It had been difficult for J’onn and M’Gann to avoid being spotted by the White Martians as they departed the cave for his ship.  Upon arriving after multiple detours both were thankful to see that their transportation away from Mars had been ignored by their enemies.  While the journey would only be a few hours at top speed, J’onn wanted to learn more about his newfound niece and made the trip last a couple of days.  M’Gann was grateful for the time as she wanted to know more about her Uncle.  But it was when they entered Earth’s stratosphere that a new danger presented itself by firing on their vessel.

“Brainiac…what are you doing?”

“Ending a potential threat, Reign.  The sensors in my vessel detected a ship of Martian origin.  I have little doubt that they detected us as well.”

“Then I’d say you failed.  From what I can see, you only managed to destroy the ship’s engines.”

“I did far more than that.  That single blast disabled the vessel’s heat shields.  Without them it will burn up on reentry.  And I have seen this vessel before.  The pilot is an ally of Kal-El of Krypton.”

“Then this was a foolish attack.  If this ally of Kal-El; whom I presume is related to Zor-El; learns of this attack, he will come looking for you.  We are not ready to face this last son of Krypton.”

“You need not worry; Reign.  Kal-El will be none the wiser as my vessel has detected the pilot ejecting.  It will only take moments before my tractor beam captures him.”

While J’onn had been forcibly ejected from his ship, he set the coordinates for the D.E.O. before entering Earth’s orbit.  Just enough of the shields stayed intact to protect M’Gann.  While he was leaving his niece alone against his will, protecting her was his only concern.  While she screamed for him, she couldn’t override the controls as what remained of the ship flew towards a large building before crashing through the high rise balcony entrance.  All the D.E.O. agents on that level ran for cover before the ship came to a halt.

“Steady guys…we don’t know who or what is in this spaceship.  Be cautious…”

Alex came running into the room as the exterior sensors alerted her to the incoming projectile while she was in video conference with the President.  While still acting Director, she knew that J’onn was due back any day and came to an abrupt stop as she recognized the ship. 

“Stand down, Agents.  That’s J’onn’s ship.”

All the agents lowered their weapons but remained in a state of readiness for whatever came out of the vessel.  The impact with the building had been violent and no one knew what to expect next.  While they all hoped that J’onn was back, when the hatch opened the young woman who fell to the floor was shocking as she was shapeshifting between both a green and white Martian form.  Weapons were raised again just before she collapsed into unconsciousness.

While this strange turn of events had the entire D.E.O. searching for answers, J’onn was waking up aboard a vessel he was unfamiliar with.  He tried to move, but soon found that his arms were bound with strong restraints above his head.  What was worse was that when he looked down, he could see a strange heat source beneath his feet.  In that instant he knew he was a prisoner and could only hope that M’Gann had made it to the D.E.O. 

“Greetings Martian.  I trust that you are comfortable?”

“Comfortable is the last word I would use to describe my current situation.  Why are you keeping me prisoner?  What have I done to you?”

“To me…nothing.  But I require you.  You are aware of Kal-El.  Do not pretend that you know not of whom I speak.”

“I know of Kal-El.  What do you want with him?”

“He has defeated me in combat on several occasions.  From each loss I have learned and grown.  He continues to escape the fate of his home-world but shall not elude me again.  The last children of Krypton will die.”

“If you have learned and grown as you say, then you know that Kal-El is not easily defeated.  As long as he lives, so does Krypton.  I think you overestimate your chances of victory.”

“Perhaps I did at one time.  But fate has brought me allies that I fought with long ago as we destroyed Krypton.  They had yet to be created when I shrank and stole Kandor.  The Kryptonian High Council was foolish to think they could stop me.”

J’onn instantly knew who had captured him when the entity mentioned Kandor.  The voice was cold and metallic, so unlike he remembered when he fought alongside Kal-El to protect Earth from this threat.  As the lights came up around him, J’onn could see the new form this adversary had taken, but he knew who he was all the same.

“Brainiac.”

“It was predictable of Kal-El to tell you of me.  Perhaps you are wondering why I’ve brought you here.”

“I know why you’ve brought me here, Brainiac.  You think by keeping me prisoner you will lure Superman to your ship.  Your plan to use me as a hostage to get to him is futile.”

“I would applaud your logic if it was correct Martian.  You are not here so Superman will come to me.  You are here so they can torture you before we send you back to Earth.  I have no doubts you have heard of the Worldkillers.”

Brainiac stepped aside to reveal his allies against the last Kryptonians.  The four of them stood there in what would be impassive states if not for the cold gleam of hatred in their eyes.  To the Worldkillers he was an ally to the house of El and that made him deserving of their righteous anger.  As he was unable to move, he wondered which of the Worldkillers would be first to torment him. 

“Which one will it be, Brainiac?  You have me restrained so I’m waiting.”

“And I know what you are thinking Martian.  Your telepathy will not work on my vessel.  If you had thought you could control the Worldkillers and use one or all of them to help you escape, you are sorely mistaken.”

Brainiac departed the room and left his allies with J’onn.  He was powerless against them and would hold out as long as he could.  The first attack came swift and it was unleashed by Flower of Heaven.  She hit hard with her thermal-blast causing J’onn to scream out in pain.  Her attack continued for ten minutes before Deimax took her chance. She threw thunderous fists at the burn wounds on his body, hoping that he would succumb to his injuries and pass out, but to her surprise the Martian Manhunter remained defiant. 

“I have been through far worse than you can throw at me.  You think you will get to Kal-El and his family.  You must realize that your mission is an exercise in futility.”

“Perhaps, but you know that Flower of Heaven and Deimax have already caused you immense pain.  I suppose Perrilus would have more of an effect.  Her toxikinesis would be enough to kill you.”

“But you’re not going to do that.  Killing me would not serve your purpose.  You want me to suffer…you think that the injuries you are inflicting on me are more conducive to showing the Kryptonians what you are capable of.  They will fight you.”

“And they will die.  Sisters, leave me alone with the Martian.  He has felt your strength, now he will feel mine.”

Deimax, Perrilus and Flower of Heaven departed the chamber, leaving Reign alone with J’onn.  He waited for her to speak as she walked a circle around him, appraising his current injuries and contemplating just how much more damage she could cause.

“You sent your sisters away.  Clearly you are more to them than I had guessed.  So tell me…who are you, and just how much more do you think you can hurt me that they haven’t?”

“Bold words, Martian.  Your attempts to persuade me to kill you are foolish.  Your time to die will come…don’t be in such a hurry to meet your Gods.  As for who I am…my name is Reign.  I lead the Worldkillers.”

Reign finished her circle and stood in front of J’onn, assessing his injuries one more time as she ran one single finger down his chest, the sharp black finger nail stopping as it dug into one of his wounds.  She was impressed as he didn’t even flinch at her ministrations before pulling back.  Clearly the Martian was afraid of neither pain nor torture and she knew she was going to enjoy the next few days as she began her first attack.

Back at the D.E.O. M’Gann was still unconscious in Alex’s lab though her body seemed to still be involuntarily shifting between green and white Martian form.  Alex kept a close eye in the hope that this unknown would soon wake and explain who she was and the damage to J’onn’s spaceship.  Alura had been released days ago but still remained at the D.E.O. where she could test her newly acquired powers.  Flight was the one she was still struggling with the most, but now she’s taking a break to check in on the arrival in an attempt to help.

“What do you think, Alex?”

“I’m not sure what to think Alura.  The only time I’ve examined a Martian before was J’onn, and that was voluntary.  He wanted to make sure that there were no lasting effects from Despero controlling him with Myriad.”

“I’m sorry…did you say Myriad?”

“Yes…Astra had used it to control the citizens of National City a few years back and just earlier this year an advanced form was used by a mad scientist to control aliens and meta-humans.  It…”

“I always worried that Astra and Non would find a way to make that work.  Kara told me that Fort Rozz had crashed here.  She even told me about Astra’s death…”

Alura paused causing Alex to look over at her in shame and sadness.  Kara had been close to convincing her Aunt to switch sides and help them, but Alex and J’onn’s arrival changed all that.  Astra felt betrayed and threatened to kill Kara in that moment and Alex only had one choice and used the Kryptonite sword to protect her sister.

“Alura…I…”

“Didn’t want to kill my sister.  She put you in a difficult situation and you had little choice.  From what Kara said they were locked in a stalemate.  Astra was desperately trying to convince her that Myriad would save Earth and humankind while she was trying to convince Astra that it would have the opposite effect.  In the end Non’s influence still won out.  He had been a scientist too once, but the multiple attacks Krypton had faced convinced him that war was the only answer.”

“To this day, I still wish there had been another way.  Kara had been knocked out, and I chose to protect her.”

“Alex…I’m not angry…you did what you had to so you could protect your family.  I’m sure Kara forgave you when she found out.  This is just one more regret I have to live with since I hadn’t been able to convince Astra of the ramifications of Myriad either.”

Alex thanked Alura as she stepped out of the medical facilities to continue working on repairing J’onn’s vessel.  Winn had examined it but the tech was more intricate that he could fix and this left the older Kryptonian with a job to do.  Days passed in much the same way as everyone at the D.E.O. waited for this mysterious Martian to wake and reveal what had happened to J’onn.  Nearly a week after her arrival, her body and mind started thrashing as she violently came to with a tortured scream.

“UNCLE!”

Alarms started blaring throughout the building as M’Gann instinctively knew her sudden return to consciousness was from J’onn trying to telepathically contact her.  She quickly ripped the sensors off her body and dashed from the medical wing into the main control room of the D.E.O. She was met with several weapons pointed at her and shifted to her white Martian form.  She was merciless in her attack though she tried not to kill any of the people.  Alex pulled every agent back as Alura strode forward confidently.  Without Kara there, she was the best defense against this potential threat.

What followed was a brutal fight as both women used their incredible super strength against each other.  Not wanting to cause harm to the D.E.O. agents, Alura flew out of the building in hopes that the Martian would follow her.  She did and the battle was now taking place in the sky and was no less violent. 

“Stop this!  No one wants to hurt you!”

Alura screamed to try and bring about an end to the hostilities but the lack of a verbal response from her adversary was the only answer she received.  In mere seconds M’Gann was back on the offensive and briefly used her telepathy to respond.

“You’re trying to hurt me!  I didn’t start this!  I just want to find my Uncle!”

Alura had just been about to use her heat vision when she heard the voice in her head.  She could feel the sorrow mixed with anger in the Martian occupying the airspace across from her.  In those moments she understood that what had happened was a massive misunderstanding.  With that in mind, she spoke with her own thoughts when she felt the telepathic connection still active.

“Then stop fighting me!  I don’t want to hurt you more than I have!  I can help you if you’ll let me!”

“How can you help!?  You don’t know anything about me!  My Uncle is in serious danger!  I can feel it!”

“I can feel your anguish!  He’s all the family you have left!  I know all too well what that feels like!”

“How can you possibly know?”

“Read my mind and find out.”

Alura stopped fighting long enough to focus on her memories of Krypton’s destruction, of launching Kara and Kal to the stars to protect them.  M’Gann was seeing all of this as she remained connected to the other woman’s mind and saw the final memory that Alura wanted to share as she watched her husband be ruthlessly killed in front of her very eyes.  With that new knowledge, M’Gann shifted back to her green Martian form with sadness in her eyes.  This woman she had been fighting with had lost so much more than she ever could.  As such, she spoke two words after inching closer.

“You’re Kryptonian.”

“Yes.  My name is Alura.  And right now, I’m probably the only one who can understand what you’re going through.  So please, let me help.”

Alura extended a hand out which M’Gann eyed nervously.  In her youth she had heard the stories about Krypton from the few visitors that came to Mars.  Propaganda was spread that Kryptonians were indifferent to the suffering of the universe and outright violent to anyone who came to their planet.  Most of these stories had been spread by Daxamites and Coluans, and they weren’t the most trustworthy either.  M’Gann could sense none of that and reached out, daring to trust.

“What’s your name?”

“M’Gann…M’Gann M’orzz.  J’onn J’onnz is my Uncle, and he’s in terrible danger.”