Snapper had followed through on his decision to post the story about Supergirl turning on the city and the direct quote of how she wanted to be worshipped.  The entire article was met with disbelief in most cases and outright hostility in others.  No one could believe that their hero, the woman that had brought hope by defeating Myriad, the White Martians and other threats would turn on them.  Even Cat Grant returned from her leave of absence and called the reports into question.

“Snapper,” Cat shouted in a fit of consternation, “you have to retract this story immediately and issue a public apology to Supergirl!”

“I won’t do that Cat.  I can’t.  You weren’t here, you didn’t see what I saw, hear what we all heard.  Supergirl has become a threat to National City, if not the world.  The story has already had an effect.  It’s going viral as we speak.”

“I don’t care!  Supergirl could never…”

While Cat continued on in her tirade, she was unaware that the topic of hers and Snapper’s discussion had been listening in and much like she did previously, she flew through the glass windows of Cat’s office.  She landed with a purpose in mind and stood up, a vile smirk on her face.

“Cat…Cat…Cat…you really should listen to Snapper.  Everything he’s telling you is true.  I’ve decided to stop being National City’s lap dog.  My powers put me above the rest of you.”

Cat recognized the voice of the blonde woman standing behind her, but the outright malice in her tone was new.  Upon turning, the experienced journalist put up her most emotionless mask before addressing the other woman.

“Supergirl?  I have to say that I’m a little surprised at what I’ve heard.  This isn’t you, at least not the you that gave that rousing hope filled speech over my defunct public broadcast system to the city just a few years ago.”

“That’s because I’m not that Supergirl anymore.  She grew up, got tired of feeling like nothing she did would ever make her the hero her cousin is.  In short, I’m not Supergirl anymore.  Call me Ultragirl.”

“Ultragirl?  Pretentious, don’t you think?”

“Oh Cat…you always did have a way with words.  I can see that you want proof that I’ve changed.  How would I go about doing that?”

Ultragirl paced around Cat’s office, hands clasped behind her back, and her eyes closed deep in thought. There was something sadistic playing out in her mind, both Cat and Snapper could feel it with their instincts.  Suddenly, as if a lightbulb went off, Ultragirl turned back towards Cat, a dark gleam in the former’s eyes.

“I know; how about I throw you off the balcony of your building again, just like I did when Max Lord had me under the influence of red kryptonite.”

Cat did her best to hide her fear, but knew that this time Supergirl wasn’t going to save her.  Red k had stripped the heroine of her inhibitions, and increased her rage.  What was going to happen now, gave Cat the sinking feeling that this time she would die.

As if in slow motion, Ultragirl grabbed Cat by the collar of her blazer and dragged her through the broken glass.  With a deft jump, this dark version of National City’s hero was on the ledge.  Her hand immediately outstretched Cat over the city below.  With menace in her tone, she spoke one more time.

“Any last words?”

Before Cat could formulate a thought, Ultragirl released her tenuous grip.  The media mogul began plummeting towards the ground, and while she logically knew she should be terrified, a calm peace washed over her.  Just as she felt her time was ending, a pair of arms caught her barely fifteen feet from the ground.

“Are you all right Ms. Grant?”

As she felt solid ground beneath her feet, Cat dared not to open her eyes.  The voice she knew well, and believed this was all a dream or that Heaven was not what she thought it would be.  Above her, a scream of rage erupted from Ultragirl, as her attempts at showing National City what she’s capable of were thwarted.

Only then did Cat open her eyes as she felt a comforting hand on her shoulder.  She turned to see Supergirl, the one she remembered and trusted standing beside her.  Now she really did think she had died and gone to Heaven.  Everything else was a blur as Ultragirl flew down and wrapped her arms around Supergirl’s waist and rocketed into the sky.  What followed were thunderous punches that echoed through the night leaving everyone in the city in shock.  But none more so than Cat, who turned upon hearing a deep voice speak right behind her.

“You don’t need to worry Ms. Grant.  We have the situation well under control.”

The tall green man standing to Cat’s right was an unexpected sight, but a welcome one.  When he had first revealed himself to the city, he was met with fear. But his actions in helping Supergirl fight the White Martians had proved he meant no harm.  And with Supergirl’s high praise, J’onn J’onnz was welcomed as a hero.

“The Martian Manhunter.  I must say I’m glad to see you.  How did you know to be here?”

“I’ve kept track of the city while Supergirl…the real Supergirl is away.  There are things going on with her that I cannot tell you.  Things the Flash has shared with me.”

“So the two Supergirl’s up there, neither of them are the real one?”

“The one in blue and red, no.  She’s a clever masquerade by my niece, M’Gann M’orzz, we call her Miss Martian.  We had hoped not to impersonate Supergirl, but this other one…”

“Ultragirl…”

“I know that’s what she’s calling herself.  I read the article Mr. Carr wrote.  She looks, sounds, and seems to have all the memories of our Kara Zor-El.  We intend to find out where she came from.”

“She isn’t the Bizarro clone?”

“No, she’s at Star Labs: Metropolis.”

J’onn turned his attention to the skies as he heard a scream of pain, followed by one of fury.  Cat followed his gaze to see Ultragirl holding M’Gann above her head.  The Martian Manhunter immediately took flight to help his niece.  Cat was about to ask if Superman knew of this, but her companion was gone before she could get the words out.

In the sky, J’onn had flown faster than he ever had before, grabbing M’Gann from Ultragirl’s grasp.  He had only enough time to set her down as gently as possible on a roof before the latter came screaming out of the sky, grabbing him by the collar and flying back up.

“You and M’Gann shouldn’t have challenged me J’onn.  And her pathetic impersonation of me was a mistake on both of your parts.  Now I’ll really have to show this city what I’m capable of.”

“Over my dead body.”

“Well, if you insist.”

Ultragirl began pummeling J’onn with all of her strength.  She was moving so fast he had no time to react.  In mere moments, she had him in the same position M’Gann had been previously, but this time she was successful in throwing him violently to the ground.  His impact shook the very foundations of the buildings he landed near.  Without the powers he possesses, the fall would have killed him.  As it was the impact left him unconscious, but alive.  M’Gann felt a stab of pain through their bond and wearily got to her feet.  Her voice was a quiet whisper.

“U-Uncle?”

Slowly looking over the edge of the building she was on M’Gann could see his crumpled form hundreds of feet below her.  She was still disguised as Supergirl and let out her own scream of rage at seeing him like that.  But she had no time to do anything as Ultragirl was once again right behind her.

“M’Gann,” Ultragirl called her name in a taunting sing-song voice.  “Now it’s your turn.”

M’Gann turned to fight, but as she was still weakened was quickly overwhelmed.  On the verge of once again passing out, she was lifted in the air by Ultragirl who flew down to the street and dropped the Martian girl hard down on her Uncle’s prone body.  It was only then that M’Gann shifted back to her true form.  With a sneer, Ultragirl turned to face the gathered crowd.

“National City, by now you’ve all read the article Cat Co. published.  This is just a taste of what I will do!  Know that if anyone decides to challenge me again, this is the fate they will face!  Now, I think it’s time I go find Superman.”

Ultragirl was in the air, making her way towards the Fortress when Brainiac’s ship appeared in front of her.  He had known she wasn’t finished with National City and followed her.  Though she had intended to fly around the vessel, Brainiac caught her with his teleporter and brought her inside the ship.  Once inside she was confronted by him and the Worldkillers.

“You have just made a grievous error, Ultragirl.”

“You’d like to think that, wouldn’t you Brainiac.”

“You really have no idea what you have done do you?”

“Shown National City what I’m capable of.  Now maybe they’ll subjugate themselves as they should.”

“No, you have revealed yourself to your cousin’s allies.  I have no doubt that when they recover from your assault they will seek out Superman and inform him of all that has transpired.”

“Let them.  A real confrontation between Kal and I is long overdue.  And quite frankly Brainiac, I’m tired of you holding me back.”

Reign and her sisters remained quiet as they observed the confrontation between Brainiac and Ultragirl.  The stand-off was rapidly escalating and when she had finally had enough, Reign stepped in.

“Arrogant child.  While I detest agreeing with Brainiac, he is correct.  You actions on this day will bring a confrontation that Superman and his allies will be more prepared for than we are.  Our defeat is assured if you continue calling them out.”

Ultragirl’s eyes lit up with her heat vision as Reign encroached further into her space.  She had already defeated the Worldkiller once, now maybe it was time to remind her of that.  Without warning, the heat vision exploded from Ultragirl’s eyes, burning deep into Reign’s skin.  The latter screamed in agony before falling to her knees.

“Must we go through this lesson again; Reign?  The first time we fought, you stabbed me with a black kryptonite dagger.  I learned from that, but it seems you learned nothing from our second battle.  I am your better!  My powers are far and away above yours.  Stand down, or I will kill you this time.”

There was a viciousness is Ultragirl’s voice that had Perrilus, Deimax and Flower of Heaven quickly pulling their sister away from the enraged Kryptonian.  With a sinister smirk, Ultragirl turned back to Brainiac with a flourish of her cape and one thought on her mind.

“You think I’m attempting to call out Kal-El.  I’m doing nothing of the sort.  Before your ship appeared in front of me, I was on my way to his Fortress.  You want your war Brainiac; I’ll give it to you.  By doing what Kal would least expect, going to him before he comes for me.”

“You really are an arrogant child.  Do you not think that if Kal-El had a fortress I would not know about it?  That I would not have already attempted to do what you suggest?”

“You know, for a twelfth level intellect Brainiac, you are remarkably obtuse, or maybe just plain stupid.  Kal-El and I are related by blood.  I’ve been to the Fortress and as the Last Daughter of the House of El, I can access the Fortress.”

Ultragirl turned and walked away, leaving Brainiac affronted at her insult to him.  For the first time he was beginning to doubt his plan.  But he was not the only one with doubts.  In a private chamber the Worldkillers were also doubting success.  With the show of power Ultragirl had demonstrated, Reign and her sisters felt that their own mission was in jeopardy.

“She will kill us all, Reign.”

“She is one Kryptonian, Deimax.  We have slaughtered thousands of them.”

“Not under the light of a yellow sun.  She could be more powerful than all of us.”

“Not on her own, Perrilus.  Perhaps, we should follow her plan, and then we will destroy her and Brainiac.  They cannot beat us all.”

“I hope you’re right, sister.  We face our own destruction if we should fail.”

“If the worst should happen Flower, we will take all of them with us.  The Kryptonians, the Martians, and the red uniformed hero.  If it comes to it, Kal-El’s Fortress will be where we all meet death.”

The three other Worldkillers looked to Reign and swore to follow her.  They didn’t need Brainiac or Ultragirl to complete their mission.  One way or another they would fulfill their tasks of eliminating all Kryptonian life in the universe.