asks J’onn, crossing his arms with a look of disapproval.
    Pursing his lips in contemplation, Berto asks. “Was Thalia at the DEO when the attack started?”
    “No. Why is that relevant?” Responds Alex, becoming more confused and annoyed.
    Berto replies. “Well Lena and I designed the bots to track Thalia’s Turbo-Energy signature. So, my guess is, traces of her energy are left all over the DEO and that is what led them there.”
    “If they are designed to track Thalia’s Turbo-Energy signature, why didn’t they go right to the source?” Asks J’onn, concerned by the information.

    Before Berto can answer, Thalia cuts in. “Because I wasn’t using my powers. When I’m not actively using my Turbo-Energy, it simply gets consumed by Steel thus leaving no traces and making it impossible to track.”
    Before they could get any further, Thalia’s glasses light up at the same time as several of the TVs in the DEO light up with an emergency news broadcast.  Her glasses warn her of the activation of several bombs around the city, while the news shows Supergirl fighting someone in the streets near L-Corp.
    “Oh no, Lena!” Blurts Thalia without thinking as she rushes out of the meeting room.
    The others quickly follow her to the main room. “What is happening?” Demands J’onn storming over to the holo-table in the middle of the room.
    “Several bombs have been activated around the city! Supergirl seems to have engaged the one responsible. I will send you the coordinates of the bombs as I get them. In the mean time, I’m going to go help Supergirl.” Answers Thalia, as she rushes to the balcony and takes off.
    All Thalia can think about is Lena as she flies as fast as she can, desperately hoping that she is safe. Arriving on scene, Thalia is right on time to help Supergirl catch the masked maniac as they attempt to flee. At the same time, she receives the coordinates of all the activated bombs and she quickly sends them to J’onn.
    “I’ve got this guy. Go check on Miss Luthor! Hurry!” Shouts Supergirl as she subdues the man and waits for the police to arrive and take him into custody.
    Launching back into the air, Thalia lands on the balcony outside of Lena’s office. Her visor immediately picks up Lena on the floor near the couch and Thalia wastes no time rushing over to see if she is alright.
    “Lena! Oh my god, are you okay?” Asks Thalia as she checks Lena for injuries.
    Groaning and sitting up with Thalia’s help Lena responds. “Slightly dazed but otherwise I’m fine. I’m guessing you and Supergirl caught the guy?”
    “Yes, we did. Unfortunately, not before they were able to plant a series of bombs all throughout the city.” Answers Thalia as she guides Lena to the couch.
    Before Lena can say anything beyond her look of shock, Thalia’s helmet lets out a short burst of beeps indicating that the locations of the bombs have been found.
    “Speaking of, that would be the completed scan now.” Says Thalia with a slight chuckle.
    Getting up, Lena makes her way over to her desk followed closely by a concerned Thalia. “Here send me the file, I can pull up the map here and help coordinate with the DEO.”
    “Lena you were just attacked, you need to get some proper rest.” Replies Thalia concerned about her girlfriend overworking herself.
    Raising a brow, Lena responds. “Technically I will be getting rest considering that I will be sitting here the whole time. Also, I have a feeling that this whole situation is partly my fault so I want to help fix it however I can.” 
    “Well it would seem that there is no convincing you otherwise so I guess I have no choice but to agree.” Responds Thalia with a sigh and a slight smile.
    Sitting down at her desk smiling, Lena answers. “Not a chance. Now send me the file and we can get started on finding and deactivating these bombs.”
    “Yes ma’am!” Says Thalia giving her girlfriend a little jaunty salute before sending the file.
    Lena’s computer chimes as it receives the file, opening it, Lena’s eyes widen in shock and waves Thalia over. Upon seeing nearly one hundred red dots all over the city, Thalia’s jaw drops. “Wow, that is a lot of bombs.”
    “Agreed. We are going to need all hands-on deck for this.” Responds Lena quickly typing away at her computer.
    Still looking over Lena’s shoulder, Thalia calls the DEO. “We have the locations of the bombs; we are going to need all hands-on deck for this. Lena Luthor has agreed to help coordinate our efforts from L-Corp. Supergirl, you and I are the fastest so we will take care of diffusing the bombs around the city limits. I will also be calling in assistance from N-Tek for this, they can assist in the diffusing efforts as well as crowd control. Now let’s get this show on the road people.”
    “God it’s hot when you do that.” Says Lena turning to look at Thalia who is now pacing behind her.
    Confused, Thalia stops in her tracks to look at her girlfriend. “When I do what?”
    “When you go all super hero and take charge of a situation. It’s a rather good look for you.” Replies Lena sauntering up to Thalia and draping her arms around her neck.
    Thalia gently removes Lena’s arms from her and steps back as she responds. “Glad it pleases you, but don’t forget, you are dating FBI agent Thalia McGrath not the super hero Max Steel. Plus, I should head out and get started on diffusing those bombs.”
    “Ugh fine. But you owe me a kiss after this.” Pouts Lena as she drops back into her chair and begins coordinating with the DEO and N-Tek.
    Chuckling Thalia replies. “You’ve got yourself a deal Miss Luthor.”
    With that, Thalia reactivates her flight armor and takes off from the balcony heading toward one of the bomb locations.
    “Stay safe!” Calls Lena as she watches Thalia fly off towards the city limits.