Barry was more than worried about Kara since they left his apartment. He had meant it when he said they were a team, and he was going to be there for her no matter what they found under the rubble. He watched for a moment as she began hauling rocks off and tossing them away. He knew that standing there watching wasn’t going to help, and started using his super-speed to remove the rocks he could lift. In half an hour they had moved most of the rubble away, but were no closer to getting through the damage. Kara’s emotions were threatening to spill over when a voice spoke up from behind them.

“Supergirl…”

Both Barry and Kara turned to see him. It wasn’t often that he was out in daylight, preferring to operate under the shadows of night, and Metropolis was a city he very rarely ventured in to. He always felt it was too exposed for his liking. But here he was with his partner by his side.

“Batman; Robin.”

Barry was stunned, he had often heard of the Batman, choosing to believe he was nothing more than urban legend. A boogeyman that put true fear into the criminals of Gotham City. But standing there face to face with the Dark Knight, was both awe inspiring and humbling at the same time.

“You know where we are, don’t you Kara?”

“Yes…”

“And you know what’s under all that debris.”

“Only the rumors. Clark once told me that…”

“This is the original site of Project Cadmus. I got the report on the Bat-computer the second the explosion went off. I was sending Robin on a mission but cancelled that when I heard the news.”

Batman and Robin now looked to the scarlet clad man standing beside Kara. They both knew who he was, if not his identity under the mask. Batman was leery of the Flash. But Tim, although he was going to go to Central City to unmask the hero, couldn’t help but see how they might be able to get along.

“Metropolis is a little far from Central City, Flash. I expected Kara to be here when she heard, but what’s your interest in this? Doesn’t your city need its hero?”

“Supergirl helped me with a new speedster, I’m returning the favor.”

“Still…you’re a little out of your league here. Go home and let the real detectives figure this one out.”

“Look Batman, I know I don’t have the years of experience that you do. And I know I’m not your equal when it comes to being a superhero, but I promised Kara that I would be here. And nothing you or anyone else can say is going to make me leave.”

“Superman was right, kid. You’ve got guts. Someday if you’re not careful they’re going to be spilled on the highway.”

Kara was listening to Batman berate Barry as he only tried to stand up for himself. She had initially wanted him to hold back, but appreciated his response when he said he was going to come and help. As such, she now backed him up in the face of their current ally.

“Flash is right Batman. He’s here to help. And I want him here. If you’re going to help, then do it. Otherwise stay out of our way so we can get to Superman.”

There was a fire in Kara’s eyes that all three of her companions couldn’t ignore. Barry was proud of her, Batman remained stoic, and Tim was impressed. It was only a few moments that they stood there in a minor face off, only to hear one more voice speak from behind them.

“Enough! Standing here staring at each other to see who’s going to blink first is a waste of time. If Superman is under there, every second you delay means we’re that much closer to losing him.”

Those words snapped Kara back into action as she and Barry turned to see the new arrival. Batman and Robin had expected her, especially knowing her history with Superman. Barry’s eyes nearly bulged out as his mouth fell open.

“Wonder Woman? Seriously?”

“Flash. I’ve heard about the good you’ve done. But as I was saying, we are wasting time. Supergirl, if you please.”

Kara began moving rubble away again as Diana joined in. Both women were clearing the way towards the lead structure as Barry joined back in, running debris away at super-speed before having a revelation.

When he was in the coma after Godspeed’s first attack, he had trouble making sense of the images he was seeing. But one became clear as if a fog was lifted.

“Kara…Wonder Woman, take a step back.”

“Flash?”

“We don’t have time for this, Flash. I told you…”

“We need to get in there fast right? Even with super-strength, it will still take hours to move the debris and get down to where Superman is. I’ve got an idea Wonder Woman, at least let me try it.”

Diana took a step back, though hesitant to do so. When Kara had also stepped away, she wondered what Barry had in mind before he immediately hit his top speed. What the other four saw next was nothing short of impressive. As he ran, Barry was expanding his connection to the Speed Force out and away from his body. The energy he began to expel formed a lightning cocoon around the rocks and metal, lifting them up. In the next instant, he threw a lightning bolt and the debris went with it. Everything that had been blocking their path crashed down almost a hundred feet from where they were. All that was left was the lead structure, half buried underground.

“Flash…how did you do that?”

“I don’t know Kara, just a memory I had from when I was in the Speed Force after my first encounter with Godspeed. I saw myself like I was watching from…from a distance and learned new ways to use my powers.”

Kara smiled knowing she was glad Barry had come with her. She had no doubts that eventually she and Diana could have moved all the debris that was blocking them, but even with their super-strength and speed, there was just too much. But they were running out of time and she quickly turned back, using her heat vision to cut a hole through the metal while Batman and Robin each took a laser from their belts and joined in.

Wonder Woman took a step back to stand next to Barry. She was impressed with his abilities and placed a hand on his shoulder to get his attention. Her actions turned out to be a good thing as he started to sway, feeling dizzy.

“Flash, are you okay?”

“Yeah…yeah I’ll be fine. Learning to use my powers in new ways always takes a little bit out of me. I think I just used a little too much of my energy.”

Batman, Robin and Supergirl had nearly cut through the top of the structure when a fist burst through the weakened metal. The hand began feeling about for purchase but only found smooth metal. Kara knew who the hand belonged to and began pulling more metal away as Wonder Woman came over and took hold. She had his hand in hers, and pulled him out as soon as Kara had made escape possible.

“Superman!”

Five worried voices called out his name as he was set on his feet. He looked around in confusion before passing out. Kara knew more than anyone else that he was severely weakened from whatever had kept him contained. Taking a quick look, she saw the red light and knew what it was.

“Red sunlight. Whoever did this knew how to hurt him.”

“But they miscalculated Kara. The lead structure held up for the most part. Whatever caused the explosion only managed to dent the exterior. I don’t think they were…”

“Flash…hang on a minute…”

Kara had picked up a recording playing on repeat with her hearing. The voice was looping, mentioning Bizarro, the half Superman and half Luthor clone and ways to kill Kryptonians. She knew the voice and his identity was confirmed as even though he was unconscious, one word escaped Clark’s throat.

“Luthor…”

Kara was instantly worried and leaned into Barry’s side as he wrapped an arm around her, gently holding her. There were a few small tears that escaped her eyes as Wonder Woman and Batman discussed their next course of action.

“We can’t stay here long. The reporters may be gone for now, but they’ll be back. We’re even lucky that the authorities haven’t been here yet.”

“You’re right Batman, we’re going to need a place where we can lay low while Superman heals. He’s out of the red sun, but that combined with the explosion most certainly took a toll on him. This is something we need to keep quiet, if anyone finds out that Superman is…”

“Star Labs: Metropolis is out of the question. As is the location in Gotham. We need to get him back to the Cave. I’m still researching the possibility of Cadmus having restarted experimentation, and I can rig up some makeshift yellow sun lamps to help him.”

Sirens started to wail in the distance as the five heroes knew their time was growing short. Though this former location of Cadmus was of little interest, the Metropolis S.C.U. would undoubtedly want to investigate, and they would expect answers from the five there, answers no one really had. Wonder Woman quickly picked up Superman and flew towards Gotham as Batman uncloaked the Batwing, allowing Tim to enter before turning to Kara. She was lost in her emotions and barely heard anything Batman said.

“Kara, you know he’ll pull through. I’ll do everything I can to make sure that happens. Right now, you need to get to Lois. She needs to know what happened. You also need family around you. I suggest you…”

“Hold on Batman…while I agree with what you’re saying, Kara should be allowed to make the choice of where she goes from this point.”

Batman hit Barry with a glare that allowed no room for discussion. But he was surprised when the younger man didn’t back down. Kara looked back and forth between the two men. She knew this situation was nothing like the one when Barry met Clark. Because unlike Clark, Batman would take this as a direct challenge and she didn’t want her boyfriend to get hurt.

“He’s right Flash. Batman knows what’s best in this situation. Lois does need to know, that is, if she doesn’t already.”

“I’d listen to Kara, kid. I know you want to help, but you have no idea what you’re dealing with here.”

Barry wanted to argue more, but that was just his youth speaking in regards to the veteran superhero. He had thought this would be a similar encounter like he had with Clark, but in that instance he had his growing relationship with Kara as common ground. Little did Barry realize that in the coming months as Cadmus ultimately made their move, he would earn Batman’s respect.

The whole stand-off between Batman and Flash took about three minutes as the sirens continued to grow closer. With time nearly up, Batman jumped into the Batwing and departed for Gotham where Wonder Woman would be waiting. Kara flew up into the air with Barry keeping her in sight as they left for Lois and Clark’s apartment, leaving a lightning trail that flickered and died in his wake when the police arrived.

Captain Maggie Sawyer stepped out of her car with Inspector Dan Turpin accompanying her. He was a bit confused as to why they had to come when the first wave of police had returned with nothing.

“Come on Maggie, there’s nothing to see here. Met P.D. already searched the area. What’s left to find?”

“Did Met P.D. report back on this, Dan? As I recall, since they didn’t find anything, they chalked the incident up to teenagers with fireworks. Doesn’t look like fireworks made this kind of mess to me. Which means they didn’t come out this far. Someone wanted something from the old Cadmus.”

“Yeah, but what?”

That was one of the many million dollar questions that Inspector Henderson sent the S.C.U. out there to answer. Answers that would come as soon as they were sure that the abandoned structure was stable enough to support a full investigation. As construction crews and the rest of Maggie’s team arrived, Barry and Kara were arriving outside of Lois’ apartment, she landed on the balcony as he ran up the side of the building, joining her a few seconds later. Lois was inside on the phone, angrily gesticulating at the lack of news she had received on the explosion.

“No…no…no! I know that the explosion in the aqueducts had something to do with Cadmus! Superman himself informed me…”

Kara could hear the fury in Lois’ voice and her words. She knew that this wasn’t the best time as Lois was fully immersed in her job, but Kara tapped on the window anyway. The sound caused Lois to turn, thinking Clark had come back, but was shocked to see Kara there, a few tears dripping down her cheeks and the scarlet suited man standing with her, a hand on her shoulder.

“Kara…?! Get in here! What’s happened?”